HONESDALE, PA — The week of March 12-18, 2023 was officially recognized as 4-H Week by the Wayne County Commissioners in a proclamation during the March 16 meeting at the Wayne County Courthouse.

Stephen Alessi, Penn State Extension area 4-H client relations manager, summarized the 4-H year. A member picks a project and sees it through until the end of the year, and then there are opportunities to exhibit the work to exhibit their work to the public. 

“It’s about the development of start to finish, and the education that comes with it,” Alessi said. “[It’s] kind of a non-traditional setting, through a mix of activities with other kids, and also interactions with the volunteers and leaders, too.” 

This leads, he continued, “to a really great youth-development program.”

“I’ve been in 4-H for 11 years now, and it’s really one of the most amazing things that I’ve had an opportunity to do,” said Elektra Kehagias, 4-H member and president of the Wayne County 4-H teen council, to the council. “We do so much community service year-round, and it really teaches you how to give back… and you get to see the results of it.” 

Elektra also serves as the Wayne County Dairy Princess.

Commissioners James Shook and Brian Smith both have had experience with 4-H; their children have been involved in the program. The commissioners extolled the program’s effectiveness in both learning and character development, which become the foundation of their children’s future lives, they said.

The body of the proclamation included the following points:

4-H is America’s largest youth development organization, supporting nearly six million youth across the country.

4-H has helped countless youth in Wayne County to become competent, independent, resilient and compassionate leaders as they learn by doing.

4-H in Pennsylvania is delivered by Penn State Cooperative Extension in rural areas, small towns and cities in all 67 counties of the commonwealth, to more than 77,000 youth aged five through 18.

4-H youth in Pennsylvania are served by a network of staff members and more than 6,000 adult volunteers who engage and mentor youth in learning activities and hands-on projects in topics such as animal science; civic engagement; science, technology, engineering and math; and health and wellness.

Pennsylvania 4-H Week showcases the incredible ways the program inspires kids to achieve. It also highlights the remarkable youth in Wayne County, who work each day to make a positive impact on those around them.

The 4-H network provides youth with opportunities for leadership, development, career exploration, problem-solving, friendships, community involvement, compassion and purpose.

There are currently 275 youth enrolled in the Wayne County 4-H program.