Lenoir County 4-H serves more than 2,000 children annually

Tara Taylor knows first-hand how important 4-H is to Lenoir County children — the 30-year-old has been involved with the organization since she was 5.

For the past five years, she’s headed up the Lenoir County 4-H, one of the 18 member agencies of the Lenoir-Greene United Way. Over the past 25 years, the South Lenoir High School, Lenoir Community College and N.C. State University graduate has seen the impact 4-H has on this county’s children.

“The most important things 4-H teaches are life skills that children are able to achieve,” Taylor, the local 4-H Extension Agent, said.

More than 2,000 Lenoir County children take part in some facet of 4-H, Taylor said. She highlighted the accomplishments of several programs the local 4-H club is involved with, including a grant-funding initiative that provides education about substance abuse prevention.

Two 4-H members — Arendell Parrott Academy senior Alex Sugg and Meredith College freshman Samantha Wiggins — were awarded trips to the organization’s National Congress in the past year.

“That was a pretty big accomplishment,” Taylor said. “They worked hard to achieve that success.”

Taylor said today’s 4-H is quite different from the organization that many older adults might remember.

“4-H used to be very traditional, like a corn, tomato and agriculture club,” she said. “Now, 4-H is broader; it includes photography and fashion design. Anything a child can imagine and dream of, they can do in 4-H.”

Taylor said she cherishes the relationship her agency has with the Lenoir-Greene United Way.

“We have fond feelings for the United Way,” Taylor said. “They’re a great support system for 4-H. … We’re very thankful for what the United Way does for 4-H. They help us send deserving youth to leadership conferences and we feel very strongly about the United Way and hope the community continues to support them.”

Bryan C. Hanks can be reached at 252-559-1074 or at bhanks@freedomenc.com. Check out Bryan’s blog at bhanks.encblogs.com.

United Way Focus

Every week, The Free Press is introducing you to one of the 18 member organizations of the Lenoir/Greene United Way. Today, the Lenoir County 4-H is featured; in the next three weeks, The Free Press will feature these United Way agencies:

Nov. 18: LinkLine

Nov. 25: Mary’s Kitchen

Dec. 2: RADD, Inc.

Lenoir-Greene United Way director June Cummings on Lenoir County 4-H:

“They’ve expanded so many opportunities for youth in Lenoir County that we’re proud to have them as a partner organization.”