McDowell 4-H partnered with 22 2nd grade classrooms in all 8 elementary schools in McDowell County to teach local youth about the life cycle through a hands on embryology project. Students took eggs from the farms at the Biltmore House and watched and turned them for 21 days. On the 21st day students got to see baby chicks hatch in their classrooms. And wow did they hatch. Over 250 baby chicks hatched through our program. It was our most successful hatch in at least 20 years. Chicks were then adopted by other 4-Hers in our county to raise and show at our livestock show in August and others went to join other backyard flocks in McDowell County. This project is always a highlight of our 4-H year. We would not be able to do this project without the partnerships with McDowell County Schools, The Biltmore Farms and Farm Bureau - McDowell.