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Cape May Court House – Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of 4-H Mission Mini Grants! The Cape May County 4-H Program Advisory Council (PAC) announced the recipients of the grants, awarded to 4-H clubs for educational projects, at their meeting on February 18, 2026. The four Cape May County 4-H clubs receiving grants this year are Kitchen Phanatics, Scales and Tails, Star Hollow Riders, and Tightlines.
The Kitchen Phanatics 4-H Cooking Club has been hurt by the rising cost of food over the past few years and is currently on hiatus. The club will use their grant to help rejuvenate the club’s account and to purchase supplies for their fundraising booth at the upcoming 4-H Fair.
Scales and Tails 4-H Herpetology Club will use their award to visit the Quarry at the Edleman Fossil Park in Mantua, NJ. Members will have the opportunity to unearth real fossils from 66 million years ago where over 100,000 fossils, including mosasaurs, sea turtles, and shark teeth, have been found. The 75-minute program will include 45 minutes of hands-on digging, where the kids will get to take home up to three fossils each.
Star Hollow Riders is a 4-H Club dedicated to teaching their 15 members youth horsemanship, responsibility, sportsmanship, and leadership through hands-on equine education. The club will use their grant to support an educational field trip to the Devon Horse Show Grand Prix in Devon, PA. The money will ensure that all youth can attend, regardless of their financial circumstances.
The Tightlines Fishing 4-H Club will be purchasing supplies for members to learn how to make bucktails and lures and for a fishing trip for them to learn how to use them when fishing. The items made will also be on display at the 4-H Fair.
Linda Horner, Cape May County 4-H Program Coordinator, said, “The Mission Mini Grant Program helps our volunteer leaders to provide “hands-on” educational experiences for the benefit of our 4-H youth members. We greatly appreciate the efforts of our 4-H volunteers, both our club leaders and our Program Advisory Council members.”
The Program Advisory Council raises funds for these grants and other 4-H educational needs through fundraising projects and proceeds from the 4-H refreshment booth at the annual Cape May County 4-H Fair. This year’s 4-H Fair will take place on July 16, 17, and 18 at the 4-H fairgrounds, 355 Courthouse-So. Dennis Road, CMCH, NJ.
To learn more about the 4-H Youth Development Program in Cape May County and our upcoming 4-H Fair, call 609-465-5115, ext. 3605, like us on Facebook at Cape May 4-H, Instagram at cape_may_4h or visit https://capemay.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
PAC Treasurer Gayle Crookston presents a Mission Mini Grant to Tightlines’ Leader Allen Stokes and members of the Tightlines 4-H Fishing Club on February 18, 2026
PAC Treasurer Gayle Crookston presents a Mission Mini Grant check to Kitchen Phanatics 4-H Club Leader Louis McAtee.
PAC Treasurer Gayle Crookston presents a Mission Mini Grant check to Scales and Tail club members Bella Garrett and Pavan Vaneman, along with Club Leaders Louis McAtee and Stephanie Hoover at the PAC Meeting.
PAC Treasurer Gayle Crookston presents a check to Logan Mathis, member of the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Horse Club at the PAC Meeting, February 18, 2026.