NORWICH – Honoring the usefulness of connecting area youth to the Chenango County community, October was dubbed “Cooperative Extension and 4-H Month” in Chenango by the county Board of Supervisors last week.
For 100 years, the Cornell Cooperative Extension has served local communities through partnerships that combine the experience and research at Cornell with the needs of those communities. Nearly 500 Cornell Extension educators and 65,000 volunteers assist approximately 6 million people and businesses in New York State every year.
In Chenango County, Extension educators, alongside more than 200 volunteers, give their time, talent and leadership to promote agriculture and sustainability, natural resources education, youth development and family resources development.
The 4-H program falls under the umbrella of Cornell Cooperative Extension and has always been a major part of its mission, said Chenango County 4-H Educator Janet Pfromm. The program serves one out of eight youth in New York State, and roughly 300 youth ages 5-19 are currently enrolled in a 4-H Club Program.
“With your support, we were able to get out and do a wider array of more complex, more interesting programming,” Pfromm told the Board of Supervisors upon receiving a proclamation that recognizes the organization for its efforts. “Our youth are competing at the regional, state, and even national level 4-H programming, thanks to you and your support. We’ve been able to get grants to do different things to increase the complexity and learning of our youth, and we really appreciate your support.”
While a brunt of the local 4-H chapter focuses on agriculture, programming ranges in interests, from environmental issues, to textiles, to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas.
For local 4-H Clover member Levi Robinson, 4-H has been a chance to reach out and make new friends, and become more involved in his community.
Robinson was a guest speaker on behalf of 4-H at last week’s county Board of Supervisor’s meeting.
“4-H has changed my life and inspired me in many ways. My first friends and experiences with the community was with 4-H. I got to know and love this town because of this wonderful organization,” said Robinson.
Robinson told of different opportunities presented through 4-H, including opportunities to learn about agriculture, donating goods to the ASPCA, and learning everyday life skills like sewing and cooking.
“We have learned what it is to serve our community and to help others when we are able to,” he added. “4-H has inspired me to become a better person. Because of my experiences, I have done volunteer work outside of 4-H and look forward to doing more. It makes me want to give back to our great town.”
The Cornell Cooperative Extension continues to be a viable partnership between federal, state and county governments. The organization carries a mission to respond to the needs of local residents with unbiased, research-based information, tools and education.
The Extension in Chenango County has planned a 100th anniversary gala to honor its centennial year. The celebration will be held Wednesday at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich. For more, visit chenango.cce.cornell.edu, or call 334-5841.