Summer 4-H camps provided variety and learning opportunities
By: Shelia Mader
Jackson County 4-H hosted four very successful summer camps in 2025. They were aided by several organizations in the community in sponsorships, and their willingness to assist in the camps. Optimist Club, The Artists Guild of Northwest Florida, The Jackson County Cattlemen’s Association, Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the JCYLEA (Jackson County Youth Livestock and Equine Association, Inc.) were all instrumental in the success of the camps.
The camps were well organized and very affordable for everyone. The 4-H camps were held in collaboration with Washington County. The 2025 Chicken Summer camp taught kids the basics for poultry judging with hopes of more kids participating in 2025-26 Chick Chain Club. This camp not only prepares participants to show but also compete with a judging team.
The 2025 Hooks and Needles with the participation of the adult’s club of the same name and their volunteers’ services show kids the art of crocheting, needlepoint and beginning embroidery. Fiber Arts Club will be available for the 2025-26 year with the hopes that kids will join and create their own work with the intention of competing at the Panhandle Youth Exhibition in October and the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee as well as the Peanut Festival in Dothan in the fall.
The 2025 Tailgate camp taught the kids to cook four proteins, chicken, shrimp, pork and beef plus create their own dry rubs and marinades.
A mock show was held on the third day and judged as if they were in an actual competition. We had winners for best of protein as well as overall high score. Congratulations to Micha Yoder who was named the overall winner. They are hopeful by next year they will have kids attending the district competition and being the rockstar grillers we know them to be.
Finally, they concluded with the 2025 Archery Summer Camp. Kids learned not only about shooting a bow and arrow, but also about basic first aid. The kids made dramatic improvements within the three days resulting in a pop-the-balloon game as well as a mock competition that unfortunately was rained out. The instructors were confident the kids would have been amazing in the competition.
4-H is looking forward to creating an Archery club for the 2025-26 year, with the ultimate goal of creating a competition team.
If anyone is interested in learning more about 4-H and is need of a night off from cooking, come see what 4-H is offering August 21 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., is offering for 2025-26 and have dinner on them.