September - October 2025

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Albany & Schenectady County Youth Programs 

Hello 4-H’er!

Happy September and almost Fall! It’s hard to believe that the fairs are over and we’re looking toward programs for the fall months already! The Altamont Fair went very well – we really lucked out on the weather and we had record attendance this year! Everyone who participated helped to make it an amazing week and the 4-H staff thanks you all for that! 

As we clean up and wrap up the Altamont Fair, those of you who participated in animal shows, entered projects, or helped as a Junior Super will be receiving a check from the Fair for all your hard work. Please make sure you cash your check by November 1^st – this is really important so that the Fair can wrap things up for 2025! If you participated in the State Fair with projects or animals, you’ll be receiving a check sometime in November or December.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all again at the 4-H Trunk-Or-Treat in October or 4-H Achievement Night in December! Please make sure you watch your email for dates and details to come!  

Take care and we hope you have a terrific start to the new school year!!

~Barb

Have a club report or information to be included in the

Nov/Dec Clover News? 

Please email Barb: bes13@cornell.edu

by Wednesday, October 15th.

-ATTENTION TEEN FAMILIES-

Throughout the school year, we host gatherings specifically for teens to socialize with other 4-Hers, make new friends, and try new things. There are also several

4-H trips throughout the year available to youth ages 13-18.

If you are interested in receiving emails regarding teen events,

please contact Grace at ged49@cornell.edu to be added to the email list.

Thank you!

(CCE will cover the cost for youth enrolled in Albany/Schenectady County 4-H.)

Please register with Grace by September 25th

ged49@cornell.edu | 518-765-3547

Save the Date!

Albany County 4-H Trunk or Treat

*October 24th*

-Barb will email details later this month-

In July, Albany County 4-Hers made sensory tools for the

Altamont Fair's sensory zone.

Thank you to Tracy at the Autism Society for teaching 4-Hers how to be sensory allies and guiding us in making these tools.

And thank you to the 4-Hers who volunteered –

we had a great time learning and creating! 

Thank You To All Who Helped At The Fair!!!!

If it weren’t for all the people who helped us at the Fair,

the show would not have gone on!!! 

A huge Thank You goes out to:

• All of our animal show judges!
• All of our project judges, including Clare Mertz, Dan Ireland, Kris Vogt, Annika Polk, Ellen Doolin, Bryan Doolin, Will Lindau and Lydia Ogaard – they all did a fantastic job!
• All of our Junior Supers who did a remarkable job all week! 
• The many 4-H members and clubs who worked in the Milkshake Booth! The milkshakes were rockin’!!
• All of our 4-H members who took part in the animal shows or entered projects in the Fair!
• Lynn Dente for managing the 4-H Horse Show, Johanna Luhrman for her help announcing in the afternoon, Lizzy Cable for getting the paperwork ready, and Clare Crosier for her help with announcing and paperwork!
• Annie Lendrum for doing a terrific job as the Trail Judge for the 4-H Horse Show, with some clerical help from Natalie Baldauf!
• Allyson Whiting, Morgan Williams, and Moira Verhagen for all their help throughout the week!
• All of the 4-H leaders, parents, and family members who spent endless hours getting the 4-Hers ready for the fair and making sure they had a great experience!

If anyone has any good feedback for next year’s fair,

please let us know - we would love to hear from you!! 

Clover Cookoff

We had an amazing turnout for our 4-H Clover Cookoff this year! Our 4 teams had a blast using the secret ingredient, strawberries, to make and present a culinary creation to our judge. All teams did an excellent job whipping up something yummy – a special congratulations to Suneva, Brielle, and Lilly from

Amazing Farm Friends club as our winning team! 

Milkshake Booth

Another great year of 4-H milkshakes is in the books thanks to our clubs and youth that volunteered for shifts! Thank you to Cap’s n Chaps, Osborne Corners, Amazing Farm Friends, All Creatures Great and Small, and Crazy Horse for signing up for club shifts! We also had members from Livestock, Meadowbrook Dairy, and Dream Big clubs that came to help out in the booth. Thank you all for your help, and to everyone who purchased a milkshake in support of 4-H!

2025 Altamont Fair Animal Show Results

4-H Poultry Show

Master Showman – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Reserve Champion – Elara Newell, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Champion – Rowan VanWely, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Reserve Champion – Talia Newell, Albany County

Best of Show – Elara Newell, Albany County

Reserve Best of Show – Logan Lounsbury, Albany County

4-H Rabbit/Cavy Show

Master Showman – Sophia Bylsma, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Sophia Bylsma, Albany County

4-H Goat Show

Master Showman – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Reserve Master Showman – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Master Showman Honorable Mention – Mia Peselev, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Reserve Champion – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Champion – Mia Peselev, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Reserve Champion – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Intermediate Champion – Brielle Muha, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Novice Champion – Lilliana Allen, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Novice Reserve Champion – Clara Bronson, Albany County

Champion Lamancha – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Reserve Champion Lamancha – Mia Peselev, Albany County

Grand Champion Lamancha – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Lamancha – Mia Peselev, Albany County

Junior Champion Nubian – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Junior Reserve Champion Nubian – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Senior Champion Nubian – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Senior Reserve Champion Nubian – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Grand Champion Nubian – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Nubian – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Grand Champion Saanen – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Saanen – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Senior Champion Recorded Grade – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Senior Reserve Champion Recorded Grade – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Grand Champion Recorded Grade – Ashlyn Burns, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Recorded Grade – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf – Alyanna Crookes, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf – Alyanna Crookes, Albany County

Junior Champion Grade Meat – Cole Miller, Albany County

Senior Champion Grade Meat – Cole Miller, Albany County

Grand Champion Grade Meat – Cole Miller, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Grade Meat – Cole Miller, Albany County

Grand Champion Heavy Weight – Cole Miller, Albany County

Best Doe in Show – Rena Bradt, Albany County

4-H Sheep Show

Master Showman – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Reserve Master Showman – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Reserve Champion – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Novice Champion – Jordyn Miller, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Reserve Novice Champion – Mariah Miller, Albany County

Champion Primitive Ram Lamb – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Champion Primitive Mature Ewe – Elara Newell, Albany County

Reserve Champion Primitive Mature Ewe – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Champion Natural Color Mature Ewe – Elara Newell, Albany County

Champion Romanov Mature Ewe – Amelia Verhagen, Albany County

Reserve Champion Romanov Mature Ewe – Amelia Verhagen, Albany County

Champion Suffolk Mature Ewe – Cole Miller, Albany County

Champion Teeswater Mature Ewe – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Reserve Champion Teeswater Mature Ewe – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Champion Wensleydale Ram Lamb – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Champion Wensleydale Ewe – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Reserve Champion Wensleydale Ewe – Vincent Whiting, Albany County

Champion Grade Mature Ewe – Talia Newell, Albany County

Best of Show – Cole Miller, Albany County

4-H Dairy Cattle

Master Showman – Paige Deffer, Schenectady County

Reserve Master Showman – Lyda Jo Herdman, Greene County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Reserve Champion – Addyson Poole, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Intermediate Champion – Paige Deffer, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Intermediate Reserve Champion – Lyda Jo Herdman, Greene County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Champion – Esther Bylsma, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Reserve Champion – Arabella Deffer, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Novice Champion – Madison Stanton, Albany County

Grand Champion Guernsey – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Grand Champion Brown Swiss – Lyda Jo Herdman, Greene County

Reserve Grand Champion Brown Swiss – Paige Deffer, Schenectady County

Junior Champion Holstein – Esther Bylsma, Albany County

Reserve Junior Champion Holstein – Mckenzie Stanton, Albany County

Grand Champion Holstein – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Reserve Grand Champion Holstein – Esther Bylsma, Albany County

Grand Champion Ayrshire – Arabella Deffer, Schenectady County

Reserve Grand Champion Ayrshire – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn – Arabella Deffer, Schenectady County

Reserve Grand Champion Milking Shorthorn – Paige Deffer, Schenectady County

Best of Show – Corbin Smith, Albany County

4-H Beef Cattle

Master Showman – Josie Tommell, Albany County

Reserve Master Showman – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Champion – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Champion – Josie Tommell, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Reserve Champion – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Champion Simmental – Josie Tommell, Albany County

Reserve Champion Simmental – Mariah Miller, Albany County

Champion Hereford – Laine Miller, Albany County

Champion Angus – Hunter Smith, Albany County

Champion All Other Breeds – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Reserve Champion All Other Breeds – Cameron Miller, Albany County

Champion Commercial/Cross Breed – Jordyn Miller, Albany County

Reserve Champion Commercial/Cross Breed – Corbin Smith, Albany County

Champion Female/Best of Show – Josie Tommell, Albany County

Reserve Champion Female – Laine Miller, Albany County

Honorable Mention Champion Female – Corbin Smith, Albany County

4-H Horse Show

Fitting and Showmanship Senior English Champion – Camila Lena, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior English Reserve Champion – Haley Anderson, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior English Champion – Lucy Allington, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior English Reserve Champion – Lily Biance, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Tot II English Champion – Abby Donnelly, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Trot II English Reserve Champion – Lizzy Cable, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Trot I English Champion – Emma Neary, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Trot I English Reserve Champion – Derek Toukatly, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Starter English Champion – Emily Jackson, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Starter English Reserve Champion – Abby Donnelly, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Western Champion – Kailey Jones, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Senior Western Reserve Champion – Haley Anderson, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Western Champion – Lily Biance, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Junior Western Reserve Champion – Hannah Toukatly, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Jog II Western Champion – Brooke Toukatly, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Jog I Western Champion – Alyvia Kiernan, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Walk/Jog I Western Reserve Champion – Ezra Olson, Schenectady County

Fitting and Showmanship Starter Western Champion – Rena Bradt, Albany County

Fitting and Showmanship Starter Western Reserve Champion – Emily Jackson, Albany County

4-H Master Showman at the Altamont Fair

   Congratulations to all of our 4-H Master Showmen who did an incredible job!

It was really heart-warming to watch you learn and grow through your experience!

Rowan VanWely – 4-H Poultry Show

Sophia Bylsma – 4-H Rabbit Show

Rena Bradt – 4-H Goat Show

Vincent Whiting – 4-H Sheep Show

Paige Deffer – 4-H Dairy Show

Josie Tommell – 4-H Beef Show

Rena Bradt won overall 4-H Master Showman at the show on

Saturday at the Fair. She received a check from the Orloff Bear Family,

a check from the Altamont Fair, a trophy, and her name will be placed on the Master Showman plaque to recognize her accomplishment!

She also had her picture taken with the Orloff Bear/Schlenker family.

Way to go, Rena!!

Congratulations to all of our 4-Hers with projects at the New York State Fair – we are so proud of all your hard work! Be sure to stop by the

Youth Building at the State Fair between August 20th and September 1st

to see their projects on display!

Abigail Bailey, Rena Bradt, Alexandra Burlingame, Owen Burlingame, Lizzy Cable, Addison Flach, Alex Gonzalez, Logan Gonzalez, Emma Hunt, Kailey Jones,

Hailey Lacko, Taran Lane, Camila Lena, Suneva Martinez, Cameron Miller,

Laine Miller, Mariah Miller, Jordyn Miller, Savannah Moore, Eloise Muha, Brielle Muha, Elara Newell, Talia Newell, Megan Reis, Mina Sheldon, Corbin Smith,

Josie Tommell, Hannah Toukatly, Bridgette West, Trinity West, and Teagan Woods 

Barbara Stevens | 4-H Issue Leader

Albany County

bes13@cornell.edu

 Grace Davis | 4-H Subject Educator

Albany County

ged49@cornell.edu

Will Lindau | 4-H Subject Educator

Albany County

wpl32@cornell.edu

Rachel Sakadolsky | 4-H Subject Educator

Albany County

rcl227@cornell.edu

Amanda Terhune | Local Ag Manager

Albany County

ajt247@cornell.edu

Teresa Tymchyn | Layout & Production

Albany County

tac28@cornell.edu