San Benito County

4-H Youth Development Program

San Benito County 4-H Program
4-H Registration is OPEN YEAR ROUND!

4-H youth & volunteer registration fee 

4-H program year is July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 

$80.00 per youth member (ages 5 to 18 years old)

Adult volunteers leaders enrollment registration fees are covered by 4-H council.

Join 4-H Today!
4-H Community Club Information.

Going Beyond Ready  

4-H helps kids find their spark, build real world skills and become resilient, adaptable, lifelong learners.

For our youth the road ahead may be challenging, yet 4-H'ers are succeeding. Data shows that compared to their peers they're:

  • 2x more likely to have the goal of being a leader
  • 3x more likely to participate in community service
  • 2x more likely to report living life with intentionality and purpose

*Tufts University longitudinal study of Positive Youth Development, 2021

4-H offers youth limitless opportunity for friendship, growth, fun, and life skills.  By engaging youth and adults in a meaningful partnerships, 4-H helps youth to reach their full potential as competent, confident, leaders of character who contribute and are connected to their communities.  To learn more about what the 4-H program has to offer our youth, check out the 4-H New Family Handbook.

Join today and start your 4-H youth and family adventure by registering with a 4-H club of your choose on line at ZSuite (4-H registration system) for more information visit the "Join Today tab". 

4-H equips kids with essential life skills, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging through epic hands-on learning experiences.

Upcoming 4-H Events:

  • July 21st, Poultry Science countywide project meeting
    • Location: 4-H office, 3228 Southside Rd, Hollister
    • Time: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
    • Egg science experiements
  • State Leadership Conference (SLC) 
    • July 24th-27th SLC (14-19 years old) seniors
    • July 25th - 27th SLC(11-13 years old)  intermediate
    • 4-H council will pay your registration fee
    • For more information & registration check out SLC website 
  • August 2nd - Life on a Ranch
    • Wilder Ranch State Park
    • Location: 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz
    • Time: 11:00 am to 1 pm
    • Come expolore the history of ranch with a black smith station
    • Meet at the entrance (4-H program rep) 
  • 4-H State & 4-H National events 

    Visit the 4-H state website for updates as well more information

Bird Flu Ban as of May 21, 2025: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Updates

Sacramento, CA – There are currently no active infections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in California poultry flocks, however, California dairy cattle herds are still affected by the H5N1 virus. Due to the ongoing infections in California dairies, the Ban on all California Poultry and Dairy Cattle Exhibitions at Shows and Fairs is still in place. For the latest updates on the ban, please visit our CDFA Avian Health Program page.

Since California's first detection of H5N1 Bird Flu in dairies, there have been a total of 766 infected dairies with 630 of those affected, fully recovered and released from quarantine. All quarantine released dairies will be placed on a surveillance list for bi-monthly testing through creameries to maintain continued monitoring of the virus in California. For the latest updates on Bird Flu infected dairies, visit our CDFA H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock page.  

Report any unusual/suspicious illness or deaths to your local veterinarian or CDFA Sick Bird Hotline at 866-922-BIRD (2473)."

For more details

CDFA website

CA Poultry and Dairy Exhibition Ban

4-H Council Meeting

4th Monday of the month 

Next meeting on January 27, 2025 

No meeting in July, September, December
up stair at Veteran's Building
649 San Benito St, Hollister
7pm council meeting
 

4-H Program Senior Awards- May 2025

$36,00 in Scholarships
Sponsored by 
San Benito 4-H Council & 
Scholarship Donors 
 
Georgia Wapple Frazier Scholarship Awarded to:
4-year scholarship 
($1000/year – $4000 total)
 
Awarded to: 

Lauren Lange - Fairview 4-H Club                   

John W. & Caroline Ricotti 
4-H Memorial Scholarship
$1000 Awarded to: 
 
Molly Nino- Cienega 4-H Club
Jack Sarringhaus - Union 4-H Club 
 
4-H Memorial Scholarship
$1000 to $500 Awarded to: 
 
Madison Kashiwagi - Cienega 4-H Club 
Gianna Gastello - Cienega 4-H Club 
Callie Marci - Cienega 4-H Club
Lilly Murray - Ausaymas 4-H Club
Maile Maddox - Ausaymas 4-H Club
Lillian Mendonsa - Cienega 4-H Club 
Sydney Stacy - Cienega 4-H Club 
Dan Nino - Cienega 4-H Club
                                           
Bank On Us -4-H Scholarships 
$250 to $3500 Awarded to:
 
Lauren Lange - Fairview 4-H Club
Molly Nno - Cienega 4-H Club
Jack Sarringhaus - Union 4-H Club
Madison Kashiwagi - Cienega 4-H Club 
Gianna Gastello - Cienega 4-H Club 
Callie Narci - Cienega 4-H Club
Lilly Murray- Ausaymas 4-H Club 
Maile Maddox - Ausaymas 4-H Club 
Lillian Mendonsa - Cienega 4-H Club 
Sydney Stacy- Cienega 4-H Club 
Dan Nino- Cienega 4-H Club 
Brooke Taylor - Union 4-H Club 
 
We are honored to award the 4-H scholarships to our graduating high school senior 4-H members with 4-H scholarships.  We Thank you for the many years of dedication, hard work and community service in our 4-H program and community.  We wish you the best in your future.

 

4-h kids

4-H staff is available in person in San Benito physical office on Monday.

The rest of the week contact staff by email or phone at information below.

Monday

8:30 am to 4:30 pm                   

4-H staff in the physical office. 

3228 Southside Rd, Hollister, CA 95023

Santa Cruz office: 

Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday

8:30 am to 4:30 pm 

Contact 4-H Program: 

Julie Katawicz   

jkatawicz@ucanr.edu 

office (831) 637-5346 x102

mobile: 831-205-3180

Additional staff Contact information:  

4-H Animal Science Advisor 
Hedmon Okella, Ph.D.
hokella@ucanr.edu or mobile: (831) 673-9892 
 

County Director: 

Larry Bettiga

lbettiga@ucanr.edu or office (831) 759-7361  

Fire Advisor:

Barb Satink Wolfson 

bsatinkwolfson@ucanr.edu or office (831) 637-5346 x 104

Administrative Issues:

Jennifer Gomer 

jkgomer@ucanr.edu or office (831) 637-5346 x105 

mobile (408) 825-4455