Joyce, Bonacic, celebrate the success of the 4H program
MOUNT HOPE –Cornell Cooperative Extension 4H program has $250,000 to be applied towards the club’s three-phase plan regarding showcases on their Mount Hope property.
The 4H Club through Cornell Cooperative has been holding showcases, animal
science programs and agriculture programs for youths on their Mount Hope
property for some time, but after purchasing land that was initially on
a lease, were running out of funding to hold their showcases on home base,
having to do them elsewhere.
The money was secured by State Senator John Bonacic (R, Mt. Hope) who
has been a proponent of furthering agriculture in Orange County.
The senator said he believes helping fund this process will help promote
the induction of younger people into the local agriculture market –
something that is sorely needed due to the increasing age demographic
of the local agriculture community.
“We know it’s in three phases,” said Bonacic. “We know it’s a long term goal, but when we collectively keep working at it we’ll get to that goal and when it’s finished, as I said, other than being an education center, this will attract young people to get involved in agriculture.”
The newly acquired grant will specifically benefit the 4H Equine Program,
a part of their animal science program, allowing them to finally hold
horse show demonstrations by 4H-ers on their property. Previously, they
did not have the funding to build a proper horse ring for demonstrations.
Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Lucy Joyce said although this only covers phase-one, it sets a precedent of confidence for other contributors, which they heavily rely upon.
“This is a $7.5 million campaign, which includes goods and services; and so, without this money we would not be able to complete the phase one that we really need to complete in order to have the entire 4H showcase out here next year and we’re really dependent on donors, and when they see more entities contributing, it encourages everyone to get on board and know this is going to be a success,” said Joyce.
Cornell Cooperative 4H now has the ability to do as such and will have their first Equine program show, at Mount Hope, in July of 2017.
