Last year, Cherokee County 4-H partnered with Cherokee County Farm Bureau to help host an Ag Day for Cherokee County 3rd graders. The event took place in early April last year, and both the kids and sponsors nearly froze. This year was a bit different, as we held the event on April 17th, which provided a warm day to welcome over 230 Cherokee County Schools 3rd graders. We also opened the event to homeschool families, which resulted in a wider range of ages participating this year compared to last. About 15 homeschool students joined us for the day. In total, over 240 youth participated in 13 educational booths at this year’s annual Ag Day.

Bunnies, Bovines, Bees, & Birds 4-H Club Leader Preston Mashburn was, as usual, a wonderful asset at the 4-H booth. Preston brought some of his farm animals, allowing students to not only learn about products made from animals but also to see and pet the animals in person. Preston and I, Shannon Coleman, talked to students about various products, other than food, that we use every day that come from different farm animals. We discussed the importance of not wasting the parts we don't eat to create everyday items. The students were amazed, while the teachers were surprised. Preston came through also with the animals for the booth, bringing a sheep with a day-old lamb for the students to pet, a goat and two babies, a beautiful bunny, and two chickens, which we didn't pet.

Furthermore, Preston brought two dairy calves from the only family-owned small-scale dairy left in North Carolina, located west of Asheville. The Shields not only let Preston borrow two calves but also had the owner’s granddaughter, Mallory, who raises the calves, come to discuss the process she follows to raise them until it is time to start milking. The students could pet the calves as much as they wanted and let them suck on their fingers or on the bottles that the Shields provided.

• 4-H: Products other than food
• Friendship Farms /Triple R Farms with Beef Cattle
• NCDA/USDA: Milk Cow simulator and dairy information
• Nelson Tractor:  Farm equipment
• High Lonesome Therapeutic Equestrian Center: Therapy Horses and pleasure riding.
• Cloverhill Farm Livestock Hauling:  Horse and livestock hauling and farming.
• Farm Bureau: Ag simulator
• Cherokee County Soil and Water: NC Soils
• Wood Farm: Grain's
• Alpine Animal Hospital:  Veterinarian services
• Appalachian Bee Keepers and D & M Apiary:  Beekeeping
• 5M Farms: Growing Strawberries on a family farm
• Verola Farms: Growing organic foods at home

We love educating our students about the importance of agriculture in their lives. We also hope to inspire the next generation of farmers through this program.

If you would like more information about 4-H in Cherokee County, please contact Shannon Coleman, Cherokee County 4-H Agent, at shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or 828-837-2210 ext. 4.