Nice to meet you, my name is…

LUMBERTON – I would like to introduce myself; my name is Jade McNeill, I am the NEW 4-H Program Assistant with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center, and I am so excited to be back in 4-H.

A little bit about myself; I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management and a Minor in Commercial Photography.

I have worked from the mountains to the sea, and now I am back working in my hometown. I am excited to bring my skills to this position. I hope to further my education at NC State University so I can gain more knowledge with N.C Cooperative Extension, Robeson County Center.

I am a 4-H alum from Robeson County, how cool is that? I have previous work experience in 4-H. I grew up surrounded by agriculture and farm life. One of my favorite 4-H memories as a child would be raising and showing a beef heifer from my family’s farm at the Robeson County Fair. Fun fact – I still have my ribbons from the fair, and they are displayed in my 4-H office! Raising and showing the cow, which I named Fiona, taught me a lot of responsibility at such a young age. My dad and I had to catch the heifer in the pasture; we had to halter break her; then she had to learn to trust us, so I could walk her around. We kept her in a fence at my house. I fed her twice a day and had to clean her pen. I had to walk, train, wash, and brush her. While raising her, I also had to do a project record book. You may be wondering what a project record book is. The 4-H program has a long history of record keeping. In 4-H, young people track their activities, events, skill development, learning experiences, and much more using the 4-H project record book. I showed Fiona in the fair and it was a great experience. I came in 3rd, Fiona came in 3rd, and my Project Record Book came in 1st.

When I was younger, I used to sell blueberries and honey at the Robeson County Farmers Market on the corner of 8th and Elm Street During the summers, I would pick blueberries on a one-acre field, put them in containers and set up at the Farmers Market every Wednesday and Saturday. I did this from the age of 10 to 18. Blueberries and honey helped pay for college and gave me a great appreciation of the farmers market.

I am married to my best friend Lucas, and we have two beautiful children together. Family means the world to me. I love traveling, exploring new places, and photography. I hope to teach a photography program in the future.

My goals for my position are to gain more 4-H members, come up with new programs, and learn what the community would like for the youth. So if you read this article, I challenge you to email me with your thoughts and ideas. I am here for the youth and community.

I will be concentrating on 4-H Clubs and county programs. If you are interested in 4-H Clubs, programs, or volunteering please reach out to me, I will be glad to assist you!

For more information, contact Wendy Maynor, Extension 4-H Youth Development Program Associate, at 910-671-3276, by Email at Jade_McNeill@ncsu.edu, or visit our website at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/.

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

ABOUT N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

North Carolina Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State Extension, The Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and local government partners statewide. Extension delivers research-based education and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T that enriches the lives, land, and economy of North Carolinians. Extension professionals in all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee provide educational programs specializing in agriculture, youth, communities, health, and the environment.