Marengo County 4-H program gets new look

Alabama 4-H has recently been energized by new ideas coming from our state office. In Marengo County we have a new 4-H Regional Agent, Beth Yates, and our Marengo County 4-H Agent Assistant Lucinda Mason leading the way to a new and better 4-H.  4-H is for youth 9-19.

First, every fifth and sixth grade student in every school in Marengo County has a 4-H club to be a part of. We will also have two clubs in high schools this year.  Next year we plan to add more, but you have to start with baby steps. We have a very large home school club, the Marengo Rangers which serves our home schooled children.

We will start a shooting sports club with both competition BB guns and archery components soon. If your child is interested, call 334-295-5959 to sign up. We will have SAFE certified instructors and provide all equipment. Later 22 rifles may be added. These clubs will meet at our office building at 2400 E. Coats Ave. in Linden.

On November 1, we will host an Extension Youth Livestock Education Event from 10 a.m. to noon at the Marengo County Extension Office at 2400 E. Coats Avenue in Linden. There are myriad opportunities for youth in livestock areas of 4-H. Included will be information on horse judging, livestock judging, meat judging, the livestock quiz bowl, Chick Chain and Pig Squeal, dairy judging and quiz bowl, ranch management contest, and many others.

If you are interested in any type of livestock club, please come. To RSVP for lunch (provided free) call Beth Yates at 334 295-5959 or on her cell at 334-750-4964.

Chick Chain is a fairly new 4-H competition designed to teach 4-H members recommended management practices for growing and managing chickens. Again contact Beth Yates for more information or come to the Livestock Education event on November 1.

Youth ages 9-19 may register to become a 4-H member online. Go to www.aces.edu web site and then click on 4-H and Youth Development at the top of the screen. This will take you to a home screen for 4-H.  Find 4-H online, click on the icon, and follow the directions on the screen.