University Park, Pa. -- Six young people were selected to serve a one-year term as the executive officers of the 2009 Pennsylvania 4-H Council at the Pennsylvania State 4-H Leadership Conference held recently in State College.
The Pennsylvania State 4-H Council is a group of young people selected from around the state to be the official spokespeople for the Pennsylvania 4-H program to government, university and industry officials. Administered by Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania 4-H is a nonformal youth-development education program that helps youth between the ages of 8 and 19 become self-directed, productive members of a diverse society by empowering them to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.
The officers include:
-- Jamie Forinash of Springboro, who was selected to serve as president of the council. Forinash has been involved in 4-H for eight years and is a senior at Cambridge Springs High School. She is a member of the Crawford County Teen Council and Pathfinders Club and plans to attend college to study English or public relations.
-- Laura Ann Pifer of Rochester Mills, who was selected to serve as vice president/operations. Pifer has been involved in 4-H for eight years and is a senior at Punxsutawney Area High School. She is a member of the Northern Livestock 4-H Club and plans to attend Penn State to study breeding and genetics.
-- Jessica Lehman of Bloomsburg, who was selected to serve as vice president/internal affairs. Lehman has been involved in 4-H for nine years and is a senior at Bloomsburg High School. She is a member of the Countywide Dairy Club and the Blazing Saddles Horse and Pony Club and plans to attend college with the ultimate goal of earning a degree in chiropractic medicine.
-- Alexandra Stepnoski of Doylestown, who was selected to serve as vice president/conferences. Stepnoski has been involved in 4-H for 10 years and is a senior at Central Bucks East High School. She is a member of the Bucks County 4-H Teen Council, the Buckingham 4-H Club and the Little Rascals 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Club. Stepnoski plans to study Web page and multimedia design in college.
-- Christy Lambert of Berlin, who was selected to serve as secretary of the council. Lambert has been involved in 4-H for seven years and is a junior at Berlin Brothersvalley Senior High School. She is a member of the Milksquirts Club and plans to study veterinary medicine in college.
-- Jeanette Blank of Middleburg, who was selected to serve as reporter/historian. Blank has been involved in 4-H for 10 years and is a senior at Midd-West High School. She is a member of the Snyder County 4-H Teen Council and Backyard Bunnies Club. She plans to study broadcast communications in college.
The officers will represent more than 100,000 4-Hers across Pennsylvania through 4-H programs and presentations with regional and state-level civic groups; with local, state and national government officials; and with Penn State administration. Throughout the year, council members will promote Pennsylvania 4-H at a variety of programs including the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Penn State's Ag Progress Days.
They will be involved in statewide 4-H programming, leading their peers in educational workshops. Finally, they are the group that plans and implements the annual state 4-H leadership conference in State College. Beyond their major role of promoting Pennsylvania 4-H, they plan and implement the opening and closing ceremonies of 4-H Capitol Days and State 4-H Achievement Days.
Each council member will devote four hours of service to a cause of their own choosing, visit five 4-H clubs within their counties and act as hosts and emcees at regional and state 4-H events.