2016 4-H Mission Mandate Mini Grants Awarded to Six 4-H Clubs

COURT HOUSE — The Cape May County 4-H Program Advisory Council Awarded 2016 4-H Mission Mandate Mini Grants to six 4-H Clubs on Feb. 24, 2016. The 4-H Program Advisory Council is an important advisory group that meets three to four times annually to guide programming for the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program. The Council is comprised of dedicated and longtime 4-H volunteers and consultants. Also, parents and youth are welcome to join.
Linda Horner, 4-H Program Coordinator, said, “One of the most important functions of the Program Advisory Council is to offer 4-H Mission Mini Grants annually to Cape May County 4-H clubs.” Horner added, “Mission mini grants began in 2013, and since that time, 18 club grants have been awarded for a total of $6,000.”
To-date, 13 different clubs have received grants and a maximum of $1,500 is given out each year. This year, eight clubs applied, the most ever, and six grants were funded. Kitchen Phanatics received $200 to sponsor the November 4-H Creative Foods Show Contest. The Kitchen Phanatics 4-H Cooking Club has received three grants so far. The club has previously used its funds to purchase new cooking equipment and to sponsor awards for the annual 4-H Creative Foods Show Contest. Other successful club grants in 2016 included funding for educational field trips to area equine hospitals, the Pennsylvania World Horse Expo and to the Devon Horse Show.
Star Hollow Riders received $350 to help pay for a field trip to the Devon Horse Show for the club. Hy-Riders received $200 to help pay for a field trip to the Pennsylvania Horse World Expo for the club. Shore Blazers received $250 to pay the expenses of a club field trip to New Bolton Veterinary Hospital.
The Garden Greenhouse 4-H Club, an in-school club at the Special Services School District’s Cape May County High School, used their grant last year to build a decorative plant ladder that was raffled off at the 4-H Fair. Proceeds from the raffle benefitted the 4-H Foundation. This year, Garden Greenhouse Club received $250 to assist in creating a new butterfly/pollinator garden on our fairgrounds that will include a colorful butterfly mural!
Additionally, Ocean Academy received $250 to start a 4-H Student Government Club at Ocean County in the Cape May County Special Services School District.
The Program Advisory Council’s sole source of income is the 4-H Refreshment Booth at the annual 4-H Fair which will take place this year on July 21, 22 and 23, 2016. For more information about 4-H opportunities for youth, visit www.cmc4h.com or call 465-5115, ext. 605.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station – Cooperative Extension. 4-H offers educational programs to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.