Happy May! As our young people begin to prepare for end of school testing, graduation, and summer plans, it can be a bit challenging and stressful time. I wanted to provide you all with some of my favorite techniques to help relieve stress when I'm feeling super overwhelmed.

Journal: I love journaling especially with a fancy new pen. I journal about my daily happenings or sometimes just write down the simple things that I'm grateful for.
Express Gratitude: I express gratitude in my journal or gratitude jar. I use a post it or scrap paper, and write down the things that I'm grateful for. I use some down time to reflect on what I wrote in my jar.
Listen to Music or Audiobook: This is my new favorite! I will find a non-academic audiobook, and listen to it.
Get Outside: Take a walk around your neighborhood or go to a park.

Good luck in the next few weeks!

Keep Making the Best Better,

Miss Crystal
Union County 4-H Agent

On April 15, the 2023 NC State 4-H and FFA Horse Judging Contests were held at Martin Community College. Several members of the Union County 4-H program participated in the competition. Horse Judging is an opportunity for young people interested in horses to critically evaluate the conformation of a horse for a purpose or the ability of a horse to perform certain requirements for a class. Participants can be ranked as an individual or team. Union County's Charlize Colon of the Young Riders 4-H Horse Club captured the High Senior Individual in Performance, Oral Reasons, and Overall. Charlize was coached by her club leader Samantha Taylor. Additionally, Union County 4-H members Kylee Greene placed 1st in Junior Oral Reasons, 2nd in Junior Halter Top Individual, and 4th in Junior Overall Individual. Shelby Taylor placed 4th in Junior Halter Top Individual, 3rd in Junior Oral Reasons Individual, and 5th Junior Overall. Elena Hamilton placed 5th in Senior Halter Individual and 7th in Senior Oral Reasons Individual. Addison Taylor placed 6th in Senior Performance Individual, 10th in Senior Halter Individual, and 7th Senior Overall Individual.

Union County 4-H teaches Ag Tech to K-2
Union County 4-H continued work with elementary schools within the UCPS Ag Tech academy to provide hands-on, educational lessons relating to agricultural technology focusing primarily on robots in agriculture. Students at Wingate and Union Elementary Schools in grades kindergarten to second grade participated in unique activities surrounding the idea of an autonomous tractor. The students compared the difference between a driverless autonomous tractor and one with the option to have a driver then design, constructed, and programmed their own autonomous tractor.

Come Skate with Union County 4-H!
Join Union County 4-H for a night of skating on May 23rd from 5-8 pm at Kate's Skating Rink. This event is to open all of our 4-H families as a celebration of a fun year so far! 4-H members who register via 4-H Online have access to a limited free admission. This is open to individuals who register by May 22nd in the 4-H Online system. Otherwise, members will be responsible for paying $12 at the door for the Union County 4-H Group Rate. The cost includes skate rental, access to the play gym, pizza, and drink. We hope to see you all there.

Register for 4-H Citizenship NC Focus by May 10th

The annual 4-H Citizenship North Carolina Focus will be held on June 21-22, 2023 in Cary, NC. During this citizenship and leadership conference, teenagers will participate in citizenship themed workshops, hear from distinguished speakers, visit with elected officials, and participate in the Citizenship Opportunity Fair. Registration is through 4-H Online, and it must be completed by May 10th for approval. For any young person interested in attending the conference, please contact Miss Crystal at crystal_starkes@ncsu.edu for more information.

Do you have a great idea to help improve the programs and activities we do so much better? We need you. The programs and activities that we do for Union County 4-H is for everyone. To stand true to this idea, we need your help. We seek members (both youth and adult) to join our 4-H Planning Teams for 4-H Achievement Night, 4-H Expo & Creative Arts Competition, 4-H Science Expo, and the 4-H Quarterly Social Activities, including the Exceptional Children's Party. We are currently seeking 4-H Planning Team members for 4-H Expo. The meetings will take place starting in June leading up to the event in September.
The requirements are the following:

Attend at least four meetings a year (maybe less depending on the event/activity)
Be willing to help with preparation for the activities or events
Promote the information to the community

We are seeking at least one person (4-H member, volunteer, and/or parent) from each 4-H club to serve on at least one of the committees. To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/UC4HPlanningTeams.

Union County 4-H Summer Fun is Here
The moment you've all been waiting on is finally here! Union County 4-H is excited to release this year's Summer Fun Guide with the list of summer day camps and opportunities for youth ages 5-18. Our summer day camp provides hands-on, fun, and educational camps with a variety of topics and times for youth ages 5-14 to choose from including Let's Get Creative, Get Rooted in Houseplants, Kidpreneurship, and so much more. Registration officially opens on April 3 and close on May 21, 2023. Registration is on 4-H Online and payments will be made at the Union County 4-H office between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm via cash, check, credit card (in person and by phone at 704.283.3742), or money order.

Hands and Heart Yarn Club elected its new officers
Union County’s new yarn club, the Hands and Heart Yarn Club elected its new officers. Ella Corriveau will serve as the club's president. Amelia Poplin was elected as Vice President. Elli Corriveau was elected as secretary. Ava Hall was elected as the new reporter. The club is still accepting new members, so if you are interested in joining, contact Leah Joyner at union4hncyarnclub@gmail.com or 704-301-9271. The club meets on the 3rd Friday of each month and the next club meeting is on May 19 at 3:30 pm at the Union County Ag Center. All youth ages 8-18 are welcome.

2023 NC State 4-H Horse Artistic Expression and Creative Writing Contests

Registration for all Artistic Expression and Creative Writing contests is open until June 1. The deadline for entry fees to be received by NC State Extension Equine Husbandry is June 15.

For additional details and information about the contests, please visit this page.

The Artistic Expression contests provide an educational opportunity for participants to exhibit their artistic skills, in a variety of different events, pertaining to horses and the 4-H horse project. Exhibits must be submitted in the dining room of the James B. Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh at the NC 4-H State Horse Show on July 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entries will be judged beginning at 5 p.m. Exhibits will be on display on July 8 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and projects and awards can be picked up from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
The goals of the Horse Creative Writing Events are to provide an outlet for written expression for the 4-H member on horse-related topics while encouraging youth to express their experiences and ideas in a creative manner. Furthermore, the Creative Writing Contests will recognize youth who have creative writing talent by expressing their ideas through writing. Each participant must be a current 4-H club member. Participants do not need to own their own horses.

**This information was provided by the NC 4-H Horse program newsletter**

Social Media Facebook Groups

Please join our Facebook Groups! Union County 4-H has changed how we communicate with the public on Facebook. We have five new groups including Union County 4-H Updates, Union County 4-H Alumni, Union County 4-H Volunteers, Union County 4-H Summer Fun, and Union County 4-H Club Leaders. The NC Cooperative Extension-Union County Center Page will still post information about 4-H, but the group news will be tailored for a specific audience. We hope this change will allow groups to form a community of like-minded individuals.

May 10 - NC Citizenship Focus Registration Deadline
Available in 4-H Online
May 13 - South Qualifying Horse Show, Lake Waccamaw Equestrian Center
Only eligible participants can show. All 4-Hers are welcome to attend.
May 19 - Dinah Gore 4-H Healthy Food Challenge Contest
Interested in starting a team, contact the local 4-H office
May 21 - Last Day to Register for 4-H Summer Fun & NC 4-H Congress
Register in 4-H Online
May 23 - 4-H Skate Night
Register in 4-H Online
June 17 - South Central District Activity Day
South Rowan High School in China Grove, North Carolina