4-H SuperYouth for November - Melinda Waag

4-H Youth are the Superheroes of the Future
By Kate Ewer, 4-H Community Educator

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (December 20, 2016) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program connects youth to hands-on learning opportunities that help them grow into competent, caring, contributing members of society. In an effort to recognize the great things that 4-H youth accomplish, each month Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County will name a 4-H SuperYouth. During the month of November we celebrated Melinda Waag.

Mindy has been in 4-H for seven years and is a member of the Fredonia Fireworks 4-H club where she’s served the roles of president and vice president. Mindy is very active in her club and participates in arts & crafts, horticulture, woodworking, conservation, creative needlework, aerospace, cake decorating, recycling, robots, communications & expressive arts, foods, photography, clothing & textiles, and public presentations where she received a Milestone Award in 2011.

A talented and dedicated seamstress, Mindy received a Milestone Award in 2013 and County Medals in 2014 and 2015 in the clothing and textiles project. She’s received special sewing awards since 2009 and has represented Chautauqua County at the Western District Fashion Revue since 2009. Her creations have been selected for the State Fair Fashion Revue since 2012. Her projects have included two formal gowns, a burgundy wool crepe dress and jacket, and a quilt. This year she sewed an outfit of a wool blend and participated in sheep lead line and the Make it with Wool contest at the Chautauqua County Fair where she took first place. Mindy spends hundreds of hours on her projects and her dedication to the program is evident.

Mindy is an advocate for 4-H and represented the organization at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s anniversary event. She spends the week of the Chautauqua County Fair in the 4-H Snack Bar serving as a junior superintendent and makes sure to volunteer her time at the Green Tie Affair each year.
A junior at Fredonia High School, Mindy is on the honor roll and participates in the Chamber Choir and has had roles in two musicals. She’s been selected for All-County Chorus at the CCMTA winter and spring music festivals. She is a member of the Cross Country and Indoor Track & Field teams and has won 5th place in the 100m hurdles at the Super Eights Competition and 9th place in the 55m hurdles at the Indoor Track Championships. Mindy is a class representative for student council and was recently chosen to apply for membership in the National Honor Society.

Mindy is an active member of the Harvest Chapel FMC where she participates in the WIRED youth group, has traveled to Honduras on a mission trip, and volunteers at the Nursery and Sunday school. She also worked on a Habitat for Humanity disaster relief team in West Liberty, Kentucky. She was chosen as a leader in the Quest Backpacking club for the 2015-2016 hiking seasons. Mindy loves sewing, quilting, photography, hunting, archery, and hiking. She loves to travel and recently went on a trip to Quebec City. Melinda looks forward to visiting Costa Rica in the next year.

Mindy’s work ethic, desire to succeed, and positive attitude make her a 4-H SuperYouth.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated December 19, 2016