Isabell Hayes

Newman 4-H Reporter

Newman 4-H member Olivia Casey was one of three delegates to attend the four day long State Leadership Conference held at UC Davis.  The event titled “Planting New Perspectives,”  Mike Smith served as the conferences keynote speaker.  Smith spoke on empowering underprivileged youth.

Casey served as a facilitator, assisting a group of younger members during the conference, through their sessions, meeting with them in the morning to prepare them for their day and then again in the evening to discuss what they had learned.

Delegates were able to attend a “generational wealth event” hosted by Travis Credit Union.  This was a hands on event with role play, teaching youth how to plan for a secure financial future.  Participants were also able to tour the UC Davis campus.  Tours covered agriculture, history and technology.  There were off campus tours at the State Capitol and the Railroad Museum, which Casey attended.

Casey was one of three delegates from Stanislaus County.  In addition to serving as a facilitator, Casey was able to attend and participate in a “mock national conference” with round table discussion on mental health issues in our society.  Casey’s group will continue working on the topic of mental health issues, planning to develop a project for our state, to be presented to the USDA for approval as a 4-H project.

This program year, Casey will be hosting regional 4-H events discussing and problem solving food insecurity in the Central Valley.