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Silver medalist Maddalena reflects on her path from 4-H to Olympics
4-H lessons in discipline, respect, being prepared formed foundation for success in sports, career
Just weeks after winning a silver medal in shooting at the summer Olympics in Paris, France, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Sagen Maddalena returned to her hometown, where her interest in the sport was sparked as a 4-H member. Groveland, nestled at the entrance of Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne County, greeted her with a hero's welcome on Sept. 21, when she served as grand marshal for the Gold Rush town's annual 49er Day parade.
“Have a dream, think of your future, but put action towards it,” the two-time Olympian advised kids when she spoke at local schools. “I had a dream of going to the Olympics. I continued to work toward it and it came to fruition.”
At an early age, the marksman began focusing on details for a competitive edge. A 4-H volunteer recalled a teenage Maddalena declining a soft drink because she worried that it would affect her shooting performance.
Asked about the memory, Maddalena said that sounded right because sugary drinks may increase one's heart rate, diminishing a shooter's concentration, steadiness and accuracy. She enjoys thinking through the conditions, including wind and light, and winning.
From a small town to the medals podium
Maddalena reflected on her path from participating in California 4-H in Tuolumne County – in a town with a population of 540 – to college, a successful career in the Army and the Olympic medals podium. The 4-H Youth Development Program is delivered by UC Cooperative Extension.
While she doesn't recall how old she was, eight or nine, when she joined the Groveland Highlanders 4-H club, the Tuolumne County native vividly remembers the array of activities.
“I was yay tall,” she said, gesturing with her hand, “and I was cooking cakes in baking classes. I remember my instructor, 4-H leader, Mrs. [Carol] Willmon. We had our meetings up here in Groveland, and I learned a lot about, financials, keeping track of your livestock, how much you're feeding 'em, what money is going in, what money's going out.”
She raised animals to show at the Mother Lode Fair in Tuolumne County – goats, sheep, hogs and horses.
“Me and the sheep weren't very good friends,” she said. “I loved goats; goats and hogs were good. And then I also did fair with horses, showmanship and English and Western [riding styles] with horses. I was all over the map with 4-H, but it really taught me how to take care of my animals.”
But it was a 4-H shooting program that changed her life.
Firearm safety central to first experiences with shooting
“I got started with shooting through 4-H,” said Maddalena, explaining that her parents encouraged her to enroll in a shooting program at age 13. “They wanted to me to learn gun safety and being able to handle a firearm safely if I ever came in contact with one. So that's how I started through 4-H. But with the .22 [firearms] program, I just latched on, I loved it. And there was some competition with it. I learned about safe handling of a firearm, and then I got to compete with it and skyrocketed from there.”
From there, Maddalena joined a junior team, then made her way to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Rifle Championships. “That really that opened the doors then to possibly going to the Olympics, representing my country on the world stage,” she said.
To hone her shooting skills and serve her country, Maddalena joined the Army. She qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 2020, competing in Japan during the pandemic, and again in 2024. In Paris, she finished in second place in the women's 50-meter rifle three positions.
“4-H prepared me for the Army really by showing me discipline,” she said. “And it taught me to take care of my equipment or the livestock that I had. So it taught me those life lessons. Discipline, respect and being prepared is what 4-H really brought into my life. Just as a kid, to get that foundation was so important before I moved up and then decided to join the Army.
And then it all came full circle because in the Army it's all about discipline, respect and being prepared.”
Olympian trains soldiers in Army Marksmanship Unit
At 49er Day, youngsters and community members had an opportunity to get some shooting pointers from the silver medalist, who was wearing her Army uniform. For those aspiring to excel in shooting sports, Maddalena, who trains soldiers in marksmanship, had this advice: “Know what's behind your target, have respect for your equipment, go easy on the trigger and always have control of your firearm.”
Maddalena, who has been in the Army for five years, continues to serve as a marksman and an instructor in the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
The secret of success, according to Maddalena, is continuously working toward a goal.
“Have that dream and have that desire,” she said. “But you have to have action towards it. You've got to work toward it. Put in the work to make those dreams come true.”
Maddalena, who is based at Fort Moore in Georgia, continues to hone her skills and aims to compete for gold in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
“I'm thankful for the opportunity that 4-H gave me in such a small town to be able to be involved with the 4-H program; it really just it helped me grow,” Maddalena said. “And I'm very appreciative of that.”
4-H ag tech breakfast to support next generation of leaders, innovators
Event at FIRA USA in Yolo County includes look at agricultural robotics, automation
The FIRA USA ag tech conference, Oct. 22-24 in Woodland, showcases the latest robotics and automation innovations. A special breakfast during the event will support tomorrow's leaders, scientists and engineers who will realize the potential of those technologies.
Proceeds from the breakfast (Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Yolo County Fairgrounds) will benefit higher education scholarships for 4-H youth participants interested in applying technology to a wide array of agricultural practices.
During the breakfast, attendees will hear from 4-H alumni – including Glenda Humiston, University of California vice president for agriculture and natural resources – on the impact of their participation in the program.
As a leading nationwide youth-development organization, 4-H delivers research-based, positive youth development practices through its community-based programs. Youth gain life and work readiness skills through hands-on projects. Studies have shown that youth who engage with 4-H programs are more likely to:
- Achieve academically
- Serve in leadership roles in school and community
- Engage in some form of community service
“4-H clubs, project teams and after-school programs develop skills in areas ranging from animal science to robotics, and from natural resources to coding,” said California 4-H Director Kimberly Sinclair Holmes, who will speak at the breakfast. “Scholarships help ensure those seeds of interest and passion blossom into meaningful careers that contribute to agriculture and society.”
Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at https://bit.ly/4-HFIRAEvent.
The ticket includes all-day access to FIRA USA, touted as “the largest robot playground in the world,” where attendees can get an up-close look at laser weeders, autonomous harvesters, drone applications and a host of other ag tech innovations.
FIRA USA is a collaboration of GOFAR (Global Organization for Agricultural Robotics), Western Growers, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, and The VINE.
San Diego County goes green for National 4-H Week with proclamation, lighting ceremony
National 4-H Week is Oct. 7-12, 2024. To celebrate, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will be recognizing the significant benefits to local youth provided by the UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program in San Diego County with a proclamation on Tuesday, Oct. 8. This recognition will take place at 9 a.m. during the board's meeting at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101.
In California, 4-H is administered through county-based UC Cooperative Extension advisors and educators who provide practical knowledge to people, businesses and communities via science-based research and educational programs. The proclamation not only celebrates 4-H's impact in San Diego County, but also acknowledges the successful partnership between UCCE and the County of San Diego.
As a leading youth-serving organization nationwide, 4-H offers research-based programs that equip young people with life skills, leadership training and community engagement opportunities. It also provides professional development and resources for other youth-serving organizations throughout participating counties, including San Diego.
Liliana Vega, UCCE 4-H youth development advisor for San Diego and Orange counties, envisions her expertise in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion enhancing positive youth development for all, especially Black, indigenous and people of color. Eager to create culturally relevant experiences that resonate with young people, Vega believes that doing so starts with empowering youth-serving professionals with growth opportunities, equipping staff to engage with the community meaningfully and prioritizing diversity.
“By partnering with local organizations, schools and diverse community groups in San Diego, we can elevate the quality and reach of youth programs throughout the county. Together, we can enhance opportunities in STEM, environmental justice, the arts and workforce development for the next generation,” said Vega, while describing the program's collaboration with the YMCA and Girls Inc. in San Diego as excellent examples.
At sunset on Oct. 8, attendees and passersby will witness the County Administration Center lit in the program's iconic green color, symbolizing the organization's century-long commitment to youth development in San Diego County. The proclamation and lighting ceremony are open to the public, and individuals whose lives have been enhanced by 4-H are encouraged to attend.
For more information about UCCE's 4-H program in San Diego County and details on how to get involved, please visit https://ucanr.edu/sites/4HSanDiegoCounty/. You can also contact Rebeca Manzo at remanzo@ucanr.edu or Liliana Vega at live@ucanr.edu.
Youth invited to Mustang Camp in Lassen County June 28-29
UC Cooperative Extension in Modoc County is partnering with Utah State University to offer a mustang camp for California youth ages 9 to 19.
The 4-H Mustang Camp, sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, will be held on June 28-29.
This overnight camp is an opportunity for youth across California to learn about managing public lands, rangelands, wild horses and burros. Mustangs are feral horses that roam freely.
“We realize not everyone can take a wild horse home so we'll take the young people out on the range,” said event organizer Laura Snell, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor for Modoc County.
“Participants will learn about range management, the grasses, habitat, ecosystem and wild horses,” she said.
Youth also will learn about careers with U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service related to wild horse management.
Camp participants will spend the night at a campground and use facilities at the Lassen County Fair Grounds. Registration for the mustang camp is $75 and includes lunch and dinner on June 28 and breakfast and lunch on June 29. Space is limited to 25 youth.
“Our hope is that by participating in this camp these young people will leave understanding and appreciating the uniqueness of our wild horses and burros,” said Snell.
The 4-H Mustang Camp is sponsored by the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program and UC Cooperative Extension in Modoc and Lassen counties. It will be held at Lassen County Fair Grounds at 195 Russell Avenue, Susanville, CA 96130.
Registration for camp is open through June 14. To learn more about the camp or to register, visit https://extension.usu.edu/utah4h/events/mustang-camp.
Colt Challenge on June 22
The public is invited to celebrate the five-year anniversary of the Devils Garden Colt Challenge on June 22 in Alturas in Modoc County. In the Colt Challenge, 4-H and FFA youth in California and in the Oregon border counties of Lake and Klamath take home young, wild horses in December to train, then gather in June to show their horses' progress. Attendance is free.
For more information about the Colt Challenge, visit https://www.devilsgardenucce.org/post/colt-challenge-faq.
Sixth graders advocate for physical activity upgrades at school
Tehama County students empowered by CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE educator and teachers
It's not uncommon for high school or college students to speak up and seek to improve their school environment. But at Evergreen Middle School in Tehama County, more than 100 sixth graders led the way to create healthy changes at their school.
As part of their health classes during the 2022-23 school year, the students researched the availability of spaces for physical activity, developed a survey gauging their peers' health awareness and needs, analyzed the results and data, and made recommendations for improvements.
“We learned that there's not a lot of places – except for Evergreen Middle School and some other parks around [our community of] Cottonwood – that have many physical activity places that you can easily get to or have access to,” said Bailey, one of the students.
They were guided by Mario Monroy-Olivas, a nutrition educator with CalFresh Healthy Living, University of California Cooperative Extension in Tehama, Shasta and Trinity counties. Locally administered by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, CFHL, UCCE is one of the agencies in California that teaches nutrition to people eligible for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – referred to as CalFresh Food in California.
Working alongside Evergreen teachers Roxanne Akers and Albert Estrada, Monroy-Olivas challenged the sixth graders to tackle a “Youth Participatory Action Research” project – a yearlong, multi-step undertaking typically designed for older teens.
“The fact that we're doing it with these younger kids, starting a lot sooner, I think it's super impactful for them to know that, together, collectively they can make huge changes that will create positive outcomes – not just for themselves but for an entire community,” Monroy-Olivas said.
Middle school students speak up at school board meeting
In February 2023, eight class representatives presented their findings to the Evergreen Union School District Board of Education. Speaking before the five-member board for 20 minutes, the young people were naturally a bit nervous.
“It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but it wasn't that bad, once we got up there and got it over with,” said Lilah, one of the presenters. “Me and a couple of my friends were doing pep talks and practicing what we were going to say.”
The students showed a composite map that they drew from their classes' investigation of spaces for physical activity in the area, and shared a brochure that outlined their research and survey results. In a survey of more than 80 of their peers, 92% of respondents said they needed more access to physical activity equipment during class breaks, recess and lunch.
“The board members were super impressed with the students, coming to the school board and doing this,” Monroy-Olivas said. “They said they haven't had students doing this kind of advocacy work; for them, it was a really big deal.”
In the end, the young people made a strong case for more water-bottle refilling stations, badminton equipment and balls for other sports, and stencils for schoolyard activities like hopscotch, four square and snail (a type of hopscotch game).
“We got almost everything we asked for, and the project we're working on now is to help put in the things we asked for,” said Lilah, adding that, during this current school year, the students (now in seventh grade) are working on acquiring the stencils and paint.
More than just equipment, students gain skills and confidence
While the promise of new gear is exciting for the youth, they are acquiring something even more valuable and enduring – a sense that they are empowered to make a difference in their community, according to Janessa Hartmann, UC Cooperative Extension community nutrition and health advisor for Tehama, Shasta and Trinity counties.
“Yes, it's important to want to do stencils and hydration stations and have more equipment,” Hartmann said, “but the bigger impact for the students is that they think: ‘Now I know that my health is important, now I know how to advocate for myself, and now I know that I can do that.'”
Monroy-Olivas said he observed tremendous growth in all the students, and especially in the self-confidence of the class representatives.
“I grew as a leader because I used to be really shy and hated talking in front of people, but through this project we're doing, this has really helped me be able to talk in front of crowds – and listen to others,” Lilah explained.
In a survey at the end of the sixth-grade project, the percentage of youth who answered “Yes, most definitely” to the statement “I want to make a difference in making my school/community healthier” jumped from 19% before the project to 44% after. And that percentage of “Yes, most definitely” replies jumped from 6% to 31% for the statement “I can use research results to come up with solutions or recommendations for making my school/community a healthier place.”
“We learned to promote what we want and try to get it as much as we can, so we can get more physical activities and more people can be included,” said Brian, another student working on the project.
“It's important so when we get older, we know how to voice our opinions and let people know what we're thinking,” added classmate Brooklynn.
Wishing that he had such an opportunity when he was growing up, Monroy-Olivas said he feels the students now know the power of their voice.
“I wholeheartedly believe that's the biggest win out of this whole project, that they're learning how to advocate for their own voice and change,” he said.
