Current Role: Jessica is a full time 4-H Educator and with that title comes a wide variety of projects. Jessica is often running animal science programs but also goes into schools in Essex County and does nutrition education, and summer programming. Her programming doesn't stop there though, she also works with STEM in some of her programming, attending trips across the state with 4-H youth, holding clinics, helping new clubs get started and she helps current clubs wherever they may need her, and more! Along with her position here in the Essex County office, Jessica, also has her role as the NYS 4-H Horse Events Coordinator. With this role she works with horse communications, judging, hippology, and horse bowl state events each year, and is on the HEAC (horse educational committee). Jessica is also a part of the NYS 4-H Animal Crackers program that is held every May at Cornell.
Background: Jessica grew up in the Essex County 4-H program and was in 4-H for 10 years. She was and still is a HORSE LOVER! But after aging out of 4-H, she attended SUNY Morrisville, where she received her Bachelors in Agricultural Business. During her time at Morrisville she was on the western riding team for the college and she began taking a livestock class where she got hands on learning in the livestock barn and the dairy facility. While working in livestock barn she was able to gain experience with dairy, beef, poultry, swine, sheep and lambing, along with rabbits. This helped shaped her into an even better animal person. Upon graduation from Morrisville, Jessica, completed a 12 week internship with Essex County 4-H, and knew after that summer that she wanted to work with 4-H. She worked for 1.5 years in Madison county as a 4-H Educator and that is how she began working with the state horse program. Once the position opened up here in her hometown, she applied and was able to move back home! Jessica is still a horse lover, and still has her horse Galaxy who will be 19 this year. Along with her horse though she has a mini named Meatball who is for her daughter Hunter, and she has 50 egg laying chickens, and goats. Her and her husband, Chad, have bought a home in Lewis and are working on starting their own small farm. Their goals are to have beef cows, more chickens, sheep and goats. They are excited to raise their two children right here where Jessica grew up and around the animals that the two of them love!
