McCormick County 4-H

08/06/2026

South Carolina 4-H Area Dairy Showmanship Clinics
Ready to build your confidence in the show ring? Whether you're preparing for your first dairy show or looking to fine-tune your skills, these hands-on clinics are for you!
Join us for one of our Area Dairy Showmanship Clinics, where you'll receive practical instruction on the fundamentals of dairy cattle showmanship. More experienced exhibitors will have the opportunity to polish their techniques with personalized coaching.
Each clinic includes:
✅ Hands-on showmanship practice with your heifer
✅ Tips to improve ring presence and animal handling
✅ Individual instruction for all experience levels
✅ A Q&A session covering show preparation, equipment, etiquette, and more

Clinic Dates & Locations
📍 Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Abbeville County Extension Office
265 Industrial Park Rd.
Abbeville, SC 29620
https://tinyurl.com/32pj6zdw
📍 Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Orangeburg County Fairgrounds
350 Magnolia St.
Orangeburg, SC 29115
https://tinyurl.com/4ct6ea5f
📍 Monday, August 24, 2026
Union County Fairgrounds
120 Kirby St.
Union, SC 29379
https://tinyurl.com/4z5jucy6

Time: 5:30–7:00 PM

Bring your heifer and come ready to learn! These clinics are a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, ask questions, and prepare for the upcoming show season.

Registration is required. Make sure that you sign up for the clinic that you are going to attend!

08/06/2026

🔬 FALL 2026 HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE DAYS ARE COMING! 🧪

Registration opens Monday, August 10, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Join the Clemson University Science Outreach Center for a fall filled with hands-on discovery, creative challenges, and exciting STEM investigations! Each program date offers two lab options—please register for only one lab per student per day.

New this semester: We’re offering four labs each month (except August), plus a special lab for students ages 13–16!

📅 Fall 2026 Schedule
Aug. 26: Good Vibrations: All About Sound | SUPER Plants: Transpiration & Photosynthesis
Sept. 11: Chromatography | Light and Color
Sept. 29: Mission Unsinkable: Buoyancy & Boats | Sunprint Scientists: Experimenting with Light
Oct. 7: Gummy Bear Parachutes | Chemistry: Colorful Quest (ages 13–16)
Oct. 20: Autumn Science Lab | Rainwater + Tower Design
Nov. 4: Air Pressure and Flight | Bird Beak Adaptations
Nov. 17: Wacky Food Senses | LEGO Day
Dec. 2: DNA: Traits & Fingerprinting | Vet for a Day 1
Dec. 15: Jingle Bell Science | Compressed-Air Rockets

⏰ Time: 9:30–11:30 a.m.
💵 Cost: $25 per student
👩‍🔬 Ages: 8–12 unless otherwise noted
👥 Capacity: 20 students per class

Spaces are limited, so set a reminder for 9:00 a.m. on August 10!

Register here: scienceweb.clemson.edu/cusoc/science-days/

07/07/2026

We still have space in our upcoming canning camp. This camp is a partnership with the McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah (MACK)and the McCormick County Clemson Extension Service.

📆 July 15th from 10am- Noon
📍 McCormick County Extension Office (610 South Mine Street, McCormick, SC 29835)
💲 $15
Camp is open to youth aged 9-18.
🔗 For registration information- https://www.mccormickarts.org/summer-arts-camps-2026/ See less

06/22/2026

We’ve had tons of fun so far this summer with our 4-H/ MACK partnership but the fun is just beginning! Check out all the great camps yet to come including another sewing camp and a canning/food preservation camp!

05/26/2026

Good Afternoon Chiefs,

This is Dr. Hembree from McCormick County School District with an important update regarding McCormick High School’s upcoming graduation and other important items for seniors.

On Wednesday, May 27th, all seniors and junior marshals will need to meet at the Mims Center, located at 516 Mims Drive, in McCormick at 1 pm. Graduation logistics and instructions will be shared at this time. All senior students and junior marshals should also check their Google Classroom for important information/updates regarding graduation.

The graduation ceremony will be held at 10 am on Friday, May 29th at Emerald High School in Greenwood School District 50. The decision of the location was selected based on the seating capacity, proximity to McCormick, and the weather that is forecasted for Friday. The address for Emerald High School is 150 Bypass 225, Greenwood, South Carolina. The doors will open at 8:30 am, and will close promptly at 10 am. We are grateful for Greenwood 50 extending their hospitality and allowing us to use their facilities for this special occasion.

Thank you to all our families for your ongoing support and flexibility in the midst of this sudden change.

We cannot wait to celebrate with the amazing class of 2026! Please stay tuned in to our social media outlets and district website for any further updates.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Hembree

MCSD Superintendent

05/25/2026

Good Afternoon Chiefs,

This is Dr. Hembree from McCormick County School District with important updates regarding the fire at McCormick High School, as well as a few updates regarding the end of the school year.

First and foremost, we are so thankful to the swift response of multiple firefighter units that responded to the fire at McCormick High School Friday evening into Saturday morning. Over 75 firefighters across the state worked to contain and eventually put out the fire that originated in the roof of the high school gym. The fire is believed to have started from a strike of lightning. We are extremely grateful that no one was hurt or injured, and we have much to be thankful for.

A recovery team, assigned to us through our insurance company, arrived on site on Saturday afternoon to survey damage, and have started the clean up and recovery process. While it will take a few days to completely assess the level of damages, we do know the damage is substantial across pockets of our campus. Air quality and water damage are currently being assessed.

Due to these reasons, at this time, we do not think it will be possible for students to return to school for the last few days of the school year. If something should change, we will let you know as soon as possible. We will schedule a day for students to pick up any end-of-year items or personal items from their classrooms, as well as to turn in any items.

Additionally, due to the damage in both the MMS and MHS gym, the McCormick High School graduation will be moved to a different location. The ceremony is still expected to take place at 10 am on Friday, May 29th. We are expecting to be able to finalize location details by Tuesday afternoon, and will share these details with you as soon as possible.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our number one priority.

We will be back in touch to share any updates as they become available.

We hope you continue to enjoy your weekend, and please stay safe.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Hembree

MCSD Superintendent

05/23/2026

Hello MCSD Family,

As I am sure you have heard, a fire started at McCormick HIgh School yesterday evening after 11 pm. We believe the fire began due to a lightning strike. Firefighters have worked tirelessly to contain the fire all through the evening, and we are extremely grateful for their service. Many firefighters and first responders are still on site. We know this information is difficult to hear, and we promise to keep you informed as updates become available. As we navigate logistics for the final week of school,including high school graduation, we will share those with you too. Please pray for our first responders and entire community.

Sincerely,

Dr. Hembree

05/03/2026

Get Dialed in for Canning Season! Pressure Canner Testing Friday May 8, 2026 and Friday June 12, 2026 10:00 am - 1:00 pm @ McCormick County Clemson Extension Office @ 610 South Mine Street.

05/01/2026

Awesome job Emily!

JDLH student, Emily S., is our very own South Carolina's state winner for the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees Essay Competition! What a well-deserved honor.
Patricia A. Whitener, Ph.D. (4-H Natural Resource Programs, Well-Being Council Ambassador, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Cooperative Extension) had these nice things to say about Emily's work:
"Your essay, "The Power of Pollen," is really impressive, weaving together scientific research, environmental awareness, and your firsthand experience as a beekeeper into a cohesive and compelling document. The way you grounded the science in what you've actually observed in your own hives made the writing come alive. Connecting research to real-world practice is a skill that will serve you well far beyond this competition.

It's also worth noting that you accomplished all of this while pursuing your Journeyman's Beekeeper Certification, maintaining your SAE through FFA, and participating in the Bee Cause Project Observation Hive Grant. That's an extraordinary portfolio of engagement for a junior, and it speaks volumes about your commitment to this work.

Thank you for representing South Carolina 4-H with such excellence. The bees are lucky to have an advocate like you.

Well Done!"

Be sure to let Emily know how proud we are of her fine work under the guidance of Mrs. Jones

04/19/2026

Way to go!