04/24/2026
Congratulations Bianca! So grateful to have you as part of our school community and for the incredible work you do to support our students!
Day six of National Volunteer Week is for our Friends of 4-H Award. This award celebrates community partners who help expand opportunities for youth and strengthen the impact of our programs.
This year’s recipient is Bianca Fernandez. Bianca is a social worker at Brattleboro Union High School and a key partner in the OH-YEA Empowering Youth Agriculture grant. She has an incredible ability to take creative ideas and turn them into real, meaningful opportunities for young people.
One of the most exciting examples of her work is the CAVE Kitchen and Garden—Culinary Agricultural Vocational Education. It’s a student-run café and learning space where youth gain hands-on experience in agriculture, cooking, and customer service, all while being part of a supportive and therapeutic environment.
Through the Daily Bear café, students are not only learning valuable life and job skills, they’re also serving their community with fresh, local food. And just as importantly, Bianca has helped create a space where all youth especially neurodivergent students can build confidence, feel supported, and truly thrive.
Bianca’s creativity, leadership, and commitment to youth make her an incredible partner, and we are so grateful for all she brings to 4-H. UVM Extension UVM CALS Windsor & Windham County 4-H - Vermont