Sherwood Forest 4-H Club Leaders Honored

SOLANO COUNTY, CA – PHOTO: Linda Layton (center) of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo, is the 2016 Solano County 4-H Leader of the Year, and Julianna Payne (right), also of Sherwood Forest, is the Solano County 4-H Alumni Award recipient. With them is Valerie Williams, Solano County 4-H Program representative. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Linda Layton of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo, who is active in 4-H at four levels--club, county, sectional and state--was named the “2016 Leader of the Year” in the Solano County 4-H Program for her outstanding leadership.

Layton received the award at the recent end-of-the-year achievement program, held in the Suisun Valley Elementary School. Her name is engraved on a perpetual plaque on display at the UC Cooperative Extension Office, Fairfield.

The annual award honors a 4-H leader who exemplifies the qualities expected of an outstanding leader, said Valerie Williams, Solano County 4-H program representative. “They draw out the best in 4-H members through their patience, project preparedness and dependability as well as their capacity to engage older youth who serve as junior or teen leaders—providing them a youth/adult relationship experience built on equity and trust.”

Julianna Payne of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo, won the Solano County 4-H Alumni Award, designed to recognize past 4-H members who have returned to the program as a volunteer leader to share their knowledge and experiences. Payne, a 14 year member of 4-H, is a former Solano County 4-H All Star Ambassador, Thrive master trainer and Diamond Clover recipient. She is currently serving as a foods and nutrition project leader for primary members.

In addition, 25 leaders received 4-H pins for their milestones, encompassing 5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 25-year commitment.

Twenty-Five Leaders: Kathy Keatley Garvey, Vacaville; Sharon Tiernan-Lang, Elmira 4-H Club; Rita LeRoy, and Sherwood Forest

Fifteen-Year Leader: Heidi Hall, Suisun Valley 4-H Club

Ten-Year Leaders: Dawn Harshman and Toni Tucker of the Rio Vista 4-H Club; Jean Sasabuchi and Betsy Wallace-Jones of the Roving Clovers 4-H, Dixon; Kenneth Zadwick of Sherwood Forest; Traci Estes and Patricia Lum of Suisun Valley; and Roselle Ritchey of Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon

Fifth-Year Leaders: Joy Carlton and Dallas Madariaga of Dixon Ridge 4-H Club; Elizabeth Jones of Maine Prairie 4-H Club, Dixon; Suzanne Cline and Richard Hamilton of Rio Vista; Elizabeth Caulfield of Roving Clovers; Evelyn Williams and Robert Williams; Lizzie Minor of Sherwood Forest; Janet Wright, Suisun Valley; Melinda Smith of Tremont; and Elaine Epstein and Beth Nelson, Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville.

The Solano County 4-H Youth Development Program, part of the UC Cooperative Extension Program, follows the motto, “Making the best better.” 4-H, which stands for head, heart, health and hands, is open to youths ages 5 to 19. In age-appropriate projects, they learn skills through hands-on learning in projects ranging from arts and crafts, computers and leadership to dog care, poultry, rabbits and woodworking. They develop skills they would otherwise not attain at home or in public or private schools.

For information on the Solano County 4-H Program, access http://cesolano.ucanr.edu or contact Valerie Williams at vawilliams@ucanr.edu or (707) 784-1319.

• ALSO SEE: Solano County 4-H'ers Honored at End-of-Year Program