In farming communities like Warren County, the 4-H is an important part of life for many families. Recently, county officials decided to formally recognize National 4-H Week locally by deeming October 6-12 “4-H Week” in Warren.

The Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders recognized 4-H, a youth development organization that reaches nearly 6 million participants, with a proclamation that lauded “the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people.”

Accepting the proclamation was Warren County 4-H Agent Alayne Torretta and two young program participants, Liliana Cortelyou, 8, and Olivia Custer, 5. Both are members of the “Helping Wings and Nature Things” 4-H club.

Warren County 4-H is part of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and is a program where youth learn through opportunities that provide hands-on experiences in 4-H’s mission mandates of science, engineering and technology, healthy living, and citizenship, including civic engagement and civic education.

“We see them at the Fair, we see them getting involved with civic duty, and it’s just great in our agriculture community to see such a strong 4-H group that does so much for us,” said Freeholder Director Jason J. Sarnoski.

“It’s very warming to see that the future is bright in Warren County, that there is another generation that is stepping forth,” added Freeholder James R. Kern, III. “It touches me to know Warren County is going to be in a great place, 10, 20, 30, 40 years” into the future.

Freeholder Richard D. Gardner, who read the proclamation, said he is always pleased to talk about 4-H, as his three children all participated in 4-H when they were young. His eldest is a psychologist, Gardner noted, saying she credits 4-H with improving her public speaking abilities.

“We keep our roots in agriculture but we’re branching out into all sorts of other activities,” Torretta noted. 4-H clubs in Warren County include beekeeping, shooting sports, raising Seeing Eye puppies, and even Roller Derby, as the county has one of only a few Roller Derby clubs in the nation.