Alexander County 4-H Newsletter

Programming in Alexander County Schools

Alexander County 4-H conducted the Embryology Program in 20 second grade classrooms in the Alexander County School System in March. Through this program, students get hands-on experience as they learn about the life cycle. Fertilized chicken eggs are donated by Tyson Hatchery in Hays, NC and are incubated for 21 days in the classroom. Eggs began hatching on March 30th! The picture shows DJ Salyer, Alexander County 4-H Agent, Candling eggs with the students last month.

4-H Mini Garden Project for Kids

The N.C. Cooperative Extension-Alexander County Center is looking to engage youth in a garden program. Students will be provided seeds and information material to start their own little garden. This will encourage them to learn about how to grow vegetables. Participants will be asked to share pictures throughout the year on social media. A contest will be held once gardens are producing by having judges come out and look at the gardens. Ages 8-under, 9-12 years and 13-18 years will be judged. Date for judging will be sent out closer to date, but will be in June or July.

Prizes will also be given to those who have the best project books.

Kits are limited to the first 25 families to register, but we will also be taking a waiting list for those who are interested. Registration will be open until full, kits will be available April 10th and can be picked up through May 1st. For additional questions, please contact DJ Salyer at dj_salyer@ncsu.edu. Use the following link to fill out registration: https://forms.gle/rfBBE6kjASY5TKcn9

ALL 4-H members and volunteers MUST be enrolled in 4-H Online to participate in any programs or clubs that are provided by Alexander County 4-H.

For more information and to start the enrollment process please visit the following link:

https://alexander.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/01/time-to-enroll-in-4-h/

If you have any questions regarding enrollment or need help with enrollment please contact DJ Salyer at 828-632-3125. Again, no child or volunteer can participate in 4-H events without being enrolled.

4-H Presentations

4-H Presentations are a huge part of North Carolina 4-H. It is one of the most successful ways to help a young person learn how to do a public speech. It focuses on members teaching others what they know about a particular project/subject matter. They are sometimes called demonstrations or illustrated talk or formal speech.

For a list of 4-H Presentation Categories please go to the following link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13-ANlm317h8QaUeRzguru1SEcZNcxp7oNsBXS93V7iw/edit?usp=sharing

Here you can find topic ideas and objectives as well as what cash prizes are available at district and state levels.

To view scoresheets, rules and regulations and other helpful information please visit the following link: 4-H Presentation Information

South Central District Activity Day will be held June 17, 2026 in Stanly County.

If you would like to know more about 4-H Presentations or you have an interest in being a presenter to represent Alexander County please contact DJ Salyer, 4-H Agent, at 828-632-3125 or dj_salyer@ncsu.edu.

Red Pony 4-H Club met on March 3 at Johnson's Milling & Feed to learn about how feed is made, measured and the ingredients needed.

The next meeting will be held April 7th at 7:00pm at 612 Ned Herman Road, Taylorsville, NC 28681. Those attending will need to bring feed labels, current weight and height of horses to learn how to determine an approximate amount of feed/hay combination for daily rations. If you do not own a horse there will be horses on site to be able to measure and get amounts for their current size.

They have a facebook page so follow them there as well: Red Pony 4-H Club facebook page

In March members of Whisk if Up 4-H Club powered up with smart snacks. Members dived into the world of "smart" fueling by learning to balance carbohydrates with protein for lasting energy and uncovering hidden sugars on nutrition labels. They made apple nachos and energy balls. This experience empowers them to make heathier choices at home, school, and on the go, building lifelong wellness habits one bite at a time.

Their next meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at 4:00 p.m. and the topic will be foods around the world. Get ready to grab your boarding pass and pack your appetite. In this high-energy culinary expedition, participants will transform into global explorers, armed with their very own 4-H passports and ready to navigate a delicious map of international flavors. You'll "travel" from table to table, earning custom stamps as you sample authentic dishes, discover unique ingredients, and learn the fascinating traditions behind every bite. If you would like to attend please RSVP by emailing Der Holcomb at der_holcomb@ncsu.edu.

From the 4-H Agent – April

As we welcome the month of April, our 4-H program is in full swing with exciting opportunities and hands-on learning experiences for our youth. Spring is a busy and rewarding time in 4-H, and it’s great to see so many members getting involved and trying new things.

This past month, we have continued several ongoing programs and are looking forward to even more activities ahead. Our 4-H Embryology program is underway, giving youth the chance to learn about life cycles and responsibility through caring for eggs and observing the hatching process. This is always a favorite program and a great way to bring science to life.

We are also excited to be growing our Shooting Sports program, with archery and shotgun practices getting started soon. This program teaches not only skill development, but also safety, discipline, and focus. We appreciate our community partners who are helping make these opportunities possible.

Looking ahead, we have several upcoming events, including summer Fun. Be sure to keep an eye out for announcements so you don’t miss out on these great opportunities.

As always, we encourage our 4-H members to stay engaged, try something new, and continue building leadership and life skills. Thank you to our volunteers, families, and community supporters who make all of this possible.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to a great month ahead!

— DJ Salyer, 4-H Agent, Alexander County