Your Local 4-H Agent
Lillian (Lil) Ledford
301 W South Broad Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
Work Cell: 864-795-2347
Join 4-H
4-H provides hands-on, learn-by-doing, opportunities for everyone.
Oconee County 4-H Clubs
Clubs
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Bark Buddies Dog Club
Club Leader: Tina Reif treif@clemson.edu
- Club meets 6pm the 3rd Tuesday of most months at the Oconee County Extension office, 301 West South Broad St. Walhalla, SC 29691
- Open to all SC 4-H members
- Register youth and attending adults for each meeting: Bark Buddies Registration
For youth who love dogs, Bark Buddies K-9 Club explores topics like obedience, training, grooming, breeds, and even careers working with dogs. Members build confidence handling animals, learn responsibility, and leadership. The club is perfect for beginners and experienced dog lovers alike.
Bark Buddies Club transitions over the summer into Bark Buddies K-9 Obedience Training, a weekly Special Interest short-term program in which members learn AKC obedience and training with the option of showing at the Foothills Heritage Fair (separate fee and registration for the Training Program)
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Oconee Jr. Chefs
Club Leader: Jennilee Hill picklejahr@gmail.com
- Club meets 5pm the 4th Monday of the month at the Oconee County Extension office, 301 West South Broad St. Walhalla, SC 29691
- Open to all SC 4-H members
- Register youth and attending adults for each meeting: Oconee Jr. Chefs Registration
Youth build kitchen confidence through hands-on cooking, learning basic skills, nutrition, and how food connects to culture and community. Members plan recipes, practice teamwork, and may take on leadership roles within the club. No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to try new foods!
Look for a Cooking Camp in June (Separate Registration and fee)
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Oconee Hoppers Rabbit Club
Club Leader: Tina Reif treif@clemson.edu
- Club meets 5:30pm the 2 nd Monday of September-November and February-June at the Oconee County Extension office, 301 West South Broad St. Walhalla, SC 29691
- Open to all SC 4-H members
- Register youth and attending adults: Oconee Hoppers Eventbrite
This club is for youth interested in raising, caring for, and showing rabbits. Members learn about animal health, breed identification, and responsible ownership, with opportunities to prepare for local shows like the Foothills Heritage Fair. Great for beginners or experienced rabbit owners. No rabbit required, but you’ll probably end up getting one.
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Oconee County Clovers Club
Club Leader: Sara Foster clydesdalesocks@gmail.com
- General Interest Club, open to all SC 4-H members, topics chosen by members
- Meets on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
- For topic, location, and to register youth and attending adults: Oconee County Clovers Eventbrite
- The Clovers have a once-a-month hike series. Please click here for dates and to register.
A flexible, member-led club where youth choose what they want to explore—anything from science and agriculture to crafts, engineering, and more. This is a great place to try new things, meet other 4‑H members, and build leadership skills in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
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Tri-County Homesteading Club
Club Leaders: Nicole Justus Nejustus@gmail.com, Melanie Bouroughs boroughsben@gmail.com, Amanda Chipps achipps455@gmail.com
- Club meeting and event dates, topics, and locations and dates vary, check the registration link for the most current information.
- Open to all SC 4-H members
- Register youth and attending adults
Learn how to grow or raise harvestable foods, prepare and preserve them for later, and other concepts and skills that contribute to effectively living off the land. Topics may cover raising and butchering livestock, making jerky, water-bath canning, crop rotation, identification and management of crops, soil health, spinning and weaving animal and plant fibers, preserving herbs and herbal blends, basic mending and repair... the list goes on!
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Archery Club
Club Leader: Ashlie Parham ash.parham8@gmail.com
- Club to start in September of 2026, contact Lil or Ashlie with questions or to offer assistance!
- Archery Camp June 13-14, 2026
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Shooting Sports
Any Shooters interested in Shooting sports please contact Rick Willey,
- Email: rwlly@clemson.edu
- Phone: (864)-656-3090
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Pickens & Anderson Clubs and Events
Oconee Co 4-H Members are members of South Carolina 4-H, and may participate in any SC 4-H club or event for which they are eligible (shooting sports have geographic restraints; some events may have age restrictions). Pickens and Anderson are the closest neighbors. Visit their websites or reach out to the county agent to see what other opportunities are in the area!
- Pickens County 4-H: Agent Ty Howard: Clubs include – Shotgun, Wildlife, Farm to Table, Tri-County Horse, Canine Cadet Dog, Homeschool Club, and Sew What? Club.
- Anderson County 4-H: Agent Jessica Simpson: Clubs include – Shotgun (3, depending on area), Pendleton 4-H club, and Trottin’ Tigers 4-H Horse Club
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Annual Oconee 4-H Member Parties (June & December)
Twice annually we try to all get together with our families to celebrate the community we are building withing Oconee 4-H. These events are open to all members, their families, and guests (we just ask that you register everyone, and sign up to bring a potluck dish).
- June Cookout @ 4-H Barn
- When: June 8, 2026 5:30pm
- Where: Oak Grove 4-H Center (670 Oak Grove Road, Westminster))
- Oconee 4-H will provide burgers, dogs, buns & fixin’s. Sign up for a side dish in the registration link or here.
- Oconee 4-H Christmas Party
- When: December
- Where: Oconee Extension Office (301 W. South Broad, Walhalla)
- This is a dessert & appetizer potluck!
- June Cookout @ 4-H Barn
Kits and Program Reservations
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Request a Program
Your 4-H agent is available for free programs in the educational setting of your choice (schedule dependent).
- I’d love to help you with adding 4-H to your existing clubs, or with starting an all-new in-school 4-H club!
- Becoming a certified South Carolina Green Steps School is easy and rewarding. We already have several in the county for whom I serve as a mentor! I/they would be happy to help you with this process.
- Consider taking the Extension School and Community Garden course for resources & expertise, access to discount plants delivered throughout the school year, and recertification points.
- Your current agent, Lil Ledford, is a certified Virginia K-6 teacher (working on SC licensure) and worked for 12 years as an educator with the regionally recognized University of Virginia’s Blandy Education Team. I would LOVE to use my expertise to work with you and your students!
- Email ledfor7@clemson.edu or text (864-795-2347) to open a conversation.
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Embryology (hatching chicks)
- Request a chick-hatching kit in your educational setting, and to optionally reserve agent time for a project program.
- Kit use is free, fertilized eggs are $12/dozen from Clemson’s Morgan Poultry Farm.
- Eggs take three weeks (21 days) to hatch
- **Submitting the form does not guarantee a reservation, your agent will confer with you to confirm/change your reservation**
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Water Quality Survey
- Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Survey Kits are available for use by:
- certified South Carolina Adopt-A-Stream volunteers
- Educators conducting stream ecology
- Water Chemistry Setup(s) coming soon!
- Use this form to request a kit of materials, and for optionally reserving agent time for a program around this project.
- Kits are free to use; lost or misused items must be replaced.
- **Submitting the form does not guarantee a reservation, your agent will confer with you to confirm/change your reservation**
- Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Survey Kits are available for use by:
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Wildlife Tracks and Scats
- Available materials include:
- silicone molds for creating plaster track casts,
- field guides for common tracks and scats,
- resin track casts that can be used to create prints.
- We hope to add a model scats, pelts, and more activities in the near future!
- Use this form to request a kit of materials, and to optionally reserve agent time for a project program.
- Kits are free; consumables by 4-H may incur a charge. Lost or misused items must be replaced.
- **Submitting the form does not guarantee a reservation, your agent will confer with you to confirm/change your reservation**
- Available materials include:
UPCOMING IN 4-H
Deadlines and Events
Remember – ALL in attendance must register via Eventbrite (not just participants) for EACH session of each event. Eventbrite links also contain essential information (location, ages, cost, ect)
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August Deadlines and Events
- August 4: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Tuesdays through September 15th.
- August 8: State 4-H Ambassador Training; TBD
- August 8: State 4-H Honey Bee Project Record Books Due; local county office
- August 8: 4-H in the Forest (Second Saturday Series): Reptiles and Stream Ecology
- August 8, 2pm: FREE Play/Musical 12 Kinds of Ice, a musical performance for participants 10 and older at Clemson's Black Box Theater in the Brooks Center
- August 11: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Tuesdays through September 15th.
- August 14: State 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project Registration Deadline; Note how close this is to the end of the membership year: be sure to renew in September!
- August 15 11-3: Animal Days Pet Adoption Day at Tractor Supply, Seneca (Sign up through the Homesteading Club link)
- August 15: Highlands Biological Station – Oconee Clovers Hike (NOTE: I’ll can get a van and can transport participants – if registrant warrants: Register by August 7!)
- August 17: Oconee Clovers Club Meeting 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month 6pm at Oconee Extension Office
- August 18: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Tuesdays through September 15th.
- August 18: 5:30pm ABBEVILLE Poultry NPIP Testing and Showmanship Clinic
- August 19, 4pm: Tri-County Homesteading Club Meeting (Poster Making!)
- August 20: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Entomology & Great Southeast Pollinator Count (insects & other small critters) at South Cove Park – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- August 21-22: Great Southeast Pollinator Census
- August 21: Green Steps Schools Pollinator Count
- August 22: Oconee 4-H, FOLKS, & South Cove Pollinator Census Festival
- Pollinator Count Training 10-11 (recommended, not required)
- Festival 11-1 (Register to help out!) – note different links
- August 24: 5-6pm Poultry NPIP Testing and Showmanship Clinic
- August 25: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Tuesdays through September 15th.
- August 27, 2-4: Poster Workshop – bring your ideas, materials, and questions to create your entry to the 4-H Educational Poster Contest at the Foothills Fair!
- August 27: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Trees and Forestry with guest instructor, Carolyn Dawson, at Hayden Conference Center in Clemson’s Botanical Garden – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- August 31: Oconee Junior Chefs Club Meeting 4th Mondays (5th Monday this month) at 5:30 pm at Oconee Extension Office – Topic: Prep for Fair Cookie Contest!
- August 31: State 4-H Honey Bee Project Wrap-Up
- August 31: End of the 4-H Year!
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September Deadlines and Events
Members who join or renew in the month of September get a free t-shirt! Members also get free admission to the South Carolina State Fair on 4-H Day with presentation of a membership card or if wearing 4-H gear!
- September 1: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Tuesdays through September 15th.
- September 1: State Fair Home & Craft Entry Registration Due See the website for delivery dates.
- September 3: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Location and topic TBD (Aquatic macros or Herpetology at either Chau Ram or High Falls County Park) – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- September 5, 10am-noon: Poster Workshop – bring your ideas, materials, and questions to create your entry to the 4-H Educational Poster Contest at the Foothills Fair!
- September 8: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Fair Prep 1 Focused training sessions to prepare youth who have completed the summer Bark Buddies training, and are now skilled dog handlers, for competition in the dog showmanship at the Foothills Fair (fair dates September 22-26, 2026).
- September 10: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Location and topic TBD (Aquatic macros or Herpetology at either Chau Ram or High Falls County Park) – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- September 12, 9-11am: 4-H in the Forest (FREE Second Saturday Series), Fishing and Lake Ecology!
- September 14: Oconee Hopper Rabbit Club Monthly Meeting 2nd Monday of the month, 5:30pm at Oconee Extension Office (TOPIC – SHOW PREP)
- September 15: 2026 Bark Buddies K-9 Dog Obedience Training Fair Prep 2 Focused training sessions to prepare youth who have completed the summer Bark Buddies training, and are now skilled dog handlers, for competition in the dog showmanship at the Foothills Fair (fair dates September 22-26, 2026).
- September 16: Foothills Fair Entry Forms & Posters Due in Office.
- September 17: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Plants at the South Carolina Botanical Garden – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- September 18: State Fair Farm Bureau Federation Poultry Scholarship and Rabbit Scholarship ($1000 each) Due
- September 19: Oconee County Farm Crawl (not 4-H, but cool!)
- September 21: Oconee Clovers Club Meeting 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month 6pm at Oconee Extension Office
- September 24: Oconee Area Junior Naturalist Program 4:30-5:30pm: Location TBD (Ornithology/Birds led by Jr. Naturalist Aerin Skye!) – this FREE series is co-hosted with Oconee Parks, Rec, and Tourism
- September 25: Deadline for State Fair 4-H Rabbit Showmanship and Poultry Showmanship
- Rabbit Showmanship Information and Registration Link
- September 22-26: Foothills Fair (Exhibit Contests & Animal Shows).
- September 22, 5:30pm Poultry Show (registration starts at 4:30)
- September 24,
- 8am – 1pm Ag Days at the Fair
- 5:30pm Dog Show (registration starts at 4:30)
- September 25, 8am – 1pm Ag Days at the Fair
- September 26:
- 10am Rabbit Show (registration starts at 9am),
- 5pm Costume Contest (registration starts 4:00)
- September 28: Oconee Junior Chefs Club Meeting 4th Mondays at 5:30 pm at Oconee Extension Office – Topic: TBD
- October 1: Clint Attaway Poultry Showmanship Awards due
Second Saturday Series: 4-H in the Forest:
- September Workshop: https://4-HintheForest-September2026Workshop.eventbrite.com
Annual Events & State Projects
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Bark Buddies K‑9 Obedience Training (June 22 – September 15)
A short-term program focused on practical dog obedience skills. Youth work directly with their dogs to build communication, confidence, and handling skills, with the option to compete at the Foothills Heritage Fair. The $25 program fee per youth & dog covers the show entry fee for the Foothills Heritage Fair for that pair.
Contact: Tina Reif treif@clemson.edu- Free information meeting at June Bark Buddies Club Meeting: June 15, 6pm.
- Training: Tuesdays June 22 – September 15, 2026 (except July 28) 6pm
- Extension Office, 301 West South Broad St, Walhalla
- Youth must be members of SC 4-H, 3rd grade and older, and register in Eventbrite.
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Oconee GSEPC Pollinator Count (August 21-22, 2026)
Join Oconee 4-H’s participation in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC): A community science opportunity in which participants help collect real-world data on pollinators while learning about insects, plants, and healthy ecosystems. Participants practice observation and identification skills as they count bees, butterflies, flies, and other pollinating insects, contributing information used by researchers and conservation professionals across the Southeast.
- Contact: Lil Ledford, ledfor7@clemson.edu
- Open to all SC 4-H members and families.
- Oconee 4-H and Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) are presenting a pollinator training and count, hosted by South Cove County Park.
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Training from 10-11: Register here.
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Festival from 11-1. No registration required to participate, click here for information about the activities and to register to HELP
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Foothills Heritage Fair Exhibit Competitions & Livestock Shows (September 22-27, 2026)
Exhibit Competitions:
- Educational Posters:
- Poster Guidelines
- Poster Exhibit Examples
- Cookie Contest New 2026
Show Entry Forms:
*Note: The forms below are sample drafts. Each year, as we approach the fair the most current forms can be found on the Heritage Fair website.
- Educational Posters:
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South Carolina State Fair 4-H Day (October 17, 2026)
South Carolina State Fair 4-H Day: A chance for 4-H members from across the state to celebrate their projects, leadership, and community while representing their counties at the South Carolina State Fair. Members can participate in livestock and showmanship events (deadlines in September), connect with other 4-H youth, and join fellow Oconee County members in the Parade of Counties. Whether exhibiting animals, cheering on friends, or exploring the fair, youth gain confidence, sportsmanship, and pride in being part of South Carolina 4-H.
- 4-H Day at the Fair is typically held on the first Saturday of the South Carolina State Fair.
- Current SC 4-H members receive free fair admission on 4-H Day with a valid membership card or by wearing 4-H apparel.
- Rabbit and Poultry Showmanship Contests are held on 4-H Day.
- Livestock and showmanship registration deadlines are typically in late September (September 26 for 2026).
- Oconee County 4-H members are encouraged to participate in the Parade of Counties and represent our county alongside other 4-H members from across South Carolina.
- There are 4-H specific divisions in the Home and Craft Department Registration for those contests closes on September 1st.Visit here for more information.
- Fair events, rules, contest guides, and registration information are available at the SCSF website.
- Contact: Lil Ledford, ledfor7@clemson.edu
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Junior Naturalist Program (Late Summer – Early Winter)
A free short-term program in partnership with Oconee County Parks, designed for youth ages 8–13. Participants explore the outdoors through topics like wildlife, plants, geology, and ecosystems, building observation skills and environmental stewardship.
- Contact: Gina Spear gspear@oconeesc.com
- Thursdays 4:30-5:30, August 20 - October 22, 6:30-8 October 29
- For more information, locations, and to register youth for each day of participation: https://2026oconeejrnaturalist.eventbrite.com
- Youth must also have a Parks Registration Form completed ( Fillable PDF printed or emailed, or Google Form ) prior to participation.
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WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program) Training
Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) : A free training program in partnership with Oconee County Parks that prepares youth for the statewide WHEP competition. Youth learn wildlife identification, habitat evaluation, and conservation practices while building teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Contact: Gina Spear gspear@oconeesc.com
- Most Mondays 4:30-5:30 January – April (once monthly Wednesday for Seniors)
- For more information, locations, and to register youth for each day of participation: [Eventbrite will be updated when available]
- Youth must also have a Parks Registration Form completed ( Fillable PDF printed or emailed, or Google Form ) prior to participation.
Community Needs Assessment
Oconee County 4-H is conducting a survey to help us grow our positive youth development programs.There are no right or wrong answers, so please answer all questions honestly. Thank you for your help.
