4-H Day takes centre stage at ENSE

Don’t ask Gerrit Versteeg to make a choice.

“I like everything,” the Heatherton 4-H Club member said, when asked about his favourite part of participating in the movement.

The youngster reflected on his experience, while cradling his four-legged friend, Leah, in his arms, as they waited to compete in the rabbit classification during 4-H Day at the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition (ENSE). “It is so much fun,” he added. Gerrit was one of the more than 300 members of Antigonish County 4-H – ranging from ages nine to 21 – along with 80 leaders, who completed projects for the annual showcase, which traditionally takes place on the opening day of the fall fair.

“Trust me,” Gracie Hawes, who garnered top spot with her partner, Freya, in the junior goat classification said, when asked about the keys to preparing for the competition.

The St. Andrews club member noted there was plenty of preparation involved, teaching the animal to heed her commands, including when “not to jump.”

With some help from Shamus Thomson, Mary Beth Brophy of the Landing 4-H Club was putting the finishing touches on Symphony, her partner for the calf competition.

“Showing calves,” the threeyear member said, with a wide smile, when asked about her favourite part of 4-H.

Like many members, it was a day of multiple competitions for Chelsea Baker, who showed a chicken, goat and sheep.

“It is a lot of work,” the St. Josephs club member agreed.

Since joining 4-H six years

ago, she noted, her favourite activity is “showing the animals.”

Winners from the local 4-H Day will move on to the provincial showcase, which will take place in Bridgewater in late September.

“We are having a super year in 4-H, with a marked expansion of the program across the two counties [Antigonish and Guysborough],” Sally van de Wiel, president of the Antigonish Leaders Council, said.

She noted Antigonish County has increased membership by more than 50, while a new club launched in Sherbrooke.

There are six Antigonish clubs; Heatherton, Havre Boucher, Landing, St. Andrews, West River and St. Josephs, along with Sherbrooke and Goshen in Guysborough County.

“It is the largest show in several years,” van de Wiel said of the 2018 4-H Day.

The more than 30 project categories included cake decorating, foods, woodworking, welding, crafts, great outdoors, floriculture and sewing.

Lego was a new project classification this year.

“We also have many rabbits, goats, dairy, beef, waterfowl, poultry, and cavy,” van de Wiel said.

“The exhibition is a great time of year and place to show all the great project work of our members.”