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4-H California State Ambassador History
It began as the 4-H All Star Program
A group of older 4-H members were serving as ushers at a Farm Bureau Convention in Pasadena in 1936 and began discussing the 4-H program. They felt that there should be some form of recognition for personal achievements, so they developed the All Star rank, which would be the most outstanding boy and girl in each county. They also developed a scorecard for the selection. When they went back to their counties, they presented their proposal to leaders and advisors, who realized a need for such a recognition in order to retain older member involvement. When it was finally presented to the state staff, the idea had been studied, revised, and ultimately combined with ideas from every segment of the 4-H organization (members, leaders, county and state staff). The purpose was to focus attention on personal achievements in project activities and leadership fields.
The 4-H All Star program was presented at the Annual Extension Conference in January 1937. The proposal was met with some reservations, but a four day conference was scheduled in Berkeley in October. Each county was to select the best 4-H boy and girl using the scorecard developed in Pasadena. The conference was a marked departure from previous policy, as group recognition was the standard criteria for participation. County advisors and 4-H club leaders were so reluctant to select individual All Stars that the conference was canceled.
It wasn't until 1940 that the first All Star conference was held, reflecting the acceptance of the revolutionary idea first proposed in 1937. Four "State 4-H All Stars" were selected at the 1940 All Star Conference and each was presented with a Diamond Star Pin. Every year since 1940, several individual 4-H members have been chosen as Diamond Stars.
2001: 4-H State Ambassadors
In 2001, the Diamond Star changed names to become the 4-H State Ambassadors in order to better reflect the duties and honor of this achievement. To this day, the 4-H State Ambassadors represent the pinnacle of 4-H achievement- leadership, personal responsibility, civic participation, and diversity.
Album of Diamond Stars and State Ambassadors
Scroll to see our photos of past Diamond Stars and State Ambassadors. If you have a group photo to add to this page, please send a copy to ca4h@ucanr.edu. Our goal is to complete the album with photos of each year.
2021-2022
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2021-2022Addison Holbrook, Imperial County Eve Dowdell, Stanislaus County Mansi Khare, Alameda County Megna Nayar, Santa Clara County Sara Tibbetts, El Dorado County Serafina Martinez, Orange County AdvisorsCole Breck Rhiannon (Ray) Willingham Maura Sparrevohn |
2020-2021
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2020-2021Noah Bostrom, Glenn County AdvisorsCole Breck MentorsMaura Sparrevohn |
2019-2020
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2019-2020Kari McMann, Alameda County AdvisorsCole Breck MentorsMaura Sparrevohn |
2018-2019
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2018-2019 State AmbassadorsAmanda Cantwell, Imperial County State Ambassador II
Adult Advisors: Cole Breck, Butte County State 4-H Coordinator
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| 2017-2018 
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2017-2018 State Ambassadors Rose Fiorenza, Imperial County State Ambassador II Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
| 2016-2017
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2016-2017 State Ambassadors Alberto Lizarraga, San Bernardino County State Ambassador II |
| 2015-2016 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2015-2016 State Ambassadors Ashley Olson, Kings County State Ambassador II Lyle Glass, Solano County
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| 2014-2015
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2014-2015 State Ambassadors Andrew Wood, Placer County Key Leaders
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| 2013-2014 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator
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2013-2014 State Ambassadors Tristan Chester, Fresno County |
| 2012-2013
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator
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2012-2013 State Ambassadors Colleen Bohannan, Solano County |
| 2011-2012
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator
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2011-2012 State Ambassadors Jessica Choi, Alameda County |
| 2010-2011 Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2010-2011 4-H State Ambassadors
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| 2009-2010 Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2009-2010 4-H State Ambassadors
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| 2008-2009 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2008-2009 4-H State Ambassadors
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2007-2008 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2007-2008 4-H State Ambassadors
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| 2006-2007 
Adult Advisors: State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2006-2007 4-H State Ambassadors Amanda Kay Clark, San Luis Obispo
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| 2005-2006 
Adult Advisors: State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2005-2006 4-H State Ambassadors Ashley Driver, Colusa |
| 2004-2005 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2004-2005 4-H State Ambassadors Cecily Davis, Butte County
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| 2003-2004 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2003-2004 4-H State Ambassadors
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| 2002-2003 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator
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2002-2003 4-H State Ambassadors |
| 2001-2002 
Adult Advisors State 4-H Staff Coordinator |
2001-2002 4-H State Ambassadors Katie Reid, Plumas |
Diamond Stars (1957-2001)
| 2000-2001 
Coordinator: Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty |
2000-2001 California Diamond Stars
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| 1999-2000 
Coordinator: Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty |
1999-2000 California Diamond Stars Sally Traylor, South Advisor, Imperial
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| 1998-1999 
Coordinator: Lynn Schmitt-McQuitty |
1998-1999 California Diamond Stars Melinda Crabtree, Lake
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| 1997-1999 Coordinator: Glen Gilmore |
1997-1999 California Diamond Stars Sarah Graydon, Nevada
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| 1996-1998 
North Advisor: Kathy Radoff, Placer |
1996-1998 California Diamond Stars Jessica Bansen, Humboldt
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| 1995-1996 California Diamond Stars Lori Barhydt, Nevada North Advisor: Gloria Lamm, Placer |
1994-1995 California Diamond Stars Colleen Bangle, Yolo North Advisor: Laurel Marsters, Lassen |
| 1993-1994 California Diamond Stars Christine Balesteri, Monterey North Advisor: Christine Williams, Colusa |
1992-1993 California Diamond Stars Duane Banderob, Sacramento North Advisor: Sandra Atteberry, Butte |
| 1991-1992 North Advisor: Mae Brown, Sutter |
1991-1992 California Diamond Star Winners
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| 1990-1991 
State Staff: Grace Meeker |
1990-1991 California Diamond Stars Peter Cousins, Stanislaus
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| 1989-1990 
State Staff: Marc Braverman |
1989-1990 California Diamond Stars Debbie Babbit, Glenn
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| 1988-1989 
Director: Luella Zamzow |
1988-1989 California Diamond Stars
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| 1987-1988 
Coordinator: Ruth Sutherland |
1987-1988 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates:
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| 1986-1987 
Coordinator: Ruth Sutherland |
1986-1987 California Diamond Star Winners Chantel De Ruiter, Kings
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| 1985-1986 
Advisor: Fern Vacca |
1985-1986 California Diamond Stars
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1984-1985
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1984-1985 California Diamond Stars Attended National 4-H Conference |
| 1983-1984 
Advisor: Ruth Sutherland |
1983-1984 California Diamond Stars A total of 14 youth were named Diamond Stars but when they arrived at the Conference at UC Davis they were told there were not enough funds to send them all to the 4-H National Conference. Only the pictured 6 youth were named Diamond Stars to go to the National Conference. In later years the remaining 8 were designated Diamond Stars for this year. If you are one of the 8 Diamond Stars not listed, please contact us to have your name added to this list. Randa Cowart, Fresno
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| 1982-1983 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates:
Advisor: Zelda Hughes |
1981-1982 California Diamond Stars Ron Brandt, Butte County
1980-1981 California Diamond Stars Margaret AmRhein, Santa Cruz |
1979-1980
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1979-1980 California Diamond Stars Christina Marie Garrod, Santa Clara |
| 1979 California Diamond Stars Darci L. Wright, Shasta County |
1978 California Diamond Stars Richard Bauer, Santa Barbara |
| 1977 California Diamond Stars Mark Dias, Humboldt |
1976 California Diamond Stars 17 Diamond Stars selected- first 5 attended National Conference
Douglas Brown, Imperial |
| 1975 California Diamond Stars 16 Diamond Stars Selected- first 5 attended National Conference:
Thomas L. Beazley, Sacramento |
1974 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates:
1973 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: Urban delegates to National 4-H Conference |
| 1972 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1971 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1970 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1969 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1968 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1967 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1966 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1965 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1964 California Diamond Stars Robert Hartman, Lassen |
1963 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1962 California Diamond Star Winners National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1961 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1960 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1959 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
| 1958 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
1957 California Diamond Stars National 4-H Conference delegates: |
Diamond Stars (1940-1956)
The National 4-H Camp was held from 1927 to 1956. It was a gathering in Washington, D.C. of the top 4-H youth in each state. The Diamond Stars represented California at the National 4-H Camp.
Starting in 1957, this national gathering was renamed the National 4-H Conference, which is still held yearly in April. [http://4-hhistorypreservation.com/History/4-H_Camp/]
| 1956 California Diamond Stars Hugh R. Mc Bride, Contra Costa |
1955 California Diamond Stars Robert C. Fowlks, San Bernardino |
| 1954 California Diamond Stars Lowell Thomas Butler, Butte |
1953 California Diamond Stars Leo Polopolus,San Bernardino |
| 1952 California Diamond Stars Gordon C. Chan, Los Angeles |
1950 California Diamond Stars John Andreas, Tulare |
| 1949 California Diamond Stars Jim Fraley, Lassen |
1948 California Diamond Stars Stuart Rowe, Solano |
| 1947 California Diamond Stars James, Mullar, Tulare |
1944-1945 California Diamond Stars 
William R. Niedrich Jr, Los Angeles |
| 1944 California Diamond Stars Erwin Woods, San Joaquin |
1943 California Diamond Stars Tim Righetti, San Luis Obispo |
| 1942 California Diamond Stars Lavern Ford, San Joaquin |
1941 California Diamond Stars Douglas Quinn, Kings |
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1940 California Diamond Stars Bob Bianchi,Monterey Walter Hughes, Santa Barbara Belle Gaumer, Butte Bertha Carlson, Riverside |