August 4-H SuperYouth: Dexter Ormond

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (September 14, 2017) -- 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. The August 4-H SuperYouth is Dexter Ormond, from Kennedy, NY.

Dexter has been involved in 4-H for 11 years. He is active in the dairy project and just finished serving his second year as a junior superintendent in the 4-H Dairy Barn at the Chautauqua County Fair. Dexter truly shines as a junior superintendent and is very willing to help wherever needed. He is a role model for many younger participants and eagerly helps with any task that needs done to better the 4-H dairy barn.

At this year’s county fair, Dexter was asked by a 4-H DairyBud for help showing her calf in the show ring. According to the 4-H member’s mother, “My daughter wanted Dexter to help her because he was a great showman (she had just watched him show) and Dexter helped her all the time and he was very nice. My daughter spent hours talking with Dexter, learning from him throughout the fair week, he was patient, and not once did he ignore or act bothered by her. Dexter is a perfect example of a good 4-H’er to look up to.”

Having been raised on a dairy farm, Dexter’s life has always revolved around agriculture and his family. 4-H and Junior Holstein Club are farm related activities that take up a large part of Dexter’s time. Dexter always fulfills his responsibilities on the farm before taking part in any other activities. These chores on his family’s dairy farm include: Field work, equipment operator (cleaning barns, feeding cows and heifers), working with the automated milking system (robot milkers), and working with the dairy animals. Dexter has learned so much from his parents and grandfather, working on his family’s dairy farm, which has helped develop his interest to further study agriculture in college.

He is also active in the 4-H Dairy Youth Explorers Career Exploration Program. According to Lisa Kempisty, Extension Educator, who facilitates the Dairy Youth Explorer program, “Dexter is always eager to learn new information and is a role model to other youth in the program. His easy going, pleasant personality and contagious friendly smile makes him such a pleasure to know and work with! Dexter Ormond is truly one of the most outstanding 4-H youth I have worked with throughout my 30+ year career assisting with the Chautauqua County 4-H dairy program.”

Outside of 4-H, Dexter is a recent graduate of Falconer Central School where he was active in wrestling, cross country, baseball, honor society, and math club, receiving many awards for his outstanding achievements throughout high school. Dexter eagerly began his college studies last month at Pennsylvania State Behrend to pursue a degree in agriculture engineering.

Dexter’s positive work ethic, increased personal growth, and caring personality to help other

4-H members learn and achieve make him a true 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 September 15, 2017