By Brian Roach, Staff Writer
New Centre Dairy 4-H Club marks 80 years
When Nancy Kirby was 9 years old, she helped her father and her brothers raise beef steer in a small, four-stall barn on the family’s Bedminster property. And, even though she had always wanted a horse for the family barn, Ms. Kirby decided to join a beef and dairy 4-H club, where she continued raising cattle for more than 10 years.
Ms. Kirby, now the owner of Derwood Farm in Hillsborough, eventually got her horse; and, to this day, the 4-H dairy program has remained an important part of her life. In fact, now a co-leader of Somerset County’s New Centre Dairy club, Ms. Kirby was on hand June 8 to celebrate the 4-H club’s 80th anniversary.
”New Centre Dairy is proud to have 80 years of longevity,” Ms. Kirby said. “We were honored to be recognized by the Somerset County freeholders and state Sen. (Christopher) Bateman. They have always been supportive of our club, as well as other Somerset County 4-H youth programs.”
Founded in 1930 by a group of young men from Hillsborough, the New Centre Dairy 4-H club — the oldest club in Somerset County and the third oldest program in New Jersey — has, in some ways, changed since its inception.
A decrease in available farmland after the 1970s forced New Centre to adopt a nontraditional “loan-a-calf” program. But, Ms. Kirby said, as the number of farms in the Somerset County area continues to decrease, even the “loan-a-calf” system — which matches 4-H participants with animals — has become an increasing burden.
And, according to Ms. Kirby, the availability of land isn’t the only thing that’s changed in Somerset County’s oldest 4-H club: These days, parents are surprised to learn that they are expected to play a large part in their children’s dairy projects.
”4-H is a very family-oriented organization — it takes a family commitment,” Ms. Kirby said. “And some parents don’t realize how much is expected from them when their kids are members.”
Yet, even in the face of such adversity, 4-H has – for the most part – stayed true to itself, Rich Norz, co-leader of the New Centre Dairy club, said. In fact, Mr. Norz said, he’s been surprised by the relative nonchange in some of the program’s “core values” — values that both he and Ms. Kirby think will help children long after they “graduate” from the New Centre 4-H program.
”The New Centre Dairy 4-H club has been so important to the youth over the years,” Ms. Kirby said, noting that 4-H is also a self-confidence booster. “Not only do these kids get an opportunity to learn about general sciences, agriculture and the technology involved in agriculture, but they’re learning skills — like accounting — that will help them in everyday life.”
The importance of the New Centre club is not lost on its members, either, even though only one of the club’s 18 participants lives on a dairy farm.
”(4-H) should be even more important than it is right now,” 18-year-old Jessi Brygier said. “It hasn’t just been a great way to meet new friends – it has also taught me how to be more comfortable with new people, new situations and new environments. (4-H) encourages you to branch out and try new things; and, as corny as it sounds, stuff like that is really important.”
New Centre Dairy “graduate” Kelly Steimle agreed with Jessi’s assessment, noting that 4-H presentations have also made her a more confident speaker and leader. In fact, Ms. Steimle, a senior at Rutgers University’s Cook College, said New Centre Dairy has changed her life.
”I am so thankful that I joined,” Ms. Steimle said. “It truly has altered my life path. Without my 4-H experience, I don’t know what my aspirations would have been.”
Ms. Steimle added that, even in the face of a shrinking agricultural sector, 4-H is probably just as relevant today as it was eight decades ago.
”If anything, (4-H) is even more important now as farm land is diminishing,” Ms. Steimle said. “It is imperative that kids, like myself, who haven’t been exposed to agriculture, get educated on how important farming is.
Despite the challenges of this changing economy, local 4-Hers remain confident that the New Centre club will continue to survive and thrive. As long as county freeholders and residents continue to support 4-H, Ms. Kirby said, the club should be OK.
”4-H has a great, bright future,” Mr. Norz said. “The skills — like public speaking and public awareness — that drive 4-H forward now will continue to drive it forward into the future.”
What remains to be seen, however, is what form 4-H will take as farmland continues to diminish.
While traditional 4-H programs — those that focus on large livestock — could shrink in the future, Ms. Kirby said “non-traditional” clubs could continue to grow. Somerset County offers “nontraditional” programs in dog obedience, Lego robotics and model rocket construction, among others.
”We really have quite a diverse set of programs in the Somerset County 4-H program,” Mr. Norz said, noting that between its traditional and nontraditional clubs, 4-H has a little something for everyone.
For more information about the New Centre 4-H club, visit www.4HisTops.com or call 908-526-6644.
