By MARIEKE ANDRONACHE

Special to The Press

March 12-18 was Pennsylvania 4-H Week, and Lehigh County Commissioners took the time to recognize Talia Fogel of the Farm to Table Club and Olivia Wisser of the Dairy Club, both 10 graders, for their accomplishments during their March 8 meeting.

Lehigh County 4-H is comprised of 4,000 students, ages 5 to 18, according to Chairman Geoff Brace.

He took time to reminisce about his own days as a 4-H student.

“Back in the ’80s and ’90s, I participated in a 4-H program where I learned some carpentry skills I still use working on my historic home in center city Allentown,” he said.

Fogel, who has been part of the program for five years, addressed the board.

“I’ve learned myriad lessons from 4-H,” Fogel said, focusing on her public speaking skills. “A few years ago, I would probably be shaking up here.

“While I’m still a little nervous, I’m definitely not shaking and I think I owe that to 4-H.”

Wisser also addressed the board.

“I’m a member of the Dairy Club and this is my eighth year,” Wisser said.

“I have learned a lot about the dairy industry.”

In other matters, commissioners passed a bill granting $904,000 of the county’s American Rescue Plan fund to be distributed to 59 nonprofit organizations.

“We were truly humbled by the fact Lehigh County trusted us to manage the grant application process, and just focus on the fact we operated the application portal,” Carmen Bell of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley told the commissioners. “We provided a rubric through which the applications could be vetted and scored.

“We appreciate the trust the county has instilled in us and we appreciate the partnership to bring good things to our community.”

Recipients of the funds included: ArtsQuest with $25,000; Cedar Crest College with $3,000; Community Fire Company of New Tripoli with $25,000; Operation Address Homelessness with $25,000; KidsPeace with $10,000 and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley with $150,000.

A full list of recipients of the COVID Relief Funds under the American Rescue Plan can be found on the county’s website at lehighcounty.org.