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It's Paper Clover Time at the Albemarle Tractor Supply Store!
From now through December 14th, you can help send Stanly County 4-H members to summer camp by simply purchasing a paper clover at checkout.
Every paper clover purchased at the Albemarle store directly supports our local 4-H'ers, providing them with incredible opportunities for hands-on learning, personal growth, and fun at summer camp.
Stop by the store today and make a donation to grow the good in Stanly County! |
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4-H Volunteer of the Year
On November 20th, Stanly Cooperative Extension hosted a social to thank all the volunteers who help us serve the citizens of Stanly County. Volunteers are our most valuable asset because they are the engine that powers our service to the entire Stanly County community. We are incredibly humbled and endlessly proud to work alongside them. At the social, we ate together, got to know each other better and presented awards to exemplary volunteers.
4-H Agent, Mandy Smith-Thompson presented 4-H Volunteer of the Year Award with the following remarks:
Two years back, when I started this job, the Stanly 4-H program was just a foundation, held up by one volunteer and one club. Since then, our program has flourished - so has that volunteer and her club. Lots of wonderful changes! One thing that hasn't changed, however, is this volunteer's passion for 4-H, knowledge of the program and especially her commitment to carrying forward the spirit of 4-H - her service ensures a new generation of young people receive the same benefits and opportunities 4-H provided to her as a child.
I recently received a call detailing exactly what that commitment looks like. It was the grownup of a 4-H'er insisting that this volunteer deserves a special award because when the family's truck broke down, she quickly arranged for someone to drive several hours to pick up the 4-H'er, their grownup AND her horse and deliver them safely to the show and back home. We are so lucky to have her on the team.
The 2025 Stanly 4-H Volunteer of the year is Rocky River Riders 4-H Club Leader, Kathryn Nelson. Congratulations, Kathryn
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Annual Enrollment Coming Up December/January
4HOnline.com will close down for maintenance in early January.
All volunteers and 4-H youth members will be marked “inactive”
and will be required to re-enroll for the 2026 year. |
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Winter Enrichment for 4-H teens!
The South-Central District 4-H Officers are excited to host the annual Winter Enrichment program for all 4-H teens in the district on Saturday, January 10th in Cabarrus County. Registration will be from 9:30am - 9:50am, and we will begin promptly at 10am with a service project. To attend, there is a $25 fee per youth participant. Agents/adults attending can attend at no cost, UNLESS they want to participate in the afternoon activity (which will then cost $25). Lunch will be on your own with your county. The program will focus on a service project, business meeting, educational workshops plus an afternoon activity consisting of bowling & arcade games.
To register, CALL the Cooperative Extension Office no later than December 30, 2025. |
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NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association State Conference
January 30-Feb 1, 2026
Stanly County 4-H will cover the cost for 4-H Volunteers to attend, including conference registration AND hotel at double occupancy (aka if they are willing to share a hotel room with another attendee)!
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Announcing the 2026 Youth Market Turkey Show T-shirt Design Contest
Eligibility: Youth ages 5–18. No affiliation (4-H, FFA, or show participation) is required to enter.
Design Criteria:
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Promote youth, turkeys, North Carolina, and/or the N.C. State Fair.
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Preference given for designs that incorporate all contestant’s last names.
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Preference given for original artwork (hand-drawn or digital). A photo of the artwork is acceptable.
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Must include the artist's signature on the original design.
Submission Details:
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Deadline: February 15, 2026
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Form Requirements: Full name, full address, email, and youth affiliation (if applicable).
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Upload your design/artwork image using the submission form
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4-H Summer Camp at Millstone 4-H Camp
It’s TIME to claim your spot for 4-H overnight camp. Our county will attend Millstone
4-H Camp June 21-26, 2026. $555 is the full cost to attend with us. Need-based scholarships are available, and Stanly 4-H’ers typically receive a substantial discount based on fundraising proceeds raised in the Fall Greenery Sale and Spring Plant Sales. Spots are limited. Please contact Mandy Smith-Thompson no later than Feb 2, 2026 and submit a $50 deposit to reserve your spot! |
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South Central District Teen Retreat
The South Central District Officers are busy planning the 2026 Teen Retreat. The event will be on Friday, March 27th and Saturday, March 28th, and is open to all teen 4-H'ers in the South Central District. Teen Retreat is an overnight event where teens from the district stay at Millstone 4-H Camp to campaign, team-build and elect new District Officers to be installed at 4-H Congress.
More details to come. |
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4-H Club Leaders: Please remember to copy the 4-H Agent on any emails you send to Lisa. This simple step helps ensure she stays in the loop regarding ongoing communication and activities involving Lisa,
allowing for better support and coordination.
Thanks for your help with this! |
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Like, Comment & Share, to Spread the Word!
Spreading the word throughout the community is one of 4-H’s greatest challenges here in Stanly County. 4-H’ers, their families and Extension volunteers can help! Post flyers around the community about fundraisers, club meetings, etc - ask our office for hard copies! Share our posts on social media! Like our posts on social media! Always leave a comment when you see one of our posts. Share a link to our newsletter page so other families can keep up with all the opportunities available to their young people! TALK about your experience in 4-H and what you enjoy about it. Bring friends to your club meetings! |
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Rocky River Riders 2025 Meeting Schedule
Is your 4-H'er interested in horses?? All horse-loving 4-H'ers should consider joining the Rocky River Riders Club. Club members will be competing in the 4-H Horse Bowl on January 25 and will host a Horse Bowl Practice on January 3. Rocky River Riders club typically meets the 2nd Friday of each month at 6pm, and will host all 2025 meetings at a new meeting location - West Stanly Saddle Club located at 13154 Saddle Club Rd in Oakboro. The 2025 meeting schedule is listed below:
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🍀 Help the Right Person Find Us! 🍀
Do you know someone with time to invest in expanding our reach across the county? We're searching for a Community Outreach Volunteer—a key person to help us share the life-changing, no-cost opportunities Stanly 4-H offers local youth.
The perfect volunteer has time to invest, is passionate about connecting with people and excited to help more families learn about 4-H. We will provide all the necessary training.
We are certain the right person is out there and need your help putting us in contact with them.
Call or email Mandy Smith-Thompson at 704.983.3987 or
smith-thompson@ncsu.edu. |
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Join a 4-H Club!
In just 2 years' time, Stanly 4-H has grown from 1 club to 5 clubs! Any 4-H member is welcome to join any of our clubs - you can even participate in multiple clubs! Contact our office or click here to learn more about all Stanly 4-H Clubs. |
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