BY MEAGAN S. DANIEL
Special to the Times
LAKE BUTLER—It’s a busy time at the Union County Agricultural Education Center/UF-IFAS Extension office this year, signing up and working with many county children in various programs.
Union County 4-H has 215 enrolled members spread throughout 15 community clubs for the 2023-2024 4-H year. Some community clubs focus on specific projects, such as horses, rabbits, gardening, cattle, swine, and baking. Others explore various projects that 4-H has to offer. Additionally, Union County 4-H has three SPIN clubs. These are short-term, meet more frequently, and focus on one specific skill. These clubs teach sewing, horse judging, and food safety.
Union County 4-H enjoys offering day camp options for both members and non-members. The popular camps offered on Union County School District’s Professional Development Days are full for the 2023-2024 school year. We typically allow 20 youths to participate in the day camps with a small registration fee to cover supplies and food costs.
Union County 4-H looks forward to participating in many state 4-H events this year. We are always well-represented at the state archery matches held in Newberry. We also plan to send a team to our state horse judging competition and, hopefully, one or more individuals to state horse presentations. We had one individual that placed second in the state in her horticulture demonstration in July, and we hope more are interested in the demonstration and illustrated talks next year. Erin Harlow, leader of the Providence Friendship Club, will take a group to Gainesville to compete in the annual Insect-a-thon. We also plan to send a cooking team to the 4-H Food Challenge this January.
Meagan S. Daniel, the Union County 4-H Extension Agent, works closely with Union County School District teachers. She takes 4-H into classrooms throughout the school system. She works with teachers to prepare lessons in embryology, STEM, healthy living, and public speaking.
