Lynn Wahlstrom is pictured with her Icelandic sheepdogs and golden retriever. Submitted photo

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County has hired Lynne Wahlstrom as a temporary 4-H youth development educator.

Wahlstrom was previously involved with the Chautauqua County 4-H Program as both a 10-year member and later as an adult volunteer before moving to Indiana to pursue a career with Purdue Extension as a 4-H youth development educator.

She attributes much of her success today to the Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development Program. Competing in public presentations made her comfortable speaking in front of a crowd, a skill that many fear. Learning to keep financial records for her livestock taught her how to budget and handle money responsibly. Committing to a program, meeting the requirements of the program, and being responsible for her successes while learning from her failures demonstrated to future employers that she was responsible and could be relied upon.

Wahlstrom said she continues to use the knowledge she gained to pursue her hobbies. A lifelong lover of creatures, she ran a livestock farm that was home to horses, goats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, and guineas, many of which moved back to New York with her. She also trains and shows dogs, makes and sells goat milk soaps, and makes treats with her more than 30 year old sourdough starter, all hobbies she learned in the Chautauqua County 4-H program.