Several young adults from the area were honored in conjunction with their 4-H activities when the 2017 Monmouth County Fair opened on July 26 at the East Freehold Showgrounds in Freehold Township with the annual 4-H Ambassador contest.
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry crowned two Monmouth County 4-H Ambassadors for 2017 – Brooke Donzelli of Howell and Collin Roach of Freehold Township, according to a press release.
“Opening night of the county fair includes the time-honored tradition of crowning the next 4-H leaders,” Burry said. “Serving as an ambassador is the culmination of a 4-H career as well as helping to set the course for a lifetime of community service and volunteerism.
“Both of our young ambassadors are model citizens who will do an excellent job representing and promoting the 4-H program for the next 12 months and as 4-H alumni,” she said.
Brooke has been a member of 4-H for five years. She is president of the Teen Council and is the South Jersey 4-H Teen Representative for Monmouth County.
Brooke is also a Rutgers 4-H Teen Science Café Teen Leader who organizes classes and cafes on the Rutgers campus with professors, scientists and teens (4-H and not), to learn about science, according to the press release. She will be a sophomore at Howell High School in September.
Collin has been a member of 4-H for four years and has been a food and fitness ambassador for two years. He is passionate about raising awareness and helping people to live safe and active lifestyles.
As a travel hockey team player, Collin believes a proper workout program is important to preventing injury and making an athlete a better game player, according to the press release. He will be a sophomore at Freehold Township High School in September.
Outgoing 2016 4-H Ambassadors were Jillian Ruggerio of Freehold and Matthew Bennett of Middletown.
Rebecca Carmeli-Peslek of Millstone Township was presented with two $500 scholarships. She received the 4-H Volunteer Association Scholarship and the 4-H Alumni Association Scholarship. Rebecca served as the 2016 New Jersey Agricultural Fair Ambassador.
4-H involves children from kindergarten through one year beyond high school in dozens of clubs and activities. Traditional clubs involve livestock and farming activities. Some of the less traditional clubs, such as herpetology, care for arachnids, newts and salamanders, and snakes. Other clubs develop skills in crafts, art, photography, writing, dance and theater arts, according to the press release.
The goals of the Monmouth County 4‐H program are to recognize, showcase and evaluate the accomplishments of 4‐H members, encourage teens and adults to become 4‐H volunteers, highlight the county 4‐H program, familiarize the public with 4‐H philosophy and provide an opportunity for the public to participate in enjoyable and educational family oriented 4‐H events.