In the summer of 2013 from June 18 to June 22, I, Rachel Serfilippi participated as a student in the Wildlife Leadership Academy (WLA) Bucktails field school for high-achieving teens ages 14-to-17 years old. This educational camp is an intense five days of comprehensive information and the application of the learned information on the focus specie, the white- tailed deer, its habitat and the basic management of our natural world. The program also empowers youth, showing them how to become leaders and ambassadors for wildlife conservation. As a student, I was in the thick of the learning process, but this summer I was invited to return as an Assistant Team Leader (ATL) to guide the future generation of leaders.
After the Bucktails field school is complete, students are asked to preform Outreach Activities to educate the general public in the knowledge that was gained. Over the course of five months I completed six of these Outreach Activities. I had enough work completed to allow me to turn in my accomplishments for the Early Bird Record Book Submissions. The reward for my early submission was a trip to the Wildlife Society meeting at Penn State University during which I attended workshops on Herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles, and Pond Management.
I continued my Outreach so that I could qualify as an Assistant Team Leader for the 2014 field school, and compiled a total of 15 Activities placing me at the top of my Bucktails class in points earned for Outreach. I reached my goal and was contacted within a few weeks of my Final Record Book Submission, and asked to return. I accepted the position as ATL with excitement.
So what is an Assistant Team Leader and why would I be excited about going back to five days of intense education and times of high stress coupled with little sleep? To start, an ATL’s task is to act as a mentor to new recruits providing insight from our own experiences. We can guide the new recruits and give ideas as to the upcoming labors that they, as students will have to push through. Part of my drive to return was my own experience at the WLA as it had been so life changing. I wanted to help others to have a similar experience. I was able to observe the five young female students I mentored start off as quiet and unsure recruits develop into the young ambassadors and leaders that the Wildlife Leadership Academy brings out in all students who participate.
I plan on continuing my Outreach over the next several years and through this I hope to once again be a part of the Wildlife Leadership Academy as an Apprentice and then as a Program Assistant.
At the Annual Ombudsman/Protective Services Enrichment Conference, 4 local volunteers received recognition from the PA Department of Aging for their years of service to the Area Agency on Aging Volunteer Ombudsman Program. Susquehanna County residents, Mary Anne Doyle and Christine Strumski received recognition for 15 and 10 years of service respectively. As Volunteer Ombudsman, Mary Anne and Christine visit assigned long-term care facilities to meet with residents and work with staff in promoting quality of life and quality of care within the facilities. As advocates of Resident Rights, Volunteer Ombudsman empower residents to speak on their own behalf to access needed services.
Pictured (l-r) are: Carol Dieffenbach (Staff Ombudsman), Mary Ann Doyle (Volunteer), Marlea Hoyt, (Deputy Director), and Christine Strumski (Volunteer).
Persons interested in becoming a Volunteer Ombudsman can contact the Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-982-4346 toll free to secure additional information. Training is provided and mileage is reimbursed for travel to the long-term care facilities. Make a difference in someone’s life and join our team of dedicated volunteers.
Summer is finally here and for many that means planning vacations, activities, and family outings and yes, the Harford Fair, August 18 – 23, 2014. Although the winter was long, it gave avid fair exhibitors more time to work on their fine handcrafts, photography, and art work. If you are one of the many exhibitors in any of the twenty-three departments, you have probably already visited our website www.harfordfair.com. If you are one of those people who want to check out the entertainment for the fair, you, too, have undoubtedly checked out the website. Either way, you discovered a new, complete, easy to navigate website. Everything including the premium book is available as well as one click links to all aspects of the 157th Harford Fair.
Exhibitors will notice a major update to registering and submitting entries which can all be completed through the website. On the home page, click on the Online Entry! icon in the left-hand column. This will take you directly to the process of registering your entries once you create an account.
The success of the 2013 Harford Fair resulted in funds for the board of directors to utilize to make necessary fairground improvements. Once the harsh winter was over, work began to transform the Little Red School House which now sports a new roof, new windows, new doors, new wiring, new concrete steps, and beautiful new red siding. Work then began on Floral Hall which included new piers to level the building, a new roof and siding, enclosing the Antique Building with new windows and doors. The annual profits from the fair, once expenses are paid, are utilized for making such improvements and maintenance. These things will be very obvious to fairgoers when they visit the fair the third full week of August.
Facelift to the Harford Fair Little Red School House
Every day of the fair offers a variety of events in the main arena, with the thrilling Freestyle Moto Cross Stunt Show for Thursday night’s feature. Also new this year is the Antique Tractor Pull Wednesday afternoon and the Garden Tractor Pull Saturday morning. Exciting events continue with the truck and tractor events which include gas pickups (modified and street stock) and semi-trucks on Monday, stock farm tractors during the day on Tuesday and “Hot” tractors in the evening, and diesel pickups (modified and street stock) on Wednesday. The ever popular traditional events will feature the rodeo on Friday night and the $$Jack Pot$$ Demolition Derby will wrap up the fair on Saturday evening. The horse pulls and the woodsmen’s contest are also a part of the main arena lineup.
From the diaper-clad to the octogenarian, there is something for everyone. Free shows and exhibits abound in every corner of the fairgrounds all week long. Hansen’s Spectacular, an amazing family thrill show with aerial acts over 30 feet high, will perform several times daily in the North Arena. Also at the north end of the fairgrounds, one can enjoy a variety of equestrian events. Houghton Enterprise Amusements returns for the fifth year with new as well as traditional rides. Chainsaw carver Kevin Treat will demonstrate each day and his menagerie of creations will be auctioned off to the public on Saturday at 4:00 PM. Tingley Glass will also do a full day demonstration creating a unique stained glass piece which will be donated and auctioned as well. Other selected quality crafts will be available at the auction. Demonstrations are scheduled in the New Log Cabin as well as in other areas of the fairgrounds.
The queen contest, the baby contest, baking contests, and others offer opportunities for community members’ participation. The 23rd Annual Harford Fair Queen competition takes place on Monday at 2:00 and 6:00 PM and the winner becomes the ambassador for the fair throughout the week and the year which includes the PA State Fair Queen competition. PA Preferred Program is a state supported agricultural marketing program and is the sponsor of the Apple Pie, Chocolate Cake and Brownies, and Angel Food Cake competitions. A display of that program and many other features of the fair will be in the new Information Center next to the Dining Hall. The rules, deadlines, and other information along with the information for all other contests at the fair are available on the website www.harfordfair.com. The first and second place prize-winning baked goods will be auctioned on Monday at 4:00 PM to support the Harford Fair Scholarship Program.
Play “Farmer for a Day,” learn how bees make honey, or milk a goat. Whatever tickles your taste buds can be found at the Harford Fair from funnel cakes to corn on the cob or New York Style Cheesecake. Support local school band groups and scout troops by visiting their stands on the fairgrounds where they sell food to raise money for their year-long events.
Additional paved paths around the grounds make for easy accessibility for everyone. Big Tiny Young returns to the Shade Pavilion with a variety of country, gospel, and musical favorites and consistently performing since 1939 is the every-popular Lenoxville Community Band. A variety of musical acts and other entertainment include amRadio, The Windwood Hill Dance Academy, Mama Bullmoose Karaoke, and the Turkey Calling Contest.
Harford Fair has a rich and long-time history in Susquehanna County. It is one of the few truly agricultural country fairs which exist today. A visit to the New Log Cabin or Founders Hall Museum will give you an opportunity to view interesting artifacts and will take you back in time. The six-day fair provides opportunities for young and old alike to exhibit handcrafts, school projects, agricultural items, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, animals, photography and art work for competition. There are over 200 commercial space renters who display their wares as well.
Make your plans now by visiting the website www.harfordfair.com for details and schedules.
