Virginia Cooperative Extension Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H

Get ready for a festive morning filled with crafts, cheer, and holiday fun! We are thrilled to partner with James Monroe Highland to present Holly Days at Highland. When: Saturday, December 14 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: James Monroe Highland, 2050 James Monroe Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902 Cost: $6 per participant Visit highland.org/hollydays for more information and to purchase tickets. This hands-on holiday family friendly workshop is the perfect way to kick off the season! Join us to: - Create a seasonal centerpiece while learning about native Virginia plants with the Piedmont Extension Master Gardeners! - Craft a felt ornament and try your hands at wool felting with Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H and local felting expert! - Stop by the colonial games table and make a set of historic toys to take home! - Create healthy sugar plums with Courtney, our VCE Family and Consumer Science agent! - Enjoy holiday reading and coloring activities! Enjoy cozy beverages, create memorable crafts, and soak in the joyful atmosphere. Tickets are on sale now! Don’t wait to secure your spot—space is limited. We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you and your loved ones. Let’s make this holiday unforgettable!

This Giving Tuesday, inspire the future! When you invest in Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H, you're doing more than giving – you're empowering young people to dream big, achieve their goals, and thrive in a changing world. Your generosity provides essential resources for youth to stay connected, engaged, and inspired. Together, we can sow the seeds of success and grow the next generation of leaders. Give today to make a difference for tomorrow. Every gift counts! bit.ly/Albemarle4H

Our volunteers are the heart of 4-H, empowering youth and creating lifelong impacts in our community. Their dedication makes everything we do possible! If you’re passionate about making a difference, consider becoming a 4-H volunteer. It’s a rewarding way to inspire and shape the leaders of tomorrow. Learn more by visiting our website: bit.ly/Albemarle4H

🌿Do your kids have the day off of school on Monday? Join us at Home Educator Day at James Monroe's Highland! 🌿 On Monday, November 4th, from 9 AM to 3 PM, families are invited to step into history and explore the life and times of President James Monroe. 🏛 Walk through the Presidential Guesthouse, meet historical figures James and Elizabeth Monroe, and enjoy a day filled with unique hands-on activities! 📜 Featured Activities 📜 📖 9:00-11:00 AM: Create a Highland Trail Journal 🐴 9:00-11:00 AM: Meet a special miniature horse guest with us, Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H! ✒ 9:00 AM-1:00 PM: Practice Historic Handwriting with Elizabeth Monroe 📸 9:00 AM-3:00 PM: Snap a photo in Highland's historic photo booth with costumes! 🐑 10:00-11:00 AM: Wool processing and spinning demo 💫 11:30-12:30 PM: Cross-stitch sampler-making …and so much more! All students and families are welcome—homeschool, public, and private! Admission is just $10 for participants and adult chaperones, with FREE entry for kids under 4 and Monroe’s Farm Friends members. Don’t forget to pack a picnic to enjoy a memorable day at the home of America’s 5th president. Link for tickets: https://lnkd.in/eZJkjWCK

We are proud to share that the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has unanimously proclaimed October 6th-12th as National 4-H Week in Albemarle County in recognition of the remarkable contributions of 4-H members, volunteers, and leaders in empowering youth through hands-on learning experiences. 4-H Professionals Sam Leech and Sarah Brown, along with our dedicated 4-H members and volunteers, had the privilege of thanking the Board for their continued support of our programs. The Board's encouraging words about the importance of community connection, leadership, and addressing critical issues like environmental protection highlight the transformative impact of 4-H. Special thanks to: Supervisor McKeel, who praised the involvement of our youth and emphasized 4-H’s role in preparing the next generation for future challenges. Supervisor Pruitt, who spoke on how 4-H fosters the strong community connections that make Albemarle County a place where people want to live and give back. Supervisor Gallaway, who commended the commitment of 4-H members in an age of technology, stressing the importance of hands-on skills. Supervisor LaPisto-Kirtley, who admired the leadership and citizenship skills fostered by 4-H, with over 1,800 local youth participating. Supervisor Mallek, who shared a heartfelt story about her daughter’s 4-H experience, highlighting the lifelong value of hands-on learning. Supervisor Andrews, who fondly recalled the impact of 4-H in his own community and encouraged current members to embrace the journey. We are deeply grateful to the Board of Supervisors for recognizing the value of 4-H in shaping engaged, resilient youth. Thank you to all of our members, parents, volunteers, and leaders for your dedication and continued contributions to the Albemarle community. Read the proclamation: https://lnkd.in/ensYuVPv View the meeting: https://lnkd.in/eUB5-yrR

Enrollment is OPEN! All Albemarle and Charlottesville youth age 5-19 are invited to join a 4-H Club today! Visit our website to learn more about our Clubs: https://lnkd.in/eh2AbcGy Then enroll in 4-H Online https://lnkd.in/ejrcEe4b

We're thrilled to launch the Albemarle/Charlottesville 4-H Youth Livestock Leadership Association - a brand new county-wide project group dedicated to all things production livestock (beef cattle, hogs, market lambs, meat goats)! Led by 4-H Extension Agent Sam Leech, this group offers a fantastic opportunity for 4-H members ages 9-19 to dive into the world of livestock production, nutrition, and exhibition. And guess what? You don’t need to own an animal to join! What’s in Store? -Hands-on learning about livestock production, evaluation, nutrition, and exhibition -Exciting field trips and farm visits -Participation in 4-H contests like Livestock Judging, Skillathon, and Cattle Working -Leadership roles, including learning about the Virginia 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program -Special events like Youth Beef Field Day and Youth Swine Day -Quality Assurance Trainings (YQCA, Beef Quality Assurance) If your 4-Her is ready to jump into this amazing learning experience, sign up now!   We’ll be hosting an interest meeting in the coming months to finalize meeting times and plan out the year. Sign Up Here: https://lnkd.in/epPPsfgZ

The Home Arts and Agriculture Building is OPEN at the Albemarle County Fair located at historic James Monroe's Highland! Visit the Fair today until 9pm to see all of the 600+ entries in the Home Arts & Ag Barn (including the Titan Sunflower Competitions), talk to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Piedmont Master Gardeners, learn more about 4-H, visit with the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, and the Central Virginia Fiberarts Guild! There are also Sunflower related kids activities in the Home Arts & Ag Barn presented by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Piedmont Master Gardeners! And don't forget to visit the Livestock Show, 4-H Livestock Kids who have worked hard on their animal projects to prepare for the Fair, Central Virginia Beekeeping, Albemarle County Fire Rescue and more! So much creativity and hard work on display in Albemarle County. Find the Livestock Show and Entertainment Schedules at https://lnkd.in/eivZ32MM Cost is $5 daily, free for children under 6.

Thank you to the Virginia Tech Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management in the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences for highlighting our 4-H Sewing Camp! Come to the Albemarle County Fair this week at James Monroe's Highland to see some of our 4-H Youth's talented work and creativity in person!

In partnership with the Albemarle-Charlottesville Piedmont Master Gardeners, we welcome everyone to enter Home Arts and Horticulture Entries into the 2024 Albemarle County Fair. The time is now to register your entries online by visiting: https://lnkd.in/da-DRvSa Once your entries are registered online, drop them off at James Monroe's Highland on Wednesday, July 30th from 12-8pm. Visit the Albemarle County Fair website for the full Entry Catalog. https://lnkd.in/eZzRPHdz