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
Lee County Youth Council
The Lee County Youth Council resumed on August 25, but it isn't too late to join. The next meeting is on September 28th at 4-5:30 pm at the main branch of the Lee County Library. Attend this meeting to have your input on the planning for the 2026/2027 council project. Text 919-721-0078 "LCYC Interest" with your name, school, and grade.
The Flavor Lab 4-H Cooking Club
Ages 10-14. Meeting dates: Sept 8, 22; Oct 6, 20; Nov 10, 17. Only 10 members accepted in this 2026 session. If the meetings are full, you can get on a waiting list for the next session in 2027. Enroll in this club at 4HO or email pkerley@ncsu.edu
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 Regional Fair and 4-H
Teen volunteers wanted. Text 919.721.0078 with LRF Volunteer Interest
Sept. 12 & 13 | Exhibit Entry
Sept 15 | Chicken static entry
Sept 16 | Meat Goat Show (Ag South Circuit Show)
Sept 17 | Cattle Show (Ag South Circuit Show)
Sept 18 | Poultry Show sponsored by Pilgrim's
Sept 19 | Milk Goat Inaugural Show hosted by West Lee 4-H Ag Club
Lee County 4-H Club Updates
Horsin’ Around 4-H Club will be hosting our 3rd Annual Open Horse Show on September 26! Our goal is to help promote 4-H while bringing the community together for a fun horse show where riders of all ages, experience levels, and disciplines are welcome! You do not have to be a 4-H member to participate. Come ride with us, support our amazing 4-H youth, and enjoy a great day with the horse community! Look up our Facebook event page for more information, class details, registration, prizes, and updates! ~ Lindsey & Audrey
Magetsi 4-H Club has performances around the county. Catch them on Sept 13th at the Stephen Butterfly Festival. Sept 19th at the Lee County Fair, 6 pm. Sept 20th at La Esperanza Restaurant Hispanic event. Sept 26 for Lee County Libraries Hispanic Month celebration. So far... Viva el mes de la herencia hispana...celebration the Hispanic Heritage Month ~ Myrna
The Flavor Lab 4-H Cooking Club meeting is Tuesday, September 8th, from 5:30-7:30 pm at NC State Cooperative Extension, Lee County Center, 2420 Tramway Road, Sanford, NC. If your child is aged 10-14 and interested in participating in this club, please register your chef by September 2nd for the Fall session! Important: Please make sure your child can attend all 6 sessions [9/8, 9/22, 10/6, 10/20, 11/10, 11/17] before registering. ~ Veronica, Jennifer, Markia
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
Kaleidoscope Online Project Record Virtual Help Sessions
As you may know, North Carolina 4-H recently introduced a new online option for completing project records through Kaleidoscope for the 2026 program year. As 4-H’ers and the adults who support them begin using the system, we will be offering two virtual help sessions in September to answer questions and provide additional support.
These sessions are intended to be help sessions rather than introductory training. Participants are encouraged to access and explore Kaleidoscope beforehand and come prepared with questions based on their experience using the system.
Adult Help Session
Monday, September 21 | 7-8 p.m.
This session is designed for 4-H staff, volunteers, parents, guardians and other adults who support youth with project records. Participants can bring questions about navigating Kaleidoscope, the online project record process, and supporting 4-H’ers as they work through their records.
Youth Help Session
Tuesday, September 22 | 7-8 p.m.
This session is designed for 4-H’ers who have begun exploring or working on their project record through Kaleidoscope. Youth should come prepared with questions about navigating the system and creating or completing their online project record.
*All youth must be accompanied by an adult during the session. Only one registration is needed for each youth and accompanying adult.
Both sessions will be held via Zoom. Registration is required, and Zoom information will be sent directly to registered participants.
View Help Session Details and Register
The article linked above includes complete session information, registration deadlines and separate registration links for the adult and youth sessions. We encourage you to take advantage of the adult help session if it would be helpful as you become familiar with the new online option. Please also share these opportunities with 4-H’ers, families and volunteers in your county who may benefit from additional support.
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 Delegation to NC 4-H Congress.