Chautauqua County 4-H Celebrates A Successful Year at Awards Night

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (November 20, 2017) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Youth Development Program celebrated a great year of 4-H at their annual Awards Night held November 11, 2017 at the Gerry Rodeo Conference Center in Gerry, NY.

The Teen Ambassadors, an elite youth leadership group, hosts this event each year. This year, 4-H families enjoyed a potluck dinner featuring pulled pork. The TA’s decorated the venue and came up with games and a costume contest for the event. Each year, the TA’s create a theme that sets the tone for the upcoming year and will be carried through to the county fair. This year they chose “4-H – Living the Pledge.” The 4-H pledge encourages youth to use their head for clearer thinking, their heart for greater loyalty, their hands for larger service, and their health for better living for their club, community, country, and world.

In the 2016-17 4-H year, over 300 youth completed 1,000 projects in various animal science and life skills project areas. Stepping Stone Awards, received by 38 youth, recognize youth for taking on a new challenge, overcoming an obstacle, stepping beyond familiar territory, or demonstrating a positive attitude. Milestone Awards, received by 34 youth, recognize them for demonstrating continual growth, perseverance, and extra effort. County Medals, received by 24 youth, recognize youth who have achieved some level of mastery in their program area.

New enrollments for the 2017-2018 4-H year are still being accepted. Interested families with youth ages 5-18 may contact Kate Ewer, 4-H Educator at 716-664-9502 ext. 212 or kde32@cornell.edu. Learn more about 4-H by visiting our website at cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/4-h-youth.

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 November 20, 2017