814-Lanca*ter Farming, Saturday, March 11, 2000 Adams County senior 4-Hers were interviewed about what 4-H has done for them during last week’s Senate meeting. From left are Jessi Leister, Josh Ramsburg, Tiffanie Conaway, B.J. Wagner, and Shannon Holtzinger. Seniors Spotlighted For Pennsylvania 4-H Week JAYNE SEBRIGHT Lancaster Farming Staff GETTYSBURG (Adams Co.) Pennsylvania will celebrate 4- H Week on March 13 through 19. The Pennsylvania 4-H mem bership was more than 119,000 strong in 1999, with more than 10,000 adult leaders helping with the program. 4-H offers programs for kids ages 8 to 19. These programs range from animal husbandry to clothing & textiles and even business entrepreneurship. Penn State’s mission for the 4- H program is to help young people become self-directed, productive, and contributing members of a diverse society. To celebrate Pennsylvania 4- H Week, Lancaster Farming in terviewed five 4-H senior members during last week’s Adams County 4-H Senate meeting. Those five 4-Hers are B.J. Wagner of Ortanna, Jessi Lei ster of Biglerville, Shannon Holtzinger of East Berlin, Tif fanie Conaway of Abbottstown, and Josh Ramsburg of Gettys burg. Here’s what they had to say about 4-H. Josh Ramsburg Growing up on a dairy farm, Josh’s career goal is to return to his father’s dairy farm in Get tysburg. The son of Lee and Jane Ramsburg, Josh is a senior at Gettysburg High School and plans to attend Penn State, ma joring in Dairy & Animal Sci ence. He is a member of both the Barlow Mt. Joy Community Club and the Adams County 4- H Dairy Club. In the dairy club, Josh has served as the president, vice president, and treasurer. He was also awarded the Melvin R. Durbrow member award. A member of the 4-H Senate, Josh has received the Mr. Fred erick J. Rarics Conservation Award and attended both the Colorado and Minnesota state exchange trips. He is also a member of his local FFA chap ter, having served as both vice president and secretary. “Since I am planning to milk cows, 4-H has taught me how to care for animals, manage a herd, and keep records,” said Josh. Having joined 4-H after fall ing in the footsteps of his older brother and sister, Josh soon found that 4-H had a lot to offer. “I enjoyed showing dairy cattle and meeting people on the state exchange trips,” said Josh. “4-H has taught me a lot of re sponsibility and skills that I wouldn’t have learned other- wise.” Shannon Holtzinger The daughter of Kevin and Karen Holtzinger, Shannon joined 4-H after watching her family show cows and partici pate in 4-H activities. “I grew up around dairy cattle all of my life,” said Shan non. “4-H was an experience that I wanted to try.” Shannon is a senior at Bermu dian High School, where she is enrolled in college prep courses and agricultural education. She is currently the president of the Adams County 4-H Dairy Club and has served in many leader ship roles for the club. She is also a member of the Adams County 4-H Sheep Club. In 1998, Shannon was recog nized as the outstanding senior member for the dairy club and has won many honors, both in and out of the show ring, with her 4-H dairy projects. She is also an active member of the Bermudian FFA Chapter and has won several awards through the FFA. Even with all of her 4-H and FFA activities, Shannon still finds time to play basketball and run track for Bermudian, as well as fulfill work responsibilities on her parents’ dairy farm. “I enjoy the social aspect of 4- H,” said Shannon. “I like show ing cows with all of my friends and meeting new people.” Shannon has also gained work experience and hands-on training by working with her 4- H dairy projects. “I have developed time man agement skills through 4-H,” said Shannon. “1 can work better with both animals and people.” According to Shannon, 4-H has helped her gain a “real world” experience of work and responsibility. “This will benefit my future career because I am not afraid of hard work.” Tiffanie Conaway A senior at New Oxford High School, Tiffanie is the daughter of David and Jackie Conaway. After high school, she plans to study Sports Medicine at either Messiah College or Clarion Uni versity. Her career goal is to become either a sports therapist or sports physician. A member of the New Oxford Community Club, Tiffanie first joined 4-H because she enjoyed doing craft activities and found that 4-H had a lot to offer her. “The learning experience is really neat,” said Tiffanie. “I have most enjoyed the people I’ve met and the new skills I’ve learned through 4-H.” Tiffanie has attended two 4-H state exchange trips and partici pated in many different leader ship roles through 4-H. “These activities have helped me gain leadership skills,” said Tiffanie. “I able to talk in front of a group of people and make friends easily.” Tiffanie’s involvement in 4-H has spurred interest in other ac tivities in both her school and community. She helps out at the guidance office and with the life skills support group. She is also the head student athletic trainer and the treasurer of Teens Need Teens in her school. In addition to playing varsity field hockey and being active in her youth group, Tiffanie also volunteers at the Teen Care Pregnancy Center. 4-H has helped Tiffanie become a role model and provide support for many other teens in need. Jessi Leister Jessi is the daughter of Mi chael and Donna Leister. She at tends Delone Catholic High School with plans to attend a four-year college studying agri cultural business management. Jessi has attended the Na tional 4-H Congress and 4-H ex change trips. She has also been an overnight camp counselor and recreational leader. She has attended 4-H State Days for sev eral years, being a member of the first placed air pistol team. She was also a member of the first placed potato judging team at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. A member of the 4-H Beef Club, Jessi has served as both a teen leader and teen assistant for the Adams County 4-H Fair. Her 4-H activities have also en couraged Jessi to pursue other activities, including being crowned both the Adams County Beef Producer Queen and the Pennsylvania Cattle men’s Queen. A leader in both her local club and the county senate, Jessie has served as president and vice president of both in past years. She was also a teen leader and teen assistant for the Adams County 4-H Fair. Winning several leadership awards, Jessi credits 4-H to helping her develop leadership skills. “One of my favorite things about 4-H is that the kids get a lot of the responsibility in run ning it,” said Jessi. “I have gotten to experience being a leader a lot more through it.” Jessi started in 4-H when her aunt, who was a 4-H leader, ap proached her about joining the club. “I’m still in 4-H because I’ve met a lot of people and gotten more them 100 friends through my 4-H club activities,” said Jessi. Having attended several 4-H exchange trips and traveled to many leadership conferences, Jessi has seen a lot of the United States thanks to 4-H. “I met a lot of people through 4-H who have helped open me up,” said Jessi. “I can talk to people more now than I could before I joined 4-H.” B.J. Wagner The son of George and Sonja Wagner, BJ. is a senior at Get tysburg Area High School. After graduation, he plans to attend Penn State, majoring in agricul tural engineering and minoring in Extension Education. While being in 4-H for nine years, B. J. has found friendship, new experiences, and new skills. “I got started in the 4-H pig club because my grandfather was a leader,” said B.J. “From there, I just kept joining more things and doing more stuff.” A member of the 4-H Beef Club and Swine Club, B.J. has served as president, vice presi dent, and treasurer for the Swine Club. He is also the cur rent president for the Adams County 4-H Senate and the news reporter for the 4-H Beef Club. B.J. most enjoys the traveling aspects of 4-H. He has traveled to Minnesota and Colorado with 4-H exchange trips. He also was selected to attend the Buckeye Leadership Workshop and the National 4-H Congress. He has been a 4-H camp counselor for two years and traveled to Penn State with the livestock judging team. “*I met some of my best friends through 4-H,” said B.J. “I’ve learned leadership skills and people skills. I’ve learned how to keep kids involved in ac tivities, too.” According to 8.J., 4-H has helped him determine his future career. “I plan to be an ag engi neer but will study extension ed ucation so I can come back and help with future 4-H activities,” said B.J. Outside of 4-H, B.J. is a member of the National Honor Society and active in his church’s youth group. He parti cipates in the church’s softball team and has worked at a local orchard since he was in ninth grade. “4-H has prepared me for the real world,” said B.J. “Just be cause people look different doesn’t mean they are different. 4-H has taught me that, even though we all have different looks and likes, we all have something that we can share and relate to others with.”
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