4-Hers Onnalee Strong and Eric Sweeney participate in a variety of 4-H programming including the costume contest at the Chautauqua County Fair.

4-Hers Onnalee Strong and Eric Sweeney participate in a costume contest at the 2018 Fair

4-H Welcomes Members New and Old in October

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (October 4, 2018) – Happy New Year! Happy 4-H new year, that is.

The 4-H year began October 1, 2018 and 4-H always celebrates the start of a new year with National 4-H Week. This year National 4-H Week is October 7th-13th. Clubs create window displays in their communities to promote 4-H and to welcome new members. This year the Canadaway Club has a display at Fredonia Hardware, the Cherry Creek Cornhuskers are at the Cherry Creek Library, Country Critters are on display at the South Dayton post office, the Stockton Panthers and Panther Paws are on display at the Sinclairville Library, and the Fredonia Star Riders have a display at the Forestville Animal Hospital.

Chautauqua County 4-H welcomes youth who are ages 5-18 as of January 1, 2019. Youth in 4-H can participate in a variety of programs including club and animal programming. Youth have the opportunity to participate in nine animal projects including beef and dairy cattle, dog, goat, hog, horse, poultry, rabbit and sheep.

Clubs meet countywide and youth learn important life skills like woodworking, sewing, foods and nutrition, public speaking, and partake in community service projects. Youth do not have to have an animal or be from an agricultural background to enroll in 4-H! There are a variety of projects available that allow youth to follow their passions.

The cost to enroll in 4-H is $50.00 per youth not to exceed $150.00 per family. Scholarships are available that reduce that cost to $20.00 per youth. Enrollment scholarships are funded by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

This fall 4-H staff and youth participants will be out and about in the community to promote 4-H programs in Chautauqua County. On Friday, October 5th join 4-H staff and the Canadaway 4-H club at the Dunkirk Tractor Supply from 5:00pm-8:00pm. Sunday, October 7th is Sunday Fund Day at Northwest Arena during public skate from 1:30pm-4:30pm. 4-H will receive a portion of the funds from the public skate event. Saturday, October 13th 4-H youth will be at the Lakewood Tractor Supply from 10:00am-2:00pm with a make and take craft and a dog project demonstration. Join 4-H at Pumpkintown October 14th and take a ride on the energy bike or complete a keychain craft from 10:00am-4:00pm.

For more information on 4-H please call the 4-H office at 716-664-9502 x214, visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/Chautauqua or like Chautauqua County 4-H on Facebook. Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development is a United Way Community Partner.

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 October 4, 2018