On behalf of the Botetourt County 4-H Program, we are excited to share a snapshot of what members are experiencing in 4-H across the county. For March, we have several big events and programs on the horizon.
Our annual Botetourt County 4-H Share the Fun Talent Show is scheduled for Friday, March 20 at the Buchanan Theatre. This event is open to Botetourt County youth between the ages of 9-19. Mandatory tryouts are being conducted on Tuesday, March 10.
In a partnership with James River High School, Botetourt County 4-H will be hosting a “Reality Store” program for students on Friday, March 20. This is an interactive program where students choose a career, are given a salary, and navigate through the simulation where they have to pay bills, make selections based on their income, and discover what a day in the life of an adult is all about. Volunteers are needed for the event to assist with running each station. Please contact our office if you would like more information on this volunteer opportunity.
Currently in 2020, we have completed classroom contests for dramatic reading and how-to presentations in three of Botetourt County’s elementary schools, five total dating back to November. These contests have been facilitated as a result of how they correspond with certain SOL requirements for fourth and fifth graders while focusing on soft skills development through verbal presentations.
The dramatic reading program requires participants to select a passage from a book of their choosing and then read that passage in front of their classmates. Participants are scored by Tyler Painter, 4-H Agent, on how well they present in regards to their tone, pitch, volume, expressions, etc. Students receive a project ribbon based on their performance, as well as a score sheet with constructive comments.
The presentations project requires students to plan, prepare, and present a topic of their choosing in a “how-to” manner, to their classmates. Students must explain and demonstrate how to do complete the tasks associate with their topic and then have a finished product for the audience to see. As a result of the dramatic reading and presentations contests, the top placing finishers in each class will have the opportunity to attend our county-wide event where they will compete against students from five elementary schools.
Botetourt County 4-H presentation contest will be held on Friday, March 27 at Central Academy Middle School. Students that have excelled in their classroom contests received a letter from Painter that included the date and time of the event. Participants that excel at the county contest will receive an invitation to compete in the Area Contest in April.
Summer is right around the corner and we have received questions regarding this 4-H Camp that will take place during the week of June 8-12. Registration for 4-H Camp will open on Monday, March 30. Registration brochures will be distributed to the elementary and middle schools this week, as well as locations throughout the community, but can also be picked up by visiting the Extension Office in Fincastle. Camper assistance scholarship opportunities are available upon request by contacting the office at 473-8260.
In addition to active school programs and events, Botetourt County 4-H has nine community-based clubs that continue to thrive with monthly meetings and activities. Several of these clubs are designed to involve Cloverbud participants (5-8 years old) and most clubs meet once a month, while others have multiple meetings. A few highlights from each club follow.
The Cooking Kings Club is busy planning for spring, summer, and fall meetings, where each meeting is designed around a theme. These members learn about different cultures and types of food while seeing what it takes to prepare and cook these foods.
The Gardening Club is set to begin 2020 meetings in April and is in search of additional club members. If you have a child between the ages of 5-19 that is interested in gardening, give us a call at the office for more information.
The 4-Honey Club is preparing for a busy season of beekeeping, which includes monthly hive inspections and culminates with an extraction project that serves as a fundraising opportunity at the Botetourt County Fair in August.
The Horse and Pony Club is preparing for a variety of events throughout the 2020 season. The Horse and Pony Cloverbuds have also had an exciting winter and will share additional updates about that soon.
Members of the Botetourt 4-H Livestock Club are busy with monthly meetings, as well as preparing for a busy spring, summer, and fall of showing their livestock projects. These youth will showcase these projects at the Botetourt County Fair in August.
The Outdoor Skills Club had a busy January and February with monthly meetings and guided hunts. These opportunities are made possible by volunteers that are trained through the Virginia 4-H Shooting Education Program.
The Botetourt 4-H Robotics (FRC) Team is immersed in build season for the 2020 First Robotics Competitions. Later in March, they will have back-to-back weekends of competing that will take place in Blacksburg and Portsmouth. This team is made up of members from Read Mountain, Central Academy, James River, and Lord Botetourt.
The Shooting Education Club is preparing to resume practices in April. Members have been contacted by the club leaders who are working to remove interested youth from the waiting list to the active roster.
Members of the Botetourt 4-H Teen Leadership Club just completed training to become teen leaders at 4-H Camp this summer. In total, 42 members were selected to serve in these leadership positions. This group is integral to a successful 4-H Camp experience and they will continue preparing for this in the coming months.
If you would like more information on Botetourt County 4-H or the programs we offer, contact Tyler Painter (tpaint85@vt.edu) at 473-8260.
-Tyler Painter
4-H Extension Agent
