PRYDE Scholars visit the 4-H youth building at the state fair

Scholars in front of the youth building at the state fair.

PRYDE Scholars kick started their 2019 fall semester with a trip to the 4-H Youth Building at the New York State Fair. The fair is the biggest summer event for 4-Hers because it is a chance for youth to showcase the hard work they put into their individual projects over the course of the year. The exhibits and booths in the Youth Building reflect the diverse programing of 4-H. Visitors can participate in a number of activities including, but not limited to, watching youth perform cooking presentations, holding newly hatched chicks, drawing with paint made of soil, and trying out the inventions and projects that youth submitted for evaluation.

PRYDE’s Assistant Director, Dr. Kristen Elmore, described the significance of the fair trip by explaining that it “is a great introduction to 4-H but also is an opportunity to build community within our PRYDE Scholars program. We get to meet 4-H program leaders and youth, learn about their projects, and explore the food and fun of the Fair.”

Although PRYDE scholars regularly discuss 4-H programming and theory in their coursework, getting to actually see the impact of 4-H in youth lives is an entirely different experience. “After hearing about the different activities of 4-H participants in our PRYDE class, it was so exciting to see their projects and work in action at the State Fair. Their passion for what they produce and create is inspiring and empowering to see at such a young age,” said Morgan Chadwick, a senior scholar.

Gabrielle Kubi, another senior scholar, reflected on the trip, “My favorite 4-H exhibits were the flight simulator and the coups for the baby chicks. It was great to see what actual 4-H'ers were working on, and even more fun to do so with the other scholars. Every project was amazing and skillful, and the 4-H'ers' passion about their work made their exhibits even better.”

The trip is meaningful not only because it provides students a vivid introduction to the work of 4-H, but also because it is a fun way for scholars to get out of the classroom setting and to engage with the youth whose 4-H experiences may potentially be impacted by the scholars’ research through the PRYDE program.