Local 4-H teens visit Austria

MILLBROOK — How do farms in Austria compare to farms in Millbrook? Seven members of the local 4-H Club got a chance to find out when they, along with two chaperons, visited that country from March 22 to March 30, in the trip of a lifetime. The 4-H Club is a part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County’s (CCEDC) programming. 

The seven girls who went, 4-H Teen Ambassadors, were Sarah Carver, Sarah Cole, Hannah Malafy, Annette Prezzano, Lin Rao, Faith Schultz and Cosette Veeder-Shave. Cassandra Messina, who was affiliated with CCEDC as the 4-H education coordinator, chaperoned the girls along with volunteer Cheryl Starace. Starace has lived in Austria, and was a great resource for the group. 

“The trip was a fabulous experience for all involved”, said Messina. “From being able to empower the group to work both independently and collaboratively, to raise funds and garner community support through presentations, to connecting abroad with the most amazing community, the whole process from start to finish was something that they will never forget.

“I’m thankful to have been a part of it and hope to continue to be able to offer similar experiences to our county’s youth in the near future,” she added. “I’m also very grateful to have been able to work with such a positive and forward thinking co-chaperone as Cheryl was, as it would not have been possible without her help.”

In talking with trip participant Faith, 15, a student at Millbrook High School, it was obvious that while the trip was fun, it also helped the teens understand farming is universal, and many of the problems farmers face here in the States are echoed in other farms around the world.

“I absolutely loved going to Austria,” said Faith. “It was such an amazing experience being able to see someone else’s culture, agriculture, foods, clothing — to hear their language and be in their everyday life and compare it to our own.”

Asked about the treatment of animals in Austria, Faith thought for a moment, 

“The love and care of the animals is very similar to our own, however, they don’t treat the animals yearly with vaccines, they do it on an as-needed basis.”

Faith knows something about animals, through Daisy Hill Farm Nubian Goats in Millbrook. She also has several goats of her own. The 4-Her enjoyed meeting other young students at two schools and at several working farms in Bad Schonau, and at the Landwirtschaftliche Fachhule Warth (agriculture school).

Some of the problems that Austrian farmers have similar to those of farmers here are low milk prices and the care of the animals, which can be controversial.

The girls also learned that education is different in Austria. Children go from elementary school to trade schools, which teach dairy farming, bee keeping, hospitality, carpentry, mechanics, butchery and cheese-making. Many children live away from home while they are at trade school.

The Millbrook 4-H Club found the Austrian people to be hardworking people who take great pride in their work and products. They were hospitable and friendly. 

The teens are proud of the work they do in 4-H, and the trip was the culmination of hard work, planning and fundraising. The girls raised more than $40,000 for the trip, and are grateful to the more than 70 sponsors who helped make it possible.

Along with a trip to Vienna, visiting the Spanish Riding School and going to Graz, they will long remember the hikes through Austrian hills, the traditional Austrian cooking, as well as the challenges of learning a different currency and  communicating with people who speak a different language.

Jane Rodd, 4-H youth development leader, stated, “To accomplish great things it takes vision and hard work. Cassie demonstrated an inexhaustible supply of both as she motivated the Dutchess County 4-H Teen Ambassadors to take on this ambitious project. With help from a host of volunteers, and support from numerous individuals and businesses across Dutchess County, the success of this life-changing trip speaks for itself.”