COURT HOUSE — There’s a new lane in the county seat. It wends around the 4-H Fairgrounds on Court House-Dennisville Road and it was where retired county 4-H agent Betty Jean “BJ” Webersinn often walked, sometimes cried, and one time ran around. Now it bears her name after a brief ceremony Wed., May 23 attended by friends and former co-workers and 4-H club members, including the county eldest 4-H member, retired freeholder Ralph Sheets Jr.
Webersinn’s name was synonymous with Cape May County 4-H. She had been active with the organization since 1974, when she joined as 4-H program associate under direction of the late 4-H Agent Melville “Bill” Lockwood. She was promoted to the post of county 4-H agent in 1979. In 1996, Webersinn became County Extension Department Head, and remained in that position until her retirement in 2011. She is a Rutgers University professor emeritus.
Words of thanks and praise for her decades of working with county youths were made by Wendy Seaman, president, Cape May County 4-H Foundation, Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton, Vice Director M. Susan Sheppard and Marilou Rochford, county CEDH.
Under her supervision many improvements were made to the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center and the 4-H Fairgrounds complex. It is there that thousands annually attend the three-day fair when 4-H club members display their projects and demonstrate their abilities. It is also the place where a chicken barbecue is held.
One of the most significant projects was her petition to freeholders for the purchase of 16 additional acres to add to the fairgrounds in the early 1980s. Another achievement noted on the program at the ceremony, was Webersinn’s “leadership in developing the partnership with Cape May County and Atlantic Cape Community College to make the acquired land available for a Cape may County educational campus. This has ensured the availability of high quality, higher education opportunities not only for 4-H youth but for all residents of Cape May County.”
With a few quick tugs of a ribbon, green plastic covering fell away, and a surprised Webersinn beamed as she looked at the sign that stated, “Betty Jean Lane.”
Her husband, and active 4-H Foundation worker, John Webersinn handed her a bouquet of flowers wrapped in yellow to add color to pictures that were taken after the unveiling.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
