HUDSON, N.Y. — 4-H club members Madison Kellogg, Margaret Huston, Jacob Lafferty, Christian Lafferty and Emily Ooms are the recipients of college scholarships presented by the 4-H Youth Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. They were chosen on the merit of their applications which described the breadth of their involvement in 4-H projects and activities, what they had gained most from their experiences in 4-H and how those experiences will help them in the future.
Madison and Margaret (Maggie) are each recipients of $250 general 4-H scholarships.
Cathi Annese, Cornell Cooperative Extension Board of Directors President, presented the $250 4-H College Scholarships to Madison Kellogg and Margaret Huston. (Courtesy Photo)Madison is the daughter of Karen and Brian Kellogg and lives in Spencertown. She attends Chatham High School and Hudson Valley Community College. She will complete her associates degree in Liberal Arts Science and Mathematics next year. Madison then plans to transfer to a four-year university to study Marine Biology.
Madison has been a 4-H member for seven year where she was eager to help her community by volunteering for things others would not typically volunteer for. Community service has, by far, been her favorite 4-H activity. Her volunteer experiences have included roadside clean-ups, treat-making for the Humane Society, entertaining residents at Whittier and the Payne Home, and adopting families for holidays.
Madison feels that, “4-H has made me a better person by providing experiences through project activities as well as local and state trips that I may not have had the chance to participate in. I feel that I will be able to carry these experiences forward with me throughout my life.”
Maggie is the daughter of Deborah and Mark Huston and lives in Chatham. She attends Chatham High School. She will be attending the University at Albany this fall with a major in Human Development with a focus on Special Education, minor in Spanish.
Maggie became a 4-H member when she was in fifth grade and notes that her most meaningful 4-H project was clothing and textiles. Her participation over the past seven years has helped her improve her sewing skills as well as her commitment to completing things she would otherwise have given up on. As Maggie built her sewing skills she was able to participate in our local fashion revue and county fair evaluations, increasing her confidence to the point of being an evaluator of younger members’ skills.
Maggie believes that her ability to be able to communicate well with different audiences was built through 4-H activities. She said that, “I learned this skill through years of public presentation…and, interacting with all different kinds of kids and adults. I am quick-witted and can generally make anyone more comfortable around me by making jokes and being friendly”.
The Trowbridge 4-H Livestock Scholarship is new this year and honors the hard work and dedication of Phil and Annie Trowbridge to the livestock industry and their commitment to the 4-H livestock program. In addition to the general criteria above, these 4-H members must have participated in the 4-H Livestock Sale held during the Columbia County Fair at least two years. They each received $200.
Christian and Jacob are the sons of Lisa and Patrick Lafferty and live in Schodack Landing. They are seniors at Maple Hill High School. Both are planning to attend SUNY Cobleskill this fall pursuing a degree in Ag Engineering Power and Machinery.
After graduation from SUNY Cobleskill, Christian would like to either work on a dairy farm or work at an agricultural equipment dealership. He finds that his desire to work in the agricultural industry has been influenced by his participation in a variety of youth agricultural programs. He started out as a 4-H member when he was eight years old. Over the past nine years he has been involved in the dairy cattle project, learning more every year from his project leaders and 4-H activities like Dairy Bowl and public presentations. He has built on his animal science interests as he started raising livestock such as sheep and swine, which he sold during the 4-H Livestock Sale each fall.
Jacob hopes to participate in internships that will allow him to work in a variety of farm operations that will help him compare what they do to what he is doing while working at a local farm. He wants to learn more about the dairy industry and join agriculture-related clubs while attending college. Although he would like to stay working at the farm he is currently at after graduation, Jacob feels that his agricultural knowledge and machinery skills will help him to bring value to any farm or machinery operation.
Emily is the daughter of Kristine and Timothy Ooms and lives in Valatie. She attends Cornell University pursuing a major in animal science with a minor in agriculture business.
Emily’s major 4-H project area has been dairy where she has not only participated at her local 4-H club level, but also at the county, district and state level. She has particularly enjoyed 4-H dairy quiz bowl, which has helped her learn all that there is to agriculture, and that farmers are far more than people who own or manage a farm. She was able to grasp a better understanding of the practices done on her home farm and, why they were done. As an older 4-H member Emily became involved in the livestock project where she raised sheep and swine. It was a new experience for her to sell the animals she raised at auction, further expanding her knowledge of the agricultural industry. After graduation Emily hopes to be able to help farmers while working as an animal nutritionist or farm management specialist, while also continuing to work on her family’s dairy farm….with an ultimate dream to eventually take over her family’s dairy farm full time.
4-H is the youth development program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. Opportunities are available for youth (in grades K-12) and adults to become involved in community 4-H clubs.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
“Like” us on Facebook…Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Columbia and Greene Counties. For more information about CCE of Columbia and Greene Counties and its program offerings, visit our website www.ccecolumbiagreene.org or call 518-828-3346.
–Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Columbia and Greene Counties
For more articles out of New York, click here.