Member Spotlights

Kendra, Sacramento County

Kendra, Wilton 4-H Club, Sacramento County

For many 4-H members, taking the reins of leadership can be an inspiring and exhilarating experience. Kendra from Sacramento clearly demonstrates her own leadership initiative with this bold statement: “Instead of sitting there and waiting for something to happen, I can help plan and then make it happen.”

After joining 4-H at the age of nine, Kendra made the most of her club’s opportunities. She joined the horse and pony project her first year, and she has never looked back. Eight years later, her horses Sierra and Willy are proof of her dedication and talent. Sierra, a green-broke six-year-old Appaloosa, has been a challenge. However, with the help of her leaders and riding instructors, Kendra has become a better rider as well as the owner of a highly trained horse.  Kendra also shares her knowledge with other members, as she is now the teen leader of her project.

Kendra doesn’t stop at her 4-H club, however. She has participated in and planned several county and statewide events. A member of her county’s Teen Leader Awareness (TLA) group, she assisted in the planning and implementation of the Sacramento’s Leader Appreciation dinner. She was also a key member of the Leader Development Awareness Day planning committee, selecting a keynote speaker for the event.

Attending the California State 4-H Leadership Conference inspired Kendra even further. A session leader for four years running at Creating a Leader Conference, Kendra chose to do an impromptu speaking session this year. She gave public speaking tips through fun games and educational practice.

With 4-H involvement at the club, county and state levels, Kendra is more than qualified to inspire the rest of us with this memorable quote, “I used my strengths to build up my weaknesses to help make me an all around better leader.”

Author: Emily Lane, State 4-H Office Student Assistant, erlane@ucdavis.edu