Cooperative Extension honors ‘Friends,’ 4-H leader of the year

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – Rob Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, honors the “Friends of the Extension” during the CCE’s annual meeting last week at the Tavern on the Ridge.

Gary and Dawn Marciszewski received the award for their volunteer efforts running the Senior Council Stand during the week-long 4-H Fair. They order all the food and stay with the volunteers from morning to night.

The stand raises about $15,000 during the week to support 4-H programs.

The Marciszewskis have been involved with 4-H for decades. They were poultry superintendents and chaperones for trips. Mrs. Marciszewski also was a dog club leader.

They work with about 100 youths in the Senior Council Stand during the week. Mrs. Marciszewski said the kids enjoy taking responsibility when they have their shifts.

“They like to cook, make change and stock shelves,” she said. They like to do things.”

She and her husband have enjoyed watching the 4-Hers grow up over the years.

Jann Davis of West Barre, left, was honored as the 4-H Volunteer of the Year. She is presented the award by Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H program leader.

Davis is vice president of the Horse Program Development Committee and coach of the Horse Bowl and Hippology teams. A former 4-H program leader, Davis returned to volunteering with 4-H about two years ago. She joined a strong horse program that has dozens of youths, Gabalski said.

The program is Orleans, however, had limited equine knowledge-related programs and contests. Davis stepped in to run Horse Bowl and Hippology for Orleans County.

Horse Bowl is in a  Jeopardy-style format, giving youths a chance to showcase their horse knowledge in a competitive event. Horse Bowl asks questions about equine terms, the horse industry, feeding and care, and anatomy.

Hippology is more rigorous testing of equine science and application of equine knowledge in a competitive setting. “Hippo” means horse in Greek and “ology” is the study of.

Davis led teams in Horse Bowl and Hippology contests in regional contests last spring, and then the Hippology competition at the State Fair in August.

“Jann is incredibly knowledgeable, creative, enthusiastic, patient and kind,” Gabalski said. “She also understands the importance of setting expectations and challenges for youth while supporting them with the knowledge that they have the grit and ability to go outside their comfort zones and do these things.”

There are currently seven youths in the program. Davis said three more are expected to soon join.

Other 4-H leaders were recognized during the annual meeting:

• Barb Kurzowski for 27 years with the Rabbit Raisers and poultry clubs
• Erik Seielstad for 13 years with the robotics program
• Dawn Marciszewski for the 4-H Senior Council Stand
• Robyn Watts for 48 years with the Abundant Harvest 4-H Club. She also leads the Family and Consumer Science Program Development Committee.
• Melissa Asento for five years leading the Goat Busters Club.
• Bill Gerling for 35 years with the rabbit program

Caton Conde, president of the board of directors for the CCE, addressed about 75 people at the annual meeting. Conde was an active member of the 4-H program as a kid when she was Caton McKenna. She thanked the many 4-H volunteers for offering such a meaningful program in Orleans County.

“As a proud 4-H alum, I know firsthand how transformative the programs we offer can be,” Conde said. “Raising animals, learning new skills, showing at the fair – these moments create not only incredible memories but also a strong work ethic that stays with you for life.”

Conde said she felt so strongly about the 4-H, she named her daughter Clover, which is the 4-H logo. Her son is in the 4-H Lego Club. She looks forward to her children growing up in the program and showing animals and entering projects at the fair.

There are 319 youths enrolled in 4-H. They entered 3,337 exhibits at the county fair.

Some other highlights from the year:

• Master gardeners and food preservers completed 2,335 hours of service teaching 1,388 class participants
• Digital literacy served an average of 1.2 people very working day
• The Elderberries Senior Cooking program expanded to serve eight counties in WNY
• An average of 400 households attended monthly food distributions at the fairgrounds.
• Families used 2,000 seed packets from the master gardeners seed share program to start and grow their own plants at home
• Pesticide education supported 165 individuals taking pretest training for essential licensing