Building leaders one clover leaf at a time
Published: March 10, 2010
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Dairy princess Daisy Matulevich, a freshman at Mansfield University from Hop Bottom, shows off an apple pie she baked that fetched $85 during a pie auction that ended the 21st Annual Susquehanna County Dairy Day, Friday, at Elk Lake High School. Some 49 pies fetched between $15 and $150 in the fundraising benefit with proceeds split between the county's 4-H Dairy Program and dairy princess promotions. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER
Daisy Matulevich began her journey as a 4-H member over a decade ago.
The Mansfield University freshman, also the county’s Dairy Princess, didn’t have to dedicate her spring break this week to princess duties and 4-H work but chose to do so and her college break coincidentally coincided with Pennsylvania 4-H Week, March 14-20.
“I didn’t have to come in but I like to help out,” said Matulevich at an open table with a “Daisy’s Office” sign on it in the middle of the Penn State Extension Office in the county office building.
Matulevich said the biggest thing she gained through her involvement in 4-H was self-confidence. She described herself as a shy youngster who no longer is reticent.
Early in her 4-H career, Matulevich participated in the Acre Lake 4-H Community Club. She has since gone on to show pigs, worked with horses and now shows a cow.
“A lot of my development as a person has been through 4-H,” said Matulevich.
She has also taken on 4-H projects in baking and cake decorating.
“4-H taught me to respect how much work goes into every day things around us and to appreciate those things,” said Matulevich.
She also said her years in the club have taught her responsibility, leadership and social skills.
DES Dairy Club leader LouAnn Kiefer confirmed Matulevich’s experience with 4-H as typical.
“Kids developed leadership skills and social skills in 4-H,” said Kiefer whose club is based in the East Rush area.
Although primarily a dairy club, Kiefer said the group is getting to be more of a community club with members working with livestock – other than dairy – as well as taking on community projects.
“Baking, woodworking – there are 100s of other projects we offer other than the animal projects,” said Kiefer.
The DES Dairy Club also focuses on community service. Each the year, the club sponsors a needy family for Interfaith’s Christmas Bureau.
Keifer said, “They are doing good things for the community.”
The 4-H experience has also led some former members to pursue agricultural careers.
Dairy/Ag Enterprise Educator Michelle Kowalewski participated in 4-H while growing up in Cumberland County.
Kowalewski said she has help several positions throughout her career but her work has always centered around working with producers and with the agri-industry.
4-H Club members range in age from five to 18 years old. In 2009, there were 36 4-H Clubs active in Susquehanna County with 438 members participating.
The 4-H year runs from October to October but most clubs are beginning to gear back up and reorganize for their busy season right now. Enrollment deadline for new members is April 16.
For more information about 4-H, contact the county extension office at 278-1158.
