Successful year ends
Numbers indicate potential for growth
The Cape Breton Regional 4-H program is wrapping up another successful programming year.
The 2018 4-H program consisted of 242 members including 30 cloverbuds (youth ages 7-8) and 70 volunteer leaders from the four counties. This is a slight increase in youth membership from last year and speaks to the potential of growth for future years.
This year there were 11 registered 4-H clubs in the four counties on Cape Breton Island. There was project enrolment in 15 different livestock and 26 different life skills projects across the region. Eleven per cent of youth members come from farms, 74 per cent from rural communities and 15 per cent resided in urban areas. Fourteen per cent of volunteer leaders came from farms, 76 per cent from rural communities and 10 per cent from urban areas.
These stats show an increase in rural leadership participation from last year which is great to see with the many demands on volunteers these days.
The 4-H program offers youth and adults an opportunity for leadership development, agricultural awareness, travel, livestock and life skill project training. Working with our youth in the four counties is our various 4-H leader’s councils. Special thanks to our leader council volunteers that co-ordinate county and provincial programming.
The executive in Inverness County includes Carol Van den Hoogen (president), Janine Wilson (vice-president) and Dianne Cox (secretary/treasurer).
The executive in Victoria County is comprised of Nelson Peterson (president), Angus Nicholson (vice-president) and Doreen Norman (secretary/ treasurer).
The executive in Cape Breton County is made up of Lois MacNeil (president), Kelsey MacNeil (vice-president), Karen MacDonald (secretary) and Carmelita Shea (treasurer).
The executive in Richmond County includes Adrienne Smith (president), Stuwart Carter (vicepresident) Kevin MacEachern (treasurer) and John Campbell (secretary).
With all the great team work, it is easy to see how members and leaders followed this year’s theme “Let 4-H Reign Supreme in 2018.”
A huge thank you goes out to all the volunteer leaders within the 4-H community and to the 4-H members and families within the Cape Breton region for their participation in so many club and community projects. Upcoming events include:
• New 4-H registration begins in October/November
• National award travel opportunities for 4-H youth and leaders
• New leader screening and training sessions
• Leader recognition of service For additional information contact the agricultural leadership co-ordinator at Marina.Gillis@novascotia.ca to set up a new club or join an existing club.