State Wildlife Awards

4Hers Win State Wildlife Awards

In recent years, habitats for small game species in South Carolina have been declining at an alarming rate. In some cases, this has been due to intensified agricultural production and changing land use practices.

Sidney Goff of Lugoff, 1st place State senior  winner, Mr. Wayne Belger of Belger Farms, and Morgan Smerdell, 2nd place State junior winner

4-Hers planted four wildlife FACE plots in Boykin, SC.   The land and supplies were donated by  Belger Farms.  The FACE (Food And Cover Establishment) project is co-sponsored by the Clemson Extension Service 4-H program, SC Department of Natural Resources, and Quails Unlimited.   A  state contest is held to determine the best plots and record keeping skills of the youth.

The purpose of FACE is to educate 4-H youth on the proper techniques of food plot establishment to benefit small game and other wildlife species.  During the process, youth learned how to take soil samples, fertilize their plot, and plant seeds.   They also visited the plot on a regular basis to look for signs of wildlife, take pictures, and record changes and growth.   Through this project, the youth learned many of the life skills that are the core of 4-H, such as responsibility, leadership,  creativity and becoming good stewards of the land.