At the recent Pennsylvania 4-H State Leadership Conference, 21 4-H members received Diamond Clover Awards, the highest achievement possible in the Pennsylvania 4-H program.

The Clover Award Program encourages 4-H members to explore new projects and activities that will help them acquire the seven leadership life skills: communicating, decision making and problem solving, getting along with others, learning to learn, managing, understanding self, and working in groups. Engagement with the Clover Award Program is generally a multiyear process and consists of planning and implementing a service-learning project in the community.

“Now more than ever, the skills learned as 4-Hers are needed all over our world,” said Jeanette Stackhouse, 4-H teen program manager with Penn State Extension. “We are delighted to see so much thought and effort go into these projects that make a great impact on the 4-Her’s local community.”

The Chester County 4-H is proud to recognize three members who received Diamond Awards. Melissa Griswold educated third graders about local agriculture industries with an interactive presentation. Sophie Griswold aimed to help the public understand the daily life of farmers and how cows experience the world differently from people. She conducted research on cows’ senses and created infographics, posters, and educational videos. Melissa Johnson worked with local businesses, individuals, and 4-H clubs to send homemade gifts to the families of deployed military personnel.