Local children came out to celebrate a century of youth development Monday night with games, awards, and a four-leaf clover cake.

4-H Achievement Night, held at the Richmond County Cooperative Extension office, honored program members and volunteers for their work in 2008. Youth members were recognized for their year-long animal science, citizenship and civic education projects, which will soon be sent to a statewide 4-H congress for judging.

“We are very proud of all of our 4-H members in Richmond County and look forward to what they will do next,” said Michelle Stumbo, 4-H youth development agent.

Young people receiving recognition and celebrating were Makayla LeGrande, Alana McQueen, Alisha Wilson, Jordan Carroll, Trey McInnis, Sarah Tyler, Courtney Miller, Grayson McQueen, Ryan McInnis and Nathan Ezzell.

“Not only were our 4-H members honored for their hard work and success, but our wonderful 4-H volunteers were also awarded for all that they do to make 4-H a wonderful program. 4-H doesn't work without the help of many, many people and we could never do enough to thank them for all they do.”

4-H is the Youth Development Program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at N.C. State and N.C. A&T State Universities. The four leaves of its symbol, the clover, represent the four elements - head, heart, hands and health - that members pledge to use for the betterment of their clubs, communities, countries and world.

Gene Shutt, director of Millstone 4-H Camp, is looking forward to the an upcoming centennial celebration moment at his facility.

According to Shutt, Millstone is readying the “Ellis House” to become the North Carolina 4-H Museum, and it is slated to open during National 4-H Week in October.

The house was a donation from the daughter of Rudolph Ellis of Cumberland County. The son of Depression-era tenant farmers, Ellis planted a small crop of peanuts as part of a 4-H project and later began roasting and selling them. By the end of World War II, he had made enough money to move his sharecropping family into the home.

Shutt said the museum at Millstone was made possible by the 4-H Development Fund and donations.

For more information about how to volunteer with, give to or participate in any 4-H endeavor, visit www.nc4h.org or contact Richmond County Cooperative Extension at 997-8255.