4—H Program Thrives at Appleton Farms

Reading Club Member wins the Statewide 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic hosted by Appleton Farms on Saturday

Ipswich, MA – May 16, 2012 – On Saturday, May 12, The Trustees of Reservations’ 4-H Club at Appleton Farms hosted a statewide 4-H Dairy judging clinic. Appleton Farms proudly announces that Junior Club Leader Alyssa Girardo, a five year club member and student at Essex Agricultural & Technical High School from Reading, won the judging competition.

Appleton Farms staffer Holly Hannaway commented “It’s hard to believe that Appleton Farms’ 4-H Farmers Club is entering its fifth season at the farm. It seems just like yesterday that we put a notice in the paper announcing the start of the program. I remember thinking at the time, do folks even know what 4-H is anymore? Time flies when you’re having fun!” She noted, who knew that the farm would have 30 families show up on a cold January afternoon in an unheated barn to learn more about the program and that, just four years later the, the club would be thriving?

Today, there are 26 members, not including the active family members and volunteer club leaders. The members are a mixture of old and new, with seven participants part of the “founding” membership. The age range is 9—15, with one participant graduating to junior leader status.

Club members assist with afternoon calf chores including feeding and watering. And, most importantly, they work with the calves and heifers, beginning at just a few weeks old, training them how to be lead on the halter. The training is an important part of the herd management at Appleton Farms. As these calves grow they will be accustomed to being handled and ultimately, when they end up in dairy barn as milkers, they will be calm, cool and collected. This makes for good milking.

Every morning and afternoon, Appleton Farms’ dairy staff leads the jersey herd to the barn for milking (as opposed to being driven). John Miller, Appleton Farms dairy manager and award winning cheese maker, is seeing an increase in milk production and quality. And while much of this is thanks to John and his staff’s expertise in herd management, the farm likes to think the 4-H club also has something to do with it. The proof may be in the cheese as the farm will roll out a variety of farmstead cheeses to be sold in their new dairy store this summer.

When the club isn’t busy with calf chores and haltering, you can also find them supporting a number of Appleton Farms special events, including the annual Family Farm Day event. The club has also worked hard at their showing skills, competing at the Topsfield Fair 4-H cattle show for the past three years. Many ribbons later, the club is fine-tuning their “expertise” in fitting and showing with the help of John Miller, who has been involved with 4-H since he was ten years old both showing and as a judge4-H club members are hopeful that, much like the cream in Appleton Farms’ whole milk, their 4-H club keeps rising to the top!

To learn more about Appleton Farms and their 4-H program, join them at the Appleton Farms June Open House celebration on Sunday, June 17, 1—4pm. June is “Dairy Month” and at the event you can enjoy dairy tours & milking tours, Old House visitor center tours, a scavenger hunt and a sampling of farmstead cheeses. And, it’s FREE!

To learn more about Appleton Farms and the dairy visit www.thetrustees.org/dairy and to learn more about 4-H clubs in Essex County visit www.mass4h.org

More about The Trustees of Reservations

The Trustees of Reservations is the nation’s oldest, statewide land conservation organization founded by open space visionary Charles Eliot in 1891 to “hold in trust,” and care for properties of scenic, cultural and natural significance for current and future generations to enjoy.  Supported by members, donors and thousands of volunteers, The Trustees own and manage 106 spectacular “reservations” (over 20 of which are on Boston’s north shore) located on more than 26,000 acres in 75 communities throughout Massachusetts.  The Trustees work to promote healthy, active, green communities locally and around the state by providing hundreds of year-round programs, events and engagement opportunities for all ages. Most property entry fees, programs and events are free-of-charge or heavily discounted for members.

Accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, The Trustees are an established leader in the conservation movement and model for other land trusts nationally and internationally. To find out more about membership, volunteer, job and other engagement opportunities with The Trustees visit http://www.thetrustees.org.

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