Joe Major Sunny Rock 4-H Endowment Fund

The Sunny Rock 4-H Club perfectly demonstrates the 4-H motto “learn by doing.” Led by Joe Major for nearly 40 years, Sunny Rock is supported by its own endowment, the Joe Major Sunny Rock 4-H Fund. This fund aims to preserve and maintain the unique qualities of Sunny Rock for future generations, in perpetuity.

Located at Wards Berry Farm in Sharon, a local institution, Sunny Rock includes a barn complex with livestock — from rabbits and chickens to goats, sheep, cows, and horses. 4-H youth actively care for the animals – feeding, watering, cleaning – as well as walking and playing with them, and grooming them for shows. Veterinarians work with the program, and experienced 4-H volunteers teach and mentor youth. 

Joe Major brings dedicated leadership to Sunny Rock. He has been a mentor to hundreds of youth since founding the club nearly 40 years ago and has touched the lives of thousands more. In 2017, he received the National Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime 4-H Volunteer Award. He is the first leader in Massachusetts to receive this prestigious award. 

The value of the Sunny Rock experience has touched many lives. One club alum stated, “I can talk to people now. Joe and 4-H gave me that boost, that confidence to talk to strangers.” 

Similarly, Amanda Baier attributes much of her compassion to her eight years of experiences at Sunny Rock. “Simply put, the Sunny Rock 4-H experience provided me with perspective, tenacity, confidence, and life skills that I didn’t learn anywhere else. My hope is that the Joe Major Sunny Rock 4-H Fund will offer these same gifts to children and their families for a long time to come.” She now “pays it forward” by serving on the Committee for the Joe Major Sunny Rock 4-H Fund.

To learn more about the Sunny Rock 4-H Fund, contact Laurie Flanagan, Executive Director at Massachusetts 4-H Foundation, at (508) 881-1244 or lflanagan@mass4hfoundation.org. To donate, visit https://mass4hfoundation.networkforgood.com/
To donate, click Donate Now and under "Apply My Donation To", select the "Joe Major Sunny Rock 4-H Fund" .