Top 4-H Members Represent Nova Scotia

Eleven 4-H members and leaders from Nova Scotia have been selected to participate in National 4-H week. They will attend conferences in Toronto from Oct 31. to Nov. 4.

"Nova Scotia's 4-H program has many fine members and leaders and we can be proud that these individuals will represent our province at the national level," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. "Participants will meet new people and learn new things - experiences they can bring back to their local 4-H clubs and communities."

Each year Nova Scotia selects and sponsors a group of 4-H members and leaders to attend the conferences, hosted by the Canadian 4-H Council .

Sixty delegates from across Canada, six from the United States and three young farmers from the United Kingdom will attend the National 4-H Member Conference. The theme for the conference is Agri-Food Spread the Word. Throughout the week, members will participate in educational sessions focusing on agricultural issues that encourage group discussion and problem solving.

Ten Canadian participants will be presented with $1,000 academic scholarships during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The TD Bank Financial Group, in association with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Canadian 4-H Council, offer scholarships to members in their last year of high school planning to study an agricultural related discipline after graduation. Winners will be selected based on numerical grade average for the 2000-01 academic year.

The Nova Scotia members who won travel awards are: Dianna Murphy, Yarmouth County; Sarah Lowe and Shauna Wile, Lunenburg County; Jennifer Biggs, Kings County; Scottie Colpitts, Colchester County; and David Allen, Pictou County.

Current 4-H volunteer leaders continually strive to improve their skills and knowledge for training tomorrow's 4-H leaders. At this year's National 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference, 46 volunteer leaders from across Canada, and several of their American counterparts, will work toward this important goal.

Nova Scotians attending this conference are: Elsie Read, Cumberland County; Sisca Bekkers, Antigonish County; Patricia Veinot, Lunenburg County; Holly Hebb, Annapolis County; and Stuart Carter, Richmond County.