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“Life is like a Ferris wheel. You'll have highs and lows but in the end, it's a beautiful ride.”

@LoveGrowthWealth

The past month has indeed yielded yet another beautiful ride in the Golden State. Coming off a very successful State Field Day, we rolled into filling more vacancies across the state and a convening of the UC ANR Vice President’s Council, under the leadership of Dr. Glenda Humiston. I then had the opportunity to engage with undergraduate students who are participating in summer research projects with UC Berkeley. Special thanks to Dr. Vernard Lewis, UC Berkeley Professor Emeritus, and Dr. Mary Blackburn, UC ANR Emeritus Community Nutrition and Health Advisor, for allowing me to engage with such a talented group of emerging scholars.

Next, I participated in a site visit to Martial Cottle Park, home of Sunset 4-H Club and then went to visit the Homesteaders 4-H Ranch. Special thanks to Ms. Susan Weaver, 4-H Regional Program Coordinator and Ms. Zubia Mahmood, Community Education Specialist, for hosting our group. I met wonderful 4-H youth and volunteers at both locations. We were also favored by visits from several UC ANR leaders, including Dr. Kathy Eftekhari, Interim Associate Vice President, Dr. Janine Woods, Executive Director of County Cooperative Extension (statewide), and Mr. Andrew Miller, Area Director, Contra Costa and Santa Clara Counties.

New Hire Announcements

Please join me in welcoming the new members of our statewide team. We are delighted that they have taken on these very important roles.

Kinsey Burrough, 4-H Assistant, Shasta County

Robin Hanson, Community Education Specialist, Lassen County

Dr. Casey Felton, Data Systems Analyst, State Office, Yolo County (prefers Casey)

Volunteer Spotlights

We are delighted to highlight volunteers this month who are each leaving a legacy of service to the 4-H community.

From 4-H Members to UC ANR Colleagues: A Full-Circle Journey

The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program (UC 4-H YDP) is built on helping young people discover their passions, develop leadership skills, and prepare for future careers. For two 4-H alumnae, Addison Holbrook and Kate Lyn Sutherland, that journey has come full circle.

Addison joined UC4-H in 2014 in Imperial County and embraced opportunities to learn, lead, and serve. Her dedication to the program led her to serve as a UC4-H State Ambassador during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 program years. Alongside fellow State Ambassador alumna Kate Lyn Sutherland, Addison developed leadership, communication, and teamwork skills that continue to shape her academic and professional journey. Today, Addison is a UC Davis student and serves as a Student Assistant in the UC ANR Program Support Unit.

Kate Lyn began her 4-H journey at the age of 11 in San Mateo County. She served as a State Ambassador for the 2011-2012 program year. A UC Davis graduate, Kate Lyn began her career with UC ANR as a Student Assistant and has since transitioned into a full-time position in the Program Support Unit. Together, they support statewide UC4-H programs and events that collectively serve thousands of youth, volunteers, and staff across the state.

UC4-H alumni Addison Holbrook (left) and Kate Lyn Sutherland (right) continue their 4-H journey by supporting statewide programs through the UC ANR Program Support Unit while giving back as UC4-H volunteers.

Their commitment to UC4-H extends beyond their professional roles. Both continue to volunteer their time to strengthen the program that helped shape them. Kate Lyn serves as a UC4-H State Ambassador Advisor, mentoring the next generation of statewide youth leaders, while Addison is a member of the California 4-H State Leadership Conference Planning Team, helping create meaningful leadership experiences for youth from across California.

Their journey from young 4-H members to State Ambassadors, UC Davis Aggies, UC ANR colleagues, and dedicated volunteers demonstrates the lasting impact of the UC4-H Youth Development Program. The leadership, service, and life skills they developed through 4-H have prepared them not only for college and their careers but also for a lifetime of giving back. Addison and Kate Lyn are inspiring examples of how 4-H empowers young people to become leaders who continue to make a difference in their communities and in the future of UC 4-H.  

Healthy Living Certification

Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification

Why become certified? Mental Health First Aid is a nationally known program. This evidence-based, early intervention training gives you the skills to recognize when someone is facing mental health or substance use challenges - and the confidence to be their first source of support.

Requirements:

• Adults ages 18 and up. Costs are covered by the state 4-H office for UC 4-H adult volunteers and professionals.

• Two sessions totaling 6 hours to complete certification. Pre-work (1-2 hours) is required before the courses begin.

Schedule of upcoming certification courses: Attendance is required for both sessions to receive certification.

• August 24 & 25, 2026; 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register by August 17.

• September 22 & 24, 2026; 5 - 8 p.m. via Zoom. Register by September 15.

• October 19 & 20, 2026; 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register by October 12.

To register for a 2026 Youth Mental Health First Aid course please do so at least one week in advance of your desired course date. Register here.

Want to learn more? Visit and share our 4-H Google Resource Center with 4-H volunteers.

Questions? Jenna Colburn (jcolburn@ucanr.edu) and Ally Lemmer (alemmer@ucanr.edu)

Healthy Living Webinars

Healthy Living Advisory & Program Committee: Monthly Webinars

This past 2025-2026 program year, the Healthy Living Advisory & Program Committee hosted monthly webinars on various healthy living topics to support 4-H members, adults and volunteers. Topics ranged from physical activity, stress and sleep, healthy eating, social-emotional health to gardening and food waste. We would like to recognize the following 4-H members and volunteers who attended at least 6 of the 10 monthly webinars. As a result of their participation, they received a $25 gift card in addition to knowledge and skills to bring back to their respective communities! Congratulations!

• Clara F., 4-H Member, Sonoma County
• Easton K., 4-H Member, Los Angeles County
• Emily O., 4-H Member, Kern County
• Rosie P., 4-H Volunteer, Fresno County 
• Violet P., 4-H Member, Stanislaus County 
• Thao T., 4-H Parent, Fresno County
• Noel K., 4-H Volunteer, Los Angeles County

Please stay tuned for this upcoming 2026-2027 program year monthly webinar offerings. If you are a Healthy Living Club Officer or would like to learn more about healthy living topics to bring back to your club and community, please join us! 

Contact: Ally Lemmer (alemmer@ucanr.edu) and Marcel Horowitz (mhorowitz@ucanr.edu) 

Enrollment System Reminders

Enrollment System Reminders: 2026–2027 4-H Enrollment System Timeline

At noon on July 14, 2026, adult volunteer self-enrollment in ZSuite for 2026-2027 begins.

At noon on August 3, 2026, families may begin to self-enroll youth members in ZSuite for the 2026–2027 year.

Advice for Mobile Self Enrollment

Families and individuals enrolling for the 2026-2027 4-H year should be aware that some users experience difficulties when attempting to self-enroll using older versions of the Safari web browser. If you prefer to enroll using Safari on a mobile device, you may need to update your iOS to the latest version. If you prefer not to update your iOS, using an alternate browser (such as Firefox or Chrome) will also allow for smooth enrollment. 

4-H Policy Update: Revised Policy on Dual County Adult Volunteer Service

Effective for the 2026-2027 4-H program enrollment year, the University of California 4-H Policy, Chapter 6, VI. Adult Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities has been updated with a new section (D) on Dual County Adult Volunteer Appointment. The policy has been revised to permit 4-H Adult Volunteers with active enrollment status to request to serve in one additional California county as a Dual County Adult Volunteer.

Previously, the policy permitted an exception for Dual County Volunteer service in limited capacity to serve at Camp or Virtual 4-H activities. Now an eligible volunteer can serve in their primary county and serve in a secondary county in up to 3 distinct roles, e.g., Project Leader, chaperone at camp and a service in virtual 4-H activity in a second county.

For more information on the request and approval process, please refer to: Dual County Volunteer Service General Information (PDF)

4-H Policy Update: 4-H Program Enrollment Fee Refund Policy

Effective for 2026-2027 4-H program enrollment year, the California 4-H Policy, Chapter 4, III. Fees, has been updated to include a new section (F) on the Program Enrollment Fee Refund Policy for California 4-H. This policy establishes a consistent refund process for all California 4-H families and aligns eligibility and processing expectations for all counties.

For more information on the request and approval process, please refer to these resources:

• Program Enrollment Fee Refund FAQ for 4-H Families

• 4-H Program Enrollment Fee Refund Request Form

2026-2027 Annual Volunteer Courses

We're excited to announce that updated Volunteer courses for the 2026-2027 program year will be available starting July 1, 2026, at 8 a.m. These courses along with our other eLearning offerings and their unique enrollment keys are available on the Learning Center for California 4-H volunteers webpage.

We look forward to your continued dedication and involvement.

New Volunteer Course

If you're starting your first year as a University of California 4-H volunteer or returning after a break in service of one year or more, this course is for you. You'll learn the foundations of volunteering with University of California 4-H, including program orientation, volunteer expectations, University of California 4-H Core Values, and youth protection requirements. You'll also complete training on the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) and the University of California 4-H 2-Deep Supervision Policy to help ensure safe, positive, and welcoming environments for all youth.

The course takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete and can be completed over multiple sessions.

Returning Volunteer Course

If you're beginning your second year or more of University of California 4-H volunteer service without a break in service of one year or more, this course is for you. It provides important updates on policies and best practices to keep you informed and up to date. The course covers the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) requirements and the University of California 4-H Core Values, reinforcing our shared commitment to creating safe, positive, and welcoming environments for all youth.

The course takes approximately 35 minutes to complete and can be completed over multiple sessions.

eXtension Foundation Campus Support

Tutorials for Assistance

For those looking for tutorials on utilizing the eXtension Foundation Campus Learning Management System, we encourage you to visit the CA 4-H Resource Center. Comprehensive guides and resources are available to assist you in navigating the system seamlessly.

Login Assistance

If you encounter issues with forgotten passwords or experience difficulties accessing your account, contact the Campus LMS team directly at campusadmin@extension.org (new email), as our internal team does not have access to this information.

Technical Support

Should you encounter any challenges while exploring the courses offered by UC 4-H, don't hesitate to submit a support ticket. Our team is committed to promptly addressing your inquiries and ensuring you stay on the path to success. Getting you to success is our top priority!

Project Plan Office Hours

Annual 4-H Project Plans for 2026–2027

As we prepare for the upcoming 4-H program year, we encourage all project leaders to begin developing and submitting their Annual 4-H Project Plans. Project plans are more than an administrative requirement. They are a valuable resource that helps create positive, organized, and engaging experiences for youth and families.

A well-developed project plan can help:

• Set clear expectations for members and families
• Communicate project goals, learning objectives, and activities
• Outline attendance, health, and safety expectations
• Provide structure and direction for project meetings
• Support age-appropriate, high-quality youth development experiences
• Improve communication and member engagement throughout the year

All project leaders should submit one Annual 4-H Project Plan for each project they intend to offer during the 2026–2027 program year. Project plans may be submitted now in preparation for the new program year.

To support volunteers and county staff, the Regional Program Coordinators and the Statewide Program Manager will host Project Plan Office Hours every Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., June 26 through August 28.

Please register to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/project-plan-help

Whether you are creating a project plan for the first time, updating an existing plan, looking for ideas and resources, or have questions about project requirements, we encourage you to join us. These sessions are designed to provide guidance, answer questions, share resources, and help make the project planning process as easy and successful as possible.

We look forward to supporting another great year of 4-H programming!  

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