38th Nova Scotia 4-H Show Celebrates Youth Leadership in Windsor

4-H members are getting their projects ready for the 38th annual Nova Scotia 4-H show, Oct. 2 - 4 at the Hants County Exhibition grounds in Windsor.

After achieving top honours at a local exhibition, 4-H members between the ages of nine and 21 are eligible to compete at the show. Over 40 projects, 90 classes, and 2,400 entries will be on display throughout the weekend.

"The Nova Scotia 4-H program offers leadership, communication, technical and life skills to youth in an interactive way," said Agriculture Minister Keith Colwell. "Youth learn more than project skills when they join 4-H, they gain confidence. Often the agriculture and business leaders found in our communities have gone through the 4-H program."

The first provincial 4-H show was held in Windsor in 1977. It resulted from a vision the Nova Scotia 4-H Council and the Department of Agriculture had that would bring 4-H members, their livestock and life skills projects together from all corners of the province for a weekend of friendly competition.

A different county or region hosts the 4-H show each year and in 2015 the Hants County 4-H Leaders Council is responsible for site arrangements, providing security, fundraising and promotion.

This year's show will be the final event at the Hants County Exhibition grounds as part of their 250th anniversary celebrations.

4-H alumni often comment on the impact that the 4-H program has had on them and identify leadership and youth development as the most important goals of 4-H.

Nicole MacEachern, a 20-year-old 4-H member from the County Line 4-H Club in Richmond County was employed as the 4-H summer assistant with the Department of Agriculture in Mabou this past summer.

"I can say from personal experience that it is a wonderful program. I've been in 4-H for 12 years and plan on being a member until I'm 21. After that I will volunteer as a leader," said Ms. MacEachern. "I've had the opportunity to be a counsellor at Camp Rankin, the provincial 4-H camp, for four summers and spent this summer working in Cape Breton as the 4-H summer assistant. In high school, I completed the 4-H Personal Development Education Credit.

"I'm taking a bachelor of science in animal science with a minor in business at Dalhousie University's agricultural campus with the hopes of being accepted into the Atlantic Veterinary College for the veterinary medicine program."

Highlights of this year's show include livestock auctions, a fashion show, dog obedience and handling trials, tug of war, a cake decorating competition, grand champion showmanship class, and dairy and beef cattle selections for the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto.

The show is open to the public and admission is free. Competitions begin Friday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. and end on Sunday, Oct. 4 at noon.

The show program is available at http://novascotia.ca/agri/programs-and-services/educational-resources/4h/2015-4H-Class-List.pdf .

To learn more about the Nova Scotia 4-H Council visit www.novascotia4h.ca