By Matt de Simone
Botetourt County 4-H Extension Agent Tyler Painter told the Botetourt County School Board at its May 14 meeting that local 4-H programming reached hundreds of students this school year through classroom enrichment, STEM instruction, leadership development, and public speaking opportunities.
Painter delivered an annual overview of countywide 4-H activities during the meeting, highlighting programs offered in partnership with all seven elementary schools, both middle schools and both high schools. He also brought Troutville Elementary School fifth grader Carson Ferguson, who delivered a “how-to” presentation on baking biscuits for board members and attendees.
“At this point, I feel like I’m a broken record when I get up in front of you, and I say this is the best year yet that we’ve had in schools,” Painter told the board. “And I can say I fully believe that this has been our best year yet.”
Painter thanked the School Board, Superintendent Dr. Janet Womack, administrators, teachers, students and parents for supporting the organization’s continued growth in county schools.
According to information included in the meeting agenda packet, Botetourt County 4-H currently serves youth ages 5 to 19 through partnerships with schools, volunteers and community organizations. Programs are offered in 11 schools throughout the county, including monthly fourth and fifth grade classroom enrichment lessons aligned with Virginia Standards of Learning requirements.
Painter said he visited all 33 fourth and fifth grade classrooms in the county once a month from September through April, reaching more than 600 students monthly through school programming.
“The programs that Mr. Painter teaches are directly correlated to our SOLs,” Greenfield Elementary School fifth grade teacher Marie Hanna stated in materials included with the presentation. “We use them this year as an introduction and review of topics. Mr. Painter makes everything fun for the students.”
Programs highlighted during the presentation included dramatic reading contests, “how-to” presentations, photosynthesis lessons, Mars rover projects, engineering challenges, visible light spectrum activities, sound instruction and marshmallow catapult projects centered on force and motion concepts.
Painter also discussed embryology lessons conducted with kindergarten, fourth grade, and fifth grade students throughout the county. More than 150 chicken and quail eggs were incubated during the school year as part of life cycle instruction.
“I think this is such a great way to teach the life cycle, especially when you hatch chicks,” Painter said. “The excitement I get from it, just by seeing the kids get excited and holding baby chicks or hearing the chirping inside of the shell – that’s awesome.”
Additional programming included STEM activities with Read Mountain Middle School students, archery instruction at Central Academy Middle School and Lord Botetourt High School, Reality Store financial literacy simulations for eighth grade students, and career readiness workshops for students at James River High School and Lord Botetourt High School.
Painter also highlighted the organization’s active community clubs and countywide competitions, including livestock, robotics, horse and pony, gardening, cooking, shooting education, and teen leadership programs.
The county’s annual 4-H Presentation Contest, held in April, drew 69 student participants from more than 120 invited students. Painter said Botetourt students later earned 10 blue ribbons and four trophies at the regional competition in Floyd County.
As part of the presentation, Ferguson spoke briefly about his experience participating in 4-H before demonstrating his award-winning biscuit-making presentation.
“This 4-H program has been a great experience for me,” Ferguson told the board. “I believe my classmates and I have learned a lot, and I truly enjoyed participating in it.”
Painter praised Ferguson’s public speaking abilities and described the presentation as one of the best he has seen during his 14 years working with 4-H members.
“I’m not kidding – this is in the top two or three presentations that I’ve seen in my 14-year career,” Painter said.
The presentation concluded with Ferguson beginning his demonstration on baking biscuits using self-rising flour, shredded butter, and buttermilk while board members watched from the audience.
