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On Saturday, April 19, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the California Invention Convention’s annual statewide competition. Held at the California Railroad Museum, the event drew youth from kindergarten to 12th grade who exercised their innovative and creative skills by developing prototypes for what may become the next internationally acclaimed product or service! It was exceedingly difficult to contain my enthusiasm as I saw youth after youth bring into the building their inventions, in boxes or as appendages to their clothing.

Excitement and a bit of nervous energy filled the air as the judges took their places with the range of stakeholders. Youth explained the what, why and how of what they’d created. I even had the coincidental privilege of witnessing the presentation of a fifth grader, who happened to be a 4-H member, as she described her product for the judges and other participating youth. I could not have been more proud of her!

As some of you know, we have introduced invention education as an available curriculum in the 4-H Program. It is a great fit for us since it is available for youth of all 4-H ages and crosses all disciplines and subject areas. California Invention Convention (CAIC) also has partnerships with school districts around the state. Youth are competing locally and advancing to statewide and then national competitions, just as many 4-H project areas do. If you are interested in learning more about invention education near you, please visit the CAIC website https://www.cainventionconvention.org/ or send an email to cainventionconvention@gmail.com.



Next came a very exciting first opportunity for me to participate in the annual Ag Day at the Capitol event, hosted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The event was attended by a wide range of community-based organizations, members of the public and even (to our great delight) University of California President, Dr. James Milliken, who visited the 4-H booth at the event. Special thanks to the Sheldon 4-H Club of Sacramento County under the volunteer leadership of Rondalyn Solano-Lim and Sheri Looper, including 4-H members: 

• Katie L., President
• Gweneth C., Secretary
• Enzo E., Member
• Adele C., Member
• William H. representing Shingle Springers 4-H of El Dorado County

and 4-H State Ambassadors: 

• Cecilia O. of Calaveras County
• Elia R. of Sacramento County
• Neha G. of Alameda County
• Sharva P. of Alameda County

We also offer special thanks to Mr. Nestor Lopez, new Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations in UC ANR for his leadership and coordination of all units from UC ANR who participated in the event. Mr. Lopez collaborated with Ms. Suzanne Morikawa, 4-H Communications Specialist, and Dr. Erica Pettey, 4-H Animal and Equine Science CES III, in support of participation of 4-H youth and staff.

As the smell of chocolate covered bacon filled the area, I went on a partnership scavenger hunt and discovered such potential partners as John Deere, Inc., the California Pork Producers Association, California Poultry Federation, California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom and many more!

UC President Dr. James Milliken with California 4-H youth at the 2026 Ag Day at the Capitol.

Welcome to the following new staff to support 4-H in our counties!

• Laura Lynn Brockman - Tehama County 4-H Secretary
• Joseph Isam - Santa Clara County CES
• Max Rygiol - Mariposa County CES

Volunteer Spotlights

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

Ms. Karen Hayes- Lake County

Ms. Karen has been actively involved in Lake County 4-H for the past 20 years. She was a 4-H adult volunteer leader when both of her children participated in the 4-H Program. She has been an instrumental part of our Citizenship and Leadership group for teen members who want to learn leadership skills and to fundraise in support of travel to leadership conferences. Even when her own children aged out of the program, she continued serving as a volunteer leader and also held an office on the Lake County 4-H Council for many years. She now continues to share her knowledge with her grandchildren who are also in 4-H.

She is the perfect example of the dedication our volunteers have to the youth in our community as well as to the 4-H Program itself. She embodies the true spirit of 4-H and is a model volunteer. Thank you, Ms. Karen!!

Enrollment System Reminder

Enrollment System Reminders: Enrollment System Rollover

Families and volunteers will no longer be able to self-enroll in ZSuite on June 23 at 12pm. We anticipate family and volunteer self-enrollment functionality will be restored on July 14, 2026.

Families are encouraged to delay re-enrollment for the 2026-2027 program year until the system is open for self-enrollment on July 14.

If enrollment or re-enrollment is necessary during the interim period the systems are offline, your county staff will work with you to complete the enrollment process. You will find your county on the California 4-H / Contact page.

Please note: Any early enrollments into ZSuite before the official opening of the system will be deleted. All dates listed are subject to change based on our vendor and California 4-H needs. Any changes will be broadly communicated by the 4-H State Office.

Volunteer Training Annual Rollover

We would like to inform you that June 23, 2026 is the last day to complete the 2025-2026 New & Returning Volunteer courses. The courses will close at 12pm on this day.

For those of you who are yet to complete your required training for the current program, we kindly encourage you to finalize your coursework at your earliest convenience.

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, are available on the Learning Center for California 4-H volunteers webpage.

We look forward to your continued dedication and involvement.

Volunteer Training Annual Rollover

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 their NEW email address campusadmin@extension.org, as our internal team does not have access to this information.

Technical Support:

Should you encounter any challenges while exploring the courses offered by CA 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!

Celebrate Graduating 4-H Seniors at State Field Day

Join us on May 23 to honor the Class of 2026

State Field Day is a time to celebrate achievement, leadership, and the next steps in our graduating seniors’ journeys. We invite graduating 4-H members, their families, friends, and supporters to join us on May 23 for a special senior celebration.

This event is a chance to recognize the young people who are stepping into their next chapter Beyond Ready- whether that means college, career, military service, apprenticeships, or another meaningful path. Inspired by the “How It Started; How It’s Going” theme, we’ll celebrate where graduates started in 4-H and where they’re going next.

Come share your story

Every 4-H journey tells a story.

From first project meetings and presentation days to leadership roles, community service, competitions, and lasting friendships, our seniors have built skills that will carry them far into the future. At State Field Day, we want to honor those experiences and celebrate what comes next.

Seniors are invited to come share:

• Where you started in 4-H
• How 4-H helped shape who you are
• Your plans after high school

Pick up your senior celebration items

Complete this quick survey and we'll reserve these gifts for you:

• a yard sign
• a green and white honor cord
• a certificate



These items are a small way for us to recognize your hard work, dedication, and all you have contributed through 4-H.

4-H Graduates Are Beyond Ready

4-H helps young people build more than memories. Through 4-H, youth develop real-life skills like leadership, public speaking, confidence, time management, and purpose- skills that prepare them for work, life, and community impact. This celebration reflects the broader message of recognizing youth for the paths they choose and the strengths they have developed along the way.

Event Details

Senior Celebration at State Field Day

Date: May 23, 2026

Who: Graduating 4-H seniors, families, friends, and supporters

What to Expect: A celebration of senior stories, future plans, and recognition items for graduates

Help us celebrate

Come celebrate the accomplishments of our 4-H seniors and the exciting futures ahead of them. We are proud of where they started, proud of how far they’ve come, and excited to see where they’re going next.

Join us on May 23 at State Field Day and celebrate the Class of 2026.

Please register as a Spectator or an Evaluator. Registration for competition is closed. However Spectators and Evaluators can register until May 13, 11:59 pm.

Healthy Living Monthly Discussion

Monthly Healthy Living Topic

Join the Healthy Living Advisory Committee for discussion and guest speakers on different health topics each month!

Coming up:

May 7, 2026 6-7 p.m. Gardening

June 4, 2026 6-7 p.m. Food Preservation

Download full schedule here (PDF, 1.38MB)

Healthy Living Video Contest

Win a $50 gift card

The California 4-H Healthy Living Advisory & Program Committee is hosting a video contest to promote healthy eating of California grown fruits and vegetables. This contest is open to all California 4-H youth. 

Requirements: 

• Video is no longer than 1 minute.
• Every youth in the video must be 4-H enrolled and have video consent on file in Z-Suite.
• All 4-H policies must be followed (no cursing, promotion of alcohol, etc).
• No personal identifying information. Youth should be identified with first name only and with county name or club name.
• Any language is allowable (e.g. English or Spanish).
• California 4-H logo must be shown at some time during the video.
• Signed entry form with consent to allow California 4-H to share video as they see fit.
• Video must be created by youth. No AI allowed.
• Choose from any of the following: Show how to prepare the food; talk about the benefits of the food; how to grow the food at home; a fun fact about the food; the history of the food; talk with a farmer about how it is grown and sold.
• Highlight 1 fruit or vegetable on the list below:
• cucumber
• sweet potato
• snap peas
• broccoli
• spinach
• butternut squash
• strawberries
• peaches
• blueberries
• kiwi
• mandarins
• persimmons: Fuyu

Deadline: May 30, 2026.

How to submit: Please upload videos to this Video Contest Entry Form. 

Prize: $50 gift card per video winner, 2 per month (popular vote and Healthy Living Advisory & Program Committee vote). Winners will be notified via email provided by the end of the following month.

Contact: Ally Lemmer (alemmer@ucanr.edu) or Dr. Kimberly Holmes (ksholmes@ucanr.edu).

4th H for Health Challenge

There are still 2 more months of the 2025-2026 program year to instill healthy habits with youth. The 4^th H for Health Challenge will end on June 30, 2026, and participating youth who practice healthy eating, movement, and social-emotional health activities will be awarded a certificate and pin. 

Ready to record some activities? Visit the website and download your tracker.

Contact: Ally Lemmer, Healthy Living Academic Coordinator at alemmer@ucanr.edu.

Horse Classic 2026

California 4-H Horse Classic

July 15-19, 2026

Brookside Park, Elk Grove

Get ready to compete at the California 4-H Horse Classic! The Educational Contests will be held July 15 and 16. Please go to the Equine Science page on the Resource Center for study resources. The top placing Senior teams or individuals qualify to represent California 4-H at the National 4-H Horse Classic at the Western National Roundup in Denver, CO.

New options have been added this year for the State 4-H Horse Classic Show on July 17-19. We will now have Novice Rider and three age divisions, plus Ranch is now available for all age and skill divisions. Ranch is also now included in the overall high point!

Registration due July 1. Shirts are included this year- register early to guarantee your shirt size!

Learn more about Horse Classic at bit.ly/CA-4-H-Horse-Classic.  

State Leadership Conference 2026

Cosmic Impact: Launch Your Spark

July 23-26, 2026 | UC Davis Campus

California 4-H Youth Development Program is launching youth leaders Beyond Ready at the 2026 State Leadership Conference! This year’s theme, Cosmic Impact: Launch Your Spark, invites youth ages 11-19 to explore their passions, strengthen leadership skills, and make an impact in their communities and beyond.

Participants will experience an unforgettable journey filled with hands-on workshops, inspiring speakers, and interactive sessions focused on leadership, communication, goal setting, and life readiness skills. Youth will also experience life on the University of California, Davis campus while connecting with fellow young leaders from across California.

Dynamic and engaging workshops will inspire participants with new ideas for leadership, personal growth, and future career pathways. Whether youth are longtime 4-H members or exploring new opportunities, SLC is designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help participants launch into their future with purpose.

What’s New for 2026?

All Together

For the first time, all age groups will arrive on the same day! Conference participants will gather beginning Thursday, July 23, for four exciting days of learning, leadership, and fun.

Choose Your Mission

Participants will select from five dynamic program tracks focused on personal interests, leadership development, and career exploration. Friday sessions will center around each participant’s chosen mission area, while Saturday workshops will allow youth to travel beyond their primary mission and explore new galaxies of interest.

2026 Program Tracks:

• Animal Science & Agriculture
• Civics & Leadership
• Healthy Living
• Shooting Sports Leadership
• STEM

Registration Information

Registration Open May 1-June 15, 2026

Conference Fees:

• Register May 1-21: $345
• Register May 22-June 1: $395
• Register June 2-15: $445

For additional information and registration details, visit the California 4-H State Leadership Conference website.

Fundraising Made Friendly

UC ANR Giving Day

May 14-15, 2026

The California 4-H Foundation is awarding monetary incentives for county 4-H programs participating in this spring's UC ANR Giving Day, May 14-15, Noon to Noon.

The Foundation's board has generously contributed $2,500 which will be awarded as follows:

• Four (4) $500 prizes to the 4-H funds that have the most unique donors
• One (1) $500 prize to the 4-H fund that receives the most money donated

In order to qualify for the incentive awards, donations must be received during the UC ANR Giving Day timeframe, May 14-15, Noon to Noon. To make a donation, please visit the California 4-H online giving site found here.

California 4-H Foundation Fundraising Incentive Program

The California 4-H Foundation is pleased to announce the continuation of the California 4-H Beyond Ready Incentive Program. California 4-H county programs will be eligible for monetary incentives toward their fundraising goals. All donations made through the California 4-H Foundation beginning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 will be counted.

Timeline:

• June 15, 2026: Deadline to opt in

Send email to Mary Ciricillo, CA 4-H Foundation Director at mciricillo@ucanr.edu with the following information:

• Yes! I want to participate in the FY2026-2027 CA 4-H Foundation Beyond Ready Incentive Program.
• 2026-27 4-H Beyond Ready Program Plan describing how your county program will engage youth in 4-H.
• FY 2026-27 Fundraising Plan with goal amount

• July 1, 2026- June 30, 2027: Fundraising Timeframe (All gifts must be made through the California 4-H Foundation)
• August 1, 2027: County 4-H Impact Report sent to Mary Ciricillo
• Summer 2027: County 4-H Program Award Distributions

Requirements:

• Donations must go through the CA 4-H Foundation
• Eligibility for Incentive Awards
• 4-H Beyond Ready Plan- Program Year 2026-2027
• Fundraising Plan with Goal Amount- FY2026-2027
• County 4-H Impact Report describing how your program engaged more youth in 4-H.

Beekeeping Essay Competition

California 4-H Youth Recognized in State Beekeeping Essay Competition

The California 4-H Youth Development Program proudly congratulates two outstanding youth recognized in the California qualifying round of the American Beekeeping Federation 4-H Essay Contest.

This year’s state winner, Al-Yasa ’ibn A., whose essay “How is pollen important to bees?” advances to national competition. His essay explores how pollen provides essential protein for brood development, supports queen production through royal jelly, and influences colony productivity and survival across the seasons. The essay also examines how changing landscapes and reduced pollen quality may affect bee health over time.

We also celebrate our state runner-up, Alexa D. author of “More Than Dust: The Vital Role of Pollen in a Honey Bee Colony.” Their essay highlights how pollen stored as bee bread fuels larval development, how pesticide exposure and reduced floral diversity threaten colony nutrition, and how seasonal pollen availability shapes hive temperament and productivity.

Together, these essays reflect the curiosity, observation skills, and environmental awareness that define 4-H youth learning in action. Congratulations to both authors on representing California with excellence in beekeeping education and stewardship.

Bee Box Build Day

California 4-H is grateful to GiveToGet for organizing a special bee box build day with corporate volunteers that directly supports youth learning across the state. Thanks to this effort, 20 bee boxes are now in the hands of 4-H Beekeeping Project leaders in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Mateo/San Francisco, and Santa Clara Counties- expanding opportunities for young people to explore pollinator health, environmental stewardship, and hands-on agricultural science in their local communities. 🐝

We also extend our sincere thanks to Keith Nathaniel, Claudia Carlos and Cyndi Chavez for representing 4-H at the build days and helping coordinate delivery to Southern California counties, and to Susan Weaver for coordinating delivery to Northern California counties. The quick response and efficiency from all were truly amazing! You rock!

Projects like this reflect what’s possible when community partners, volunteers, and educators work together. These bee boxes will support meaningful learning experiences for 4-H members while strengthening awareness of the essential role pollinators play in healthy ecosystems and local food systems. We’re deeply appreciative of everyone who helped make this effort possible and excited to see the impact these bee boxes will have in communities across California. 🌼🌱

Blog Post: Range and Mustang Camp

Supporting Youth During Competition Season

Digital Content Accessibility Survey

Spring 2026 UC 4-H Digital Content Accessibility Survey

Federal Accessibility Law

This survey is part of a UC 4-H effort to ensure all digital content is accessible to individuals with disabilities, in alignment with a federal accessibility requirement.

Help us help you by providing two things:

1. Identify 4-H-related digital content (websites, social media, documents, etc.) using the survey link provided below.
2. Let us know if support is needed to make that content accessible.

This includes content managed by:

• County staff (CESs, Extension staff on behalf of 4-H, Program staff)
• Volunteers (Club Leaders, Project Leaders, etc.)

Spring 2026 UC 4-H Digital Content Accessibility Survey

You do not need to manage the content yourself to submit it.

If you are aware of content in your county, please include it.

The goal is not perfection! This is simply to help us understand what exists so we can provide support and prioritize next steps. Responses will only be used by UC ANR and UC 4-H staff supporting accessibility efforts. We may follow up to provide assistance if needed.

If you have any questions or concerns related to digital accessibility, please contact your local county Extension Office or the UC 4-H Program State Office using ca4h@ucanr.edu.

Thank you for supporting accessible and inclusive communication across the UC 4-H Program.

Sincerely,

UC 4-H State Office

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