Through 4-H, more than 187,000 young people in North Carolina learn new skills and serve their communities each year.
     4-H offers clubs, special interest programs, summer camps, school enrichment and after-school child care. Guided by North Carolina Cooperative Extension educators and adult and teen volunteers, 4-H'ers gain knowledge, skills and experience that help them become responsible citizens and leaders. Gates County 4-H has programs in the following areas:

On Target - Youth program that provides mentoring, life skill development, community service, and workforce development for youth.

Genesis - is a male youth leadership program which consists of a variety of workshops concerning culture, careers, health and wellness, lifeskills, community service, motivational speakers and field trips.

LifeSmarts I & II- Workforce development program that teaches employability skills and provides paid work experience tol youth 16 - 21 years of age.

School Age Child Care(SACC) - SACC program provides child care for youth in K-5th grade in the three elementary schools during the school year.  Summer  programming is based on demand.

Special Interest Programs - are designed and marketed through out the year coverning various topics and targeting various age groups.

4-H Project Records.  Project records highlight what a 4-H'er has learned and done in a specific project area for a period of 12 months.  The books are judged in age categories of:  9-10, 11-12, 13-15, and 16-18.  They are submitted to the County 4-H Office at the end of your 4-H year.  The top county winners in each of the curriculum areas are then submitted to Raleigh for district competition.  Due in the months of December and January.

4-H Cumulative Records.  This is an accumulation fo up to three years of 4-H project work in a major project area.  Records are submitted in age categories of 13-15 and 16-18.  These books must be postmarked to the State 4-H Office by March 1.  State winners receive cash awards.  The County 4-H Agent must sign off on this record book.

4-H Presentations.  A method of presenting information by demonstration or illustrated talk for competition.  The time limit is generally between 5 and 12 minutes, with specific time regulations in specific categories.  Each county determines how 4-H'ers are selected to compete at district competition.  In the junior categories, the first place winners from district competition go on to compete at the State level.  In the senior age divisions, the first and second place winners can compete at state.  State winners in sponsored categories receive cash awards.  In specific categories, the state-winning seniros may go on to compete at the national level.

Teen Retreat - District teen council plans the district-wide 4-H event.  Teen Retreat is generally held in March.  This leadership building retreat generally offers training and workshops centering around the state 4-H project.  4-H'ers ages 13 to 18 are able to attend.  District teen council officers are elected at
Teen Retreat.

NC 4-H Congress.  Held the third week of july, NC 4-H Congress is the culminating 4-H event for the year.  The event is geared for teen 4-H'ers age 13-18; however, junior 4-H'ers may attend if they were named district presentation winners.  Congress is held on the campus of NC State University, Activities of the week include:  State Fashion Show, State Talent Show, State Presentation Finals, Honor Club Tapping, State-level Hands-to-Service Project, State 4-H Council Officer Elections, Banquets, Dances and lots more.

4-H Camps.  The North Carolina 4-H Camping Program offers programming for 4-H'ers of all ages.  Counties generally take a delegation of 4-H'ers (ages 8-13) to one of  the 4-H camping centers for 4-H Junior Camp each summer.  County camp locations and dates change each year.  A few of the general 4-H camps utilize Leaders In Training.  These are 4-H'ers not quite old enough to be a full time camp counselor - but at least 16 years old.  LIT's generally work at a camp for two weeks to gain counselor experience.  Other 4-H Speciality Camps available are:  Fur, Fish and Game, Shooting Sports, Marine Science, Cloverbud and others.  Camp recruitment begins in January of each year.

4-H Electric Congress.  North Carolina 4-H Electric Congress is an educational event designed to recognize excellence in the Electric Program throughout the state.  Electric Congress travels from region to region of the state, thus allowing for a variety of programming opportunities for everyone.  Four-H members participate in workshops, meet their Power Company Representatives, and interact with other electric winners.  4-H'ers must be at least 11 years old to attend.  Counties may send 2 project winners, 2 cumulative record participants, and one program recruiter.  April 15 is the deadline to register.  4-H Electric Congress is usually held the 2nd week of July.

TRY-IT (Teens Reaching Youth through Innovative Teams).  TRY-IT provides an opportunity for 4-H teens to become teachers/facilitators by completing required training at a basic TRY-IT retreat.  Teams of at least three 4-H teens and one adult volunteer receive specific training to become certified TRY-IT members.  TRY-IT teams utilized their skills to teach specific curricula to younger youth in their counties.  Basic TRY-IT retreats are typically held in the spring and fall of each year.

Albemarle Livestock Show and Sale - Program teaches youth liveskills while learning how to care for and show animals (goats, lambs, hogs, steers).  Youth gain business skills through the project record book which requires tracking cost of care for animal, income from sales and profit or/loss.  Animals must be on the farm by designated date - January/February and show is held in April.