—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 28, 1973 20 tX-X-X-X-XWX-X-X-X-X-X-XW^ 'i t * ' -“ , ">> -XX .-.'XX X "'\ X '- 'V ' , ! *'■ ‘ ~ , oVn < C v* 'v* • -v' -VV„ W'i-^NW Introducing Anne Hinkel. Assistant Home Economist is Sold on 4-H Program By Sally Bair Feature Writer “I find every day a learning day, and that’s why I like my work. You don’t ever get in a rut; in fact, I don’t see how you could - there is always so much stimulus ” These are the words of Anne Hinkel, Lancaster County’s assistant home economist. Anne came here in March from a position m Extension in Monroe County to replace Joan Lucas who got married, and she says, “Living in Lancaster County is a totally new experience ” Anne calls herself a “town girl,” and says she has lived all her life in three college towns of about 10,000 population. She grew up in Bloomsburg where her father has been professor of business education for 28 years, she went to college in Indiana, Pennsylvania; and her first job was in Monroe County Extension office located in Stroudsburg, So she was pleasantly surprised to find that Lancaster County is not just a “quiet farming com munity.” She says, “It’s a lot busier with a lot more going on than I expected.” In Stroudsburg she was in the heart of the Pocono resort area where she says, “There was no cummunity feeling because everything was geared to tourists.” Despite the growing tourist trade in Lancaster County she finds it a much warmer community to live in, and she said she is particularly im pressed with the great variety of Some days the telephone never seems to stop ringing, but telephone requests are all answered cheerfully, no matter how small the problem. MMt mm Notes scheduled cultural events. Monroe County had lots of mountains and trees, but Anne says, “The rolling farms here are gorgeous. I’m amazed that you can stand in some areas and just see farms for miles.” Anne is still getting used to the fact that Lancaster County has so many more people than Monroe County with a population of 45,000. “In Monroe County I could drive across the county in 30 minutes,” she says. “I’m not used to the city traffic here, but I never feel lost on the back roads because there are so many houses and people. Maybe I have a good sense of direction, or get good directions, but I have never been lost Having every country road named is a big help.” “A very definite difference in the counties,” Anne said, “is the 4-H program.” In Monroe County there were 200 4-H’ers with 30 volunteer leaders. Here the program is ten times larger, with over 2500 4-H’ers and 300 adult leaders,” Anne said, “In Monroe County we worked very closely with everyone and knew their abilities. But we always called on the same people.” Here she said she is just beginning to get to know the people in the program and to know their capabilities. Anne said she finds the people of Lancaster County “very open and always willing to help. I’m always happy to meet them, and I never felt there was any kind of barrier.” Since she’s been here she has been concentrating mostly on 4-H . 'V \ V \ x Anne Hinkel (left) helps the con sumerama team prepare for their (rip to 4- H State Days. Team members are: (left to work because there are so many activities in the summer. She is one of the advisers to the 4-H county council and she speaks earnestly about their possibilities: “The more I work with them, the better I like it. They have good potential.” She said one of her goals is to get the county council members themselves to take more responsibility for their program. “We’re really fortunate in having so many older teens who are still interested in 4-H.” She feels it is important to keep them in terested and use them as leaders when they get out of 4-H. Anne said, “I get a lot of satisfaction, especially through 4- H work where you can see youth making steps. Everyone gains something.” Although it was obvious, Anne added, “I’m really sold on 4-H -1 think it’s the best thing going!” Anne was a 4-H’er in Columbia County, but since then she says, International Farm Youth Ex- Slde w^ e sf 1 caa hel P, to solve project work has become a lot change “can expand worlds and so ™ e of die problems, more flexible. She said today help voulearn about people and 4- She said, I was never able to there is often interest in some hin other places.” She added attend ™ an y state events areas where no project book has that Lancaster County will be because of our family vacations, been developed, but if an adult is getting an IFYE in September. Now - I’m Setting to events I willing to sponsor such a project Anne agreed to “dig back into never went to as a 4-H er. She the 4-H’er can take it. the cobwebs” and tell about her 4- ® aid he !: f mn f rs were very She just helped coordinate the H work which began when she I ?f ds aad actlvlties Michigan 4-H exchange, and she was nine and took her first than so “I can sym said, “I am very much in favor of clothing project. She said, “I held £ a _.f | tt ™ d ]USt such exchanges. It is a good every office and was president c . * ® ve^ y event experience for everyone in- several time's.” She was active in h ?, me ® cono A mist volved. It helps you leam about a county events and gave a 4 nna different community and allows demonstration which won at the f 1 rea Iy influenced me an interchange of ideas.” She regional contest. One of her S^^ on ,? miCS and to recalls that the most memorable proudest accomplishments was T ... _ sian ', experiences she has had are trips being selected to attend state “., s°° sfl ® , was within the United States and two dress revue with a long gown, , a . utur ® trips abroad, and she feels after having won coonty dress S£ everyone should have the op- revue for three years. But at the •„ secrelar y- s>ne portunity to share in similar same time she said, “The ex- ™£ r ® d \ n , economics at excursions. Interstate 4-H ex- perience was disillusioning so - diana University of Penn changes and, programs.Uke the., t£ J* ah-' l r *i- 4-V* F * jC* * County Council co-president Anne Spangler and Anne Hinkei discuss County Council’s participation in the up coming 4-H Achievement Days. right) Robin Fellenbaum, Anne Spangler and Debra Gregory. A