FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 24, 2015 

County 4-H Ambassadors are crowned

Part of a busy week (and year) for Monmouth 4-H members

FREEHOLD, NJ – The opening night of the 2015 Monmouth County Fair was highlighted by the crowning of 4-H Ambassadors Jillian Haliskoe of Middletown and McKayla Tyrrell of Freehold Township who will serve as local envoys to other 4-H groups in the nation until the 2016 Fair.

“Every year 4-H recognizes one or two of their young leaders who has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty by naming them the 4-H Ambassador of the Year,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry. “Though everyone within the 4-H community gives 100%, one of the reasons these individuals stand out is because they give 115%.”

Haliskoe and Tyrell were crowned by the 2015 New Jersey Agricultural Fair Ambassador Kirsten Jeansson.

“For the Monmouth County 4-H Association, the annual Monmouth County Fair is a showcase of the many achievements and skills that 4‐H members have learned throughout the year,” Freeholder Lillian G. Burry said. “I’m sure that they will create memories and make friendships that will last a lifetime.”

4-H involves children from kindergarten through one year passed high school (grade 13) in dozens of clubs and activities. Traditional clubs involve livestock and farming activities. But some of the less traditional clubs, like herpetology, care for arachnids, newts and salamanders and snakes. Other clubs develop skills in crafts, art, photography, writing, dance and theater arts.

Teens participate in the Monmouth County Teen Council. Both Haliskoe and Tyrell are members of that group.

“These talented youth bring their enthusiasm for life to the fair each year,” Virginia Kryzanowski, Monmouth County’s 4-H Program Associate. “This year, fairgoers will once again be impressed by the accomplishments of our 4‐H’ers. Although some activities are standard every year, there are new opportunities for people to get involved. The County Fair is a great way that to encourage our youth to join 4-H.”

“Special thanks goes to the adults who work directly with the youth as 4‐H Volunteers,” said Burry. “They are the backbone of the organization and give much of their time to make this fair one of the best in the state.”

The goals of the Monmouth County 4‐H program are to:

• Recognize, showcase & evaluate the accomplishments of 4‐H members
• Encourage teens and adults to become 4‐H volunteers
• Highlight the County 4‐H program
• Familiarize the public with 4‐H philosophy
• Provide an opportunity for the public to participate in enjoyable and educational, family oriented 4‐H events

The Monmouth County Fair is a joint project of the Monmouth County Park System and the Monmouth County 4-H Association. The 4-H program is a unit of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service in Monmouth County.

For more information about the 4-H program, a unit of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service in Monmouth County, call 732-431-7260 ext. 7264 or visit the office at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Rd. in Freehold.

The Fair opened on Wednesday, July 22 and runs through Sunday, July 26. The Fair gate is open 5 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (July 22-24), from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. The Fair is held at East Freehold Park Showgrounds on Kozloski Road, between Routes 33 and 537 in Freehold Township. Admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are free at all times. For more information on the Monmouth County Fair, visit www.visitmonmouth.com or call 732-842-4000.

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