Clemson Extension - Lancaster County

A huge thank-you to everyone who enrolled in 4-H during the first month of the new 4-H year!

We’re excited to welcome new and returning members and look forward to seeing all the learning, projects, friendships, and opportunities this year will bring.

Families who qualified for the September enrollment promotion can expect their South Carolina 4-H membership shirts to be delivered to families and counties in November.

Missed the shirt promotion? Don’t worry. 4-H enrollment is open all year! Even if you missed out on the promotional shirt, you haven’t missed your opportunity to join 4-H, get involved, and be part of the 4-H experience.

There’s always room for you in 4-H!

Pumpkin Update: Meet “Phil”!

After continuing to grow on the vine, “Phil”... the giant pumpkin grown by Lancaster County 4-H members Levi and Harlon Ziegler and their family... has officially been cut and weighed at an impressive 630 pounds!

They made the tough decision to harvest Phil a little early. Although he may have continued growing, the risks were becoming too great, so they decided to play it safe and take him to a certified weigh-off in Yadkin County, North Carolina.

Now, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that Phil makes the journey to the South Carolina State Fair where we can all visit to see it in person! Congratulations to Levi, Harlon, and their family on an incredible accomplishment. We can’t wait to see what happens next!

THIS THE DAY!!!
September 30 is the last day to complete 4-HOnline enrollment and qualify for the promotional 4-H member shirt at no additional charge.

Youth may still enroll in 4-H after September 30, but they will not qualify for the free shirt promotion.

Access 4-HOnline enrollment here:
https://www.clemson.edu/extension/4h/get-involved/

Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved in 4-H and receive this year’s South Carolina 4-H membership shirt!

Save the date! RSVP coming soon! The Lancaster County 4-H Project Awards Banquet will be held on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m. at Willow Oaks Farm.

Everyone is invited—not just youth receiving awards! Join us as we celebrate the hard work, accomplishments, and projects of our Lancaster County 4-H members.

Families who are new to, or interested in, 4-H are especially encouraged to attend. This is a great opportunity to support our youth, learn more about 4-H projects and opportunities, and discover what your 4-H journey could look like.

Additional details and RSVP information will be shared in the coming weeks.

What some might call a collection of bottle caps, the younger members of the Quackin’ Clovers 4-H Club proudly call a masterpiece... and honestly, we’re kind of digging it!

This colorful recycled-art entry is the result of creativity, teamwork, and a whole lot of bottle-cap collecting. The club’s younger members took great pride in creating this one-of-a-kind project, and we can’t wait to see it on display at the South Carolina State Fair.

Good luck to the Quackin’ Clovers! We’re cheering you on!

Harlon and Levi Ziegler, Lancaster County 4-H members, are growing some impressive entries for this year’s South Carolina State Fair!

They recently weighed a couple of smaller pumpkins that had stopped growing... but this giant is still on the vine, approaching an estimated 500 pounds. The pumpkins were weighed on the certified scales at Elgin Feed and Garden, a longtime supporter of Clemson Extension and our local 4-H program. We appreciate their continued support!

We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this big one makes it through the next two weeks and survives long enough to reach the State Fair weigh-in. We are excited to see what the official weight will be!

The brothers are also growing some very large watermelons to enter. Harlon and Levi are no strangers to showcasing their hard work at the State Fair, and we can’t wait to see what they bring this year!

Want an additional South Carolina 4-H membership shirt?

All youth who complete their 4-HOnline enrollment during September will receive a membership shirt for free. Parents do not need to purchase a shirt for their enrolled youth.

Parents, volunteers, alumni, and anyone else who would like an additional shirt may purchase one through the South Carolina 4-H online storefront. All orders must be placed by the end of business on September 30.

https://store.diamondtpromo.com/sc4h/shop/home

Orders may be shipped directly or picked up at your local Extension office.

The new 4-H year is off to a strong start—and there are still great opportunities to get involved!

Youth must complete their 4-HOnline enrollment by the end of the day on September 30 to qualify for the free 4-H membership shirt.

We’re also excited to introduce our new Archery Club! Whether your youth is interested in archery, animals, cooking, leadership, outdoor skills, or other 4-H opportunities, there is something for everyone.

Remember, Eventbrite club registration and 4-HOnline enrollment are two separate steps. Both are required for official 4-H participation.

Read the September 4-H newsletter for enrollment information, club opportunities, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/clemson.edu/lancaster4-h-september25-2026

Welcoming Fall from the Trail!

A few members of our Lancaster County 4-H Birding Club welcomed the first day of fall on Tuesday, September 22, with a mile-and-a-half birding hike at Landsford Canal State Park.

The birds made us work for them that morning! Things were a little quiet along the trail, but with plenty of eyes searching the canopy and ears listening along the way, the group was still able to identify 16 different species.

The favorite find of the morning was the American Redstart! These small, active warblers pass through our area during fall migration, so spotting them was a great reminder that this time of year can bring some interesting visitors our way.

And that's part of what makes birding fun... you never really know what you're going to find until you get outside and start looking and listening.

A beautiful morning, a good hike, 16 species, and some great company made for a pretty good way to welcome fall!

Look. Listen. Learn. Explore.
Lancaster County 4-H Birding Club

🐴 Hippology & Horse Bowl Prep! 🐴

It’s time to start studying! 📚 Mark your calendars for our upcoming competitions:

📅 Horse Bowl — February 27, 2027

📅 Hippology — April 17, 2027
Wondering what to study? Check out the graphic for the topics covered at each level!

🌱 Cloverbuds: Breeds & Colors
🐎 Juniors: Tack, Feeds, External Anatomy & Disciplines
🏆 Seniors: Questions can come from all topics in the approved references

Start studying now and get ready to show off your horse knowledge! 🐴📖✨