FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 25, 2014 

County 4-H Association is busy at the Fair

Annual event is a culmination of year-long activities

FREEHOLD, NJ – For the Monmouth County 4-H Association, the annual Monmouth County Fair is a showcase of the many achievements and skills that 4‐H members have learned throughout the year.

“Participating in the Monmouth County Fair is a summer highlight for many 4‐H’ers,” Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said. “I’m sure that they will create memories and make friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Freeholder Director Burry, who is the liaison to the County’s Cooperative Extension Service, was on hand opening night of the Fair to crown the 2014 Monmouth County 4-H Ambassadors Rebecca Carmeli-Peslak of Millstone and Erica Todd of Jackson. Both young women are members of the Monmouth County Teen Council and will serve as local envoys to other 4-H groups in the nation until the 2015 Fair.

4-H involves children from kindergarten through one year passed high school (grade 13) in dozens of clubs and activities. Traditional clubs involve livestock and farming activities. But some of the less traditional clubs, like herpetology, care for arachnids, newts and salamanders and snakes. Other clubs develop skills in crafts, art, photography, writing, dance and theater arts.

“These talented youth bring their enthusiasm for life to the fair each year,” Virginia Kryzanowski, Monmouth County’s 4-H Program Associate. “This year, fairgoers will once again be impressed by the accomplishments of our 4‐H’ers. Although some activities are standard every year, there are new opportunities for people to get involved. The County Fair is a great way that to encourage our youth to join 4-H.”

“Special thanks goes to the adults who work directly with the youth as 4‐H Volunteers,” said Burry. “They are the backbone of the organization and give much of their time to make this fair one of the best in the state.”

The 4-H program is a unit of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service in Monmouth County.

The goals of the Monmouth County 4‐H program are to:

§  Recognize, showcase & evaluate the accomplishments of 4‐H members

§  Encourage teens and adults to become 4‐H volunteers

§  Highlight the county 4‐H program

§  Familiarize the public with 4‐H philosophy

§  Provide an opportunity for the public to participate in enjoyable and educational, family oriented 4‐H events

The Monmouth County Fair is a joint project of the Monmouth County Park System and the Monmouth County 4-H Association.

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