New Forest County educator wants to revitalize 4-H program

Forest County has a new 4-H educator who has plans to revitalize the 4-H program in Forest County.

Justin Heasley began his job at the Penn State Extension in Tionesta on Sept. 1, about a year after longtime 4-H educator Jennifer Grooms moved on to another job.

Heasley said 4-H isn’t just about farming but also focuses on leadership skills, civic engagement and developing a good work ethic.

Heasley said his mission is to get the 4-H clubs in Forest County restarted after a hiatus due to COVID and also to let the students participating in 4-H know about state and national 4-H programs that are available.

Several 4-H clubs that had been active in Forest County were sewing and shooting, Heasley said. He said he is glad to be “back home” in a community he really likes.

“There is a project for anything and if there is not, we can make one,” Heasley said of 4-H.

While growing up on a farm in the southern part of Clarion County, Heasley said he participated in 4-H for 10 years. He showed beef and goats and participated in 4-H wildlife and robotics.

Later, Heasley worked as an intern at the Clarion County 4-H office.

He said this experience “grew his love of 4-H” and showed him the many ways it benefits the community.

After working in the Penn State Extension office in Dauphin County for several months, Heasley said he decided to come back home to northwest Pennsylvania.

Heasley, who got his bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Penn State, is currently working on a master’s degree in agricultural education.

 

For more local news, visit TheClarionNews.com.