4-Hers get their creations ready for Holiday Faire on Dec. 6

Provided photos: Trina Lorentz of Murray, left, and Nancy Walker of Kendall, both Master Gardeners with the Orleans CCE, help 4-Hers paint pots for holiday cactus.  Participants learned about the three kinds of holiday cactus before selecting and potting-up their plants.

Press Release, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County

KNOWLESVILLE – Orleans County 4-H members gathered on Saturday morning to create projects for the Holiday Faire event set for Saturday, December 6, from 12 to 2:30 p.m. in the Trolley Building on the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Holiday Faire is a long-standing 4-H tradition in Orleans County and the public is welcome to attend the event which features holiday-themed 4-H projects; tables manned by 4-H clubs, and warm comfort foods.

“Holiday Faire is a festive event for 4-Hers and their families as well as anyone who would like to stop by for holiday-themed inspiration, fun crafts and food,” says Kristina Gabalski, Orleans County 4-H Program coordinator.

McKenna Richardson,10, of Barre, places a star at the top of a holiday tree she created from upcycling old sweaters.

4-Hers enter holiday-themed projects (any holiday can be featured) which are evaluated and displayed during the event. 4-H Club tables feature fun activities and inexpensive crafts, and the kitchen is open for lunch with hearty food like chili and warm cocoa.

“We also expect some special visitors from the North Pole,” Gabalski added.

On Saturday, 4-Hers worked on projects which will be entered in the Holiday Faire. Those projects included festive paper bag snowflakes which create an indoor blizzard when hung from the ceiling; ornaments made from Scrabble board game pieces, holiday cactus planted in pots participants decorated themselves, and stunning holiday-themed wall hangings.

A paper bag snowflake dangles above Jen Batt, a CCE Orleans 4-H volunteer, during Holiday Workshops on Saturday. Participants in Batt’s workshop made the paper decorations for 4-H Holiday Faire.

Eleven-year-old Fiona Oakes of Medina is a member of several 4-H Clubs including the Abundant Harvest Club. She said she enjoyed the event, especially making holiday trees from upcycled sweaters.  “I also get to hang-out with my friends,” Fiona noted.

McKenna Richardson of Barre is 10 years old and a member of the Community Capers 4-H Club. She enjoyed learning about holiday cactus plants and painting a pot in which to plant hers.  “I decorated the pot with my hobbies – music notes, flowers and cats with Santa hats,” she said.

Thirteen-year-old Charlotte McGrath of Medina said she likes the fact that the crafts are easy to complete and she can make several different entries for Holiday Faire.  A member of the Abundant Harvest 4-H club, Charlotte said she enjoys the Holiday Workshops event each year because, “it is really fun.”

Nine-year-old Emma McGrath of Medina painted the Grinch on her holiday cactus pot.