Hornell Tractor Supply store receives certificate from local 4-H members 4-H members from four area Hornell clubs, Country Bunch, M&M, Blue Ribbon Roundup, and Country Critters, recently awarded the Tractor Supply Co. in Hornell with a certificate of appreciation for the store having the highest regional percentage of sales for Paper Clovers. Tractor Supply stores sell the paper clovers to their customers to help raise money for local 4-H programs. The Steuben County 4-H Program is where young people explore, learn and discover in a safe environment. The youth find that their 4-H skills last a lifetime. 4-H programs focus on three main ideas relevant to today’s youth: Science, Engineering, and Technology (4H SET), Healthy Living, and Citizenship. Be it camps, fairs, events, workshops, school programs or clubs — 4-H aims to enrich the education of young people — making them yearn to learn more, give back to their communities and become responsible, capable adults. For more information on local 4-H programs, visit www.putknowledgetowork.com.
Back L-R: Ben Knoll, Brandon Knoll, Curtis Hockenberry (Manager, Hornell store), Ryan Schmaldinst, Nicole Schmaldinst. Front L-R: Connor Stewart, Nathan Randall, Matt Stewart, Tucker McCaig, Troy Stewart, Ashlee Zschoche, Caleb O’dell-Oriend, Kaleb Dininny, Emily McCaig, Jenna Schmaldinst and Hannah Stewart. Photo courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County
South Lewis FFA member earns state level recognition On May 6, Lyndsay Snyder, a student at South Lewis Central School, was elected to the office of New York State Sentinel at the 86th annual New York State FFA Convention in Cobleskill. The position, termed New York State Line Officer, is one of the six highest offices a student can earn on the state level. The position of a state officer is an achievement available to juniors and seniors in high school as well as freshmen and sophomores enrolled in New York agricultural colleges or universities. After applying for the position in March, students go
through a series of interviews at the annual state convention in order to be elected by the members. As a state officer, Lyndsay will be one representative for all FFA members in New York. “During the course of the year, we are responsible for traveling across New York State promoting agriculture and FFA. We do over 100 hours of public speaking, present workshops, meet with legislators in Albany and work with our officer team to put on a successful convention” says 2010-11 State Treasurer and 2009-10 District President Brandon Aldous. “Only 16 students in
New York can be elected each year to a state officer position” state FFA Executive Secretary Juleah Tolosky said. “Those who do are driven, young people who will be an asset in the future development of the New York FFA. These students understand that their hard work and dedication will help to make this organization better for its members.” The FFA is a national youth leadership organization for students enrolled in agricultural education that, as the FFA Mission states, “makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for
Cornell Maple Camp scheduled Aug. 25-28 says “this training will position maple producers, especially intermediate and beginners, to learn the details that would otherwise require years.” The Cornell Maple Camp will begin late afternoon on Thursday Aug. 25 and conclude at noon on Sunday Aug. 28. Cornell Maple Camp will occur at the Cornell University Arnot Forest near Ithaca, NY. The Cornell Maple Camp is open to all maple producers and those wishing to become maple producers. The Cornell Maple Camp is designed for anyone who wants to become a producer or who has a few years of experiences, but is seeking to expand production, products, markets or profitability. Registration information is available by going to www.CornellMaple.info and selecting Cornell Maple Camp. Registration including all meals (Thursday supper through Sunday lunch) and handouts is $90 per person. Cabins at the Arnot Forest will be available for rent at $90 per person for the complete stay (Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights) or information on local hotels can be provided. This training is sponsored by the Cornell Maple Program and the New York State Farm Viability Institute.
As her year serving as a New York State FFA officer begins, Lyndsay will soon attend a conference at Camp Oswegatchie known as BLAST Off (Building Leaders And Strong Teams of Officers), which focuses on the new state officer team’s experience with intense leadership training and team development. The six newly elected State Line Officers and 10 District Presidents will work together throughout the year to serve New York state to their greatest potential in order to keep the opportunities through FFA open to its members with the same passion for agriculture as the FFA state officers of New York.
Annual Fashion Revue presented JAMESTOWN, NY — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua 4-H program is proud to announce that the annual 4-H Fashion Revue was held at Levant Wesleyan Church on May 13, with the Levant Live Wires 4-H club hosting the event. This year’s theme was “Sewing With the Stars.” 4-H members were evaluated on sewing as well as their modeling ability. First year sewers receiving special awards were Kayla Anderson, Mathew Brockelbank, Emily Brown, Averil Dubois, Hannah Edwards, Mia Hannagan, Lexus Harris, Haley Hunt, Lynne Nordin, Elizabeth Raymond and Austin Strong. Chosen to attend Western District Fashion Revue at Lewiston, NY, in June were Abbie Bacon, Elizabeth Comstock, Kendra Dorman, Rebecca Heslink, Steven Overend, Sarah Osborne, Carleigh Seeley, Andrea Smith, Melanie Walters, Melinda Waag and Clark Wiltsie. Commentators for the evening were Cassie Skal, Bricuit Brigade and Adventurers; Rebecca Heslink, Clymer Eager Beavers; Seven Overend and Melanie Walters, Levant Live Wires; Kendra Dorman, Abbie Bacon, Lizzy Raymond, Stockton Panthers; and
Sarah Osborne, Little Brokenstraws. For the County Fashion Revue the pianist was Matthew Meyers and the photographer for the event was Billy Eskeli. Matthew Overend was the lighting technician. Arrangements were made by the County 4-H Clothing and Textile Committee, Debbie Caruso, Joyce Edwards, Suzanne Harper, Laurie Short, Opal Sprague, Claudia and Cassie Skal, and Marilyn Whitney. Special Award sponsors were; Mary Lou Bean, Martha Carlson, Debbie Caruso, Irene Lesch, New Dawn’s Daycare Dawn Comstock, and the following 4-H clubs; Clymer Eager Beavers, Levant Live Wires, Little Brokenstraws, Stockton Panthers. The Consumer and Family Science Committee sponsored the Western District Award Trip. A presentation of the Starr Leadership Training trip was give by Cassie Skal. Steven Overend and Kendra Dorman gave a presentation of their experiences at Western District Fashion Revue last year. For more information on the 4-H Club Program for youth ages 5 –19, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension, 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown, NY 14701 or call 716-664-9502.
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Save the date — Cornell Maple Camp will be held on Aug. 25-28 at Cornell’s Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, near Ithaca, NY. The Cornell Maple Program is excited to announce a unique opportunity for maple producers to acquire hands-on experience to increase their production, profitability and efficiency. Peter Smallidge, Cornell Maple Program Director, reports that “this workshop is a unique experience and an unparalleled venue for focused and handson learning in a research and production setting. Participants will learn all aspects of production, processing and marketing.” In the sugarbush, participants will learn how to measure and select trees, how to evaluate, plan and install a tubing system, and how to evaluate vacuum and bucket systems for efficiency. In the sugar house participants will learn about sap storage, reverse osmosis, evaporator operations, and syrup filtering, storage and grading. Further, participants learn to understand the principles of marketing syrup and value added products, making value-added products, and evaluating and managing their business enterprise. Steve Childs, New York Maple Specialist,
premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” As an FFA member, Lyndsay has participated in prepared public speaking, extemporaneous speaking and the job interview Career Development Events, all of which have helped her gain and strengthen skills that will be important in her future. School districts with agricultural education programs are preparing their students for some of the most up-and-coming
careers available to graduates today. Agricultural education is proven to improve student success, graduation rates, and matriculation rates. Alternative and renewable energy, natural resource management, “Green” technologies and the production and transportation of an affordable and safe food supply are all career areas that are thriving and growing in the world today. One in every five Americans is employed in the agriculture industry, and it is believed that it will continue progressing as the National FFA Organization grows in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.