Orleans 4-Hers compete in Western District Fashion Revue
Photos by Kristina Gabalski: Allison Mathes, Emma Mathes, Lillian Mathes (front row, left to right), Peggy-Jo Gabalski and Naomi Mathes (back row, left to right) are pictured at Chautauqua on Saturday.
CHAUTAUQUA – Orleans County was well represented at the 2017 4-H Western District Fashion Revue. The competition was held Saturday morning at the Hurlbut Memorial Community United Methodist Church on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua.
Allison, Emma, Naomi and Lillian Mathes, and Peggy-Jo Gabalski were all chosen during the Orleans County 4-H Fashion Revue in April to represent Orleans at the district level.
The Mathes girls live in Barre and are members of the Adventurers 4-H Club. They attend Albion Central School. Peggy-Jo Gabalski is a member of the Orleans County Rabbit Raisers and Outback Orleans 4-H Clubs. She is a student at Genesee Community College in Batavia.
Participants in the 2017 4-H Western District Fashion Revue post outside the Hurlbut Memorial Community Church.
Debbie Caruso, a member of the Chautauqua County 4-H Family and Consumer Science Program Development Committee, hosted the Fashion Revue portion of the program. She said sewing is just one part of the 4-H Fashion Revue.
“The District Fashion Revue gives 4-Hers the opportunity to meet with 4-Hers from other counties who may have the same interests they do,” Caruso said.
She noted 4-H events such as the annual Fashion Revue give young people skills they need to succeed in life – including leadership skills and engagement with their communities.
Participants also viewed a DVD about the Chautauqua Institution, its history and mission, enjoyed lunch together at the Hurlbut Memorial Church, and were invited to tour the gardens and grounds of the Chautauqua Institution before returning home.
4-H Western District counties – Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Orleans, Niagara, Erie, and Wyoming – rotate hosting the event each year. Participants can then compete in 4-H Fashion Revue at the New York State Fair.
Peggy-Jo, Naomi, Lillian, Allison and Emma (left to right) pose on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution in the outfits and accessories they sewed and crafted.
