Posted: April 17, 2023
As part of its annual 4-H Salute to Excellence Awards, Pennsylvania 4-H selected Kathryn Shea as the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award, which recognizes 4-H volunteers who have served 10 or more years.
Kathryn Shea
A Snyder County 4-H volunteer for 17 years, Shea started as a 4-H parent, seeing all three of her sons through the program.
Throughout her time with the Snyder County 4-H program, Shea has brought new projects to the county and her club and has supported the program as an interim 4-H educator during a hiring process in a neighboring county.
"She gives much of her time and energy to the youth in her club and the program," wrote Shea's nominator, Kathy Weller, 4-H educator for Penn State Extension in Snyder County.
Through her connections with members of the poultry industry, Shea introduced meat chickens as a new project about five years ago. This addition led to an increase in membership not only in her own club but also in the county program and among exhibitors at the local fair.
She helped design expressive arts programs that introduced members to sewing and textiles as part of the Sewing Starters program three years ago, and she assisted in establishing and facilitating the embryology program in various school districts throughout the county.
In addition to her 4-H program contributions, Shea has impacted the wider community. She serves on the local fair board as the website and social media manager, works in the livestock office, and participates on the rabbit and poultry committees. To raise funds for the fairgrounds and a new arena, she planned a farm-to-table dinner.
Shea is the treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association and exhibits rabbits nationally. She also hosted and facilitated an American Rabbit Breeders Association rabbit show in the county.
Weller cited Shea's facilitation of the "Backyard Bunnies" show, which was a major local event. She noted that Shea guided 4-H members in the planning, preparation, and operation of this show. The youth members helped with the advertising, registration, set up, show records, clean up, and management of the show for five years.
"This helped the youth learn leadership skills, event management and record-keeping," Weller said. "From the first show to the last, the members were able to take the reins and knew what needed to be done to make the show happen."
Weller pointed out that through Shea's leadership, 4-H alumni have returned as volunteers. "Her dedication to the program and the youth have proven to be a great help in the succession of her club and the program," Weller said.
As a welcoming and inclusive leader, Shea listens to and values the voice of each 4-H member, Weller noted.
In her spare time, Shea said she enjoys sewing and researching her family's history.
"Kathy is a true lifelong learner," Weller said. "She is totally invested in the 4-H program. When opportunities arise for professional development, she participates. I have witnessed her ability to understand the points of view of others, be engaged in communication, and encourage others to be active in opportunities. She is a true cheerleader for her youth, the club, and the program."
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension 4-H website
