PHOTO PROVIDED Pictured in no particular order are the Pennsylvania 4-H State Project Ambassador team members: Aurielle Miller, of Clinton County; Abigail Brooks; Zephan Samuel; Lydia Shanks; Taylor Fetterman; Levi Lazarus; Lily Mano; Aarush Muthukrishnan; Hudson Thomas; Samuel Walowen; Maggie Haan; Margaret LeViere; Gabriela Solimeo; Micah Staples; Tyler Depman; Sarah Bupp; Nathan Kennedy; Madison Cousins; Carson Riley; Riley Fink; Rayce Morgan; Madilyn Burket; Drew McGraw; Samantha Lauersen; and Madeleine Kozak.

From Staff Reports

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania 4-H, a program of Penn State Extension, recently inducted a new team of State Project Ambassadors. This leadership role is designed to bring a youth perspective into statewide programs.

The ambassadors officially began their terms Oct. 18 at the organization’s State Leadership Conference, Junior.

State Project Ambassadors, called SPAs, will receive guidance from mentors who oversee specific projects and program areas. As 4-H staff develop events, write new curricula or implement other programming, they will consult with their designated SPAs to gather insights and input. A maximum of four SPAs can represent each project area, bringing their ideas to the table and introducing programming to reach new audiences. SPAs serve a one-year term, with an option to reapply for the following year.

“State Project Ambassadors take part in three pillars: youth voice, leadership growth and enhancing their sparks,” said Jeanette Stackhouse, 4-H education specialist for leadership and civic engagement. “As an ambassador of a particular project area, they likely have a great passion for what they are learning with ambitions of going into a related career. Mentors try to support those sparks by involving members in industry or networking opportunities.”

The new team of State Project Ambassadors includes the following 4-H members:

Healthy

Living

Ambassadors

— Abigail Bouch, of Indiana County, participates in sewing and healthy living and serves on the Indiana County youth council. Bouch is enrolled in the health occupations program at the Indiana County Technology Center with plans to become a pediatric registered nurse.

— Zephan Samuel, of Butler County, is involved in STEM, Babysitting Beginnings, simple machines, independent study and archery. “Health is for everyone, healthy choices are simple and doable, balance matters and it’s about joy — not restriction,” he said.

— Lydia Shanks, of Bradford County, is involved in vet science. “I want fellow 4-H’ers to understand how if we take care of our body, it takes care of us in return by giving us health to accomplish the goals we have for our life,” Shanks said. She has been dancing for 12 years and plans to become a veterinary technician in the future.

Expressive Arts

Ambassadors

— Aurielle Miller, of Clinton County, participates in poultry, rabbit, sewing, wildlife and leadership opportunities. “I have thoroughly enjoyed all the creative opportunities 4-H has, so I want people to learn that they can personalize these opportunities to their own hobbies and interests,” she said.

— Taylor Fetterman, of Somerset County, participates in sewing, cooking, square dancing and photography. “You don’t have to be the best artist to enjoy expressive art projects,” she said. “Art is about creativity, building confidence and self-discovery.”

— Levi Lazarus, of Lehigh County, is involved in livestock, teen council and potato judging and serves as a camp counselor. “The project area of expressive arts is about the literal expression of oneself through their preferred medium of art and how to use art to be a leader within the modern world,” Lazarus said.

— Lily Mano, of Indiana County, focuses on expressive arts, animal science and leadership activities.

“I want people to learn about the importance of expressive arts in everyday life,” she said. Mano also owns a herd of miniature Herefords. She plans to major in criminal justice in college.

STEM

Ambassadors

— Aarush Muthukrishnan, of Allegheny County, founded an artificial intelligence club that introduces coding, robotics and computer science to youth in underserved communities. He also is developing a comprehensive hydroponics curriculum designed to empower teachers to easily integrate sustainable technology into their classrooms.

— Hudson Thomas, of Montgomery County, is involved in reptile activities, beekeeping, exchange, teen council and Toastmasters. “I want people to learn from my projects that STEM can be easy to understand and accessible to anyone,” Thomas said.

— Samuel Walowen, of Butler County, participates in conservation, STEAM, poultry projects and the Butler County youth council. “I love tearing things apart and learning about how the different parts work and how they all mesh together to make a machine operate,” he said. “I want others to feel the same way once they unlock this knowledge.”

Leadership and Civic

Engagement Ambassadors

— Maggie Haan, of Berks County, participates in dog club and public speaking. “I want people to learn how to share their voices with the world,” Haan said. She plays harp and hopes to become a professor in the future.

— Margaret LeViere, of Butler County, participates in dairy goat, pet rabbit and photography projects and is vice president of teen council. “I want people to learn that every 4-H kid is a leader,” she said. “You can lead through meetings, offices, new experiences and service-learning opportunities. It is more than just government; it is being active in your community.”

— Gabriela Solimeo, of Montgomery County, is involved in sewing, archery, leadership activities, county council and fine arts. “I want people to learn that leadership is a great opportunity not only to represent yourself but others as well,” she said. Solimeo played violin for eight years and hopes to graduate from high school and earn her 4-H Diamond Clover Award.

Environment

Science

Ambassadors

— Micah Staples, of Monroe County, focuses on entomology, beekeeping, forestry, wildlife, archery and county council. “I want to be able to give people a better understanding of the world around us, and I want to show why learning about the environment is so important,” Staples said.

— Tyler Depman, of Montgomery County, participates in reptile and small-animal projects, teen council, the program development committee, junior Toastmasters and the veterinary short course. “Everything in the environment influences each other,” he said. “This means it is important for us to minimize our footprint, so that we don’t cause a negative chain reaction for plants and animals.”

— Sarah Bupp, of Butler County, is involved in rabbit breeding, fiber arts books, expressive arts books and wildlife activities. “Environmental science covers many topics, and there are many different books available,” she said. Bupp has 150 rabbits and enjoys camping, reading and spending time with her animals.

— Nathan Kennedy, of Indiana County, participates in rocketry, expressive arts and Cooking 301. He plans to attend Penn State in the future to pursue a degree in forestry management.

Shooting Sports and Camping

Ambassadors

— Madison Cousins, of Armstrong County, participates in pig and rabbit projects, smallbore riflery, air pistol, shotgun and leadership activities. “4-H can be whatever you want it to be,” she said. “You make the most of your experiences.” Cousins plans to become an author in the future.

— Carson Riley, of Huntingdon County, focuses on riflery, shotgun, sport fishing, vegetable and flower gardening, cooking, canning and expressive arts projects. “I am passionate about the outdoors but also want to protect the environment and manage wildlife effectively,” he said. “I live and breathe 4-H and what it can offer to everyone.”

— Riley Fink, of Indiana County, participates in teen leadership activities, air rifle, air pistol, shotgun, archery and forestry. “I’d like people to know that they can join shooting sports at any age and help teach everyone basic safety while having fun,” Fink said. He also enjoys archery competitions and working with younger children. He plans to attend Pennsylvania College of Technology and pursue ironworking and welding.

— Rayce Morgan, of Lebanon County, is involved in leadership activities, basket weaving, vegetable gardening and herb gardening. “I would like to show people that you don’t need to be that outdoorsy of a person in order to have fun at camp,” Morgan said.

Animal

Science

Ambassadors

–Madilyn Burket, of Lawrence County, focuses on horsemanship/performance, cooking, teen leadership projects, Hoof Hours, horse judging and team horsepower. “I’m passionate about horses and the equine industry, and I live on a hobby farm with them,” she said. “My experience with all these animals helps me share knowledge and inspire others as an animal science ambassador.”

— Drew McGraw, of Lawrence County, participates in horse, swine, poultry and leadership activities. “I want people to learn more about the quiz bowls and judging contests,” McGraw said. She plans to attend Penn State for a degree in biological engineering and a minor in equine science.

— Samantha Lauersen, of Wayne County, shows market steers. “I want people to know that you don’t need to come from a farming family to take on an animal science project,” she said. “The community is so helpful. I’ve learned so much with my project and met so many amazing people.” She plans to attend Penn State and hopes to become a large-animal veterinarian.

— Madeleine Kozak, of Indiana County, is involved in performance horsemanship, Hoof Hours and leadership and personal development activities. She also is a recreational song and game leader and vice president for the county council. “When I begin my time as an animal science SPA, I want people to be able to take away knowledge about the upkeep, competition, use and management of animals,” she said. “I want people from all sorts of backgrounds — whether agriculture or not — to be able to grasp the importance of animal science.”

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the United States Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Pennsylvania 4-H website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-H. For more info about the State Project Ambassadors program contact Jeanette Stackhouse at 814-865-2351 or jmb6036@psu.edu.