Eggcellent Eggs Competition Results
Savannah Kozlik, Cloverbud Division Winner
Brooklyn Walton, Junior Division, Brown Large, XL, and Jumbo Eggs, Second Place
Participant Recognition: Vanessa Rodriguez, Lisbet Valente, Julian Valente.
Congratulations!
Lee County 4-H & Lee County Library STEAM Program
Each 4th Tuesday | 4:30-6:00 | Sanford Branch of the Lee County Library: New Location
Project Record Books in 2026 will be digital
Beginning with the 2026 program year, 4-H members may choose to complete their project record online through Kaleidoscope. This marks the first step in our transition to a fully digital project record system.
This initiative has been in the making for several years. During that time, the State 4-H team has redesigned the project record process for a digital environment. Kaleidoscope has been pilot tested and refined based on feedback from 4-H members, volunteers, and Extension professionals to help ensure a smooth statewide implementation.
For the 2026 program year, members have two options for completing their project record:
- Complete the project record electronically through Kaleidoscope and print the final copy for submission.
- Complete the traditional paper project record using the forms available on the NC 4-H website.
Both options are acceptable for the 2026 program year. Members should select the format that best meets their needs and follows any guidance provided by their county 4-H program.
Regardless of which format is used, all completed project records must still be printed and submitted as a hard copy through the county 4-H program. Kaleidoscope allows members to create, save, and update their project record electronically throughout the year, while the final submission process remains the same unless your county provides different instructions.
To get started, you can go to the Kaleidoscope section of our website and click "Complete your Project Record via Kaleidoscope."
Lee County 4-H Club Updates
Lee County Barn Busters 4-H Club meets on Wednesday, October 14, from 6:00–7:00 PM at Mare Meadows Farms! We’re excited to get out of the classroom and onto the farm! Students ages 5-18 are welcome to join. Come learn, connect, and see what opportunities may be ahead. We hope to see you there! ~ Leanna & Lyndy
Crazy Quilters 4-H Club will finish our club quilt and start our service project of pencil pouches. The pencil pouches will be part of a bigger service project from a local church. Crazy Quilters meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 9:00 in the sewing lab at NC Cooperative Extension. ~ Sally, Jenny, & Sandy
The South Central District Volunteer Leaders Association (VLA) is getting ready for Fall Day, which will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Rowan County Extension Office in Salisbury.
They are currently looking for ideas for workshops to offer during Fall Day! If there is a topic, 4-H project, or skill you would like to learn more about, or if you have a skill or project that you would be interested in teaching to other volunteers, they would love to hear from you.
Please send workshop ideas or proposals to Crystal Croyle, South Central District VLA President-Elect, at crystal_croyle@yahoo.com by Wednesday, September 2.
Registration information and additional details about Fall Day will be shared soon. This is always a great opportunity to connect with other 4-H volunteers from across the district, learn something new, and bring new ideas back to our county!
SCD 4-H Council Officers
Kavya Saxena Cabarrus President
Sarayu Kondeti Mecklenburg Vice President
Ty Kovar Cabarrus Secretary-Treasurer
Savanna Abrams Hoke Member Engagement
Abigail Wood Rowan Reporter
4-H AI Boot Camp
We are partnering with the Mark Cuban Foundation to host a first-ever 4-H AI Bootcamp for high school students. We will hold it at the Harnett County office in Lillington, NC.
It will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 31, November 7, and November 14, free of charge, and will include lunch.
Youth will learn about AI tools and create a final project at the end. Afterward, they will be invited to join the MCF AI Alumni network, which could lead to other connections and opportunities.
Registration is open from now until Sept. 30. Visit markcubanai.org/apply
NC State Fair
The NC State Fair is quickly approaching, from October 15-25, 2026. I wanted to remind you of the various opportunities your 4-H’ers can participate in at the fair.
You can view the premium book and all the competition details online at:
NC State Fair 4-H Competitions Click the Competition Information Section.
Please refer to the deadlines listed under each section in the premium book.
For 4-H Crafts, Sewing Needlecraft, County Exhibits, Entomology, Photography, Haybales, etc.:
- Online Entry Deadline: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
- Mailed Entry Forms: must be postmarked by Tuesday, September 1st, 2026
- Entries may be shipped via UPS or FedEx (signature required) to:
NC State Fair Attn Entry Department 4285 Trinity Road Raleigh NC 27607
- Access the paper entry form here: NC State Fair PAPER Entry
Exhibit Drop-Off Times:
- Deliver exhibits to the Education Building; enter through Gate 12 from Hillsboro Street
- Saturday, October 10 from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Sunday, October 11 from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Monday, October 12 from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
- Exhibits released from other fairs will be accepted until 3:00 pm on Monday, October 12 with entry tags from prior fairs. Call 919-839-4513 for details.
- Mailed exhibits must be received by Monday, October 5th, 2026. Entries may be shipped via UPS or FedEx (signature required) to:
NC State Fair Attn Entry Department 4285 Trinity Road Raleigh NC 27607
- Haybale Decorating must be completed on Saturday, October 10 thru Monday, October 12. Location: Grassy area in between the Kerr Scott Building and the Administration Offices.
- Please see this section for specifics on when you can bring your items. Ensure you allow enough time to complete your entry process by Noon on the deadline day. We are open the weekend prior to the fair, so please avoid waiting until the last minute.
Exhibit Pick-Up Times:
- Pick-Up Date: Monday, October 26, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- The fair is not responsible for entries left after 6 PM.
- Claim tickets from entry tags are required to claim your entries.
- Hay Bale: Decorations may ONLY be removed on Monday, October 26th, 2026 from 8 AM-5 PM. Decorations not removed by 5 PM on Monday, October 26th, will be discarded.
Competitions:
- County 4-H Hay Bale: (1 entry per county; submission must be coordinated by the county 4-H agent and registered as the County 4-H Program.
- Categories Open to Any 4-H’er:
- 4-H Crafts
- 4-H Sewing & Needlecraft (NEW this year!)
- 4-H Photography
- 4-H Entomology
Competition Guidelines:
- Competition is open to North Carolina residents only, and youth must be registered in 4-H online.
- Two entries per exhibitor, per class.
- Online entry registration deadline is Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
- Mailed entry postmark deadline is Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
- NC Substitute W-9 forms are required to receive prize money.
- General Rules and Regulations of the Fair will govern this department: NC State Fair General Rules
NC Youth Institute
North Carolina Youth Institute (NCYI) and the opening of our Fall Research Cohort!
NCYI gives high school students the opportunity to explore global food and agriculture challenges, strengthen their research and communication skills, connect with NC State mentors, and learn more about college and career pathways in agriculture and STEM.
The Fall Research Cohort provides additional support for students as they develop their Global Challenge research paper and prepare to participate in NCYI.
We would greatly appreciate you sharing the announcement below with 4-H members, families, schools, clubs, and other youth-serving partners in your community who may know students interested in agriculture, food systems, natural resources, or STEM.
This is a program that crosses all areas; livestock, poultry science, horticulture, agronomy, soils, entomology, forestry, wildlife, nutrition, policy, and more. This is a program of NC 4-H and the Plant Sciences Initiative and love to tell you more! ALSO, bring your 4-H Clubs to PSI for a field trip too, talk to Sarah for more info.
Clovernews photo taken by Pam Keley of the 2026 Pilgrim's and 4-H Pullet Show at the Lee Regional Fair.