Cows At The Courthouse: New Centre Dairy 4-H Club Celebrates 92nd Anniversary In Somerset

Press release from Somerset County 4H

SOMERSET, NJ — On Wednesday, June 15th, New Centre Dairy 4-H Club celebrated its 92nd anniversary. Interesting fact: in 1919 the first Somerset County 4-H Dairy Show was held on the Somerset County Courthouse Lawn, right after a pandemic. Just over 100 years later, the club celebrated after another pandemic, in the very same spot.

In the 1900s calf clubs were started as a way for local farmers to help their children learn the various aspects of cattle farming and to build a collaborative community.

In 1930 the New Centre Dairy 4-H Club was started in Hillsborough Township around New Centre Road. Many of the roads in Hillsborough are named after the original charter members: Blanch Davis, William Davis, John DeHart, John Everett, Wilbur Everett, Preston Quick Jr., Jellife TenEyke, Eileen Veghte, Mike Wengryn, and Walt Wyckoff.

Each September, youth are able to join Somerset County 4-H during the annual “Open House.” During New Centre Dairy monthly meetings and workshops, members learn how to identify breeds and select quality dairy animals.

They also learn the best practices for animal care and management, fitting and showing and how to promote the use of dairy products. Life skills such as decision making, running a meeting and self-responsibility are all a part of the various aspects learned as well as improving their knowledge in general sciences and technology.

This year, club alumni and local officials spoke on the history of the club and the county agricultural industry, and the importance of the dairy business with current food scarcity issues. In the 1950s, there were more cows in Somerset County than residents, but now there is only one dairy farm left in the county: Middlebush Farm.

Speakers on this anniversary included club members Cait O’Sullivan, Molly Magner, and Jacquilin Kirby, past alumni Meredith Quick and Matt Puskas, Somerset County Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Agent and Division Head Lisa Rothenburger, New Jersey 4-H Program Director Rachel Everett Lyons, County Agricultural Development Board representatives Kate Katzner and Mark Kirby, County Commissioners Melonie Marano and Paul Drake, New Jersey Assemblyman Roy Freiman, and 4-H Association President Ed Staats.

Come continue the celebration at the Somerset County 4-H Fair August 10, 11 and 12 to be held at the 4-H Fairgrounds on Milltown Road, Bridgewater.