NORTHFIELD — As students head back to area schools sporting the latest fashion accessories, one local teen recently returned from New York City where she got a first-hand look at the fashion industry, including a meet-and-greet with famed designer Tommy Hilfiger.

Sylvia Romero, 14, of Northfield accompanied a group of 4-H youth and adult leaders from around the state for a trip to the Big Apple in mid-August.

The four-day trip included seminars at the Fashion Institute of Technology, visits to various businesses connected to the fashion industry and a little sightseeing in the big city.

"We got to meet Tommy Hilfiger and I had my picture taken with him; it was cool," said Romero, who added that she was excited to meet the designer.

"We went to a place where they made different types of material, unique material. It was very interesting," Romero said.

Romero said the group also got a tour of the office of fashion magazine "Essence," where they learned how such a publication is put together.

She decided to go on the trip because it sounded interesting and she wanted to learn more about an industry she doesn't know much about, adding that she does have some interest in fashion, though she wouldn't categorize it as her top interest.

A member of a local 4-H club with 10 members, Romero said members have made their own clothing in the past, including a shirt, a pair of pants and a skirt.

Romero said she's been to New York City twice before but she got to see some sites she hadn't before, including the Broadway production of "The Lion King."

Becky Levesque, a 4-H youth development coordinator for the University of New Hampshire's Belknap County Cooperative Extension, said that every year 4-H plans a trip centered around a different industry.

"In New York City the teens looked at fashion from many different viewpoints and learned more about the industry than they ever knew existed," Levesque said in a release about the trip.

She added that she did not go on this trip but has in the past. She said Romero was the only youth to attend from Belknap County; however she added that the trip was well-attended, with youths representing eight of New Hampshire's 10 counties.

Levesque said two other local 4-H youths recently spent four days at the University of New Hampshire learning about agricultural technology during the Northeast Youth and Adult Forum held there at the end of July. The forum allowed 4-H teams from around the region to learn about various aspects of land, sea or air science and technology.

The University of New Hampshire is one of only 13 universities in the country to hold land, sea and air grants.

Levesque said the team from Belknap County — Megan Guarino of Gilmanton, Ben Dadian of Laconia, and adult advisor Sandra Guarino — took a master gardening program and will bring what they learned back to share with other 4-H members in the county.

"They came back with a commitment to put a garden in at the 4-H fairgrounds," Levesque said.

She said all the teams that attended the forum will bring what they learned, whether it was about windmill technology, marine biology or robotics, back to their respective 4-H clubs to share.

"It's a great way for people to realize that 4-H is deeply interested in science and technology," Levesque said.

Levesque said Belknap County currently has 200 4-H youth members and 100 adult leaders, involved in 27 4-H clubs.

For more information on 4-H programs in your county, call the State 4-H Office at 603-862-2180.