UNIVERSITY PARK – From Aug 6-8 hundreds of 4-H members from across the commonwealth gathered at Penn State’s University Park Campus to take part in the 2013 Pennsylvania State 4-H Achievement Days.
Pennsylvania 4-H’ers who were attending the three-day event participated and competed in various contests and activities, including both horse and livestock judging and quiz bowls, shooting sports, public speaking and presentation contests and a science symposium. More than 30 contests and non-competitive events were offered for 4-H members between the ages of 13 and 18 as of Jan. 1.
In several of the contest categories, 4-H members have the opportunity to qualify for additional national-level events. Clearfield County 4-H member, Chelsea Folmar, is one of the participants who will be heading onto a national level contests in the fall. On Aug. 7, Folmar competed and took first place honors in the Pennsylvania 4-H Public Speaking Contest out of a total of 24 competitors from 16 different counties across the state.
Folmar’s speech focused on the topic of competitive horse trail riding, a 4-H project she has been actively involved in for the past few years. As the first place speaker presenting a horse-related topic, Folmar has been invited to compete in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Public Speaking Contest in Kentucky and the Youth Horse Public Speaking Contest at the Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.
At a local bi-county 4-H public speaking contest held May 7 at Penn State DuBois Campus, Folmar took home first place honors with a similar speech. At both public speaking competitions, participants were judged on introduction, speech content, conclusion, delivery and overall posture and communication ability.
In past Pennsylvania State 4-H Achievement Days, Folmar was an active participant in the Horse Bowl Contest and qualified for national events with her fellow team members. Folmar was named the first place individual in the Pennsylvania State 4-H Achievement Days Horse Bowl Contest in both 2010 and 2011.
Folmar is the 18-year-old daughter of Scott and Crystal Folmar of Luthersburg. She currently serves as president of three 4-H clubs throughout the Clearfield County, including the Clearfield County 4-H Riflery Club, Clearfield County 4-H Teen Council and Renegade Riders 4-H Club. Currently, She’s one of the 14 teens involved with Pennsylvania 4-H Team Horse Power, a leadership program developed for teens and young adults to help mentor youth in the 4-H horse program at the county, regional, and state levels. Members use the Pennsylvania Horsemanship Skills program to promote safety, horsemanship, education, and life skills. Folmar is a 2013 graduate of DuBois Area High School and will be attending the University of Kentucky this fall, where she’ll be majoring in Animal Sciences. She was also recently named Clearfield County Fair Queen First Runner-up for 2013.
“On behalf of the entire Clearfield County 4-H Program, I want to congratulate Chelsea Folmar on this exceptional accomplishment. In addition to excelling in academics, air rifle, horsemanship skills and public speaking, Chelsea is a tremendous role model and mentor to so many young people throughout the county. Although she will be greatly missed in the 4-H program next year, I know she will go on to do big things,” said Jana Davidson, 4-H Youth Development Educator for Penn State Extension in Clearfield County.
The 4-H is a non-formal youth development educational program of Penn State Cooperative Extension for all youth between the ages of 5 and 19, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, genetic information, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. For additional information on the 4-H program, contact Jana Davidson at Penn State Extension in Clearfield County at 814-765-7878, Ext. 3.