RENSSELAER CO., N.Y. — While 4-H Clubs keep busy throughout the year, it’s at the county and state fairs where they are the most visible to the public, showcasing the skills they’ve learned. Several Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County 4-H members had their outstanding projects that were entered at the 2022 Schaghticoke Fair selected for the 2023 New York State Fair. The following 4-H members and projects were selected: Jessica Haynes (Record Book, Macramé), Hoosick Falls; Lucy Haynes (Quilling), Hoosick Falls; Kira Colarossi (Photography, Cookies), Melrose; Mia Brownell (Photography), Hoosick Falls; Ragan Retell (Corn Hole Game), Valley Falls; Allison Palladino (Photography), Valley Falls; Lillian Sliwinski (Creative Framing, Sewing), Waterford; Jameson Roberts (Clothing), Melrose; Glendora Kilmer (Hedgehog Book), Troy; Thomas Colarossi (Woodworking, Biscotti), Melrose; Mackenzie Diamond (Cookies, Pet Treats, Pies, Muffins, Ceramics), Wynantskill; Niko Colarossi (Coffee Cake), Melrose; Owen Campanella (Photography), Johnsonville; Brett Giglio (Painting), Petersburgh; Sydney Valcik (Painting), Buskirk; and Carlo Colarossi (Brownies), Melrose.
Fair exhibits have been an important part of the 4-H Youth Development Educational Program for over 100 years. Fair gives youth a platform to strive towards mastery in a project area through the process of showcasing their project, going through the evaluation process, and talking about the best parts and challenges they had in the project area. Research shows that when youth strive toward mastery and have a growth mindset they will put in extra time and effort leading to higher achievement. It’s exciting for 4-H members to showcase what they have learned; and in return they learn important things about their projects and themselves by going through the evaluation process and learning how to make their best better!
For more information about the Rensselaer County 4-H program, please contact Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County 4-H at 518-272-4210.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County