Last week, the Ohio 4-H Foundation recognized the 25th anniversary of Celebration of Youth with an exciting night of fundraising and fellowship at Leeds Farm in Ostrander, Ohio. The evening included a variety of fun, fall activities, including pedal carts, a zip line, and hayrides. Appetizers and dinner were catered by Hudson’s Edge, Bill and Kristin Patterson, Cheryl’s Cookies, and City Barbeque.
Molly Hunt, a Darke County 4-H alumna and a geologist, paleontologist, and public information specialist with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, served as the evening’s keynote speaker. She shared her 4-H story and spoke about the impact that 4-H has had on her life. As part of this 25th Celebration of Youth milestone, Ohio Sen. Bob Peterson and Rep. Mark Johnson recognized the exceptional work done by the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Program over the years, sharing a proclamation signed by Sens. Matt Huffman, Bob Peterson, and Andrew Brenner. Attendees also heard remarks from Dr. Cathann Kress, vice president for Agricultural Administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, on the importance of 4-H.
Following a live auction, guests were invited to further their support of Ohio 4-H youth by sponsoring them to attend a National 4-H leadership opportunity. Due to this sponsorship, youth will have the opportunity to attend one of these life-changing opportunities such as National 4-H Conference, Healthy Living Summit, True Leaders in Equity National Summit, Citizenship Washington Focus, or the National AgriScience Summit.
A special thanks goes out to all the sponsors, donors, alumni, guests, and volunteers that made this year’s Celebration of Youth possible. It is because of you that we are able to help inspire the curiosity of 4-H members, build their lifelong skills, fuel their sense of adventure, and support their growth into true leaders. Thank you for helping us honor our past and join us as we zip into the future!