Displaying items by tag: Saratoga County 4H

BALLSTON SPA — All across the country on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, generous individuals donate their time, efforts, and finances to different non-profit organizations.

On this year’s Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Saratoga County is asking for help with their Lead the Legacy Capital Campaign to benefit the expansion of the 4-H Training Center on Middleline Rd. in Ballston Spa. The 44-acre property already includes many unique attractions including a fishing pond, garden, indoor arena, outdoor arena, classroom, meeting space, and a kitchen. The facility has hosted educational series like Canine Obedience, equine events like the Horse Symposium, youth activities like the Halloween Extravaganza, and more. The attendance rate of all these events and the growing number of 4-H members has shown a need for a larger and more encompassing building. The proposed project will provide three state-of-the-art classrooms and ADA accessible restrooms with shower units. This expansion will have exponential possibilities for 4-H, CCE Equine, CCE Saratoga, and the general public.

Visit ccesaratoga.org/4-h/lead-the-legacy for a complete overview of the project, sponsorship descriptions, and a link to PayPal where you can contribute securely online. Donations are also accepted via cash or check made payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County and dropped off or mailed to the office at 50 West High St, Ballston Spa.

Please contact 518-885-8995 with any questions, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

BALLSTON SPA —Saratoga County 4-H, the Youth Development Branch of Cornell Cooperative Extension, has always had a focus on community service, and 2020 hasn’t changed that. In fact, it has helped bring 4-H’s devotion to the community and the people who live here to the forefront.

One of the more concerted community service efforts of Saratoga County 4-H in the fall and winter months is the “4-H Holiday Mitten Tree” which partners with area libraries and community centers distribute winter weather clothing including gloves, hats and scarves to members of our community in need. Collected items are placed on the Mitten Tree, this year at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Items are also donated to local organizations including the Saratoga County EOC and Salvation Army.

Members of Saratoga County 4-H Teen Council recently participated in a new community service opportunity. Working with a local non-profit, #HicksStrong of Clifton Park, 4-H Teen members painted “Hug Mugs” which are distributed to active duty military members and veterans as a way to show appreciation and support for their service. #HicksStrong also connects members of the military and veterans to mental health services. More information about #HicksStrong can be found at hicksstrong.og.

Part of the 4-H Pledge is for members and volunteers to dedicate their “…hands to larger service.” 4-H members in Saratoga County go above and beyond to stay true to this pledge. If 2020 has taught us anything it is that we are all members of a larger community, and it is our responsibility to help care for members of this community when they are in need. The lessons learned by 4-H youth through community service will carry on into their adult lives, and help to reach 4-H’s goal of helping members become “competent, caring and contributing members of society.”

4-H Youth Development actively involves youth in opportunities that help them learn to lead, build their communities, connect with Cornell University, and connect with each other.  For more information about 4-H Youth Development of Saratoga County visit www.ccesaratoga.org.

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County 4-H Animal Show Series is a five week long series hosted at the Saratoga County 4-H Training Center on Middleline Rd. in Ballston Spa. The series was developed as a replacement to the Animal Shows typically featured at the County fairs in the summer.

Animal shows are an integral part of animal science and agricultural education. Providing youths an opportunity to present their animals to a judge allows owners to identify the strongest attributes of their animals, as well as any necessary improvements. 

The series will feature different animal species each Saturday. It launched this past Saturday, Sept. 12 with Rabbits and Cavies (aka guinea pigs). The next four weeks will have demonstrations with sheep, goats, dairy cows and horses, respectively. 

The first event has already been lauded a success. Participants were judged in three different categories; showmanship, breed classes, and fur classes. The competitors ranged in between five-years-old to 18-years-old. The most inspiring part of the day came from watching the older “veterans” guide and encourage the younger first-timers. 

Saratoga County 4-H Animal Show Series will continue next Saturday with a sheep show on Sept.19, followed by a Goat show on Sept. 26, Dairy Cattle Show on Oct. 3 and a Horse Show on Oct. 10. For more information about programs offered by Saratoga County 4-H please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 518-885-8995.

BALLSTON SPA – Saratoga 4-H staff delivered trophies to winners of the Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair. 4-H members were asked to submit videos about the animal species they would typically bring to the Saratoga County Fair. The Video challenge provided youth an opportunity to showcase their animals and knowledge of the species they care for. Educators and animal science professionals judged the videos on Wednesday, July 22 and winners were awarded on Thursday the 24. 

The Saratoga County Fair is the most anticipated event of the year for 4-H members. Youth work year round to breed, care for, and prepare their animals to be shown at this annual event. In the past, around 200 youth across the county participate in animal shows, species including: dairy cattle, beef cattle, horses, rabbits, sheep, goats and more. Youth and their animals are judged for cleanliness, animal confirmation, genetics, and other aspects of animal health. The cancelation of the Saratoga County Fair was devastating, yet youth came together to exhibit their animal in a fun and educational way. 

The Youth Video Challenge for the Virtual Saratoga County Fair had three categories, Cloverbud, ages 8 and under, Jr., ages 9-12, and Sr., ages 13-18. Cloverbuds receive participation awards and first, second and third place trophies were given to the top three videos submitted. 

Trophy Winners are as follows: 

Senior Division: 

First- Kohlby Himelrick with his Goat 

Second- Julia Bodien with her Rabbit 

Third- Collin Anderson with his Sheep 

Junior Division 

First- Eva Anderson with her Rabbit 

Congrats to our winners! Despite the County Fair being canceled, Saratoga County 4-H has been working to create and renew our diverse educational opportunities to fit the changing educational climate. For more information about 4-H Animal Science opportunities, please contact Brieanna Hughes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website at ccesaratoga.org.

Of the 26 dozen eggs sent out, 12 dozen were hatched at the 4-H training center, a learning facility in Ballston Spa. Photos provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — While schools across the state closed their doors and people self-isolated in their homes, 26 dozen chicken eggs wanted to break out of their “home” and hatch during COVID-19. 

The fertilized eggs were sent out to participating elementary schools in Saratoga County as a part of the 4-H outreach program. The program allows classrooms to experience the 21-day development of a chicken egg. Brieanna Hughes, program coordinator for Saratoga County 4-H animal science, said a surprising amount of eggs still hatched despite being moved from schools. 

The eggs were due to hatch on March 18, the week most schools announced their closings. Hughes said she reached out to schools that prior weekend to ask if teachers were willing to take the eggs home, or offered to pick them up and bring them to their facility to hatch. 

“Because a lot of teachers were being told they couldn’t go into their schools so I didn’t want anyone to be burdened with this,” Hughes said. 

Despite school closings, only 12 dozen eggs were collected from schools and hatched at the training center in Ballston Spa. Of the 26 dozen eggs sent out, over 75 percent hatched which Hughes was surprised by. 

Hughes said the hatch rate was by chance, and added that she expected a lower hatch rate simply from moving the chicken eggs. Transportation of the eggs is not recommended due to drastic temperature changes. However, the unstable period for the eggs is earlier in the development as well as the day of hatching if a small movement occurs. 

“We almost got them at the ideal time. It isn’t ideal to move them at all, but it was pretty cool to have such a good hatch rate,” Hughes said. “What that means is that the school did a really good job taking care of the eggs for the first 18 days and then we were able to finish that out.”

Seeing the eggs develop for the 21 days allows students to learn about the development and embryology. Hughes said in the beginning, the program attains the fertilized eggs and provides the schools with incubators and equipment. 4-H hosts a small teacher training where they pick up all the needed materials and bring them to their classroom. Not having a set curriculum, schools are at liberty to teach what they want. 

“But our program is incubation and embryology so that is what they’re learning about, the development of an organism. They get to candle the eggs and actually see the changes in the embryo. They can see the first veins coming and an eye during the forming of the head,” Hughes said. 

Once the eggs are hatched, teachers are at liberty to keep them or give them pack to the program. 

“A lot of teachers have friends that want chickens, but we want to make sure there is a resource so we also provide someone to take them,” Hughes said. 

She added that these eggs were a part of the first rotation for the hatching program. The second session was anticipated to start at the end of April, but Hughes said they’re waiting to see how the self-distancing plays out. The participating schools for this sessions included Schuylerville, Arongen Elementary in the Shenendehowa school district and Greenberg Child Care Center.