April Hall Barczewski

I began my career with the University of Maryland Extension in May, 2000 as the Faculty Extension Assistant for 4-H and Livestock in Cecil County. In July 2006, I was hired as the Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development. I attended the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated with a degree in Animal Science in 1999. While working full time, I received a Master’s degree in Education in Applied Educational Technology from Wilmington University in Delaware in May, 2005. To enhance my leadership abilities, agricultural knowledge and networking, I participated for 2 years in the LEAD Maryland Agriculture Leadership Program from 2005-2006.

As a third-generation 4-H member, I am truly appreciative of the impacts that the 4-H program has had on my personal life. I was raised on my family’s dairy and grain farm in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland where I was an eleven-year member of the 4-H program. After becoming a 4-H alumna in 1997, I signed on to become a University of Maryland Extension volunteer. As a 4-H member I was afforded many opportunities. I credit the 4-H program along with the support of my committed family and agriculture upbringing for developing me into the person that I am today. I hope to create the lasting impact that I experienced for all of my Cecil County 4-H youth participants.

As a 4-H educator, I enjoy teaching youth, UME Volunteers, and adult professionals who work with youth. The subject expertise areas that I teach include: Agriculture; Animal Science especially relating to dairy cattle; Science; Volunteer Development; Leadership Development; Community Development and Life Skills Development. In addition, I am knowledgeable about a wide variety of youth development topics ranging from the ages and stages of youth development, experiential learning and teaching methods, risk management when working with youth, conflict resolution and dealing with difficult behaviors, to name a few.