Session Speaker

Dr. Kaitlyn Murray

4-H Alumnus

California State Office

4-H Access, Equity, and 

Belonging Academic Coordinator

Kait Murray (she/they) serves as California 4-H's Community Engagement and Youth Outreach Academic Coordinator. She is passionate about creating spaces that center the needs and desires of marginalized communities. Kait completed their Ph.D. in Science and Agricultural Education at UC Davis. 

Session:

1) Different Doesn’t Mean Difficult: Rethinking Neurodiversity (co-presenter)

Neurodiversity is often viewed as something to manage rather than understand. This session challenges common assumptions about neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia, and reframes these differences as strengths when environments are designed with inclusion in mind. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of neurodiversity and actionable insights that show how small changes can lead to greater engagement, collaboration, and innovation, because different doesn’t mean difficult. 

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Session Speaker

Stepha Velednitsky

Alameda & Contra Costa Counties 

4-H Youth Development Advisor

Stepha Velednitsky (She/They) joined UC ANR as the 4-H youth advisor in Contra Costa and Alameda counties. Stepha collaborates with community partners to develop and promote culturally relevant college and career readiness programming for youth in the East Bay.

Velednitsky's 16 years of experience working with youth in school gardens, kitchens, outdoor education settings and university classrooms informs her commitment to strengthening communities by supporting young people in finding their paths. 

Growing up in Santa Clara County, she has been shaped by the years she has spent living in Oakland, San Diego and Madison, Wisconsin and is excited to be serving children in the Bay Area. 

Sessions:

1) Calm, Clear, & Confident:  Conflict Tools for 4-H Volunteers (co-presenter)

2) Different Doesn’t Mean Difficult: Rethinking Neurodiversity  (co-presenter)

3) Youth Reflect on Leadership Development in 4-H (co-presenter)

4) a Workshop on Supporting Youth Participation (co-presenter)

Session Speaker

Erica Pettey

California State 4-H Office

Animal and Equine Science CES III  

Erica Pettey serves as the Statewide Animal Science Education Specialist for California 4-H, supporting county 4-H programs, 4-H professionals, volunteers, and youth across the state. She leads California 4-H animal and equine science programs, chairs statewide committees that develop educational events and contests, and provides guidance on animal policy, fair rules, and resolving common challenges. Erica brings years of hands-on teaching experience from Cal Poly Pomona and UC Davis and holds degrees in animal science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kansas State University, and the University of Kentucky.

Session:

Engaging Youth in Livestock Nutrition Through Hands-On Learning

Supporting California 4-H volunteers in using experiential learning strategies to teach livestock nutrition, strengthen youth decision-making and problem-solving skills, and promote responsible, ethical care of livestock in 4-H projects.

Session Speaker

Barbara Butko

Alameda County 4-H Volunteer

Barbara has served as 4-H Adult Volunteer for 35 years leading local Projects, serving as an Advisor to County 4-H All Stars and Ambassadors as well as a young teen county-wide leadership project  and California 4-H Incentives and Recognitions Committee for more than a decade.

Session:

Record Books and Achievement Program: How Are We Doing? 

Where is your club on utilization of the new Achievement Program forms?

Separation of Achievement Program and Record Books: Breaking apart the various components of 4-H recognition in the California 4-H Program (Year Pins, Achievement Pins and Record Book Competitions)

Fairly in-depth overview of the Spark Achievement Report and who should be using it.

When is it acceptable for members to use the historic Star Achievement Forms (PDR)

Advancing to Emerald Star and Impact Star Achievement

Advantages to the new Achievement Program

Session Speaker

Gemma Miner

California State 4-H 

Interim Associate Director 

Gemma Miner (She/Her) is a youth development professional with over 40 years of partnering with youth to help them thrive. She earned a Master of Science in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University. Gemma has served the 4-H community for 15 years. She has provided extensive youth services, including outdoor education, camping, school-aged childcare, at-risk youth programming, marketing and communications, and special event management. She has extensive experience in professional development for staff, volunteers, and youth. Her sparks are youth development, the outdoors, personal development, learning, service, and all things Disney! 

Session 1:

Calm, Clear, & Confident: 

Conflict Tools for 4-H Volunteers (co-presenter):

 This interactive session equips 4-H volunteers with a practical, easy-to-use tool for navigating challenging conversations with parents, youth, and fellow volunteers. Participants will learn a structured, repeatable template that supports calm communication, clarifies expectations, and keeps the focus on positive youth development. Through guided practice and realistic scenarios, volunteers will build confidence in addressing misunderstandings, de-escalating tension, and facilitating solutions. By the end of the session, volunteers will leave with a practical process they can rely on when conflict arises—helping create safe, supportive environments where youth and adults can thrive.

Session 2:

Presence & Praise While Working with Youth: Supporting Positive Behavior. 

Co-regulation is the process through which caregivers, mentors, and educators help youth manage their

emotions and behaviors by providing supportive guidance, modeling self-regulation, and

creating a safe environment. It is especially crucial for young people, as their brains are still

developing the ability to self-regulate

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Session Speaker

Ally Lemmer

California State Office

4-H Healthy Living Academic Coordinator 

Just prior to her current role, Ally was an elementary school teacher in Oakland and Fair Oaks. She taught 2nd grade in East Oakland after earning her Master's in Education focusing on elementary literacy and then subsequently earned a Montessori Elementary Certificate while teaching 1st - 3rd grade at a Montessori public charter in Sacramento County. In the classroom she focused on inclusion and belonging efforts in her lessons as well as social-emotional learning. 

As the 4-H Healthy Living Academic Coordinator, Ally supports the 4-H Healthy Living Initiative in support with CalFresh Healthy Living, UC and EFNEP, by offering programs that address the nutritional, physical, emotional and social health needs through a health equity lens. 

Session:

Stress, Rest, and Sleep

Learn more about Stress, Rest & Sleep to support you and your youth. Create effective bedtime routines and understand the benefits of rest.  

Session Speaker

Brenda Vales

Contra Costa 4-H Volunteer

Contra Costa County CESII

Session:

4-H Policy Overview

4-H policies are established to insure the safety, educational and administrative integrity of all California 4-H activities, and are administered and interpreted by California 4-H staff in consultation with the county director, 4-H Policy Analyst, Statewide 4-H Director and UC ANR administration. Come learn more about 4-H policies and get you questions answered.

Session Speaker

Bree Barnett Dreyfuss

Contra Costa County 4-H Volunteer

Bree is a 4-H alumni and loves coming back as a 4-H Camp Leader. She has been teaching high school science for over 20 years. 

Bree will share experience writing letters of rec as a teacher and 

also a 4-H Adult leader. 

Session:

Writing Letters of Recommendation: Supporting Our Youth Leaders

Come to learn how to write letters of recommendation for awards, school, scholarships etc for our 4-H youth. I will offer suggestions from a 4-H leader perspective, we will discuss different strengths of 4-H youth we can highlight and how best to support them. 

Session Speaker

Jenna Colburn 

4-H Alumna 

CES IV Program Team Leader 

Session Speaker

Dr. Sally Neas

San Mateo/San Francisco Counties 

4-H Youth Development Advisor

Sally Neas, Ph.D., (She/Her) is the 4-H Youth Development Advisor for San Mateo-San Francisco counties. In this capacity, she uses research and program development to support positive youth development in the areas she serves. Her expertise includes teen leadership, engaging diverse audiences and environmental education. 

Session 1 - Cultivating Youth Participation: Youth Perspectives on Leadership Development in 4-H  (co-presenter)

This session will be a facilitated conversation with 4-H youth participants to hear their perspectives on how to support their leadership. The 4-H youth participants will reflect on areas where they have felt supported in developing greater leadership skills through 4-H programs, as well as ways adults can better support youth voice, youth initiative, and youth leadership. Attendees will leave with an understanding of youth participants’ experiences of leadership development in 4-H programs. Participants are welcome to attend one or both of the "Cultivating Youth Leadership" sessions. 

Session 2 - Cultivating Youth Leadership: Practical Strategies for Supporting Youth Leadership Development  (co-presenter)

In this session, Sally and Stepha will discuss practical strategies to support youth in gradually assuming greater responsibilities within programming. With time to workshop specific challenges and scenarios, attendees will leave with more actionable tools for supporting youth engagement and youth development. Participants are welcome to attend one or both of the "Cultivating Youth Leadership" sessions. __________________________________

Session Speaker

Tanya Daly

Alameda County 4-H Staff

Community Education Specialist II

Tanya Daly (She/Her) was involved with 4-H as an adult volunteer, club leader, and project leader for 12 years. As a club leader, she encouraged and supported project leaders in setting up their projects to bring a wide range of opportunities to 4-H youth.

Session 1:

Parents: 

A Valuable Volunteer Resource

 Parents are already involved in their children’s 4-H activities. Learn how to encourage them to become certified adult volunteers and find the rewards in being a part of 4-H members’ big and small 4-H and life moments. 

Session 2:

Project Workshop: 

Let's Get it Started

This interactive workshop will help new, experienced and prospective project leaders plan their projects with practical tips, brainstorming, networking and discussion. 

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Session Speaker

T'Nay Pham

San Mateo/SF Counties 4-H Staff, 

4-H Volunteer & Project Leader

T’Nay Pham is the new 4-H Program Coordinator for San Mateo and San Francisco counties. With deep roots in    4-H, T’Nay grew up in Calaveras County, where she raised livestock. T’Nay has long been committed to giving back to the 4-H community, leading the Pack & Dairy Goat project in Santa Clara County as an adult volunteer. She is eager to bring that same passion and dedication to the youth of San Mateo and San Francisco counties, helping them create the unforgettable experiences that have so profoundly shaped her own life. 

Session:

Meetings Matter

It's important to occasionally assess and evaluate how well our club and project meetings are doing in terms of offering positive youth development programming for the youth that it is serving. 

Use assessment tools to identify areas that need improvement in your 4-H club or project meeting.There is always an opportunity to improve! Assessments are an opportunity to grow and set your club up for success. __________________________________

Session Speakers

California State 

4-H Ambassadors

The 4-H State Ambassador position is one of the highest service opportunities and recognition attainable in the University of California 4-H Youth Development Program. One of the California 4-H State Ambassadors' roles is to provide educational workshops throughout the state. 

Session:

Swipe, Share, Support: Social Media Strategies for Growing Digital Leaders 

This workshop explores the basics of navigating TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook while understanding the unique audiences and strengths of each platform. Participants will learn best practices for creating and sharing content, engaging the right age groups, and safely partnering with youth in social media spaces. Emphasis will be placed on supporting youth voice while maintaining safety, balance, and positive digital leadership.