By Lee Ann Clark

County Extension Coordinator

Tractor Supply Company (TSC) stores and Alabama 4-H are joining forces with a national campaign to support the nation’s largest youth development organization. The TSC Paper Clover Campaign is an in-store fundraiser and will benefit local and state 4 H programming in each of the communities where a TSC store is located.  

The fall 2011 4-H Paper Clover Campaign will take place Wednesday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Oct. 2, ending at the start of National 4-H Week. Shoppers at the Moody store will have the opportunity to support 4-H in St. Clair County by purchasing paper clovers for just $1 at checkout. All funds raised will be donated to 4-H, and will support 4-H youth development program activities in St. Clair County.

“Alabama 4-H is appreciative for the local support Tractor Supply Company is providing through this campaign across Alabama,” says Lamar Nichols, assistant director for 4-H and Youth Development with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “Alabama 4-H youth will benefit from the generosity of Tractor Supply customers and the money donated will have a direct impact on youth in that community.”

“The 4-H Tractor Supply Paper Clover fundraiser continues to be an incredibly impactful local event, hosted on a national platform,” said Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of National 4-H Council. “We are honored to have a tremendous partnership that helps facilitate the support of 4-H clubs and programs in the communities of more than 1,000 Tractor Supply Company and Del’s Feed and Farm Supply stores.”

Now entering its second year, the TSC 4-H Paper Clover Campaign has provided nearly $500,000 to local 4-H programs across the country. The effort has provided direct support for local camps, after-school programs and other activities, and has granted scholarships to these events that youth can explore their interests in everything from animal science to robotics.

Alabama has TSC stores in Andalusia, Anniston, Arab, Athens, Bay Minette, Boaz, Chelsea, Cullman, Demopolis, Dothan, Eufaula, Ft. Payne, Gadsden, Greenville, Hamilton, Huntsville, Jasper, Millbrook, Montevallo, Montgomery, Moody, Moulton, Muscle Shoals, Northport, Opelika, Summerdale/Robertsdale, Talladega and Troy.

About 4-H

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. The 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 Land Grant Universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org.

About Alabama 4-H

Alabama 4-H is the youth development mission of Extension and reaches more than 78,000 Alabama youth ages 9 through 18. The 1,700 4-H clubs teach leadership, citizenship, and positive character development and provide programs, competitions, events and activities for youth in rural and urban settings through in-school programs, community clubs and special interest groups.

For more information, please contact Lee Ann Clark, county Extension coordinator or Chris Thomas, 4-H agent assistant at the St. Clair County Extension office at (205) 338-9416.