- Author: Matthew Rodriguez
Overview
Recently I [Matt] had a chance to interview 4-H youth member Ava who is also this year's 4-H club president for Meadowlarks in Nevada County. The following are Ava's responses to my questions.
About Ava
[Matt] What is your current role in the 4-H program? Describe your involvement and any leadership responsibilities you have.
[Ava] My name is Ava and my current role in 4-H is being the Meadowlarks President. I am also the Junior Leader for the Meadowlarks Pygmy Goat project. I am very involved in 4-H and love being apart of this amazing community we have built. One of my favorite parts of 4-H is seeing everyone grow around me.
About Ava's Spark
[Matt] What is your “spark”?
[Ava] My spark is helping other people.
Ava's 4-H Accomplishments
[Matt] As a 4-H'er, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?
[Ava] As a 4-H'er, my proudest accomplishment is being the showmen with the Grand Champion Doe and Best Weather at our Nevada County Fair. I love my goats and showing them is a passion of mine and it feels good to get a huge reward for lots of time and effort.
Looking to the Future
[Matt] Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
[Ava] In the next three years I see myself growing in 4-H.
Advice for 4-H Members
[Matt] What advice would you give other 4-H youth members?
[Ava] A piece of advice I would give other members is to find a project you are passionate about.
Impact of 4-H Volunteers on Ava's Life
[Matt] What impact have 4-H volunteers made in your life?
[Ava] 4-H volunteers have helped guide me to projects that have helped me learn life lessons.
About the 4-H Program
To learn more about the 4-H program in Nevada County, please check out our website.
- Author: Matthew Rodriguez
Overview
Recently I [Matt] had a chance to interview 4-H youth member Jonathan who is also this year's 4-H county ambassador and club president for Kentucky Flat in Nevada County. The following are Jonathan's responses to my questions.
About Jonathan
[Matt] What is your current role in the 4-H program? Describe your involvement and any leadership responsibilities you have.
[Jonathan] Currently, I am the president of the Kentucky Flat 4-H club, as well as a newly appointed Ambassador for Nevada County 4-H. Within 4-H, I am a teen leader for the Swine Group for Kentucky flat 4-H, teen leader for the county 4-H sports shooting project, as well as project mentor for new club members and exhibitors.
About Jonathan's Spark
[Matt] What is your “spark”?
[Jonathan] My 4-H “spark” has always been to help the youth of Nevada County find their own “spark's” and excitement in raising their livestock and preparing their animals for showmanship and market. The relationships I have gained have made my “spark” worth the hours I've spent.
Jonathan's 4-H Accomplishments
[Matt] As a 4-H'er, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?
[Jonathan] Of course being chosen as a county Ambassador has been a true accomplishment, but deep down, knowing I am one of many that made it through 2020 with an animal prepared for fair regardless of the global circumstances, felt pretty good.
Looking to the Future
[Matt] Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
[Jonathan] I have always seen myself entering the military, however, in recent years, I have found a true passion in agricultural science. But to be honest, I can also see myself becoming a pilot some day. The future has a lot of possibility.
Advice for 4-H Members
[Matt] What advice would you give other 4-H youth members?
[Jonathan] Always pursue even what's hard. There is always something to learn, even when we fail.
Impact of 4-H Volunteers on Jonathan's Life
[Matt] What impact have 4-H volunteers made in your life?
[Jonathan] Leadership from the right person, with the right motives can make or break a youth member. I value the strong leadership I have seen in several aspects of projects, including Sports Shooting, and the tremendous effort my mom has put into 4-H across the county.
About the 4-H Program
To learn more about the 4-H program in Nevada County, please check out our website.
- Author: Matthew Rodriguez
Overview
Recently I [Matt] had a chance to interview 4-H youth member Corea who is also this year's 4-H county ambassador and club president for Dry Creek in Placer County. The following are Corea's responses to my questions.
About Corea
[Matt] What is your current role in the 4-H program? Describe your involvement and any leadership responsibilities you have.
[Corea] This year I was selected to be a Placer County Ambassador. With this title, I represent the county and will help plan all of the events. At the club level, I have been the Dry Creek 4-H club president for four years and a teen leader for five years.
About Corea's Spark
[Matt] What is your “spark”?
[Corea] My spark is public speaking. Through 4-H, I have been able to cultivate this spark through many of my leadership positions and events like Presentation Day.
Corea's 4-H Accomplishments
[Matt] As a 4-H'er, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?
[Corea] As a 4-H'er, one of my proudest accomplishments is being chosen to be a Placer County Ambassador. It was an honor to be selected because now I am able to give back to my county and the program that has helped me thrive and grow over the years. In addition to this, I am proud to be able to help my club while being the club president. By being selected by my club to run community meetings and coordinate social events, I have helped develop a community of strong 4-H'ers.
Looking to the Future
[Matt] Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
[Corea] In the next three years, I hope to see myself at college. I want to pursue a degree in economics in order to expand my skill set and gain a deeper understanding of financial affairs. I hope to continue to work with livestock and continue my passion of agriculture.
Advice for 4-H Members
[Matt] What advice would you give other 4-H youth members?
[Corea] Try it all! I started 4-H with absolutely no background in agriculture or leadership, but throughout my years I have been able to find so many things that spark my interests. I have joined a wide variety of projects and attended as many 4-H events as I can and have been able to cultivate my spark.
Impact of 4-H Volunteers on Corea's Life
[Matt] What impact have 4-H volunteers made in your life?
[Corea] 4-H volunteers have created the supporting and caring environment that is 4-H. Within my club, the volunteers give up so much of their time and resources in order to help other 4-H'ers, including myself, to gain knowledge and have lifelong experiences. I greatly appreciate what they have given to me and the community that surrounds them.
About the 4-H Program
To learn more about the 4-H program in Placer County, please check out our website.
- Author: Matthew Rodriguez
Overview
Recently I [Matt] had a chance to interview 4-H youth member Myah who is also this year's 4-H club president for Ophir in Placer County. The following are Myah's responses to my questions.
About Myah
[Matt] What is your current role in the 4-H program? Describe your involvement and any leadership responsibilities you have.
[Myah] I am currently President of the Ophir Club. I plan and run monthly officer meetings as well as club meetings. I am also Teen Leader of the Ophir Swine Project where I teach project members how to raise and show pigs.
About Myah's Spark
[Matt] What is your “spark”?
[Myah] My spark that I have been able to find, with much help from the 4-H Program, is my love of agriculture and my passion to promote it. Being able to raise animals to produce meat has taught me so much about the importance of meat production and farming. I have been able to find my love for producing quality food for public consumption.
Myah's 4-H Accomplishments
[Matt] As a 4-H'er, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?
[Myah] As a 4-H member, some of my proudest accomplishments have been working with youth members to practice their public speaking skills and watch them gain confidence in their presentation skills. Being a person who was very shy when I started out in 4-H, I have grown a lot in my public speaking skills as a result of the presenting opportunities I have been given throughout my involvement in the program. So it really means a lot to me that I can now help youth members do the same thing that others helped me do when I was just starting out.
Looking to the Future
[Matt] Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
[Myah] In the next three years, I see myself finishing up college and starting a career in the field of Agricultural Business. I also see myself working hard in everything that I do to give my help and support to the 4-H program by volunteering. I also plan to open a business that offers job opportunities to youth and teens looking to learn more about, and be involved in, agriculture.
Advice for 4-H Members
[Matt] What advice would you give other 4-H youth members?
[Myah] A piece of advice that I would give to other 4-H members would be that you should always push yourself. If there is ever something that you want to do one day that you don't feel like you can do now; you need to take steps to bring yourself one step closer to what you dream of doing. 4-H is a program that turns dreams into reality. The opportunities you will receive when you work hard are endless, and if you push yourself to achieve what you desire, you will go very far in life.
Impact of 4-H Volunteers on Myah's Life
[Matt] What impact have 4-H volunteers made in your life?
[Myah] The main impact I have been able to experience as a result of my 4-H [volunteer] leaders has been the growth of my own leadership skills. Being able to watch and learn from leaders that I appreciate and admire has taught me how I want to lead others myself.
About the 4-H Program
To learn more about the 4-H program in Placer County, please check out our website.
- Author: Matthew Rodriguez
Overview
Recently I [Matt] had a chance to interview 4-H youth member Wyatt who is also this year's 4-H club president for Penn Valley in Nevada County. The following are Wyatt's responses to my questions.
About Wyatt
[Matt] What is your current role in the 4-H program? Describe your involvement and any leadership responsibilities you have.
[Wyatt] This year is my fourth year in 4-H, and I am in fifth grade. I'm currently our club's president. I look forward to leading our club in a few community service projects. In particular, I would like to lead my club in making Christmas cards for a nursing and rehab center as well as a canned food drive for our local food bank.
About Wyatt's Spark
[Matt] What is your “spark”?
[Wyatt] My spark is to serve my club and my community as best as I can. I also want to become a commercial pilot when I grow up. Becoming a commercial pilot is my spark because I really like airplanes and love flying. In addition, a couple of friends' dads are pilots and I enjoy their hearing about their experiences flying people.
Wyatt's 4-H Accomplishments
[Matt] As a 4-H'er, what are some of your proudest accomplishments?
[Wyatt] As a 4-H'er, one of my proudest accomplishments was showing my market goat at the 2023 county fair. I received third in my market class and fourth place in novice showmanship. I am proud of this because this was my first year taking an animal to the fair. I'm also proud of the improvements I've made in target shooting a rife at Shooting Sports, and that I built a rocket in rocketry and launched it.
Looking to the Future
[Matt] Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
[Wyatt] In the next three years, I see myself still in 4-H, as an officer, serving my community as well as having an impact on my 4-H club. In particular, I would like to help impact my community with having food drives and finding areas in my community that need help that my club can contribute to. I would like to bring joy to the elderly community by singing with them and delivering cards to them. I would like to impact my club by being a leader and positive example to the younger members and encourage them to keep pursing their goals even when it may get tough.
Advice for 4-H Members
[Matt] What advice would you give other 4-H youth members?
[Wyatt] The advice I would give to other youth 4-H members would be to always follow your goals and dreams no matter what. Also, work hard and never give up, even when tasks get challenging. This advice has helped me get through the hard and challenging days of raising my market goat.
Impact of 4-H Volunteers on Wyatt's Life
[Matt] What impact have 4-H volunteers made in your life?
[Wyatt] 4-H volunteers have made an impact on my life by inspiring me to be persistent in my projects and my everyday life.
About the 4-H Program
To learn more about the 4-H program in Nevada County, please check out our website.
