North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s annual 4-H “On the Dock of the Bay” waterside soiree turned five years old to a tropical beat May 3. That’s when approximately 300 beach music enthusiasts filled the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center’s boardwalk on the shore of Bulls Bay and danced to music by the high-energy Craig Woolard Band. At the same time the guests helped 4-H net more than $50,000 through sponsorships, ticket sales, a silent auction, a John Deere lawnmower raffle and a sunset dockside diamond champagne toast.

Dock of the Bay supports the center’s building fund, as well as camping scholarships for 4-H youth from Cooperative Extension’s Northeastern region.

The event’s first signature ($5,000) sponsors included East Carolina Bank, Embarq and the N.C. Farm Bureau. East Carolina Bank also sponsored the event’s signature dessert, the “s’mores” chocolate fountain, while the champagne diamond was donated by Tim Crank, owner of Natural Creations of Kitty Hawk.

Gold sponsors ($2,500) were Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Cahoon, N .C. Farm Bureau and the N.C. 4-H Development Fund; Silver ($1,000), Chowan Hospital and the Tyrrell County Farm Bureau; Bronze ($500), 17 sponsors; and Green ($250), 28 sponsors. Also, numerous businesses and individuals donated as in-kind sponsors or silent auction donors.

Dock of the Bay was supported regionally by Cooperative Extension colleagues and 4-H programs through publicity, event donations and ticket sales.

The Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center is operated through the N.C. 4-H Youth Development & Family and Consumer Sciences Department, Cooperative Extension and N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

— Art Latham