Bringing our 4-H Families Together

By Connie Gerow, 4-H Tribal Mentoring Coordinator

In this day and age, families are often challenged to find the time to sit down and have dinner together. More often than not, many families struggle to balance work schedules and children activities. This constant shift for family meal times has become less and less. Ultimately for many families, this has resulted in families that eat on the run and miss out on the benefits of family time. Therefore, in an effort to promote strong family bonds and to encourage a sharing time for families, the 4-H Tribal Mentoring program recently held their second successful Family Night Outing – Love our 4-H Family Pasta Bash.

Held on Wednesday, February 12th from 6-8pm in the Salmon River High School Cafeteria, a total of 152 people attended the event. Prior to the evening, the 4-H Mentors (High School Students) worked with the younger 5th Grade 4-H Mentee (students from Salmon River and St. Regis Mohawk school) with planning. The name – Love Our 4-H Family Pasta Bash was selected for the theme. As the 4-H motto encourages "Learning by Doing", the 4-H'ers help design personalized hearts for each of family's table. In addition to learning how to properly set the table, teams of middle school students prepared brownies that were served as dessert.

Program highlights included Mentors Katrina Martin and Diondra Dyer, welcoming and introducing a host of guests that included Tammy Russell, SRC Middle School Principal, Donna Herne, SRC Middle School Guidance Counselor, Rick LeVitre, Executive Director of Franklin County CCE and his wife, Sue; Steve McDonald, 4-H Youth Development Team Leader and his wife, Stacy and their family; and St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Sub-Chief, Eric Thompson. Prior to the buffet meal, the American, 4-H and the Six Nations Flags were presented by Avante Pickett, Madison King and Hattie Laffin-Almond. The American and 4-H Pledge were led by Savannah and Sarah Hosler, Brendan Schaffer and Katrina Martin. The Giving Thanks story by Jake Swamp was shared by Margaret Lazore, Kahentase Terrance, Raynee Lazore and Tayson Terrance. After dinner, an introduction of officers for each program area (Middle School, 5th Grade at Salmon River and St. Regis Mohawk School) were done by each of the respective presidents: St. Regis Mohawk – Hattie Laffin Almond; SRC 5th Graders – Bryanna Sears and SRC Middle School – Aaryn Lazore.

The success of this 4-H Family Night Outing was made possible by the support of the Salmon River Central School Board of Education, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and several community businesses who provided door prizes for this event. Many thanks go out to each of the Akwesasne businesses: A-K Gas, Dunkin Donuts, Speedway Convenience, and Twin Leaf Store. In addition Lucky 711 Riding Stable of Westville donated for this event. Also, each family could donate one dollar per person or provide a non-perishable food item for the food pantry or an item for the animal shelter.

For more information about how your children can become involved in this program and/or other 4-H opportunities, one may contact site coordinators, Connie Gerow at 518-358-4271 or Karen Armstrong at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office at 518-483-7403.