4-H/Youth
Development
Recent News and Photos
2008 Achievement Night brings together three events
The CCE-Steuben 4-H Program consolidated its annual Achievement and Leader Recognition Program, Dairy & Livestock Banquet and Horse Banquet into one awards program this year.
The integrated event provides an opportunity for 4-H members in different program areas to view and appreciate other 4-H programming. Additionally it creates more efficient use of staff time and resources.
Also new this fall to the program was the first-ever 2008 Steuben County Friend of 4-H awards selected from a list of nominees from throughout Steuben County and presented to an individual and a business who have excelled in their dedication to the Steuben County 4-H Youth Development program throughout the years and who have earned the respect of 4-H members, families and leaders, as well as the community.
Left, CCE-Steuben Executive Director Tom Tomsa, right, presents
the Friend of 4-H Individual award to Robert Whitney. right, Tomsa,
left, presents the Friend of 4-H Business award to M. J. Ward and Son,
Inc., of Bath. Pictured center, is Ken Ward, Jr. and right, Scott Ward.
More Achievement Night Photos...
Annual
Clothing Revue teaches a valuable lifeskill to youth
Above, left: Eleven senior members were chosen to go on to the
State Clothing Revue at the New York State Fair in August seven as winners
and four as alternates. Pictured, front row, L-R, are: Laura Becker, Jenna
Kurtz, Adrienne Kiesl, Amy Fairbrother, and Steven Quanz. Back row, L-R,
are: Denise Schubmehl, Nicole Traphagen, Amy Quanz, Raymond Thielges (with
his cousin), Sean Schubmehl, and Sarah Warner.
Above, right, Graduating seniors.
Sew for the Gold was the 2008 theme for the annual Steuben County 4-H Clothing Revue that was held Friday, May 2, at Avoca Central School. The program held an official sewing machine lighting ceremony before the show to replicate the torch lighting ceremony at the Olympics. Adrienne Kiesl was the torch bearer. Raymond Thielges welcomed the audience, and Harriett Hughes and Steven Quanz, the 2008 New York City Career Exploration participants from Steuben County, were the commentators for the evening. Jenna Kurtz lead the pledge to the American Flag and Sarah Warner lead the 4-H pledge.
Demonstrating their mastery of community involvement, two graduating senior boys decided to sew for children as their final sewing project. Raymond Thielges sewed for his preschool-age cousin, and Sean Schubmehl sewed for a neighbor's toddler.
The following junior members modeled at the revue:
Bath Suds 4-H Club: Megan Sermonis, Paxton Surprenant, Anna VonHagan,
Rachel VonHagn; Dairy Dymamites: Kyle Warner, Claire Wragg; Galloping
Grapes: Gabriel Barone, Emily Eckel, Tanessa Whitney; Hill and Valley
4-H Club; Kaylee Hand, Samantha Hand, Rebecca Johnson; Howard Hillbillies:
Moriah HerrNeckar; Willing Workers: Gavin Burke, Alexandra Button, Aydan
Cotter, Kyleigh Cotter, Raven Foote, Molly Fox Addie Kelly, Haley Kimmel,
Lauren Kimmel, Courtney Lewis, Kaitlin Matthews Kathryn McAllister, Megan
McAllister, Karli Mulford, Bradley Sick, Brianna Sick, Dylan Towner, Sara
Traphagen, Jon Weidman,; Windy Hill 4-H Club: Molly Smith.
Cloverbuds recognized this year were: Kaylee Hand, Aydan Cotter, Megan McAllister, Jonathan Weidman, Alexandra Button, Gavin Burke.
First Year Sewers recognized this year were: Claire Wragg, Samamtha Hand,
Molly Fox, Lauren Kimmel, Samantha Towner, Tanessa Whitney, Megan Sermonis,
Anna VonHagn, Rachel VonHagn, Paxton Surprenant, Alice Smith, Molly Smith.
Senior members modeling their sewing projects were:
Dairy Dynamites: Sarah Warner; Willing Workers: Laura Becker, Amy Fairbrother,
Adrienne Kiesl, Jenna Kurtz, Amy Quanz, Steven Quanz, Kirsten Schenk,
Denise Schubmehl, Sean Schubmehl, Raymond Thielges, Nicole Traphagen;
Windy Hill 4-H Club: Jill Dewispelaere, Alice Smith.
Those chosen to represent Steuben County at the New York State Fair in
2008 were: Amy Fairbrother, Jenna Kurtz, Nicole Traphagen, Denise Schubmehl,
Adrienne Kiesl, Amy Quanz, and Raymond Thielges. Alternates chosen: Sarah
Warner, Steven Quanz, Laura Becker, and Sean Schubmeh.
Escorts for the evening were: Sean Schubmehl, Raymond Thielges and Steven
Quanz. The Galloping Grapes were the ushers, registration was handled
by Vicki Thielges and Jessica Thielges, and Jessica was also the official
photographer. Barb Hull and Sue Schwingel organized refreshments, and
judges for the evaluations were Grace Brown, Phyllis Rathbun, Sue Schwingel,
Becky Moore, Gwen Gottschall and Mary Louise Gottschall.
Members of the Clothing Committee who planned and organized the show were
Helen Barone, Grace Brown, Amy Fairbrother, Jenna Kurtz, Emily Lyons,
Phyllis Rathbun, Sue Schwingel, Jessica Thielges, Raymond Thielges, Vicki
Thielges, Saran Warner. Thanks to the entire committee who made this program
a great success. For information about the 4-H Clothing Program in Steuben
County, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at (607) 664-2300.or visit
the web at www.putknowledgetowork.com.
Steuben County chooses eleven 4-H presenters to go to Dsitrict Presentations
The Finger Lakes 4-H District Educators recently held their annual Finger
Lakes District Public Presentations in Canandaigua with 108 4-H youth
participating from Cayuga, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca,
Steuben, Wayne, and Yates coutnies. The youth gave presentations on a
multitude of topics.
The purpose of the 4-H Public Presentation program is to emphasize the
importance of communications skills, build poise, self-confidence, and
develop the ability to think and speak with ease in front of people. Giving
a presentation provides the opportunity to gain insight and reassurance
about previous work accomplished while improving speaking abilities, to
move through another level of evaluation above the county and to be exposed
to and learn different techniques used by other speakers. Each county
chooses three individuals to present at the State Public Presentations
program at Cornell University in the fall.
Steuben County 4-H Presenters were: Theresa Colomaio (The Parts of a Trumpet),
Amelia Flint (Origami Ornaments), Arvilla Mast (Why Bother Cleaning Horses
Teeth, Karli Mulford (Festive Napkin Folding), Robert Murphy (Hog Breeds),
Meiling Norfolk (Amazing Spring Recitation), Alice Smith (Breeds of Horses
and Their Main Disciplines), Molly Smith (Barnyard Friends Sugar Cookies),
Amy Quanz (Impromptu), Paxton Surprenant (Puppetry and Puppet Care), Samantha
Towner (Hot Cocoa), Anna VonHagn (Basic Dog Care), Rachael VonHagn (The
American Paint Horse), Debra Westfall (Dressage Then and Now), Mc Kenna
Wise (Ponies of the World), Nicole Wise (My Friend Flicka Recitation),
Jamie Wood (History of the Mustang and The Adopt a Horse Program).
Awarded a gold 4-H medallion as a Top Presenter for District Public Presentations
in Steuben County were Karli Mulford and Meiling Norfolk. Chosen for the
Judge’s Choice Award were Karli Mulford, Molly Smith, Anna VonHagn,
and Nicole Wise.
Evaluators representing Steuben County were Hollee Schwingel and Sue Schwingel
To learn more about the 4-H Public Presentation program contact Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Steuben County, 3 Pulteney Square East, Bath,
NY 14810, (607) 664-2300, or visit www.putknowledgetowork.com.
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Ag Literacy Day To highlight agriculture literacy throughout the county, volunteers such as 4-H/Youth Development leader Kim Randall, read a book about making maple syrup to elementary chidlren in Canisteo-Greenwood. A donation from the Steuben County Farm Bureau provided a copy of the book for several school libraries. |
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Spring Fling
After the 4-H Expo was cancelled due to
bad weather, CCe-Steuben educators offered soapmaking (shown above) and
horiticulture at a mini Spring fling event in April.
Afterschool Program
A Corning Advantage Afterschool group combines geospacial science (GPS)
physical activity and outdoor environemnt in a recent program provided
to schools by such partnerships as 4-H/youth Development and Family Service
Society.
Area 4-Hers Return Home From the State Capital
The western New York 4-H contingent at the 73rd Annual New York
State 4-H Capital Days in March. Second from left, next to Assemblyman
James Bacalles, is Brett Rosko, and second from right is Emily Lyons.
Center is Senator George Winner.
Emily Lyons, from the Dairy Dynamites 4-H Club, Addison/Corning, and Brett
Rosko, from the Outsiders 4-H Club, Campbell/Savona, recently returned
from the state capital from a trip of their lifetime, the 73rd Annual
New York State 4-H Capital Days. The program included two intensive days
of tours and lectures. The youth traveled with 4-H members from Yates
and Ontario Counties and eventually made friends with 4-H'ers from all
over the state while learning about state and local government.
A top state official told local 4-H members at this event that improvements
are slated to continue this year at the state fair youth building. Dan
O’Hara, the director of the state fair, told the statewide contingent
of 4-H members that money is currently in the proposed state budget for
improvements to the bathrooms and dorm areas of the Youth Building. O’Hara
said plans are for the dorm and bathroom improvements this summer, and
by next year the building should have a new roof. The state fair director
said all improvements are contingent upon this year’s state budget
being approved with the funds for the youth building still intact.
The first day of the Capital Days trip included a budget game led by Celeste
Carmichael of the state 4-H office and Assembly Member Peter Lopez. The
youth learned that the budget includes areas such as education, transportation,
and health care. They traveled to the Empire Plaza where they learned
how a bill is made into a law from Assembley Member Marc Molinaro. The
afternoon continued with three groups touring the Capital building followed
by a trip to the State Museum of History and the Corning Tower. The museum
included an emotional exhibit of the September 11th terrorist attacks,
and the Corning Tower offered a view of the city of Albany from three
different sides. The evening program taught the youth how to write a press
release, tips on interview and about the job of a lobbyist.
The second day the youth had breakfast with their legislators at Empire
Plaza. Assemblyman James Bacalles and Senator George Winner welcomed 4-H
members from their region. They discussed how to help ensure money in
the state budget for the area 4-H programs and how to help with capital
funds for the 4-H youth building at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse.
After pictures were taken with both legislators, the 4-H members broke
into program groups and met at the Court of Appeals. They learned about
the state court system and who sits on the Appeals Court bench. They met
at the state education department for the closing ceremony. Senator Catherine
M. Young (R,I,C-Olean) spoke about her job in the senate. Young is the
chair of the Senate’s Agricultural Committee. “What we’re
working to do this year in the state budget is to get funding to upgrade
the dormitories at the State Fair,” she said. Young added, however,
that she feels that much work needs to be done on the state budget before
it passes. “We do have our work cut out for us. We have got to get
taxes down,” Young said.
"The best part about this trip was learning about the state government
and how it is run," "Brett Rosko said. "We learned that
the government officials will listen to 4-H'ers. We need to tell them
what we would like to see in the budget for the 4-H program and to ensure
that there is money to help keep the New York State 4-H Program funded.
At the conclusion we all said good-bye to the new friends that were made
on this trip and hope to see them at the next state 4-H event."