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Posts Tagged: 4-H

$5,000 matching campaign for Forever 4-H Endowment in Santa Barbara County ends on Dec. 4

Penny Wrought, 4-H Playa Del Sur member, feeds pumpkin to herd sire, Corn Nut. Photo courtesy of Ana Torres.

The 4-H Youth Development Program in Santa Barbara County believes that true leaders are not born, they're grown. With the support of its generous donors, strong volunteer base, and community support, the 4-H Program in Santa Barbara County successfully equips and empowers young leaders to develop essential leadership skills; build confidence and skills in healthy living, science, technology, engineering and math; and explore college and career pathways.

Recognizing its significant impact in the community, the Edwin and Jeanne Woods Foundation committed a $5,000 matching incentive to the Forever 4-H Endowment of Santa Barbara County. As longtime supporters of 4-H, the Edwin and Jeanne Woods Foundation believes in the program's mission and vision to engage youth in reaching their fullest potential while providing meaningful opportunities for all youth and adults to learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change.

“I was able to learn more about how I can improve myself in order to help improve my community. From becoming more confident in my knowledge and abilities to my ability to connect with people of all ages,” said a 4-H youth participant regarding their overall experience in the program.

4-H Club based projects focus on animal science, career and leadership, civic engagement, healthy living and nutrition, outdoor education, and STEM. Currently there are twelve 4-H community clubs located throughout Santa Barbara County in Carpinteria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Solvang. In addition, there are five school-based clubs at elementary schools located in Santa Maria with a focus on leadership in health and nutrition.

Established in June 2019, the Santa Barbara County Forever 4-H Endowment's market value as of October 31, 2024, was $242,265. The payout from this endowment will provide a sustainable revenue source contributing to the program's continued efforts in providing hands-on learning and leadership opportunities, and empowering youth to excel academically, socially, and personally well into the future.

Consider doubling your impact with a gift to the Santa Barbara County Forever 4-H Endowment during this year's Giving Tuesday Campaign, Dec. 3 by making a donation at the link found here https://give4h.ucanr.edu/forms/SantaBarbara-4H.

Posted on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 9:41 AM
Tags: 4-H (11), education (2), giving (1), leadership (2), November 2024 (12), Playa del Sur (1), Santa Barbara (1), youth (3)
Focus Area Tags: 4-H

UC ANR identifies its priority areas in new Strategic Vision 2040

Document includes refreshed vision and mission, outlines challenges where UC ANR can make impact

Vice President Glenda Humiston and the Strategic Visioning Committee are pleased to announce the release of the UC ANR Strategic Vision 2040, which will guide our work, structure and resource allocation to optimize and align our research, programs and partnerships over the next 15 years.

The UC ANR Strategic Vision 2040 represents a blueprint for UC ANR over the next 15 years.

The document is the result of a 15-month process, during which the committee synthesized thousands of comments and feedback from hundreds of UC ANR employees and community members, including agency staff, elected officials, nonprofit groups, California Tribes, industry partners, farmers and producers.

“The Strategic Vision 2040 represents a reaffirmation of UC ANR's commitment to serve as a catalyst for positive change – cultivating, co-creating and sharing science-based solutions on a wide range of issues,” Humiston said. “I want to personally thank the Strategic Visioning Committee and everyone who contributed to creating this truly grassroots document that shows where we can make a real difference for our state, nation and world.”

The visioning process produced a refreshed vision and mission for UC ANR:

Our Vision: UC ANR will be valued in every California community for meaningful engagement and making a positive impact in people's lives.

Our Mission: UC ANR cultivates thriving communities, sustainable agriculture, resilient ecosystems, and economic prosperity in California through development and sharing of equitable and collaborative science-based solutions that have national and global impact.

This diagram shows the three core areas with four other challenges overarching that research and extension work.

In addition, the extensive community input helped the committee identify seven distinct California challenges as priority areas in which UC ANR can make a significant impact.

On top of our core areas of Agriculture and Food Systems, Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes, and Thriving People and Communities, the Strategic Vision 2040 document lists four issues that overarch all our research and extension work: Climate Change; Innovation; Regulations, Policy and Compliance; and Systemic Inequities.

A team gathered Oct. 30-31 in Davis to kick off a process that will operationalize the Strategic Vision 2040.

The Strategic Vision 2040 document is not intended to be a full strategic plan. This week, a new committee kicked off a series of meetings to develop UC ANR's 2025-2030 Strategic Framework with specific goals, objectives, metrics and deliverables designed to operationalize the Vision.

Posted on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Focus Area Tags: 4-H, Agriculture, Economic Development, Environment, Family, Food, Health, Innovation, Natural Resources, Pest Management, Yard & Garden

California counties ‘go green’ for 4-H Week

Kim Holmes and Saoi Sope attended the National 4-H Week proclamation event in San Diego.

In August, California House Resolution 119, authored by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, recognized Oct. 6-12 as National 4-H Week. That kicked off a series of recognitions throughout the state, from Tehama to San Diego counties, as various Boards of Supervisors took a few moments to celebrate local UCCE 4-H programs.

During board meetings, supervisors provided an opportunity for 4-H youth to practice their public speaking skills as they accepted the proclamations on behalf of their county clubs. Dressed in their 4-H whites, honorees of all ages talked about what 4-H meant to them. One 4-H member representing Kings County referred to 4-H as “cool.”

Overwhelmingly, they spoke positively of 4-H camp, archery, livestock and baking projects – as well as how 4-H helped them to build community and lasting friendships.

UCANR and California 4-H are grateful for the board members and county staff who took time out to recognize 4-H youth and the program that means so much to them.

In San Diego County, the County Administration Center was lit in 4-H's iconic green color. Photo by Rebecca Manzo

San Diego County also “went green” for National 4-H Week with a proclamation and lighting ceremony on Oct. 8. Kimberly Sinclair Holmes, the new statewide director of California 4-H, attended the event. At sunset on Oct. 8, the County Administration Center was lit in the program's iconic green color, symbolizing the organization's century-long commitment to youth development in San Diego County.

Several 4-H members wrote thank-you notes to their elected officials for the recognition.

Below are audio and video files of 4-H members meeting with their local Boards of Supervisors.

Glenn County, Sept. 24

See 18:09 – 31:16 at https://glenncounty.granicus.com/player/clip/2369?view_id=9&redirect=true.

4-H in Glenn County

Marin County, Sept. 24

See 1:26-1:30 at https://marin.granicus.com/player/clip/12349?view_id=33&caption_id=5886086&redirect=true.

4-H in Marin County

Mariposa County, Oct. 1

See 7:00-7:32 at https://mariposacoca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/540/media.

Lake County, Oct. 1

See 22:00 to 35:00 at https://lakecounty.granicus.com/player/clip/744?view_id=1&redirect=true

4-H Lake County

Tuolumne County, Oct. 1

See 32:54 to 52.08 at https://tuolumneco.granicus.com/player/clip/862?view_id=5&redirect=true.

4-H in Tuolumne County

Mendocino County, Oct. 8

See 28.49-34:45 at https://www.youtube.com/live/8YqolPFYpRk?si=1VFaWpEuxYbax-h6.

4-H in Mendocino County

Butte County, Oct. 8

See 4:55 at https://www.buttecounty.net/2004/Board-of-Supervisors-Meeting-Information.

4-H in Butte County

Kings County, Oct. 8

See 34:50 to 41:00 at https://www.youtube.com/live/IbVTeDXRWF8.

4-H in Kings County

Monterey County, Oct. 8

See 16:20 at https://monterey.granicus.com/player/clip/5614?view_id=21&redirect=true.

4-H in Monterey County

San Diego County, Oct. 8

See 9:22-9:29 at https://sdcounty.granicus.com/player/event/2075?view_id=9&redirect=true.

4-H in San Diego County

Sonoma County, Oct. 8

See 4:59 at https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1578.

4-H in Sonoma County

Tehama County, Oct. 8

See 1:26 to 1:34 at https://tehamacounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

4-H in Tehama County
 
Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 12:50 PM
  • Author: Sheron Violini
Tags: 4-H (11), October 2024 (20)

Farm Bureau of Ventura County Invests in our Youth and the UC 4-H Youth Development Program

4-H Youth in Ventura County engage in learning during a farm field trip. Photo courtesy of Annemiek Schilder.

When 4-H in Ventura County sought to raise funds that would help it meet the needs of local youth now and in the future, the community responded with tremendous generosity.

A national youth development organization, 4-H aims to empower young people with leadership skills for personal and professional growth. In California, the 4-H program falls under the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources umbrella and is administered through local UC Cooperative Extension offices based in counties across the state.

In May 2023, the Ventura 4-H Volunteer Management Board established the Forever 4-H Ventura County Endowment to ensure sustained financial support for future Ventura County 4-H youth.

Recognizing the value of long-term financial sustainability for 4-H, the Ventura County Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture organized a donation drive to grow the endowment. By July 2024, their members and supporters had donated over $30,000 in support of Ventura County 4-H youth.

“With deep gratitude, the UC 4-H Youth Development program in Ventura County would like to thank every individual and organization for their generosity,” said Shannon Klisch, UC Cooperative Extension Area Director for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

“A special thank you to our partners at the Farm Bureau of Ventura County for their leadership in raising over $30,000 to support 4-H youth. We know that 4-H youth are more likely to be civically engaged and make healthy choices than their peers and the difference that 4-H can make is in large part due to the supporters and donors that make programming possible," she added.

Funds from the endowment will support general 4-H operations and new programming for youth in 4-H which may include establishing a 4-H camp in Ventura County, increasing programming for youth at the Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and providing youth with opportunities to develop leadership and life skills.

To learn more about the Forever 4-H Endowment Fund, visit: https://ucanr.edu/sites/4hfoundation/Forever_4-H/

To learn more about 4-H in Ventura County, visit: https://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Families_-_Communities/

Editor's note: The month of donations last received has been updated and program plans for the funds have also been specified in the last paragraph.

Posted on Monday, August 12, 2024 at 2:01 PM
Tags: 4-H (11), August 2024 (11), donation (1), donor (1), endowment (1), Farm Bureau (1), Ventura County (1), youth (3)
Focus Area Tags: 4-H, Economic Development, Family

Youth development advisors launch blog to share ideas

4-H members give project reports at their community club meeting. Marianne Bird writes about the 4-H club experience in a new blog.

4-H youth development advisors JoLynn Miller, Nicole Marshall-Wheeler, Marianne Bird and fellow 4-H colleagues have started a new blog titled “Youth Development Insights” to share ideas, strategies and research from the field of positive youth development.

Bird wrote about the 4-H club experience: “What is the Club experience about?  It's about independence and discovering who you are. It's about decision making and planning and recognizing the importance of following through on commitments.” 

Public speaking is a skill 4-H club members will exercise frequently. In a recent blog post, Marshall-Wheeler shares tips for building youths' public speaking confidence.

Check out “Youth Development Insights” and subscribe at https://ucanr.edu/blogs/YouthDevelopmentInsights.

To see the latest on all ANR blogs, visit https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/blogroll.cfm or click on “Blogroll” in the ANR portal.

Posted on Friday, February 24, 2023 at 4:35 PM

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