Page 128 - Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025

YOUTH, TEENS & VOLUNTEERS NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2025
Every child is valuable and deserves the support and freedom to choose their own path. This is one of the core beliefs of 4-H, America’s largest youth development organization which has for more than 100 years
welcomed young people of all beliefs and backgrounds, giving kids a voice to express who they are and how they make their lives and communities better.
4H, which has empowered more than 6 million young people, is delivered by Cooperative Extension—a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences through which young people learn by doing. 4-H is administered in California through California State universities.
BY STACEY LEIGH MOHR
Nearly every town in every North State county has an active 4-H Club in which caring and trusted adult mentors cultivate positive relationships with youth, helping them to become confident, hard-working, determined, responsible and compassionate. These young people see a world beyond themselves and develop life-long skills to succeed in college and career.
Featured here are just a sample of the many North State kids and teens who are working to complete hands-on projects, receiving guidance from adult mentors who encourage them to take on proactive leadership roles.
North State Youth Become Resilient, Adaptable and Ready for Work and Life
through Local 4-H Clubs
Ayla, Palo Cedro 4-H
Millville Elementary School third grade student Ayla says she is “really excited because I am finally old enough to raise and show a market animal at the Shasta District Fair.” Besides the Market Goat and Dairy Goat projects, Ayla is also in the Horse Project, Outdoor Adventures/Hiking Project and Record Keeping Project. “I love 4-H because I have made some great friends with similar interests,” she says. “I am learning about leadership, responsibility and animal care and I get the opportunity to help my local area through community service.”
Hailee Luiz, Big Springs 4-H
Yreka High School student Hailee Luiz started 4-H at the age of 5 and over the years participated in sewing, the Nigerian dwarf goat project and Columbia sheep. She has such a love of animals that she now also shows Hampshire market lambs, has a flock of 10 Columbia ewes and 3 Hampshire ewes, has a Boer goat project and shows dairy cattle. She is the National Columbia Sheep Association Ambassador and places high in shows on a state and national level. Hailie recently won California Make it With Wool contest with a wool outfit she sewed herself. Hailee says, “Without 4-H, I never would have had the confidence to give a speech in front of a couple of hundred people to enter the ambassador contest, do FFA public speaking and livestock judging or gotten to travel to Wyoming, Utah, Kentucky, Colorado and Texas to compete with my goat and sewing projects.”
Aaron, Bowman 4-H
Aaron, a 14-year-old eight grader at Evergreen Middle School, actively participates in a wide range of projects. From market beef and breeding beef to dairy cows, pygmy goats, arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, sheep, photography and community service, Aaron’s commitment to 4-H is clear. He’s also a proud participant in BLAST, the leadership program for 4-H, where he continues to develop his leadership skills. “I love 4-H because it allows me to engage in fun activities with friends, make new ones, and work toward making his community a better place,” Aaron says. His passion for the program reflects his hard work, determination and the strong sense of responsibility that 4-H helps cultivate in its members.
128 North State Parent Family Resource Guide Spring/Summer 2025 • www.northstateparent.com