Onslow County 4‑H prepares youth for chicken show, healthy-cooking competition and summer camps

Onslow County Cooperative Extension's 4‑H program highlighted spring competitions and summer opportunities that combine agriculture, nutrition education and leadership skills for local youth.

Tara Taylor, a representative of Onslow County Cooperative Extension 4‑H, said Onslow County participants will take part in the Coastal Plains Chicken Show on May 8 at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena and that the county’s programming includes a Junior Master Gardeners club and horticulture activities at the Discovery Garden.

Taylor described the Dinagore Healthy Foods & Nutrition competition for youth teams, which requires teams to shop from a provided pantry, cook within time limits using basic equipment and deliver a presentation that accounts for 60 percent of the score. She said Onslow County sent three teams to regionals and that two teams — an 8–10 age group and an 11–13 age group — advanced toward the state-level competition to be held as part of the Got to Be NC festival in Raleigh on May 17.

Taylor said projects teach goal-setting, record keeping and public speaking. She also noted that some 4‑H animal projects (broilers) result in meat donations to the food bank and that younger participants (clover buds) receive noncompetitive recognition to build skills.

On summer programming, Taylor said 4‑H will run day and overnight camps, including a week at the Eastern 4‑H Center; she noted the program provides transportation and that campers cannot bring cell phones. "There's never a dull moment," Taylor said of the 4‑H schedule, which includes state horticulture and horse-judging competitions this month.

For information on club meetings, competitions and camp registration, Taylor directed listeners to Onslow County Cooperative Extension resources.