There’s No Place Like 4-H

Annual Chautauqua County 4-H Awards Night a Success

-by Kate Ewer, 4-H Community Educator

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (December 21, 2016) -- 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 5, 2016 at the Gerry Rodeo Conference Center in Gerry, NY.

The Teen Ambassadors (TA), an elite youth leadership group, hosts the event each year. This year 4-H families enjoyed a potluck dinner with pulled pork donated in-part by Coffaro’s Custom Butchering. The TAs decorated the venue and came up with games and a costume contest for the event. Each year the TAs create a theme that sets the tone for the upcoming year and will be carried through to the county fair. This year they chose “There’s No Place Like 4-H.” 4-Her’s countywide showed their support for the new theme by dressing up as various characters from the Wizard of Oz and by participating in Wizard of Oz trivia.

County Legislator Mark Odell was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. He recognized over 300 youth who completed 1,000 projects in various animal science and life skills project areas in the 2015-2016 4-H year. 50 youth received Stepping Stone Awards which recognize youth for taking on a new challenge, overcoming an obstacle, stepping beyond familiar territory, or demonstrating a positive attitude. 40 youth received Milestone Awards which recognized them for demonstrating continual growth, perseverance, and extra effort. County Medals recognize youth who have achieved some level of mastery in their program area. 22 youth received County Medals.

County Legislators Lisa Vanstrom and Dave Wilfong as well as Jacqueline Phelps from Congressman Tom Reed’s office joined 150 4-H youth and their families to celebrate the previous year and kick off the new theme.

4-H is still accepting new enrollments for the 2016-2017 4-H year. Interested families may contact Kate Ewer, 4-H Educator at 716-664-9502 ext. 212 or kde32@cornell.edu.

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 21, 2016