Awards & Recognition

The following five 4-H volunteers were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the 4-H program at the 4-H Foundation “Barnraising” fundraising event. Each volunteer was selected to receive the head, heart, hands or spirit award. It is traditional in 4-H that youth receive these awards through 4-H club or camp programs so it is appropriate and meaningful to recognize volunteers in this way.

Shawn Thayer

Shawn currently serves as the club leader of the “Pioneer Valley Young Shepards Club”, Hampshire County 4-H Fair Secretary and Camp Director of the MA 4-H Sheep Camp. She is thoroughly knowledgeable about 4-H having been a member, employee and long time volunteer for 4-H.

Shawn’s knowledge of the sheep industry has benefited dozens of youth through her coaching of the nationally acclaimed MA 4-H Sheep Quiz Bowl Team. These teams consistently place at the top of the competition and return with a commitment to prepare yet another team for the next years event. She has a unique mix of abilities in being able to see the “big picture” as well as paying attention to all the small details necessary to make a program successful. Her latest project, the development of the “High Point Award” has been responsible for recognizing youth for outstanding work at each of the four Western Mass. 4-H fairs.

The head “H” guides the learning process. Shawn has been selected to receive the Head award because of her commitment to providing a variety of learning opportunities to the youth involved in 4-H.

Joe Major

Joe has been a 4-H club leader for 27 years. He started with a rabbit club. He soon came up with a concept for something much bigger and better and started the Sunnyrock Farm 4-H club – a leasing group located on property loaned to 4-H for this purpose at the Sunnyrock Farm in Walpole. He has been an advocate for this type of 4-H program in Massachusetts and served on the original 4-H Leasing Program Committee that developed policy and guidelines for leasing livestock for use as a 4-H project.

In addition to his work with livestock, Joe works to foster teamwork, a necessary component of the leasing program. He has taught workshops for other 4-H club members and leaders on team building. With Joe’ help to grow the 4-H program at least six groups have broken away from the Sunnyrock family and gone on to establish their own 4-H clubs.

Joe is the recipient of our Heart award based on the inspiration he has provided to the more than 1000 members and leaders that have gone though the Sunnyrock group. The heart “H” is the essence of sharing and growing within the 4-H program.

Jan Pitney

Jan has been a club leader of the Equus Friends 4-H Club for the past 12 years and is currently serving as treasurer of the Barnstable County Horse Council. Jan’s club participates in all the events and activities that 4-H has to offer. From VP’s to doing pony rides at the Harvest Festival, working in the 4-H kitchen at the Fari, devoting 4 days to man the Wonderful World of Horses in the 4-H Horse Barn at the Fari, co-chairing Horse Bowl and Hippology, organizing clinics and teaching workshops and making sure her club is involved in every community service project, Jan is incredible! And, on top of all that they are the first ones to show up at a workday for the Fair or to clean up after an event.

Jan is an art teacher at Wareham elementary and also shares her creative talents with 4-H as a workshop leader for Winter Workshop and by producing an unbelievable 4-H club display for the Fair with all the bells and whistles. She also generously gives of her own time and money to help sponsor the Barnstable/Plymouth Walk for Healthy Kids. In addition, she has a huge SUV that she uses to truck her kids and their horses so that they are able to participate in everything that they want to.

The hands are often raised in question, seeking answers and working hard. We have selected Jan to receive the Hands award for all of the hard work she does in support of 4-H in Barnstable County.

Jayme Bonds

Jayme’s involvement with 4-H started years ago as a child growing up in Boston. For many years she has incorporated 4-H into all aspects of her personal and professional life. At her church she started a 4-H mentoring group and she recently started a 4-H club at the Mandela Residents Cooperative Association in Boston where she serves as Executive Director. In addition, Jayme and a group of her peer leaders participated in the 4-H Child Safety days done in the NE region this summer.

She has been involved in Extension programs at the national level as well. Jayme is a graduate of the FCL (Family and Community Leadership) program. She attended the Mississippi University 4-H “Health Rocks” training and came back and shared the information with over 200 youth and 50 adults in Massachusetts.

Jayme is receiving our “Health” award because she is a dynamic leader that uses many resources at her disposal to build capacity throughout the Boston community. The Health “H” brings forth strength to be shared with others. Supporting families and community is a passion of Jayme’s and she uses
4-H as a means of assisting her to fulfill her ambition.

Donna Chandler

Donna is the leader of the Fluffy Bunnies 4-H Club in Pittsfield, one of the most active groups in Berkshire County. In addition, Donna is a member of the Berkshire County 4-H Advisory Council, and advisor for the Berkshire County Fair Association and treasurer for Berkshire County 4-H Fair, Inc. This is actually Donna’s second time around as a 4-H leader. She and her husband, Bill, had a club many years ago and now as a new grandmother she decided to start another club.

That’s not all Donna does for 4-H. She also serves as a poster contest judge, a VP judge, Dance-a-thon organizer and food drive drop off site. She is always willing to step forward and take on another job.

Donna has been selected to receive the Spirit award based on her enthusiasm and eagerness to serve others. She capitalizes on this spirit by reaching out to others to share her enthusiasm and ideas.