Starting Strong in 2026!

Dear Friend of Cooperative Extension:

As we enter the final weeks of 2025, I find myself reflecting upon the work that this association has accomplished for the residents of Cayuga County during the past year. While highlights will be covered in detail in our upcoming Annual Report, I’d like to share with you some program successes of which we are especially proud, and for which we invite your support.

Local youth are the foundation of our future, and two programs here stand out for me as having benefited them in important and complementary ways. For a 4th year, CCE Cayuga offered a comprehensive workforce development program that trained and employed 43 young people to staff the Milk Bar at the Great New York State Fair in August 2025. Funded entirely by the New York State Dept. of Agriculture & Markets, this program provides training and meaningful first-job experience to local young people while introducing them to our state’s important dairy industry through classroom study and visits to dairy farms and processing facilities. This effort recently was recognized by Epsilon Sigma Phi, Cooperative Extension’s professional society, with its Distinguished Team Award for 2025.

Closer to home, our 4-H staff are growing a program that now offers youth in our communities a wide variety of enriching, skill- and leadership- building clubs and activities in their areas of interest. Through the efforts of countless 4-H parents, volunteers, youth members, our 4-H staff, and individuals and businesses in the community, this year’s 4-H Youth Fair and Market Livestock Auction were more successful than ever before.

Youth participation nearly doubled from last year, with 102 4-H’ers taking part in our Youth Fair, showing 293 animals across 8 species and entering 216 static projects, while 27 4-H’ers sold 58 project animals at our Market Livestock Auction. These were highly successful and enjoyable events for the youth, families and friends who participated and, statistics aside, the 4-H experience has been proven to translate into countless individual gains in personal responsibility, leadership and life skills for participating youth as they move forward to potential careers in agriculture and other disciplines.

Numbers show that we are not only growing our program, but investing in the future of agriculture in our county and region through these experiences, however putting on the 4-day Youth Fair and Auction requires approximately $25,000 in additional fundraising to cover event expenses. In January 2026, our 4-H staff will begin fundraising efforts in earnest that will continue until the next 4-H Youth Fair and Market Livestock Auction take place in August 2026.

Will you help us get this effort off to a good start during this season of charitable giving by making a tax-deductible donation to 4-H through using your credit card or our PayPal link? You may also mail a check (payable to CCE Cayuga County with 4-H in the memo line) to our office at 248 Grant Avenue, Auburn, New York 13021. Every dollar counts and we are extremely grateful for your interest and whatever support you are able to provide.

With thanks for your consideration, and warm good wishes for the holidays ahead,

Daniel L. Welch
Executive Director

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Last updated December 8, 2025