Onondaga County 4-H

05/27/2026

Onondaga Youth attend the 91st Annual New York State 4-H Capitol Days
Two local youth leaders recently represented Onondaga County at the 91st Annual New York State 4-H Capital Days tour, an immersive civic education event held in the state capital.
Benjamin Butler and Emma Cook joined 51 delegates from 23 counties across the state for the intensive two-and-a-half-day program. Sponsored by the New York State Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators (NYSACCE4-HE), the event connects young people directly with state lawmakers to share their personal 4-H experiences. Ben and Emma had an exceptional opportunity to meet with Assemblyman Al Stirpe and with Assemblywoman Pamela Hunters Legislative Coordinator. Both Mr. Stirpe and Pam Hunter represent Onondaga County in the Assembly.

During the event, Butler and Cook explored public service careers and gained firsthand knowledge of state government operations. The delegates toured the New York State Capitol, visited the Senate and Assembly chambers, and explored the Corning Tower and The Egg.
The program featured specialized learning sessions with officials from multiple state agencies, including:
• NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
• New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
• New York State Education Department
• NYSDOH - New York State Health Department
• New York State Supreme Court (Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department)

In addition to educational briefings, the event provided structured social hours and team-building games, allowing the Onondaga County delegates to build a statewide peer network.

Both Ben and Emma agreed it was a very busy, educational, and fun-filled event from which they learned about the government process and made friends from other counties in NYS. The CCE 4-H staff is very proud of Ben and Emma!

04/27/2026

Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: Onondaga 4-H Members Excel at District Finals

Five Onondaga County 4-H members joined 21 youth from across Central New York to demonstrate their public speaking talents, research capabilities, and leadership skills at the annual Region 3 District Presentation Competition. The event, which serves as a pinnacle for the 4-H Public Presentations program was held on April 11, 2026, at Morrisville-Eaton Jr./Sr. High School. Participants, ranging from age from eight to 19, qualified for the district level after successfully advancing from their local county competitions.

Unlike standard speech formats, 4-H presentations allow youth to explore topics they are personally passionate about. This year’s subjects spanned from the geography of Aruba to the complexities of animal science, delivered through demonstrations, illustrated talks, and formal speeches.

All five Onondaga 4-H’ers —Maxine Ferris, Auggie Niederhoff, Amaar Ahangar, Ava Ash, and Odin Randall—earned Blue Awards, the highest possible rating. This collective success highlights the high quality of research and preparation invested by the Onondaga County delegation. Individual honors were also noted: Amaar Ahangar secured the top spot in the Junior division, while Maxine Ferris earned a third-place finish in the Senior division. Their presentations covered diverse topics, including Caribbean islands and historical pandemics.

“I learned how to present in front of an audience without any fear!” Maxine said. “I learned how to project my voice, developed research skills, learned how to judge good quality information, be attentive to questioners, and be able to share what I am so passionate about learning.”

The public presentation program is widely credited by 4-H alumni as a foundational experience in youth development. By standing before an audience and evaluators, participants build the poise, self-confidence, and critical thinking skills required for future collegiate and professional success.

Each presenter was evaluated by a panel of trained volunteer judges against a standard of excellence adapted to their specific age and experience level. Following their presentations, youth received direct, constructive feedback to foster continued growth.

4-H is the nation's largest youth development organization, growing confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow.

To learn more about the 4-H youth development program in Onondaga County or how to get involved, please visit the Onondaga County website (cceonondaga.org) or contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office at 315-424-9485.

04/10/2026

Onondaga County Youth Shine at 2026 4-H Public Presentation Event
Twenty-two talented local youth recently showcased their communication skills and project expertise at the 2026 Onondaga County 4-H Public Presentations. This annual event serves as a cornerstone of the 4-H "learning by doing" philosophy, providing members with a platform to share knowledge gained through their various 4-H projects.
A public presentation in 4-H is more than just a speech, it is a formal performance designed to build self-confidence, mastery of a subject, and vital public speaking skills. This year's participants, ranging in age from 6 to 15, presented a diverse array of topics they are passionate about, impressing a panel of judges with their preparation and delivery. All the presentations were very impressive. Youth had a unique opportunity to learn through the process of showcasing their hard work and receiving constructive feedback from our judges.
Following the county-level evaluations, five outstanding youth have been recommended to represent Onondaga County at the upcoming District Presentations. These individuals demonstrated exceptional mastery and presentation flair: August Niederhoff, Maxine Ferris, Amaar Bhan Ahangar, Odin Randall, and Ava Ash
The District Presentation event will be held on April 11, 2026, at Morrisville Eaton Jr/Sr High School.
Congratulations to all 22 participants for their hard work and dedication. The Onondaga County community wishes our five representatives the best of luck as they advance to the next level of competition!

04/01/2026

Onondaga County Youth Excel at the 2026 Regonal Dairy and Horse Bowl and Hippology Event
Tyler and Lucas Fitzsimmons for their incredible results at the Regional Dairy Bowl. Working together with friends from Madison and St. Lawrence, their team took home the blue ribbon in the Junior Division! Individual bragging rights: Tyler Fitzsimmons– 2nd Place Overall and to Lucas Fitzsimmons – 8th Place Overall. Out of 22 competitors, these two crushed it! We love seeing our youth build skills, confidence, and community through these events.
Onondaga County 4-H members achieved top honors at the 2026 Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest. Competing in multi-county partnerships, our local youth demonstrated exceptional knowledge and skill.
The Senior team, composed of members from Onondaga, Madison, and Lewis Counties, secured a 1st Place finish. Individually, Ava Morris earned 1st place in the Horse portion and 2nd place in Hippology.
The Junior team, representing Onondaga and Madison Counties, took home 2nd Place. Notable individual rankings include Phoenix Petit McClure (2nd in Horse, 3rd in Hippology), Sybella Hunter (4th in Hippology, 8th in Horse), and Maxine Ferris (7th in Horse).
We love seeing our youth build skills, confidence, and community through these events.
Congratulations to all five Onondaga County participants on these impressive results!

03/25/2026

Fourteen old August Niederhoff member of the Onondaga County 4-H program attended the Rural Resource Fair in Albany, NY today. The Rural Resources Fair gives legislative staff and elected officials time to stop by and talk with 4-H members. This provides the elected officials time to learn about the great work happening across the state, This opportunity allows youth to build public speaking, communication, and leadership skills by sharing their 4-H experiences with the public and learning about policy and programmatic work taking place in Albany. In addition to benefiting youth, participation allows the Onondaga County organization to showcase program impact, strengthen visibility, and engage directly with decision-makers and stakeholders. August had a display of the Monarch Butterfly Garden that he developed the layout for and worked with members of his club, the Orange Clover to plant. For the last two years August has continued to research and make additions and care for the garden. The Monarch Butterfly is also was named a Certified Monarch Butterfly Garden. At the Rural Resource Fair August was busy at the Rural Resource Fair talking and showcasing his accomplishment and how 4-H has provided him with a wide variety of learning opportunities. plus the many programs that the Onondaga County 4H has to offer. August had local leader, Rachel May, who is the leader of this program stop at the table to talk to August about his display. The 4-H staff would like to thank August for attending the Rural Resource Fair and developing a beautiful garden to enjoy at the Onondaga County CCE office!
Congratulations August.

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03/14/2026

What luck! 4-H is always in the spirit!

🔗 https://l.syracuse.com/cz897d

Syracuse has never been known for backing down from crummy weather.

Thousands of revelers attended the 44th annual Syracuse St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday.

And, eventually, the wind died down, and the temperature stayed above freezing. Barely.

Tap the link above to read more and see more photos.

📸: Charlie Miller

02/17/2026

Throughout the year, life on a farm is filled with growth and joy, patience and renewal. On a farm, each season arrives with new jobs to do—crops to plant, animals to tend to, and fields to harvest. This year's book is an insider's look at what spring, summer, fall, and winter look like on a family farm, from adorable baby animals to rumbling tractors and pumpkins to pies.

We at CCE Onondaga are so excited for this year's Ag Literacy Week with New York Agriculture in the Classroom next month, March 16-20th. Here's a sneak peak!

Agricultural Literacy Week takes place in March to help children learn about agriculture, with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County donating 3,100 books to students last year.

01/15/2026

Interested in a summer full of fun, learning and outdoor discovery? Save the Date! Registration for Onondaga 4-H Camp will open on Monday, 2/9/2026. Onondaga 4-H Camp, held at various County Parks and one City Park, is packed with hands-on experiences that spark your child’s curiosity and energy! Kids ages 7-12 jump into epic outdoor adventures, learn how to stay safe while exploring nature, and discover how clean water and mighty trees keep our world thriving! Plus, they stay active with programs like hiking, archery, orienteering, and sports. Check out our camp video in the comments to see the joy and discovery firsthand!

If your child loves the outdoors and is eager to explore, create, and play, then this is the camp they won’t want to miss! See our flyer for more details, and contact [email protected] with any questions. We hope to see you at the parks!

12/19/2025

YOU can help make summer camp possible for youth in Onondaga County! There's so many ways! Sponsor as an individual—or introduce us to an employer or organization ready to champion local youth—and spark a summer of discovery.

This is your chance during the holidays and beyond to find a meaningful way to invest in young people in our local communities!

By traveling across four Onondaga County Parks and one Syracuse City Park, plus offering scholarships, our goal is to make summer camp ACCESSIBLE to youth from diverse neighborhoods across Onondaga County. To do this, we are offering sponsorship opportunities for individuals and businesses to support camp.
Families are often searching for safe, positive, and enriching summer experiences for their children, but for many families in Onondaga County, cost is a real barrier. Your financial contribution will support overall camp programming and scholarships for individual campers!

From archery to ecology, from friendship to resilience, every part of Onondaga 4-H summer camp fosters joy, curiosity, and confidence building. 4-H camp is for everyone and YOU have the opportunity to support this cause - become a camp sponsor HERE!
tinyurl.com/sponsor4Hcamp

tag your friends, your workplace, and let's all make a difference in our community together!

12/05/2025

Congratulations Onondaga 4-Hers! 🥳

EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Every year Onondaga County 4-H members, volunteers, and staff come together at the annual Achievement Night to celebrate the growth and...