Alexander County 4-H Newsletter

picture of DJ Salyer, Alexander 4-H Agent at

From the 4-H Agent

As we welcome June and the start of summer, excitement is building here in Alexander County 4-H! School may be out, but 4-H is just getting started with a full lineup of Summer Fun programs, camps, workshops, and hands-on learning opportunities for our youth.

We are looking forward to seeing so many young people involved in activities that help them learn new skills, make friends, build confidence, and create lasting memories. From outdoor adventures and educational day trips to agriculture, STEM, cooking, crafts, and leadership activities, there is something for everyone this summer.

A huge thank you goes out to our volunteers, families, community partners, and supporters who help make these opportunities possible. Your support allows Alexander County 4-H to continue providing meaningful experiences for our youth all year long.

We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and exciting summer, and we can’t wait to see you at our upcoming 4-H events!

— DJ Salyer, 4-H Agent, Alexander County

Celebrate June Dairy Month with our Dairy Art Contest!

Youth ages 5-18 are invited to create orginal dairy-themed artwork celebrating dairy cows, dairy foods, farm families and the dairy industry.

Contest theme: Farm Fresh Creativity. Show us how you celebrate the dairy industry.

Age Divisions & Deadlines:

Division 1:

Ages 5-12 years old
Submit: May 25-June 12
Voting period: June 13-20
Winner Announced: Following the close of voting in June
Prize: $25 gift card

Division 2:

Ages 13-18 years old
Submit: June 8-June 26
Voting period: June 27-July 4
Winner Announced: Following the close of voting in July
Prize: $25 gift card

Art Requirements:

hand-drawn artwork
paintings
mixed media art
any original artwork that can be physically created by hand

How to submit (to enter participants must submit):

a scanned digital image or a clear photo of the artwork
a completed parent/guardian permission form
entries should be emailed to authomps@ncsu.edu by the appropriate deadline.

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.

What is 4-H Congress???

4-H Congress is an annual educational event sponsored by North Carolina 4-H and planned by the State 4-H Council and Congress Advisory Committee. North Carolina 4-H’ers ages 13-18 are invited to participate in this annual event.

The Goals of N.C. 4-H Congress are:

To perpetuate the reputation of 4-H as a major state-wide educational program.
To improve delegates’ knowledge of current issues through educational experiences such as speakers, discussion groups, workshops, etc.
To provide an opportunity to develop and exercise leadership skills through serving on committees and participating in specific programs.
To allow delegates to participate in the democratic process through campaigning for and electing state 4-H officers.
To provide recreational and social experiences for delegates.
To select winners in presentations and certain activities through state contests.
To provide recognition for projects, activities, and scholarship winners.

This year NC 4-H Congress will be held July 20-24, 2026 with a theme: Lights.Camera.Action.

If you would like to have more information on NC 4-H Congress or interested in attending please contact DJ Salyer at 828-632-3125 or dj_salyer@ncsu.edu

4-H Nature Photo Contest

Have a photo that you took of nature? Send it in to Alexander County 4-H to be put into a nature photo contest. Photos that win at the county level will proceed onto the state contest. This contest is open to youth ages 5-18 years old. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Email photos to DJ Salyer or bring in the photo to our office. If emailing please include the child's name and age.

County Deadline: August 7th
State Deadline: August 17th

2026 North Carolina Dinah Gore Food 4-H Healthy Food Challenge Team Places High in State Competition

Congratulations to the Alexander County 4-H Grill Billies team on their gold finish in the Dinah Gore Food 4-H Healthy Food Challenge competition that was held in Raleigh on May 16th. Team members included Uriah Sigmon, Allie Millsaps, Lucy Icenhour, and Lucas Hardin

For the last six months, this team has poured their hearts, time, and energy into practicing, and all that hard work completely paid off. Talk about cooking under pressure: they were handed a mystery ingredient (eggs!) and given just 40 minutes to create a masterpiece. Not only did they whip up a spectacular "Hillbilly Frittata," but they also delivered a stellar presentation proving their expertise in food safety, nutrition, preparation, and dietary guideline.

The Alexander County Grill Billies have earned the opportunity to represent North Carolina 4-H at the national competition in Texas in September.