Last week this time, it looked as if the county fair may have 10 days of clear weather for the first time in many years. The weather forecasters were predicting only a very slight chance of rain for last Friday and clear skies and fantastic fall temperatures for the rest of the week.

You saw what happened. When someone drove a tent peg into the ground on the fairgrounds, it was just like doing a rain dance. The frontal systems headed this way, it got cloudy, and by Monday it was raining so much most people stayed away from the fairgrounds. In fact, the popular cheerleading contests scheduled for Monday and Tuesday nights had to be postponed.

As I prepare this column several days before it appears in The Robesonian, it is still cloudy, and the weatherman is predicting a good chance for showers for several days. But thankfully, there is a prediction for several really nice days as well. Make an opportunity to visit your county fair during one of those days. It is a fantastic county fair with a lot to see.

In my column last week, I shared information about opening ceremonies for the county fair that were held Thursday afternoon. We were fortunate that Steve Troxler, commissioner of Agriculture, and Cherie Berry, commissioner of Labor, were on hand for this celebration. Both of these state departments play a very key role in county agricultural fairs in North Carolina.

I also shared information with you about how those opening ceremonies focused on 4-H and the youth of our county. This week is National 4-H Week when 4-H clubs, 4-H members and the accomplishments of these youth are celebrated across the nation.

Our county commissioners proclaimed this week as 4-H Week in Robeson County during their meeting on Monday night. During his comments at the opening ceremonies, Noah Woods, chairman of the board of commissioners, made a special point to recognize not only our youth of the county but also the many adult volunteers who give of their time to make sure these youth have an opportunity to be involved in worthwhile activities.

This year is the 100th anniversary of 4-H in North Carolina. These ceremonies included the cutting of a huge green and white birthday cake and the release of 100 green and white balloons. The slogan across North Carolina for this occasion is “We Are 4-H.”

And finally, in that column, I shared information with you about a very special adult volunteer leader from St. Pauls who provides an opportunity for youth in her community to come together regularly to have fun, to learn new and rewarding things, and to mold themselves into the leaders of tomorrow we so drastically need.

Mrs. Libby Burney is this leader -- a special lady who has more energy than the young folks she works with; a person who has been involved in 4-H longer than most of my 4-H staff have been adults; a person who started loving 4-H and 4-H youth while living in Florida and brought that love with her when she moved to our county several years ago; and a person full of ideas and a passion for what our youth can accomplish.

You can be the Mrs. Burney in your community and do similar things for your children and your neighbor’s children. You can recruit a couple of other adults in your community and start a 4-H community club for these youth. Step up and take some responsibility. Give them something constructive to do. Give them something fun to do. Give them something to do they will be proud of. Give them the opportunity to be rewarded for their accomplishments.

It is unfortunate that we have literally thousands of youth in this county who stray the wrong way because of the lack of opportunities to be involved in worthwhile activities. They become involved with the wrong groups, because there are no right groups to attract them. They learn the wrong skills of survival instead of the right skills of citizenship and compassion for others.

The 4-H Program is the largest youth organization in the nation with full-time paid staff to help organize clubs, train volunteers and provide events and activities for both the youth and the adults. Cooperative Extension coordinates the 4-H program in Robeson County — one of the largest and most active programs in the state. Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H agent; Aggie Rogers, 4-H program associate; and Penny McCartney, 4-H secretary, would be glad to help you and your friends develop a 4-H community club for your children and the youth in your community.

This is National 4-H Week, this is 4-H Week in Robeson County, and this is the 100th anniversary of 4-H in North Carolina. Why not do something good? Why not be able to say “We Are 4-H.”

— Everett Davis is director of the Cooperative Extension offce.