Present for the official proclamation for Adams County 4-H Week were: Front row, from left, Cassidy Price, Madison Welch, Rebekah McCarty, Alexis Phipps, and Madison Neidehelman; Back row, from left, Linda Kimmerly, Samuel Michael Kimmerly, Corbett Phipps, Joseph Kimmerly, Commissioner Diane Ward, Commissioner Brian Baldridge, Commissioner Ty Pell, Kelsea Hamilton, Molly Bauman, and Jace Howard.

Story and photo by Patricia Beech –

The Adams County Board of Commissioners Wednesday proclaimed Jan. 8-14 as Adams County 4-H Week. The theme for the week is “Discover Yourself in Adams County 4-H.”
Ten local club members, two counselors, and 4-H Extension Educator Carolyn Belczyk joined Commissioners Brian Baldridge, Diane Ward, and Ty Pell for a proclamation ceremony at the government building in West Union.
“The opportunities you have in front of you as 4-H members is tremendous,” Commissioner Baldridge told the club members. “As a 4-H member myself, I learned a lot and gained many friends all across the state, and you will as well.”
Club members participating in the proclamation ceremony included: Alexis Phipps, Joseph Kimmerly, Samuel Michael Kimmerly, Molly Bauman, Cassidy Price, Kelsea Hamilton, Rebekah McCarty, Madison Neidehelman, Jace Howard, and Madison Welch. Advisors on hand were Corbett Phipps and Linda Kimmerly.
Throughout 4-H Week local club members and their families celebrated their involvement in 4-H and prepare for the coming 4-H season. They’ll also be actively recruiting new members and families into the program and participating in a variety of activities and events to promote the 4-H program.
4-H is sponsored by the Ohio State University and its programs and activities are open to young people from kindergarten through age 18. Feb. 15 is the 2017 enrollment deadline.
There are 29 4-H clubs in Adams County led by more than 145 adult volunteers. Young people may join 4-H at any time throughout the year, however they must be enrolled in a club by Feb. 15 in order to exhibit projects, including animals, in the 2017 Adams County or Ohio State Fairs.
Contact the OSU Extension Adams County at 544-2339 or visit the website at adams.osu.edu for more information, to volunteer, or for the name and contact information for a 4-H club near you.