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Hello, four H Family and Future four H Family. I'm Jessica Jackson, your Polk County four H agent, and I'm just so excited to be here with y'all today. Now, before we jump into all the good stuff, let me share a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Polk County and these beautiful foothills are my home. Funny enough, I didn't grow up in four H. It wasn't because I didn't want to, but simply because I just didn't know about it. And that right there is a big reason why I want every young person in Polk County to know what four H is and how it can open doors you've never even dreamed of. My interest in agriculture sparked at the age of five. When I reached high school, I began to understand my passion as I was in knee deep in FFA and other youth programs. That's where my love for agriculture really bloomed. That passion carried me all the way to Clemson University. Go Tigers where I studied agribusiness. Now here I am back in Polk County, ready to grow the next generation of leaders, dreamers, and doers. Well, what is four H? Four H is an international youth development program that has been around for over a hundred of years here in North Carolina. It's part of the Cooperative Extension System and it is open to kids ages five through 18 our mission, helping young folks build skills they need to become responsible, capable, and involve members of their communities. Here's a fun little history nugget for you. Way back in the 18 hundreds, researchers noticed that farmers were kind of hesitant to try new methods, but kids, oh, they were eager to give it a go, so they started forming clubs to teach agriculture techniques. In 1902, a fellow named AB Graham launched the Tomato Club and the Corn Glowing Club in Ohio. And not long after, Jesse Phil Shamberg introduced the ionic clover pin with the four H's. By 1924, we had official four H clubs and that little green clover became a symbol across the country. Now, here in North Carolina, we got roots that run deep. We are the first state to partner with the USDA for the demonstration programs. And in 1910, we appointed our first black extension agent, Neil Alexander Bailey. From canning clubs to camps, food drives, to livestock shows. North Carolina four H has a proud history of growing leaders. Speaking of history, y'all ever heard the house that four H peanuts built? It started as a project by a young boy in Cumberland County. During the Great Depression, he grew and roasted peanuts as part of his four H work and ended up helping his family buy their own land. That very house now sits at Millstone four H Camp in Elder B North Carolina as part of North Carolina's four H, history and Learning Center. This is just a powerful reminder of how something small can turn into something mighty. Just in case you're wondering what those four HS stands for. It stands for your head, heart, hands, and health. And the pledge that goes along with it is I pledge my head to clear thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world. It's more than words. It's a promise to grow into your best self and to lift others along the way. Now, here in Polk County, our four H program is blooming like never before. Let me tell you just a few things that we have going on. Our sewing program helps kids learn a life skill that, if I'm being honest, I wish I paid a little more attention growing up. I can't tell you how many times I've struggled to sew on a button or him a pair of pants most of the time. I just call my mom to see if she can help me. And then there's our cooking program. And let me tell you, it's not just about stirring pots. We're talking nutrition, food safety, and even some fun competition. Our kids compete in the Dyna Gord Food Challenge where they can cook up a dish in just 40 minutes, give a presentation while also incorporating nutrition facts and food group knowledge. It's fast paced, fun, but also full of learning. Now one of our exciting programs that we have here at the center, and one of my favorites is the GOAT program. We have Nigerian Dwarfs on site, and our youth gets hands-on experience with everything from bottle feeding vaccinations. Some of them even get to chance to show goats, rabbits, or even participate in a program called the Western North Carolina Dairy Steer Calf Program. Raising a calf, showing it, and even earning the proceeds from the sale. It teaches responsibility, leadership, life skills that stick. Our clover buds is our group that are from ages five to eight. They get their hands into everything from cooking to stem, to agriculture. Just last week we had a lesson on entomology. The kids made ants on a log snacks. With apples peanut butter, raisins, and even m and ms. It was educational and delicious. Don't forget, our team council, these older kids are diving into career readiness leadership, community service, awa, building friendships, and learning how to work as a team. We've also recently launched a crochet series, and let me tell y'all, the kids are picking it up fast and it is pretty amazing to watch. I am also thrilled that we have partnered with Dream Haven Farm to get our e equine program off the ground. It's brand new. We've received a lot of interest. It's gonna be a work in progress, but it is something that we saw a need in the community for the youth. Outside of club meetings, our four H students can compete in public speaking, attend leadership conferences, do community service, and even explore summer adventures. And everything from gardening to career prep. The best part is that joining four H is completely free. Some clubs or some programs may have a small supply fee, but we've got scholarships and support, so don't let costs keep you from joining this amazing family. Now y'all, I gotta say, this program wouldn't be what it is without our amazing volunteers. Truly, they're the heart and hands of Polk County four H. Whether they're teaching a skill, leading a club, or just cheering a kid on at the Livestock show, our volunteers are the reason we can do what we do. But here's the thing, as our program grows and it is growing, we're always on the lookout for more folks to join our four H family. Maybe we've got a special skill to share a little extra time, or just the heart of helping kids. You don't have to be an expert just willing to show up and care. We're also looking for to build more partnerships. That might mean bringing in a program into one of our local schools or teaming up with businesses right here in the community. If you're a business owner, teacher, or someone who wants to make a difference, we'd love to chat with you because four H is not just a program, it's a community. It's friendships that last, lessons that stick, and connections that can shape a young person's life for years to come. Make sure you subscribe to our newsletter@polk.cs.ncsu.edu so you don't miss a thing, especially our summer class schedule that's gonna be dropping next month in our newsletter. Before I sign off, be sure to tune in next week to listen to our incredible livestock agent, Cassie Lama. Thank you so much for spending this time with me today. It's truly an honor to serve this community. And help grow something special through four H here in Polk County. We're just getting started and I can't wait to see what the where the journey takes us. Until next time, keep your head, heart, hands, and health in the game.