Freeholder Burry Crowns 2012 4-H Ambassadors

The Monmouth County Fair was a washout for many this year, but for Victoria Rodriguez and Gautam Boggavarapu it was everything they hoped it would be.

On the fair’s opening night a record crowd of more than 17,000 people was in attendance. It was that night that Freeholder Lillian G. Burry crowned Rodriguez and Boggavarapu as this year’s 4-H ambassadors. They will spend the next year promoting 4-H programs.

“Participation in the Monmouth County Fair is a highlight in the lives of many 4-H’ers who look forward to the fair all year long,” Burry said. “These young ambassadors are model citizens who will do an excellent job promoting the 4-H program.”

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, such as herpetology, care for arachnids, newts and salamanders and snakes. Other clubs develop skills in crafts, art, photography, writing, dance and theater arts.

“Special thanks goes to the adults who work directly with the youth as 4‐H Volunteers,” Burry said. “They are the backbone of the 4-H organization and give much of their time each year to make the Monmouth County Fair among 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.

For more information about the 4-H program, a unit of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service in Monmouth County, call 732-431-7263 or visit the office at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold.