GROWMARK and UPI Energy bring in new 2010 crop of 4-H Ontario Ambassadors

This year marks the fifth year for the 4-H Ontario Ambassador Program. Each year the FS System has been proud supporters of the program where five or six senior 4-H members are selected to represent 4-H.  Ambassadors travel throughout the province to spread the word and educate people in various communities about the benefits of getting involved in 4-H.

This year's ambassadors were selected on Jan. 31. Finalists were asked to deliver a short presentation and then answer a series of questions before a panel of judges.

Congratulations to Anikka Bolender of Stouffville, Nicole Charlton of Brantford, Jessie Groniger of Carlsbad Springs, Eleri Morris of Elmvale and Valerie Stone of Paris, on being selected as the new 2010 4-H Ontario Ambassadors.

These leading 4-H members were sworn in by "pledging their heart" at the 2010 4-H Ontario Ambassador Reception and Training event over  Valentine's Day weekend. Representatives from the program's sponsors GROWMARK and UPI Energy attended this event to give ambassadors a brief overview of their organizations.

New to the ambassadors this year, was the initiation of a mentorship program. Marketing and Communication Specialist for North Wellington Co-operative and past Ontario 4-H Ambassador Jeff McCallum has taken the role of mentor for one of the new ambassadors this year and was also in attendance at the orientation weekend in February.

Outgoing 4-H Ontario Ambassadors are Bruce Betzner, Olivia Groniger, Morgan Kluka, Ashley Pulver, Cory Ward and Stephanie Warner.

If you have an upcoming event that you would like an ambassador to attend to say a few words, please contact Janice Johnson at jajohnson@growmark.com or 519-895-4286. 

2010 4-H Ambassador Valerie Stone and 2009 Ambassador Bruce Betzner will be saying a few words at the upcoming FS Director Summit on March 23 in Niagara Falls.

For this, and more information, please visit 4-H Ontario.

Cutting the cake at the 2010 Ontario 4-H Ambassador orientation weekend.

(From L-R) Eleri Morris of North Simcoe County, Nicole Charlton and Valerie Stone of Brant County, Stephanie Dwyer of UPI Energy LP, Barry Hannah of GROWMARK, Inc., Jessie Groniger of Carleton region and Anikka Bolender of York.