September 2023 - Buzz, Body and Bites

Check out this months Buzz, Body and Bites!

Cloverbud Camp 2023

Our Cloverbuds are a HIT!! Last week Cloverbud Camp started off with a visit from the one and only Gus from the Fredericksburg Nationals! Gus and Adam shared information with us about their reading program called Books and Baseball, FredNats games and took photos with each kid and signed a baseball for them to take home. Throughout the rest of the week the campers participated in team building activities such as wiffle ball, marshmallow tower building, and egg tossing. Campers improved their hand eye coordination by practicing catch with their fellow campers and lacing string through their dream catchers, then campers tested out their science skills learning how to make homemade gak and ice cream. We finished camp off by playing a fun game of water baseball and enjoying our yummy ice cream. Thank you for sharing your kiddos with us for the week.

TACO Camp Celebrates Horses and Youth and Volunteers Who Make it Happen

 

Orange County 4-H hosted 12 campers at TACO (Therapeutic Adventure Camp of Orange) the last week of June. 4-H TACO provides a summer camp experience, with horseback riding, arts and crafts, science experiments, and fellowship and play for local youth in special education. The camp continues to use the wheelchair ramp built and donated by Gordonsville Methodist nearly 20 years ago.

More than 50 4-H volunteers made the camp possible this year, serving as side walkers, group leaders, and project assistants. Jim McDonough Cutting Horses provided the location, horses, and riding instruction. Grey Ghost, a pony owned by Teresa Critchfield, completed his 15^th year at 4-H TACO camp, and is a camper favorite.

Local churches contributed the daily snacks, and nine Rappahannock Electric Cooperative employees volunteered. Youth ages 12 and up, and adult volunteers, are needed annually, with applications being accepted each spring.

Rainy Orange County Fair Proves Successful Anyway

 

After a very dry spring, the rainy last week of June was welcome relief in the area, even if it was during the annual Orange County Fair. More than seven inches of rain fell at the Old Gordonsville Road location, but that didn’t stop 118 4-H youth from showing 151 animals.

Blue ribbons were awarded and grand champions chosen for beef and dairy cattle, hogs, sheep, meat and dairy goats, poultry, and rabbits. 4-H Cloverbuds (ages 5-8) showed Saturday morning of the fair and were interviewed on the microphone about their projects, demonstrating their animal knowledge and public speaking skills.

The annual 4-H auction Saturday evening grossed over $184,000 with tremendous support from local businesses and individuals for 4-H youth who usually use the funds to build their herds and save for higher education. More than 150 volunteers contributed over 700 hours of service during the fair.

Fairy Entry Forms are now open!

Fair Entries are now open. Visit our website for forms. Entry Forms are due May 1st.