Susquehanna County 4-H held its Annual 4-H Achievement Night and Leaders Recognition Celebration at Mountain View High School, on November 7th. The evening began at 6:00 with an excellent covered dish dinner that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. It was a great evening of celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of our Susquehanna County 4-H members, as well as the many hours of service of our volunteer leaders.

The Awards Program began with a welcome, the pledges, and recognition of our special guests. Several members of the Susquehanna County Extension Board were in attendance, as well as members of the Youth Program Advisory Committee (YPAC), along with Commissioners Alan Hall and Betsy Arnold.

Our 4-H Achievement Night is a night to honor Susquehanna County 4-H members for their accomplishments throughout the year. The first awards given were the Livestock Project Book Awards. These awards are given to the 4-Hers that complete and hand in their 4-H Livestock Books, and do the best job. Winners in the Senior Division were Champion Charlie Stretch, Reserve Emily Supancik, and Honorable Mention: Emma Loch. In the Intermediate Division the winners were Champion KayLeen Conklin, Reserve Emory Bewley, and Honorable Mention Heidi Cross. In the Junior Division, the Champion was Alex Empet, Reserve Gavin Bewley, and Honorable Mention Trever Graham. In the Rookie or first year division, the winners were Champion Luke Harvatine, Reserve Ryan Supancik, and Honorable Mention Autumn Bonavita.

Next, the Dairy Awards were presented. The Best Owned and Bred animals for 2015 were exhibited by Gavin Bewley and Kyle Vanderfeltz. These two 4-Hers owned and bred their 4-H projects, and were presented with prizes for their excellent accomplishments. Also receiving recognition in the Dairy Program were Delaney Curley, Kyle Vanderfeltz, and Gavin Bewley for exhibiting either a Grand or Reserve Grand Champion at the State 4-H Dairy Show held in Harrisburg. Lastly, were the winners of the Dairy Project Books. Winners in the Senior Division were Champion Emily Supancik, Reserve Kennidy Finch, Honorable Mention Keri Jones. The Intermediate Division was won by Emory Bewley, Reserve Patrick Curley, and Honorable Mention Krisat Jones. In the Junior Division, Champion went to Alex Empet, Reserve to Gavin Bewley, Honorable Mention to Delaney Curley. In the Rookie Division, Champion went to Amanda Voll, Reserve Hannah Deome, Honorable Mention to Autumn Bonavita.

The next awards presented were from the 4-H Horse Program. Austin Graham of the Happy Horsemen Club was recognized for securing the highest number of sponsors as well as the highest dollar amount to be used towards the Horse 4-H Program. Jessica Sudhop, of the Blue Ribbon Driven Horse and Pony Club, received a framed photo of her Reserve Champion Hunter Mare from the Junior Horse Championship Show held in Centre County, PA. It was a busy year for our 4-H Horse Program, and all the members did a great job.

The program then moved on to the individual member awards. The Outstanding News Reporter Award went to Gannon Dooner-Furness of the Kaleidoscope 4-H Club for submitting four newspaper articles. Next the Project Diversity Award was awarded to a trio of young ladies: Mercedes Strohl, Katelyn Supancik, and Adriana Zebrowski. These members each completed seven 4-H projects this year! 4-H window promotion displays were also honored at this time, and were presented to the Jackson Pin Thimblers, Happy Horseman, and Borderline 4-H Club.

Each 4-H Club was encouraged to choose one member who has shown the most improvement, been the most helpful, or stood out in this project year for any reason to be awarded the Club Spirit Award. The winners are as follows: Ryleigh Naylor, Ben Pettyjohn, Shannon Cobb, Hannah Decker, Corey Vanderfeltz, Jonas Fuller, Alexis Sebring, Cassie Marvin, Megan McVaugh, Rebecca Haley, Rohan Hertzog, Alex Empet, Lorna Watkins, Shelby Kerr, Jessica Sudhop. Also presented were the Blue and Red Ribbon 4-H Club Winners. These are the Susquehanna County 4-H Clubs that have kept track of their clubs activities, and submitted the Blue Ribbon application in October. This year, the awards went to North Jackson Ag, Borderline, Happy Horsemen, DES, Fancy Feathers, and Jackson Pin Thimblers.

The program moved on to the Project Completion Awards. One first year member was chosen, and one member from all other 4-Hers. This year’s winners were Kassie Wilbur of the Awesome Archers, and Nolan Hollister of the Borderline 4-H Club.

The next portion of the program was to honor our 4-H Volunteer Leaders. First to be honored were the first year volunteer leaders. They are: Don Beemer, Alyssa Brace, Annettia Carpenetti, Renee Herb, Rebecca Hricko, Lori Raub, Jenna Simpson, Brittany Zebrowski, and Paul ZIpprich. Leaders with five years were Diane Mooney, Connie Oliver, Ann Marie Shevchuk, and Amy Wood. Ten year leaders were Sue Graham and Julie Whitehead. Fifteen year leaders were Julie Harvatine and Kathy Walker. Twenty year leaders were Ed Cameron, John and Bonny Onyon, and Joe and Sandy Pavelski. Twenty five years was awarded to Irma Beardslee and Sheryl Boyle. Being honored for thirty-five years was Evelyn Gerchman of the Jackson Pin Thimblers. Susquehanna County 4-H has an outstanding group of leaders that give countless hours of dedication and support to the program. The Susquehanna County 4-H Program would not be what it is without their amazing support.

The last awards presented for the evening were scholarships and awards given to senior 4-H members that are moving onto college. The Outstanding Dairy Member was won by Rachel Johnson of the Elk Mountain Community 4-H Club and Sabrina Clark of DES. The Outstanding Horse Member was awarded to Casey Purdum of the Happy Horseman 4-H Club. The Youth Program Advisory Board (YPAC) was very excited to award six scholarships this year. They were awarded to Sabrina Clark, Casey Purdum, Rachel Johnson, Katelyn Zembrzycki, Ben Pettyjohn, and Madeline Mitchell. Lastly, the Susquehanna County Outstanding 4-Hers were presented. This year the recipients were Sabrina Clark and Katelyn Zembrzycki. These two 4-Hers are ones that have put in extra time and effort, and have developed right along with the program. Congratulations to all our award winners. The Susquehanna County Achievement Night and Leaders Recognition Celebration was a fun night, and an excellent way to celebrate how 4-H makes the best better.

Raising $401,828 ($15,850 of which is from retirees), a 71.5% employee giving rate, and 331 leadership givers, it's easy to see why P&G - Mehoopany stands as a role model for employee United Way campaigns in Northeastern PA. 

P&G Mehoopany's $401,828 from generous employees will benefit 6 area United Ways, including: United Way of Bradford County, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties, Sullivan County United Way, United Way of Susquehanna County, United Way of Wyoming Valley and Wyoming County United Way.

Pictured (l-r) are: John Orbin, United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties; Kim Merithew, United Way of Susquehanna County; Alex Fried, P&G Mehoopany; Kerri Strauss, United Way of Bradford County; Matthew Ceruti, United Way of Wyoming Valley; Katrina Wilkins, Sullivan County United Way; Kristen Huff, Wyoming County United Way.

For seven straight years in a row, P&G - Mehoopany has increased their local contributions. 2016 saw a 10% increase in leadership giving - with an average employee gift of $210 - and an additional $13,000 more than last year to support area United Way's. 

United Way officials in all northeast PA regions were on hand Wednesday to show their appreciation and offer thanks during a P&G leadership luncheon. 

P&G will also match the employee donations with another $135,000 in corporate contributions, making the campaign total exceed $535,000.

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.

“Today’s announcement is symbolic of the evolution of USDA’s efforts to better serve the next generation of farmers and ranchers. What began seven years ago with the recognition that the rapid aging of the American farmer was an emerging challenge, has transformed into a robust, transparent, tech-based strategy to recruit the farmers of the future,” said Harden. “No matter where you’re from, no matter what you look like, no matter your background, we want USDA to be the first stop for anyone who is looking to be a part of the story and legacy of American agriculture.”

The new web tool is available at www.usda.gov/newfarmers. The site was designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country, who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to grow their business, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the site’s Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs.

Using the new web tool and other outreach activities, and operating within its existing resources, USDA has set a new goal of increasing beginning farmer and rancher participation by an additional 6.6 percent across key USDA programs, which were established or strengthened by the 2014 Farm Bill, for a total investment value of approximately $5.6 billion. Programs were targeted for expanded outreach and commitment based on their impact on expanding opportunity for new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including starting or expanding an operation, developing new markets, supporting more effective farming and conservation practices, and having access to relevant training and education opportunities. USDA will provide quarterly updates on its progress towards meeting its goal. A full explanation of the investment targets, benchmarks and outcomes is available at: BFR-Commitment-Factsheet.

Deputy Secretary Harden made the announcements during remarks to more than 60,000 attendees at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The National FFA Organization is the largest youth organization in the United States, and focuses on preparing students for a wide range of careers in agriculture, agribusiness and other agriculture-related occupations.

As the average age of the American farmer now exceeds 58 years, and data shows that almost 10 percent of farmland in the continental United States will change hands in the next five years, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established. Equally important is encouraging young people to pursue careers in industries that support American agriculture. According to an employment outlook report released by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and Purdue University, one of the best fields for new college graduates is agriculture. Nearly 60,000 high-skilled agriculture job openings are expected annually in the United States for the next five years, yet only 35,000 graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture related fields are expected to be available to fill them. The report also shows that women make up more than half of the food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, and environment higher education graduates in the United States. USDA recently released a series of fact sheets showcasing the impact of women in agriculture nationwide.

Today’s announcement builds on USDA’s ongoing work to engage its resources to inspire a strong next generation of farmers and ranchers by improving access to land and capital; building market opportunities; extending conservation opportunities; offering appropriate risk management tools; and increasing outreach and technical support. To learn more about USDA’s efforts, visit the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Results Page.