Wayne County 4-H News

During Volunteer Leaders Weekend recently, Phyllis Brumfield of Genoa (center) was recognized as the 2018 Wayne County Outstanding 4-H Volunteer. Phyllis has served as a volunteer for the past four years as a Club Leader of the Genoa Warriors 4-H Club. She has also been a tremendous asset to the 4-H Camp program. Her children - Conner and Benton are both actively involved in the program - availing of many of the opportunity available to youth. Congratulations to Phyllis on this well-deserved honor!

The Wayne County 4-H Ambassadors held their monthly meeting on November 5, 2018. They elected officers which include (l-r): Cameron Cade, Treasurer; Brenna Barnett, Secretary; Zara Harold, President; and Chase Smith, Vice President. The team also worked on quilt block for a local Wayne County resident as part of their community service project involving the Wayne County 4-H Heritage Quilt Trail. To learn more about the Wayne County 4-H program and opportunities for teens and young adults, please contact our office at 304-272-6839. 

Youth at three Wayne County after school sites (Buffalo, Kellogg and Prichard) have been learning about Ireland since early October. During the last week of October, each after school site got to taste and make Irish Soda Bread. The lesson mixed kitchen science and international cuisine.

The photo features Kinley Howard from the Buffalo After School site showing a sample of soda bread she tasted and one that she made to bake at home. For more information about educational programs through Wayne County 4-H, please contact our office at 304-272-6839.

Three Wayne County 4-H CS (Computer Science) Clubs reached the midway point last week (4 out of 8 lessons). Our office is facilitating clubs at the following schools: East Lynn, Fort Gay and Prichard. Students in the 4th and 5th grade at these schools are learning key computer science principles. Lavalette Elementary 4th and 5th grades will start the program in January. CS First a partnership between Google and the National 4-H Council. The West Virginia 4-H Program launched this program for counties to avail in 2017. 

On October 26, 2018, the Reality Store program was delivered to nearly 200 students at Buffalo Middle. Many thanks to the volunteers, teachers and administrators for supporting this program. Both 7th and 8th grade students learned life lessons related to the importance of budgeting, saving as well as many expenses a household has each month as a result of this program.

Two more Reality Store programs remain - at Crum Middle School on December 5, 2018, and at CK Middle on December 7, 2018. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Wayne County office at 304-272-6839.

The West Virginia Teen Leader Council met at WVU Jackson's Mill on Saturday, November 3, 2018. The purpose of this meeting was to give voice to the planning (assemblies, council circle, menu and small group topics) of the 2019 State 4-H Teen Leader Weekend.

Two Wayne County 4-H'ers are honored to serve on this council that include (l-r): Sarah Ferry of Huntington and Chase Smith of Prichard, both of the Whites Creek Critters 4-H Club. To learn more about the Wayne County 4-H Program, please contact Julie Tritz, 4-H Extension Agent at 304-272-6839.

Practices are underway for the West Virginia Beef Bowl Quiz. We are very excited by the interest this year. Wayne County youth that are interested in participating, please call the Wayne County office at 304-272-6839. Practices will be held every Wednesday after school, except for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. These youth will compete in the 2018 West Virginia Beef Bowl Quiz scheduled for November 30 in Roanoke, West Virginia.

Amanda Parsley of Lavalette, Lisa Bell of East Lynn and Tammy Barnett of Prichard, were all inducted into the West Virginia 4-H All Stars on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at WVU Jackson's Mill. These three 4-H volunteers were recognized for their service over the past five plus years to the Wayne County and West Virginia 4-H program. The West Virginia 4-H All Stars recognizes youth members and adult volunteers for their outstanding service and leadership to the West Virginia 4-H Program.

Bruce Crockett was named as the 2018 Outstanding 4-H All Star. Bruce is a 4-H Club Leader and coach for the Wayne County 4-H Shooting Sports program. He helps lead monthly club meetings and trains youth for shooting sports competition at the county, region and state levels. Bruce has been active with the program since the mid-2000s. Wayne County is blessed with his outstanding service and leadership to the 4-H Shooting Sports program.

The Whites Creek Critters 4-H Club meets monthly and welcomes any youth ages 5 - 21 years. The club teaches youth leadership skills in the form of parliamentary procedures and conducts community service projects annually. Furthermore, it has specific activities designed for Cloverbuds (youth aged 5-8 years). The members include (l-r): Aliva Adkins, Jenna Adkins, Haylee Christian, Kamron Christian, Zacheria Ballengee, Willa Balengee, Brenna Barnett, Jan Balengee, Josie Parsley, Sarah Ferry, Iggy Balengee, Zara Harold, Hunter Vanhoose, Danielle Adkins, Duke Parsley, Malaki Balengee, Erin Ferry, and Simon Balengee. To learn more about this 4-H Club or other community 4-H Clubs in Wayne County, please call the WVU Extension Service Wayne County office at 304-272-6839.