ROCKWOOD – The Ontario 4-H Council announced earlier this year that Cheryl Sullivan of the Carleton 4-H Association has been elected as the new Ontario 4-H Council president. Sullivan assumed the role of president on May 7 at the Ontario 4-H Council’s virtual annual general meeting. She previously held the role of vice-president and will replace outgoing president Dennis Carnegie.
Sullivan has worn many hats as a 4-H member, volunteer, leader and board member. She was a 4-H member in the Huron 4-H Association for eight years where she participated in many agricultural and homemaking projects and then became a 4-H leader. In 2010, Sullivan began volunteering in the Carleton 4-H Association where she has led the Dairy Club, Field Crops Club and many life skills clubs.
“4-H is an amazing program that has given me so much opportunity as a member and as a leader. This includes opportunities to improve my public speaking, critical thinking skills and parliamentary procedure, as well as the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people across the province and the country. I am honoured to serve the youth in this province, and I offer my commitment to service in the spirit of 4-H and to continue to advocate for the 4-H program,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan has been the Association Representative for the Carleton 4-H Association for six years and has served on the Ontario 4-H Council board of directors for five years, during which time which she has been vice-president for three years.
Outside of 4-H, Sullivan has also volunteered with organizations like the Ottawa Valley Farm Show, Girl Guides, Scouts Canada, Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, Metcalfe Agricultural Society, Osgoode Rideau and Ottawa South United Soccer Association, Metcalfe Minor Hockey Association, Metcalfe Ringette Association, Federated Women’s Institute (WI) of Ontario, Osgoode Township Museum, Osgoode Township High School, Kenmore United Church Women, and the St. James United Church.
She is looking forward to working with the 4-H Ontario executive director, staff and board of directors.
“4-H has a strong, adaptable team behind it, who have a passion and commitment that is evident in their quick actions to initiate online programming, to keep the program on its feet during the past few months,” Sullivan said. “The resiliency, dedication and determination of 4-H volunteers in their willingness to step away from traditional programming delivery to virtual or other alternate means, has been phenomenal. It will be important to keep the lines of communication between volunteers, board and staff open, so we can share ideas, successes and misadventures, as we all continue to ‘Learn to Do by Doing.’”
The Ontario 4-H Council board develops the vision and governance policies for 4-H Ontario.
