Penn State Extension recently held an open house, where attendees were able to learn about Chester County 4-H Clubs for youths as well as talk with Extension professionals such as Master Gardeners.

During the event, held on Nov. 1 at the Chester County 4-H Center in Honey Brook, visitors were invited to travel through various displays to learn about Extension programs and the 4-H Clubs, many of which brought along animals, including cows, sheep and rabbits.

"We had open houses years ago, but it was just 4-H. This year, we put a spin on it to (make it) Extension-wide," explained Audrey Reith, Extension educator. "We have Jodi Gauker here with our ag businesses realm; Laura Kenny, our equine specialist for the region; and Master Gardeners."

Among the exhibitors at the open house were members of the Gum Tree 4-H Horse & Pony Club, which is open to youths ages 8 to 18. The club also has a Cloverbuds program for youngsters ages 5 to 8.

"It is not necessary to own a horse. Anyone can come visit us," said adult volunteer Alicia Boyle. "(Club members) learn about horses, how to act around them and keep an eye out for any struggles they may be having."

She said that the club covers various equine-related topics at its monthly meetings. "Sometimes we learn about the best food for a horse to eat. Sometimes we have a horse there and we learn how to do massage," said Boyle. "We will learn how to tack them and braid them. Depending on the theme, they will get a different experience. There are also a lot of leadership activities and public speaking activities."

She noted that club members recently qualified to participate in the Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. To learn more about club membership, visit https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/chester/clubs/horse/gum-tree.

Also participating in the open house was Liz Myers, a nutrition education adviser for Penn State Extension. She is part of Pennsylvania's Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), which provides instruction in practical cooking skills, food safety and nutrition.

While teaching, Myers uses the MyPlate model, which replaced the food pyramid. The plate has five sections: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. The vegetable section is the largest one on the plate, while the dairy section is the smallest.

"I focus on MyPlate, which is a cheat sheet on how to eat healthy," Myers explained. "We have five food groups, and it makes it easy to see what a balanced meal looks like. It's very visual."

During the program, Myers may illustrate why it is better to choose a smoothie versus a soda. "I do a demonstration where we count up the sugars in soda. There is no nutritional value in (soda)," she said. "A smoothie will have the same amount of calories as drinking the soda, but you get the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and some dairy from the yogurt or milk. So it's the same calories, but you will get more nutrients for your body. You should make your food choices count."

Also on hand at the open house were members of the Manor Dairy Club, which meets at the 4-H Center. Club members were accompanied by the three dairy cows - two Jerseys and a black and white Holstein. "Bobby and Jacob Pinciotti of Honey Brook own them and have done really well showing them," said Toni Stuetz, Extension educator. "They live on a farm and own these animals."

However, she noted, club members do not have to own a cow to join. "We offer a very active lease program for kids that don't live on a farm," said Stuetz. "They can (partner) with a farmer to work with them or sponsor them. They can learn about the animals and make arrangements to lease or borrow the animals for their 4-H project."

Other clubs represented at the event included the 4-H Pig Club, the Golden Fleece Sheep Club and the Rabbit and Cavy Club. To learn more about other clubs in the area, visit https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/chester.

More information about the Extension program is available at https://extension.psu.edu/about-us.

Those with questions may contact the Penn State Extension Chester County office at ChesterExt@psu.edu or 610-696-3500.