By Sheila Phibbs
The Haldimand Press
CANFIELD—The spirit of 4-H was in full display at Canfield Community Centre on Saturday, January 21, 2023 as the Haldimand 4-H Association held its first awards ceremony in three years.
The evening’s program was hosted by Joyce Fox and Gabriela Kott, the Outstanding Senior and Junior Members for 2021 respectively, and included the presentation of club completion certificates and seals, special project seals, and awards.
CANFIELD—A new award was introduced at the Haldimand 4-H Association awards ceremony. The Angie Schweyer Memorial Award is presented to an Outstanding Beef Club member who exhibits leadership and proficiency while helping other club members. Angie is remembered as a dedicated and determined volunteer with a willingness to help wherever needed. Her husband, Kevin, and daughter, Christine Pamplin, presented the award along with Beef Club leaders Eugene Tjepkema and Peter Burrill, to Angie’s son, Daniel Schweyer, who completed his final year of 4-H in 2022. Daniel (centre) is pictured with his family and the leaders of the Beef Club (l-r): Peter Burrill, Christine Pamplin, Kevin Schweyer, Daniel Schweyer, Eugene Tjepkema, Sue Passow, and Jamie Heaslip.—Haldimand Press photos by Sheila Phibbs
A new award was presented in honour of Haldimand 4-H volunteer Angie Schweyer who passed away in 2022. Donated by the Schweyer family, the Angie Schweyer Memorial Award recognizes an outstanding member of the Haldimand 4-H Beef Club who exhibits leadership and proficiency while helping other club members. Schweyer is remembered as a ‘quiet’ leader who worked with humility and determination and was always there to help where needed. She had a willingness to serve and was always supportive of the 4-H members and volunteers. Her dedication and commitment to the program inspired those around her.
The first recipient of the Angie Schweyer Memorial Award, quite fittingly, is Angie’s son, Daniel Schweyer, who exemplifies all the qualities for which his mother is remembered and is regarded as a positive role model for his 4-H peers.
CANFIELD—The Haldimand 4-H Association awards ceremony was an opportunity to recognize volunteers who have earned Provincial Seals from 4-H Ontario for years of service in the last three years. Front (l-r): Isabel Miller (20 years, 2020), Linda Atkinson (5 years, 2022), Cindy Murphy (15 years, 2021), Renee Hedley (20 years, 2020), Jennifer Thompson (5 years, 2021), Marie Stoneman (15 years, 2021). Back (l-r): Faith Kirk, 4-H Ontario; Karen Allen (15 years, 2022), Bette Richards (15 years, 2022), Kevin Schweyer (5 years, 2021), Peter Burrill (1 year, 2020), David Murray (30 years, 2022), Morris Bartlett (35 years, 2020), Allan Hedley (20 years, 2022), Doug Murphy (15 years, 2021), Kim Turnbull (30 years, 2021). Absent: 1 Year – Eugene Tjepkema (2020), Jamie Heaslip (2022), Andrea Iacurti (2022); 5 Years – Laurie Cocking (2020), Peter Cocking (2020), Sue Passow (2020), Glen Phibbs (2021), Angie Schweyer (2021, posthumous), Aaron McQueen (2022), Emily Taminga (2022); 10 Years – Sharon Mitchell (2022), Lisa Rowe (2022); 15 Years – Wendy Strong (2020), Stacey Moyers (2021), Tracy Vandervliet (2022); 20 Years – Heather Reynolds (2021), Kathie Phibbs (2022); 25 Years – Anne McMillan (2021).
Volunteers were also recognized and Marie Stoneman, President of the Haldimand 4-H Association, states, “It is only possible to offer a variety of programs and activities because of volunteers…. We also honour retiring volunteers and thank them for their time.”
Stoneman was pleased with the gathering of members, parents, volunteers, and special guests for the awards night. She shares, “We continue to recover and are excited to offer more clubs and events this year. Members are excited to have an in-person Sign Up Day this year.”
Haldimand 4-H Sign Up Day returns to WJ Heaslip Ltd. in Nelles Corners on Saturday, January 28. Running from 9 to 11 a.m., new and returning 4-H members can learn about clubs currently being offered, meet the leaders and volunteers, and sign up for the clubs of their choice. Youth aged 9 to 21 as of January 1, 2023 are eligible to join.
The selection of 2023 clubs includes new offerings such as Aggie Art (barn quilts and seed art), Calligraphy Club, Cut Flower Club, and Get Cracking Club. Haldimand is especially excited to offer Cloverbuds for the first time. This unique 4-H opportunity is like a “pre-4-H” club for children who are 6-8 years old as of January 1, 2023.
CANFIELD—The Haldimand 4-H Association held its awards ceremony on January 21, 2023 to recognize the achievements of the past year. A highlight was the announcement of the Outstanding Members for 2022. At left, the Outstanding Junior Member Zoë Tjepkema (centre), is shown with Faith Kirk of 4-H Ontario (left) and Steve Quinn (right), Cayuga Mutual Insurance CEO and Chair of the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association (OMIA), which sponsors the award. At right, the Outstanding Senior Member Bethany Burrill (centre) is shown with Kirk (left) and David Murray, Director with award sponsor the Ontario Plowmen’s Association.
Cloverbuds leader Marie Peart says, “We decided to offer this club because Covid changed everything! We lost a lot of volunteers and members during the three years of restrictions so we thought maybe this is the time to start over and invest in the future of 4-H.”
Cloverbuds will run from March to October with one meeting per month. Peart says, “Our intention is to introduce the core concepts of 4-H and prepare them to join the regular clubs when they reach the appropriate age.”
Activities will focus on creativity and personal development, and will allow members to experience the 4-H motto “Learn to Do by Doing”.
Peart adds, “The mission of the Haldimand 4-H Association is to provide opportunities and skills-based programming for the youth of our community.”
CANFIELD—Long serving Haldimand 4-H volunteer Rita Vandervliet (centre) is among several who are retiring as volunteers with the Association. She is pictured with Faith Kirk (left) of 4-H Ontario and Marie Stoneman (right) Haldimand 4-H Association President. Other retiring volunteers include: Peter Cocking, Charlene Croft, Jasmin Fisher, Lee Killman, Heather Reynolds, Patty Rutherford, Sheryl Sawyer, Wendy Strong, Christopher Stoneman, Dale Tomlin, and Les Yule.
In addition to these new clubs, the traditional agriculture and livestock clubs offered include Field Crops, Sheaf Club, Beef, Dairy, Miniature Horse, and Rabbit clubs.
The registration procedure has changed since the last Sign Up Day. Members sign up for clubs at Sign Up Day and pay club fees (if any). Cash, cheque, or e-transfer will be accepted. They must then register online with 4-H Ontario and pay the $95 registration fee (non-refundable after seven days).
CANFIELD—The Haldimand 4-H Association recognized retiring members during the awards ceremony on January 21. Pictured (l-r): Faith Kirk, 4-H Ontario; Emma Long, Thomas Rickus, Daniel Schweyer, and Marie Stoneman, Haldimand 4-H Association President.
While at Sign Up Day, families can enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast courtesy WJ Heaslip Ltd. beginning at 8:30 a.m. The volunteers of the Haldimand 4-H Association have been busy planning the 2023 clubs and look forward to meeting members on January 28. The return of this fun tradition is the start of what promises to be a great new year of 4-H in Haldimand.
For more information on Haldimand 4-H clubs/registration, contact: 905-971-1075 or katherinehedley68@gmail.com.
