The 4-H program, the nation’s largest positive youth development program, encourages youth to learn and grow through the experience of taking on livestock projects and other non-animal projects, like baking, sewing, and gardening. NR Homesteaders 4-H Club members showed that growth over the last year as members exhibited nearly 30 livestock projects at the 2024 Cuyahoga County Fair, which were sold at the 4-H Livestock Auction. North Royalton City Council President Paul Marnecheck jumped in this year for the first time as a Guest Auctioneer at the Livestock Auction, which was held August 10.
NR Homesteaders won ten Grand Champion or Reserve Champion awards at the market show competition, where experts judged each livestock project on the quality of the market animal. Homesteader Club members won Grand Champion Lamb (Owen Szpak), Reserve Champion Lamb (Natalie Fitzgerald), Reserve Champion Hog (Ben Hechko), Grand Champion Goat (Sophie Eldridge), Reserve Champion Turkey (Hannah Eldridge), Grand Champion Chicken (Henry Pierce) and Reserve Champion Chicken (Natalie Fitzgerald), Grand Champion Duck (Natalie Fitzgerald), Grand Champion Fryer Rabbits (Hannah Eldridge).
These accolades did not go unnoticed by the local community businesses and longtime supporters of the Homesteaders 4-H Club.
Local Seven Hills business Greystone Veterinary Hospital + Urgent Care, owned by Lindsay Kostal, DVM, set another Cuyahoga County Fair record this year with her purchase of the Grand Champion Market Broilers for $1,950, continuing her decade-long $50,000 plus investment in 4-H youth livestock projects across Cuyahoga County.
“I loved seeing new businesses and local government officials in the auction arena this year,” she said. “Their support of these 4-H livestock projects and the Cuyahoga County 4-H program is vital to ensuring a thriving agriculture industry here in Northeast Ohio – these are our future farmers who will grow the food we eat.”
In addition to the Grand Champion Chicken pen, the local veterinarian also bought the Reserve Champion Steer, the Reserve Champion Lamb, Grand Champion Ducks, Grand Champion Fryer Rabbits, Grand Champion Roaster Rabbits, a hog, pen of turkeys, and Bruce Kucharski Sr. Scholarship items.
Overall, the number of projects sold at the auction increased (from 57 to 67), with auction sales totaling $66,744.20.
“We are so appreciative of our longtime Livestock Auction buyers and supporters, many of who are 4-H alumni, who show up for 4-H youth year-over-year at the auction,” said Amy Gasbarre, Livestock Auction Accountant and Homesteader’s Club Advisor. “We are especially grateful for new support, including Jolly’s Pizza (North Royalton), who came out to the auction for the first time this year, and to City Council President Paul Marnecheck who jumped in for the first time as a guest auctioneer – thank you – we appreciate your support.”
The Club is grateful for the consistent and generous support of longtime buyers over the last decade and welcomed many of their familiar faces at the auction, including Cuyahoga County Farm Bureau, who bought the Grand Champion Ducks (and turning them back to the sale), Grand Champion Fryer Rabbits, and Grand Champion Turkeys, as well as Reserve Champion banners for market show winners.
The Cuyahoga County Fair Board has supported the Cuyahoga County 4-H program for many years, and this year bought the Market Show rosettes.
“The Fair Board is pleased to purchase 4-H livestock projects at the sale; doing so not only provides 4-Her’s with an experiential learning opportunity, but a pathway to opportunity to careers in livestock production, animal science, food science, and veterinary medicine, to name a few,” said Cuyahoga County Fair Board member, Tom Sabrey, who purchased Homesteader Henry Pierce’s pen of turkeys on behalf of Fair Board.
Longtime supporters of the Club, Brecksville Kids Dentistry, Jen Hechko, DDS; and North Royalton Animal Hospital, Adam Hechko, DVM, bought chickens, and a hog and steer respectively. Homesteader alumnus, Jacob Durda, purchased the Grand Champion Goat; Grace Durda Friend purchased market broilers; mom Beth Durda purchased roaster rabbit pens; and John Durda, owner of Grand Slam Picks, rounded it out, making it a family affair with his purchase of turkeys. The 4-H roots run deep, with 4-H alumni Jessica Plogger and Chloe Millard also purchasing turkeys, and Plogger Transport a pen of market chickens from Homesteaders youth.
“This is 4-H,” said Bruce Kucharski, 4-H Livestock Sale Auctioneer, Market Auction Chair, and co-advisor for the Homesteaders Club. “Our alumni come back year over year to support our 4-H kids, knowing the impact that the program – and the experience of raising livestock –had on their own lives.
North Royalton Homesteader Henry Pierce, Club President, spent his summer on a service project designed to grow support for the livestock auction in the county. He hit the town, signing up businesses and local officials to win 4 of his market turkeys to any new bidders who attended the auction. North Olmsted City Councilman Chris Glassburn won the raffle, and donated all four of the turkeys to the Oxcart Pantry.
“4-H youth learn through experiences – the best teacher – not only how to grow food through 4-H and all the challenges that ensue, but also the importance of giving back to your community. I was pleased to donate the turkeys that Henry raised to the Oxcart Pantry,” said Glassburn, who is running for State Representative.
The NR Homesteaders 4-H Club can be seen around town, most recently at the North Royalton Animal Hospital’s annual Pet Carnival. Visit them at their next events, an animal showcase at the Blessing of the Pets at Assumption Church (Broadview Heights) on October 6, and the NR Halloween Madness event on October 19, on the North Royalton City Green. The Club, whose membership is open to any youth in and around the surrounding area, is now about 30 members strong.
For information about joining the NR Homesteaders 4-H Club, please email Robin Peth-Pierce at nrhomesteaders4h@gmail.com.
Submitted by Robin Peth-Pierce