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New 4-H director to youth: ‘You are worthy and you are valuable’

Holmes brings a lifetime of service, mentorship to California 4-H program

Growing up in rural Alabama, Kimberly Sinclair Holmes – the new statewide director of California 4-H – experienced firsthand the enduring value of youth development programs in a limited-resource environment.

From first grade through seventh, Holmes participated in a summer program hosted by nearby Tuskegee University, a historically Black land-grant university. Every day, Holmes would play sports like kickball and softball, enjoy craft projects, and strengthen the English and math skills she learned in school.

“We didn't necessarily have all the amenities you might have in a more urban setting, so the program allowed us to socialize with friends and keep relatively up-to-date on our skills,” Holmes explained. “We learned something new each week, too.”

In her new role overseeing 4-H across the most populous state in the U.S., Holmes said she aims to ensure that those types of invaluable opportunities are available to all young people. Affiliated with the nationwide youth development program, 4-H in California engages approximately 58,000 youth each year and is administered by University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“My emphasis is – and will be – on ensuring that every youth in the state of California knows what 4-H is – and how to connect in whatever way is meaningful for them, whether in the traditional club setting, an expanded learning or after-school program, one-day events or online activities,” said Holmes, who started in her director position in July.

Holmes' past shapes her path

As a child, Holmes, whose paternal grandfather was a sharecropper in the Deep South, helped her family grow fruits and vegetables in their garden – that is, when she and her siblings weren't romping through the countryside on the outskirts of Tuskegee, a small town near Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.

“We were either chasing the chickens and turkeys, or the chickens and turkeys were chasing us, depending on the day,” she laughed.

The youngest of eight children, Holmes said she was very much a “daddy's girl” who loved to watch her father tinker with the family automobiles, in the shade of a leafy tree on sweltering 100-degree days.

Holmes' early interest in mechanics and her fix-it mentality shaped her initial academic and career pursuits. After graduating from Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, she worked as a product systems engineer in the auto industry for about seven years.

As a young professional in Kokomo, Indiana, Holmes got involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was paired with a “little sister” – appropriately named Destiny – and Holmes' experiences helping Destiny navigate the challenges in her life demonstrated the impact that mentorship can have on young people.

“Growing up in a limited-resource rural environment, I was always aware of and tuned into whether the young people coming behind me would have the same opportunities, and the extent to which I might be able to help them,” Holmes said. “The more I received mentoring from professionals who were helping to shape my career, the more compelled I felt to pass that along – to help other young people figure it out.”

After conversations with colleagues and self-reflection on how to make a difference in society, Holmes pivoted from engineering car parts to engineering programs in higher education. She took an administrative job at the University of Texas, Dallas, where she would serve as assistant dean in the School of Engineering and Computer Science, as well as an advisor to five different student organizations on campus.

For that service, Holmes received an award for mentoring from the National GEM Consortium, whose mission is to provide financial support to persons from underrepresented groups who pursue graduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-related fields.

Holmes was on her way to a new career in guiding young people through school and life.

Continuing a family legacy of youth service, mentorship

Looking back, Holmes said it was influential elementary school teachers and her own parents who showed her the immense value of a career helping and serving others. Holmes' parents were involved in several ministries and managed a gospel singing group that traveled all over the South.

Following her parents' example, Holmes joined a youth ministry as an undergraduate in college, where she first began talking with local youth about their challenges, frustrations, aspirations and dreams.

“I saw so many young people struggling with their identity and what they could do as a career.  It really troubled me that they were struggling as much as they were,” Holmes said. “I asked myself, ‘What are you doing to help them figure it out?' That's really where it started.”

All along her professional and academic path, Holmes continued to serve as a mentor and guide by having difficult conversations about setting and realizing life goals. After attaining her Ph.D. in public policy/administration from UT Dallas, she progressed through a series of administration roles at higher-education institutions throughout the South.

Holmes eventually landed at Alabama A&M University, where she was serving as assistant Extension director and a 4-H state program leader in the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, prior to joining UC ANR.

A vision for the future of youth development

Like her “shade-tree mechanic” father, Holmes still enjoys tinkering in her free time. She will also apply her engineer's perspective to optimizing 4-H programs in California, which offer young people hands-on experiences on everything from animal sciences to robotics, and from fine arts to programming languages.

While praising the “phenomenal team” of UC Cooperative Extension advisors and educators and 4-H support staff, Holmes will also be looking to build on their innovations.

“There are several strategies you would use to improve, measure and improve efficiencies in an engineering system; but there are also several strategies and processes you would use to measure and improve systems in an organization,” Holmes said. “I think what I bring uniquely to this role is the ability to see and integrate those strategies for even greater organizational effectiveness and growth.”

After listening to and learning from her team across the state, Holmes is eager to develop and calibrate new ways to reach more young people – as the benefits of 4-H are needed more than ever. The concerns of youth she has heard throughout her career are even more pronounced and pressing now.

“It's something I worry about constantly, especially post-pandemic – the data about how our young people are struggling with having positive images of themselves and hope for the future,” Holmes said. “There's a lot of despondency; there's a lot of anxiety; there's the issue of chronic absenteeism; and the number of youth who have now reported a diagnosed mental health disorder is alarmingly high.”

Aside from the myriad life and work skills that 4-H activities can teach young people, participation in 4-H also helps them see, for themselves, their intrinsic worth as a person – outside of external influences such as social media. A sense of belonging within a supportive community, like the one that 4-H cultivates, can guide young people to that truth.

“I want to be absolutely certain you know that you are worthy and you are valuable – you have something to offer, and there's something unique and special about you,” Holmes said. “You have unique gifts and talents that only you can exercise in the world. Because only you can exercise them in the world, it's critically important that – before you give up, give in or give out when the pressures of life weigh on you – you have people around you who will help you through those difficult moments.”

Holmes believes that when communities create spaces in which all youth feel a sense of belonging and are able to connect their interests and abilities with possible careers, young people will make significant progress towards reaching their full potential.

“This achievement will then contribute to a greater quality of life for the youth, as well as communities statewide,” she said.

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.”

UC ANR project to help underserved farmers in SoCal with land ownership

San Diego County has more than 5,000 small farms but less than 2% are operated or owned by Black, indigenous, or people of color – including those of Asian, Hispanic or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander descent, according to the 2022 Ag Census.

The reasons vary, but historically, multiple marginalized communities of color have not received the same opportunities or support for land ownership or management as their white counterparts.    

Chandra Richards, University of California Cooperative Extension land equity academic coordinator for the Southern California region, is identifying barriers to equity when it comes to addressing land access, tenure, management and opportunities to increase the diversity of land managers and land ownership in the region.

Richards is the principal investigator for the Climate Action and Land Equity (CALE) project administered through UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and funded by the Department of Conservation. CALE aims to engage historically underrepresented communities in coalition building, capacity assessment and climate action planning. CALE elevates knowledge about the challenges and opportunities to land access and management for a diversity of land managers.

Among the challenges is land tenure, an established agreement between a landowner and tenant, outlining the purpose and use of the land over a period of time. However, when landowners decide to sell their land, these agreements are at risk of being null and void, forcing the tenants to renegotiate or discontinue their operation.

Land tenure leases for under five years are considered short-term, which are common in Southern California. For small, new and under-resourced farmers, landowner turnover doesn't just threaten their business plan but their livelihood.

For small farmer Byron Nkhoma, who leases land in Ramona to grow leafy greens and vegetables, the possibility of losing land is a constant worry. Since 2015, Nkhoma and his wife, Joyce, have been renting four of 20 acres to establish Hukama Produce. Over nine years, they have had two landowners. Before the land was sold to his current landowner, Nkhoma said he considered buying land, but the process proved more challenging than he thought.

“What it takes for someone like Byron to find a place to farm and establish a food system is an extremely involved process,” said Richards. “It's not just learning how to obtain land, it's also about managing that land so it can be used for years and generations to come.”

Originally from Zimbabwe, Nkhoma is adamant about taking care of the land he leases and has applied knowledge from his home to ensure resilience. Hukama Produce prides itself in improving environmental health through sustainable farming practices such as compost and mulch application, drip irrigation and low till. An important pillar of the CALE project includes building capacity and providing technical assistance toward land conservation and climate resiliency.

In addition to land tenure, money and time are stressors for small farmers. When they are not working on the farm, Nkhoma and his wife are researching and applying for grants to improve their soils and protect their crops from pests. However, many grants for which Hukama Produce is eligible often have pressing deadlines that demand their immediate attention – cutting into valuable time that could be spent tending to the land or selling at farmer's markets.

Two of Hukama's goals include building and sustaining trust in the market and growing their operation. By partnering with Richards, Hukama Produce has direct access to technical assistance focused on grant writing and conservation to increase ecosystem health and build tenure.

Agricultural land tenure is the arrangement, rights, and responsibilities centered around use, management, and ownership of agricultural land and resources. Building land tenure means that farmers have a stable place to grow their crops and build environmental sustainability without risk of having to move their operations.

While the CALE project boosts support for historically underserved community members hoping to own or manage land, it prioritizes land use for food production as a reinvestment into the greater community.

Eager to bring realities like Nhkoma's to light, Richards partnered with Keith Nathaniel, UCCE director for Los Angeles County, who co-coordinated the Western Extension Leadership Development conference held in San Diego the week of Sept. 23-27. WELD unites Cooperative Extension faculty, agents, advisors, educators and specialists from the western region of the United States for a two-year leadership development program.

While in San Diego, WELD participants joined Richards for a tour of Hukama Produce and learned directly from Nkhoma about opportunities and threats as a small farmer. The tour ended with participants in a circle, sharing how their professional roles can offer support to Hukama Produce and other small farms.

“We grow food so that we can feed the community,” said Nkhoma. “When we feed others, we build relationships. That's what ‘hukama' means – to grow relationships.”

If you operate or know of a small farm in Southern California and would like to be involved with or receive regular updates about the CALE project, please contact Chandra Richards at cmrichards@ucanr.edu.

If you are interested in applying for the Land Equity Project Manager position, please visit https://ucanr.edu/About/Jobs/?jobnum=2894 for details. 

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.

UC Master Gardeners of Imperial County grow from Mexican, Latino roots

First program of its kind in area establishes free seed library, community garden

One of the many things that make University of California Cooperative Extension in Imperial County unique is its close proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Its geographic location, with a border town called “La Frontera” by locals, infuses the UC Master Gardener Program in this area with intercultural knowledge.

In 2022, UCCE launched its first UC Master Gardener Program in the county and has maintained a cohort of 20 participants since then. Kristian Salgado, the program's first coordinator, said the volunteers offer a range of skills to the gardening community.

“The clientele that our volunteers serve tend to be individuals who have gained their gardening knowledge and experience from tending to plants in their homeland of Mexico,” said Salgado. The volunteer UC Master Gardeners of Imperial County reflect the region's predominantly Latino demographic, making it easier for volunteers to connect with their clientele.

“Nopales, chiles, citrus…residents in this region know how to take care of these plants. They've done it all their life. But when you have a program like the UC Master Gardener Program, you can use science to explain why their practices worked all these years,” said Salgado.

According to Salgado, the UC Master Gardener Program can be perceived as too academic for some residents. “It's not a bad thing, but I had to digest the information myself, even the UC Master Gardeners, and figure out how to deliver it in a way that was relevant to everyone,” she added.

As a starting point, Salgado used English and Spanish materials from neighboring counties like “A Garden of Words/Un jardín de palabras”, developed by the UC Master Gardener Program of Los Angeles County.

One method that helped engage volunteers and residents during classes was the use of culturally significant seeds like chiltepin peppers – seeds that Salgado deems a “must-have” if you are a gardener of Mexican heritage.

“When we focused on plant propagation, the volunteers that I worked with agreed that we should propagate plants that our residents were familiar with and use in their everyday cooking,” Salgado explained.

This same approach was employed at the free seed library and demonstration garden – both established and maintained by the UC Master Gardener volunteers at the City of Imperial Public Library. During the warm season you can find Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), known to make agua de jamaica, in the seed library – something you won't easily find in grocery stores. In the demonstration garden during the summer, you'll notice a variety of peppers such as chile güero, jalapeño, serrano and habanero.

As the UC Master Gardener coordinator for Imperial County for the last two years, Salgado has focused her leadership on establishing a program that would generate opportunities for UC Master Gardener volunteers to create projects that are reflective of their interests, align with the program's mission and serve all residents in the county. The demonstration garden, which is the first community garden established in the city of Imperial, is an outcome of Salgado's vision.

UC Master Gardener Program reflects, connects community

Eliza Barajas, UC Master Gardener of Imperial County, who works at the library during the week and has witnessed the impact of the garden, said it gives her a sense of pride. “I moved to the [Imperial] Valley a year ago and I was looking for a way to connect with the community. I couldn't have asked for a better program to do that, and I'm so proud to say that I'm a part of the very first cohort in Imperial County,” Barajas shared.

Salgado praised Barajas for her enthusiasm in the program and noted her excellent ability to speak Spanish. “I love the way Eliza flows from English to Spanish. It's effortless! And it comes in handy when we're doing community events and need to cater to our Spanish and English speakers,” said Salgado.

Since the program came to fruition, Salgado has played a pivotal role in the program's progress. Reflecting on why she accepted the role of UC Master Gardener coordinator for Imperial County, Salgado said that the role was a culmination of everything she studied in school and cares deeply about.

While attending California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Salgado earned a master's degree in social science focused on the environment and community. She studied the intersections of food insecurity, the agricultural industry and health inequities, and how they specifically impact the Latino community.

Growing up and currently living in Calexico, Salgado questions why her community is food insecure. “Imperial is the ‘salad bowl' of the nation. We export a variety of fresh fruit and veggies all year long. How is it that our community doesn't have enough access to the healthy food it produces?” she asked.

Food security is one concern that Salgado envisions the UC Master Gardener Program addressing through its seed library, community garden and gardening classes.

Following graduate school, Salgado moved back home and joined former classmate and UCCE colleague, Chris Wong, in establishing the first farmer's market in Calexico in 2013. Wong encouraged Salgado to apply her new knowledge and skills at UCCE Imperial County, where she began working as a climate-smart agriculture community education specialist in 2019, supporting growers with grant writing.

“I realized early on that there was a lot of divestment in the community, and I didn't understand why,” she said, adding that she's still working to understand. Salgado's mother-in-law also continuously challenged her to think bigger. “My mom-in-law comes from the Chicano Movement. She's guided me into thinking more critically about the issues we face in our community and as Latinos.”

In September, Salgado began in a new role as the regional operations specialist for the UC Master Gardener Program statewide office, covering the Bay Area to Southern California regions. Salgado hopes to develop useful tools and resources to support coordinators' professional development, while integrating programmatic best practices centered on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.  

“The UC Master Gardeners are full of knowledge, and my education was motivated by identifying how Latinos can get a seat at the table. UC Master Gardeners easily become trusted sources in the community, and for Imperial County, this is how they get a seat at the table,” said Salgado.

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