Picatinny youth present 4-H presentations

By Rachel Everett
Special to the Voice

Morris County 4-H Youth Development held its annual public presentations event at County College of Morris April 22.

The event gives 4-H members in grades first through college freshman the opportunity to give a presentation on a subject of their choice before an audience of their parents and friends. Forty-four children from around the county participated. If they achieve a score of excellent, members in grades eight and up have the opportunity to participate in State Public Presentations held at Rutgers University June 9.

4-H members are judged against a standard rather than one another and can receive a rating of excellent, very good, good or fair, while prep members (grades 1 though 3) are eligible for participation ribbons only.

Each room contained three judges from various walks of life, including Morris County Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom, Freeholder Gene Feyl, former Freeholder and valued friend of 4-H Cecilia Laureys, local business owners, as well as many other friends of 4-H. The judges within each room evaluated several presentations on various topics. Younger members were able to learn from others as they observed those who have been presenting for several years.

Picatinny’s Janel Sadler qualified to go to State Public Presentations with her demonstration entitled “How to Care for a Dog.”

Other Picatinny children were recognized as well.

Receiving scores of excellent were Darien Deerman, who presented a demonstration of how a haunted house is set up and an explanation of his experience as a volunteer at Picatinny’s annual haunted house; Sydney Foster, who also had a demonstration titled “How to Care for a Dog”; Briana Hilton, who performed “Song in Sign Language”; and Carly Keeshen, who presented a demonstration of the “ABCs of Sign Language.”

For additional information about the Morris County 4-H Youth Development Program, call 973-285-8300 or e-mail 4hmorris@aesop.rutgers.edu.