The Beaufort County 4-H held its inaugural expo, showcasing nine exhibits presented by 4-H members and announcing project awards won by members of area 4-H clubs.

At the expo, held at the Washington Civic Center, 4-H clubs across the county — Bath Creek 4-H Club, 4-H Fit Club, Pamlico Pirates 4-H Club, Raised in a Barn Farm 4-H Club, St. John’s 4-H Club and Talented Dreamers 4-H Club — met to present a variety of projects conducted by club members, as well as information about 4-H. The expo also featured nine interactive 4-H curriculum exhibits presented by Beaufort County 4-H Teen Council, a group made up of teen representatives from area clubs that guide and lead younger members, said Louise Hinsley, 4-H Youth and Development extension agent with the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension.

“The 4-H Expo is the first time where we’ve had exhibits out for the public to come in and really see what 4-H is about,” Hinsley said. “So we’ve tied it with our awards program. We’re most excited because we have nine different hands-on curriculum exhibits run by our teenagers. We also have our 4-H clubs that have their exhibits and many of them are showcasing awards from 2014 so we have a lot of activity in here and we want the public to come and see. 4-H is more than cows and cooking — we have a lot of science and technology and a lot of different curriculum ideas so you get to see a broad base of the program.”

The six 4-H clubs represent different communities in the county and, at the expo, members were presented with awards from 2014 4-H Project Record Books — awards given for research, record-keeping and showmanship in raising and showing animals at area competitions. Club members were given ribbons with 4-H medallions based on their projects and service, Hinsley said.

“(Members) got to wear them during the night after their leaders presented the awards,” Hinsley said. “We heard many of them even wore them to school the next day so we know they were really proud. They really earned those.”

The 4-H curriculum consists of nine different areas of focus — animal science, plant science, healthy lifestyles, personal development, science and technology, environmental education, consumer and family science, communication and expressive arts and leadership. Other exhibits, presented by members of county 4-H clubs, featured rabbits and chickens, small science projects and information and exhibits related to science.

Raised in a Barn 4-H Club member Annabelle Howdy, was seen showing off a chicken named Pretty Girl to attendees.

“This is my mom’s friend’s chicken,” Howdy said. “I’m doing a goat and I’m going to sell him in the livestock show in Plymouth in the middle of May.

Kaleb Davis, a student at Beaufort County Early College High School and member of Boco 4-H Teen Council and Bath Creek 4-H, was also seen manning an exhibit with fellow 4-H member Hunter Williams. The exhibit focused on using lemon juice and a Q-tip to write on paper and then using heat to illustrate the lemon juice’s ability to create invisible ink. Davis gave comments about his participation in 4-H and what it means for him.

“It means a lot to me,” Davis. “It’s like a really big responsibility I like to take up. It’s really fun for me to be with my friends and some that I consider my family. It’s a great opportunity for friendship, and it’s a really good opportunity to have for college (resume) and stuff so it means a lot to me. I appreciate everything we do together.”

Among other exhibits presented by area 4-Hers were: Teen Council members Heather Shea and Aeryalle Williams featured an exhibit on plants native to the region; Tyler Sosebee, member of Raised in a Barn Farm 4-H and eighth-grader at Chocowinity Middle School, presented an exhibit related to vibration and the use of it to cause the heads of toothbrushes to move around; Bath Creek 4-Hers Melanie Rutledge, Natalie Asby and Kyndall Seger showcased chickens and rabbits they work closely with and show at competitions; Ethan Carrow, a sixth-grader at Washington Montessori Public Charter School and member of 4-H Fit Club presented information about his club’s findings in maintaining a healthy lifestyle through the use of drinking water and exercising; and Amber Midyette and Angelina Cote, both of Bath Creek 4-H Club featured the awards, service and projects it has conducted over the past year.

Clubs also told attendees about the continued outreach area clubs participate in throughout the year, including feeding the homeless, according to Hunter Williams. Shea spoke about the county 4-H program and its mission.

“As a whole, we try to bring the community together to show the different things going on in the community and ways we can give back,” Shea said.

Call the Beaufort County Center of N.C. Cooperative Extension to learn how your young person can get involved or how your youth serving agency may partner with 4-H. For more information, contact Erin Massie and Louise Hinsley, extension agents, at 252-946-0111.