By Denise Sherrill, Henderson County 4-H

What is your favorite memory from elementary school? Was it playing on the playground, a favorite teacher, or a best friend?

Henderson County 4-H has provided eggs, supplies for hatching them and teacher training for schools for over 20 years, and teachers tell us that participating in 4-H Embryology is a highlight for many elementary school students.

Fifty-eight classes, mostly second grade, are participating in 4-H Embryology this spring, along with all of the students at Dana Elementary. The N.C. Essential Standards for Science require second grades to learn about life cycles.

4-H volunteers first hatch eggs at home, helping them to become incubation "experts." These volunteers then deliver eggs to the schools. On delivery day, they check each classroom to ensure the incubator is located in a good spot, has water in the bottom, and the temperature is 100 degrees.

They explain to the students that the incubator is the closest thing we have to a mother hen. It provides protection, warmth and humidity. Protection and warmth are obvious, but humidity is a surprise for most of us. The mother hen provides moisture by plucking out some of her feathers, and pressing her skin against the eggs. The volunteers also answer students' questions. The 4-H agent also visits each classroom to help ensure a successful hatch.

Learning life skills is a focus of 4-H. Teachers tell us that the main skill learned by participants in 4-H Embryology is responsibility. Students also develop an interest in wildlife and caring for wildlife, and an improvement in their basic knowledge of science.Teachers also report that the embryology project helps their students aspire to a career in science or a related field.

One teacher wrote, "Students took responsibility for the record-keeping, egg turning and mentored first-graders by teaching them about the embryonic development. This gave them great life experience and great material for writing, which is the heart of comprehension!"

Teachers incorporate math, vocabulary, journaling and many different concepts into the embryology unit. This year Candi Mains and Zach Knox, teachers from Dana Elementary, created a fun song about oviparous animals.

A private donor helped to fund 4-H Embryology the past few years. Grant funds will be sought for new equipment for future years. Donors will be needed for ongoing supplies. Volunteers would be welcome to help with any part of this program: equipment repairs, delivering eggs to schools, preparing equipment for teachers, and sorting and storing equipment as it is returned.

Henderson County 4-H uses bobwhite quail eggs for 4-H Embryology. A dad of several 4-H alumni raises and releases the quail into the wild.

4-H Award

Deborah Clark, agricultural engineering teacher and 4-H club leader at Dana Elementary, received the NC 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association School Enrichment Award in March.

Clark enthusiastically works to develop skills in leadership, citizenship and responsibility in her students and 4-H club members. She involves all 480-plus students at her school in gardening and learning about nature each week. She implements 4-H Embryology and nutrition programs, and assists other teachers with these programs.

Deborah Clark inspires her students, and everyone who knows her, to do their best in all aspects of life.

4-H Mini-Gardening Contest

For all Henderson County youth, ages 9-18, as of Jan. 1: Each participant plants and cares for a 10-foot-by-12-foot vegetable garden and maintains a garden journal. Training, seeds and tomato plants are provided. Extension Master Gardeners visit each garden twice during the summer. Space is limited, so register soon.

4-H Sewing Classes

Registration for 4-H sewing classes is now open to anyone ages 10-18. Classes will be on Friday afternoons, beginning monthly from June 9 to Nov. 17. and each class will run for four weeks. Choose either 1-3 p.m. or 3:30-5:30 p.m. Beginners are welcome. Sewing machines, patterns and basic sewing kits are provided, along with adult helpers. The fee is $25. Sewing volunteers are always needed.

4-H Paper Clover Days at Tractor Supply, now through May 7

Support your local 4-H program by purchasing paper clovers at Tractor Supply.

Denise Sherrill is the 4-H agent for Henderson County. 4-H is the Youth Development Program of NC Cooperative Extension, which is a division of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NCSU. Visit henderson.ces.ncsu.edu/4-H, call 828-697-4891 or email Denise_Sherrill@ncsu.edu to learn more about 4-H clubs, activities or endowments. Donors are always needed to help provide scholarships for 4-H camp and other activities. Donations may be sent to: Henderson County 4-H, 100 Jackson Park Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

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