Upcoming 4-H Livestock Educational Sessions

What: North Carolina Showmanship Clinic

Where: East Carolina Ag & Education Center, Tarboro NC

When: February 28- March 1

What: Clover Classic Livestock Show

Where: Dixie Classic Fairgrounds

When: March 14-15

What: Wes! tern NC L ivestock Judging Clinic and Mock Contest

Where: NC Mountain State Fairgrounds

When: March 21

What: Rowan County Livestock Judging & Skillathon Contest

Where: Rowan County Fairgrounds

When: March 7, 2015

For more information contact Thomas Cobb at 704-216-8970

What: Pitt County Livestock Challenge

Where: Pitt County Agricultural Center

When: March 7, 2015

For more information please contact Andy Burlingham atandy_burlingham@ncsu.edu

Horticultural Science Summer Institute

Horticultural Science Summer Institute, July 5-10, 2015

The Horticultural Science Summer Institute will be July 5-10, 2015 and is sponsored by North Carolina State University and North Carolina Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Program with the Department of Horticultural Science.   High school-aged youth (rising sophomores, juniors and seniors) are invited to apply to a weeklong, residential horticultural experience on the campus of NC State University. 

Youth will have hands-on opportunities to explore a broad range of horticultural possibilities from breeding better fruits and vegetables, growing a diverse selection of woody ornamentals, lengthening the life of cut flowers, learning sustainable production practices and delving into practical tools that enhance our understanding of plant processes. Participants will visit a variety of horticultural businesses. Youth will also be introduced to career possibilities, college-making decisions and leadership development and enjoy evening entertainment and team-building activities.  

The cost of the institute will be $600 with a $150 deposit due upon application acceptance. All lodging, workshop materials and field trips and meals are provided. Scholarships may be available. Applications are due Friday, April 1st and notification of acceptance will follow shortly thereafter. 

Please contact Liz Driscoll at liz_driscoll@ncsu.edu or 919.513.7346/ 919.886.3424 with any questions or comments. 

NC 4-H Horticulture Contest Announced

 The NC 4-H Horticulture Contest, is Saturday, May 2nd, 2015! Register your team or individual here by Friday, April 24th.

The Horticulture Judging and Identification Contest is a great way to introduce the very cool stories that plants are hoping to tell. This contest is a training program concerned with teaching youth to recognize and identify some of the most important horticultural crops, to learn criteria influencing quality and to be able to answer questions and solve problems relating to the art and science of horticulture. There are three portions of the test, including knowledge, judging and identification.

The 2015 North Carolina 4-H Horticulture Contest will be Saturday, May 2nd at 12:00pm in Kilgore Hall on the campus of NC State University, registration is free and lunch is provided!  Teams and individuals can register here by Friday, April 24th. This year's winning state Senior Team will be eligible to receive scholarships attend the National Junior Horticultural Association's (NJHA) annual convention in Orlando, Florida!! (October 9-12).  Any and all other plant-loving friends are also welcome to attend. 

Still want to know more? If you are a hort contest newbie, give Liz Driscoll a call at (919) 513-7346. You can also reference all contest rules and materials at ourwebsite and download multiple tools for coaching a team from dropbox here.