Colleton & Hampton County 4H

05/12/2026

4-H mom in the news!

Meet the Coaches🎾

Tamara McIntire has been playing tennis her entire life and began competing at the age of 10. She grew up in Hawaii, where she played USTA Junior Team Tennis and competed in numerous tournaments throughout her high school years.

Tamara went on to attend Grove City College in Pennsylvania, competing in both singles and doubles. During her college career, she earned MVP honors in the President’s Athletic Conference three times and began teaching tennis as well.

After graduating, Tamara moved to Colorado and continued competing in USTA leagues. Her 4.5 women’s team won districts and sectionals and placed 6th at the USTA Nationals in Tucson, Arizona. She also competed in USTA mixed doubles, traveling with her 9.5 team to sectionals in Las Vegas, where they finished in 3rd place.

While in Colorado, Tamara earned her USPTA, United States Pro Tennis Association, certification and became deeply involved in tennis instruction for both youth and adults. After moving to South Carolina nearly five years ago, she is excited to return to coaching and sharing the sport she loves. Tamara is passionate about helping others develop their skills and discover the joy of tennis.

05/12/2026

Only 10 more days until the fairies arrive ✨ 💚 Stop by Magnolia between May 22nd and July 12th to discover 20+ whimsical fairy village dwellings, each skillfully created by Charleston-based artists. We can’t wait to see you there!

05/12/2026

State 4-H Congress Registration is NOW OPEN! 🇺🇸⭐️🎆

Join us July 7–10, 2026 for an unforgettable experience at State 4-H Congress in Clemson, SC! 🤩

This year's theme: "Beyond the Revolution" — a celebration of leadership, growth, and the future of 4-H!

‼️ Registration Deadline: June 12, 2026 ‼️
(Don't wait — register early to secure your spot!)

Workshops • Leadership • Fun • Friendships

Register now and go beyond the revolution ➡️ [https://2026State4HCongress.eventbrite.com]

05/12/2026

🚨 Attention Senior 4-H Members! 🚨

2026–2027 State 4-H Teen Council Applications Are Now Open! 🌟

Are you ready to grow as a leader, make an impact across the state, and represent your fellow 4-H members? Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to serve on the State 4-H Teen Council!

‼️ Apply by June 5, 2026! ‼️
👉 Submit your application here: https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_78MxxHiAraArq9o

05/09/2026

So, We just chatted about how the queen is catered to in the hive.
-She is fed.
-Groomed.
-Protected.
-Escorted around by her retinue of worker bees.

BUT…
Who actually makes the decisions in the hive?
Not the queen.

THE WORKER BEES!!

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in beekeeping. Many people think the queen “rules” the hive and controls the colony like a king or queen would rule a kingdom. Scientifically, that is not actually how a honey bee colony functions.

The queen’s main jobs are:
-laying eggs
-producing pheromones
-helping maintain colony organization and social cohesion

The worker bees are the ones making many of the colony decisions through collective behaviour, pheromone communication, and environmental feedback.

The workers decide:
-when to swarm
-when to replace the queen
-when to supersede the queen
-where to forage
-how to regulate hive temperature
-how to defend the colony
-how resources are distributed
-how much brood to raise
-how many drones to produce
-when drones are no longer needed

For example:
If the colony becomes overcrowded, the worker bees begin swarm preparations by building swarm cells and reducing the queen’s feeding to slim her down for flight (Yep… they basically put her on a diet and exercise regime)

-If nectar flow suddenly increases, workers increase foraging activity and begin storing more nectar.

-If the hive gets too hot, workers collect water and fan their wings to cool the colony through evaporative cooling.

-If the queen’s pheromone levels weaken due to age, injury, poor mating, or disease, the workers may begin replacing her.
Bee Haven 2026
-Even foraging decisions are collective. Scout bees communicate through the waggle dance to tell other workers where food sources are located. The colony then adjusts foraging efforts based on nectar quality, distance, and colony needs.

The hive functions much more like a superorganism than a dictatorship. No single bee understands the entire “plan,” but together they function with incredible efficiency and organization.
Honestly… while the queen may be the mother of the hive, the real power and decision-making belongs to the girls

05/09/2026

It's National Beef Month! The Farm Credit Knowledge Center offers many resources supporting the education and advocacy of the beef industry!

Our resources include:
✔️The Breed Series: Beef Cattle
✔️Everything but the moo
✔️Beef Cattle Life Cycle
✔️Beef Cattle Production System
✔️From Birth to Steak
✔️Beef Cattle Breeds
✔️Beef Degree of Doneness
✔️And more!

Follow this link to check out these resources and more: https://hubs.ly/Q04fDMD70

05/08/2026

EDUCATIONAL TIPS FOR FARMERS. NEW EDITION of "Polioencephalomalacia (Polio) in Small Ruminants"

Link: https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/educational-tips-for-farmers-polioencephalomalacia-polio-small-ruminants

By: Allison Miner, Bachelor of Science Graduate; Lindsey Dearborn, Master of Science Graduate; Leyla Rios, PhD, Assistant Professor, Animal and Dairy Sciences; and Michael Pesato, DVM, Four State Veterinary Services.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University Extension Service

Mississippi State University Animal & Dairy Sciences

MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine

MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

05/08/2026

Something happened at Black St. ECC! We didn't add to the owl population, but the chick population increased! Shout out to Ms. Washington for bringing 4-H embryology into BSECC again this year!

05/07/2026

Hampton County 4-H Jr. Leadership Program recognized the 2026 class graduates May 6th. These students learned valuable leadership skills and met with many local businesses during the program. From health care to agriculture students were exposed to the potential careers available in Hampton County.

Thank you to Sheriff Anthony Russell for speaking with the group on the importance of determination and leadership for our young people. This program would not be possible without the support of Hampton County business leaders and sponsors. To learn more about the 4-H Jr. Leadership program please contact Dawn Stuckey at [email protected]