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4-H Grows Here


Oconee County 4-H

Your Local 4-H Agent

Lillian (Lil) Ledford

301 W South Broad Street
Walhalla, SC 29691
Work Cell: 864-795-2347

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Oconee County 4-H Clubs

Clubs

  • 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:

    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)

  • Oconee Jr. Chefs

    Club Leader: Jennilee Hill picklejahr@gmail.com

    • Club meets 5:30 pm 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:

    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!

  • 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:

    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.

  • Oconee County Clovers Club

    Club Leader: Sara Foster clydesdalesocks@gmail.com

    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.

  • Tri-County Homesteading Club

    Club Leaders: Nicole Justus Nejustus@gmail.com, Melanie Bouroughs boroughsben@gmail.com, Amanda Chipps achipps455@gmail.com 

    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!

  • Archery Club

    Club Leader: Ashlie Parham ash.parham8@gmail.com

    • Club on hold.
  • Shooting Sports

    Any Shooters interested in Shooting sports please contact Rick Willey,

  • 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: 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
  • 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.
    • Oconee 4-H Christmas Party
      • When: December
      • Where: Oconee Extension Office (301 W. South Broad, Walhalla)
      • This is a dessert & appetizer potluck!

Kits and Program Reservations

  • 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.
  • 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**
    • ** Try to book for Fall to avoid complications getting eggs
  • Water Quality Survey
  • 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**

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)

View All Deadlines & Events Newsletters

Annual Events & State Projects

  • 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.
  • Oconee GSEPC Pollinator Count (Late August 2027)
  • Foothills Heritage Fair Exhibit Competitions & Livestock Shows (September 22-27, 2026)

    Fair Website  

    All entry forms, posters due in the office September 16

    Exhibit Competitions:

    Show Entry Forms (due September 16):

    *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.

    • Link to Forms 
    • 2026 Poultry Show (9/22, 5:30pm)
    • 2026 Dog Show (9/24, 5:30pm)
    • 2026 Rabbit Show (9/26, 10am)
    • 2026 Critter Costume Contest (9/26, 5pm)

     

  • 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
  • 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.

  • 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.

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Member Interest Form

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Oconee County 4-H
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