WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County leaders celebrated youth leadership and the region’s agricultural heritage during a recent Board of Commissioners meeting, recognizing Pennsylvania 4-H Week and National Agriculture Week with proclamations honoring local students, volunteers, and farm families.
The recognition brought together Chester County 4-H members, Penn State Extension educators, county officials, and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding in a gathering that highlighted the continuing role of agriculture and youth development programs in the county’s future.
Youth leaders from local 4-H clubs attended the meeting as commissioners praised the program’s impact on thousands of young people across the region. In Chester County alone, 335 youth participate in 32 4-H clubs supported by a network of 101 volunteers, educators, and staff. Through hands-on projects and leadership experiences, the program reaches more than 4,300 young people through classrooms, afterschool programs, and community partnerships.
Heidi Bramm, president of the Tri-Community Dairy 4-H Club, shared how the organization has helped shape her growth and leadership.
“4-H really gives me the opportunity to grow as a person,” Bramm said. “There are so many great people through 4-H that can guide you because they respect the program, and they know that kids who go there want to learn and do these things, so doing that gives you the ability to learn so much. It’s just an amazing group of people and it attracts more amazing people.”
The meeting also recognized the agricultural families who help sustain Chester County’s farming legacy. As part of the National Agriculture Week proclamation, commissioners honored Bob and Adrienne Cochran of Hidden View Farm in Highland Township as the owners of the county’s only known tricentennial farm — a farm that has remained in continuous family ownership and operation for more than 300 years.
Secretary Redding praised the county’s long agricultural history and the role local farms play in Pennsylvania’s food and farming economy.
“Chester County is an amazing place, both for its people and its history,” Redding said. “You can’t talk about agriculture and really the history of this nation without talking about Chester County.”
Thank You to Community Partners
County leaders thanked Chester County 4-H members, Penn State Extension educators, volunteers, and agricultural producers for their ongoing work to support youth education and preserve the county’s farming traditions. Commissioners also recognized the participation of Secretary Redding and the many local families who continue to strengthen the agricultural community.
Pennsylvania 4-H Week and National Agriculture Week will both be observed March 15 through March 21, celebrating the contributions of young leaders, farmers, and agricultural organizations that help provide food, fiber, and fuel for communities across the country.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.