Cheshire County 4-H Clubs Host
4-H Animal Science Bonanza  at Keene State College

4-H Members and Volunteer Leaders from several 4-H Clubs in Cheshire County organized the 4-H Animal Science Bonanza on January 29. Fifty-six youth from across New Hampshire and 21 4-H volunteers participated in a day of activities that included: Team Building Activities, Skill-a-thon Stations that covered topics in beef, sheep and dairy, and a Beef Quiz Bowl Contest.

After a welcoming ceremony led by members from the Switch'n Horns and itcher Mountain 4-H Clubs youth were able to participate in skill building activities in a variety of project areas that included making rope halters for cattle, identifying equipment that is used in sheep and wool production, and dairy science. Some of these skill-a-thon stations were designed and taught by active 4-H members. The youth were also able to participate in a quiz bowl contest that focused on beef cattle production.

After lunch, youth were invited to attend mini workshops on hay quality led by Carl Majewski, UNH Cooperative Extension Agriculture Resources, Agriculture in the Classroom-Jozi Best from New Hampshire Farm Bureau, Keith Avent from Tractor Supply led a workshop on Feeds, and Gregory Clark, Jr., 4-H Volunteer, and Andrea Sawyer, UNH Cooperative Extension, 4-H, led a workshop on dairy judging.

Cheshire County 4-H Clubs will also be hosting a 4-H Beef Field Day at the Cheshire Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 16th. Members are invited to come participate in hands-on educational opportunities that will include: clipping, fitting and showmanship, and judging. Members are encouraged to bring their project animals with them to this event. For more information on 4-H Beef Field Day or other 4-H Activities taking place in Cheshire County please contact: Andrea Sawyer at 352-4550.

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4-H Day 2011 at Keene State College

Over one hundred 4-H members from Cheshire County recently participated in 4-H Day, a county wide communications event that qualified members twelve and over for the statewide State Activities Day held in Durham NH. Members competed in Posters, Photography, Action Exhibits, Table Top Exhibits, Demonstrations, Public Speaking, and Fashion Revue.

In the Poster category, the top three posters going on to the State event included; Clara Lane from Surry, a member of the Ultimate Equestrians, and Tabitha and Tristan Phillips from Walpole , members of the Pinnacleview 4-H Club. The top junior poster was exhibited by Hayley Christie of Alstead, also a Pinnacleview member. All three of the winning photography exhibits were entries of Leah Varney of Swanzey, a member of the Minis Too 4-H Club. The top junior photography exhibit went to Emma Gendron of Acworth, a Pinnacleview member.

The top table top exhibits in the 8-9 year old age group went to the team of Ava Cemorelis of Keene, and Margaret Thomas of Alstead, both members of the Bits and Bridles 4-H Club in Walpole, Tori Fiorey of Surry, a member of the Minis Too 4-H Club, and Patrick Montgomery from Winchester, and a member of the DCW 4-H Club. Top exhibits in the 10-12 age group went to Chelsey Patch of Walpole a Pinnacleview member, Lily McCutcheon, of Swanzey a member of the Minis Too 4-H Club, and Laura Dunbar of Walpole and a member of the Bits and Bridles 4-H Club. Kaitlyn Hayes of Stoddard, and a member the Pitcher Mountain 4-H Club was the top award winner in the 13 and older age group.

In the Fashion Revue, Hayley Christie of Alstead modeled a dress and a pocketbook that she made, and won top honors. She is a Pinnacleview member.

In the Public Speaking division top honors in the junior division went to Maddie Beaudry of Walpole, a Pinnacleview member, followed by Hayley Feyh and Kaitlin Roberts, both of Peterborough, and members of the SMS Green Eggs Club. The top two seniors were Kristen Hill and Patrick Roberts, also both of Peterborough, and members of the SMS Green Eggs Club. Maddie, Hayley, Kristen, and Patrick were all selected to attend State Activities Day held at the University of New Hampshire in June.

Top honors in the Junior Demonstration division went to the team of Elaina Badders and Molly Cameron, both of Walpole and members of the Bits and Bridles 4-H Club, as well as to Paige Ricci and Julia Badders also members of the Bits and Bridles 4-H Club, and from Walpole. The top individual was  Emma Gendron of Acworth, a Pinnacleview member. The top Seniors included Julie Lane of Surry, and a member of the Ultimate Equestrians, the team of Clara Lane of Surry, and Sage Tourigny of Fitzwilliam also Ultimate Equestrian members. Julie, Clara, and Sage qualified for State Activities Day along with, Jon Mclellean, Travis Piercy, Hayley Feyh, and Kaitlin Roberts all of Peterborough, and members of the SMS Green Eggs Club, and Therese Crisman and Rachel Smith of Stoddard, and members of Ultimate Equestrians.

Action Exhibits featured several strong individuals and teams. The top junior award went to the SMS Green Eggs Team from Peterborough which included Emma Simila, Ava Mazonne, and Katie Thibideau. In the senior division the top team was also from the Peterborough SMS Green Eggs Club and included: Larkin DeVinne, Morgan Palmer, and Arianna Zrzary. The top individual was Tristan Phillips from the Walpole Pinnacleview Club. Other action exhibit competitors who qualified for the state event include: Tabitha Phillips from the Walpole Pinnacleview Club, Emma Kelly from Swanzey, a member of Ultimate Equestrians, and Kristen Hill, Brianna Hebert, Megan Hebert, and Patrick Roberts, members of Peterborough SMS Green Eggs Club.

Judges for this event included: Ryan Owens, Sharlene Beaudry, and Hanna Welch all of Walpole, Eloise Clark , Drew Farrar, and Arianna Kelley of Keene, Charity Shuster of Westminster, VT, Katherine Thomas of Alstead, Jeffrey Newcomer of Chesterfield, Rachelle Beaudoin of Peterborough, Jill Lane of Surry and Michelle Bersaw of Webster. For more information on how your child can become involved in 4-H, please call Andrea Chickering Sawyer at the UNH Cooperative Extension Office at 352-4550.

 

Reflection by Julie Lane

(National 4-H Congress-Atlanta,Georgia)

During my trip to Atlanta, Georgia for National 4-H Congress, I met people, saw more people, and talked with even more people. This was an experience I will never forget because some of the people I met are friends I want to keep forever. They boast of 4-H, of their accomplishments in and out of school, and of their success. These youth take pride in what they do and accomplish through 4-H.

The city of Atlanta was a perfect setting for our 2010 4-H Congress. The Hyatt Hotel graciously allowed us the use of their hotel and provided excellent service during our stay. With twelve hundred delegates staying in the hotel, the use of the elevators proved to be a challenge, but fortunately, the New Hampshire Delegation was only on the fifth floor and we limited our returns to the hotel rooms throughout each day. The city offered a wide variety of experiences for all of us. Some of our delegates visited the Coca Cola Museum, Hairy Apes and the Georgia Aquarium for their tours. Another delegate from New Hampshire and I toured the CNN center on Monday and got to see what the inside of the largest news center looked like. I was awed by the touch screen TV monitor that meteorologists use when giving the weather forecast. That’s something I will add to my Christmas list!

Another memorable part of this trip was being on the Leadership Team. Although, I had to get up earlier and stay up later than everyone else, I really enjoyed the team because we became a close knit group of delegates. The group had youth from all over the country, each from different backgrounds. One of my fondest memories was the first night during the leadership orientation meeting. After the logistics and details were discussed, we spent the remaining time comparing our accents and if we called a carbonated beverage pop, soda, Coke, or Pepsi. That lively and energetic conversation provided a few laughs and jokes throughout our stay as we tried on different accents and practiced the local jargon.

On Monday night we put our best foot forward for the Congress Gala. Everyone was dressed in their best, anticipating a great night with a speech from Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron and the dance to follow. Along with the other members of the leadership team, I was privileged to meet Miss America and have my photo taken with her. The social scene at Congress Gala was very vivacious. Not a single delegate sat out during the dance; everyone getting their groove on. Swing dance, salsa, two-step, line dances and waltz: just a few of the dances we practiced. Dinner, dancing, and pin exchanging was a great way to meet people and connect the dots across the country.

One thing I observed was the youth that attended this Congress were intelligent, thoughtful, insightful, and strong-minded. Each one had a plan for his life, where he was going to college, what he wanted to study, and who he wanted to be. I was impressed to see a group of young people who shared the same interests, goals, and dreams that I do. Like iron sharpens iron; so a friend sharpens a friend. Congress was a place where like minds could come together and take back home with them a spirit of determination, resolution, and success.

As a result of Congress, I feel that I can be a better leader in my club and county. One of the workshop instructors told us that “A leader is the first person to ask a question, the first to offer a helping hand, the first to make a difference.” I want to be like that. Taking the back seat and the wide path is not going to make you a leader. Taking a chance and accepting the challenge to be a leader in your community is what will make a difference in not only your life, but in the lives of the people around you.