Fall 2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

On behalf of the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation Board & Staff, thank you for your continued support and for being an invaluable part of our 4-H family. This Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, donors, and supporters. Your dedication empowers Arizona 4-H youth to learn, grow, and thrive, and we are truly thankful for the impact you make each year.

Words from Associate Director & State 4-H Program Leader

Dr. Todd Kesner

Associate Director & State 4-H Program Leader

Our youth have no idea of what they’re in for when they join 4-H. A team of young people thinks they are trying to win an underwater robotics contest at the University of Arizona Rec. Center pool on STEM weekend. But they’re really honing teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills while unknowingly exploring careers. Young 4-H members in the rabbit project think they’re sharing their knowledge of nutrition, biosecurity, and proper animal care with an interview judge when they’re really learning to communicate ideas, make their case, and respond positively and thoughtfully when challenged with a question.

It’s called positive youth development, and the learning has long-term impacts that assist a young person in making a successful transition to adulthood. Today’s catchphrase of developing “Beyond Ready” youth isn’t just a slogan. The 4-H program has been at this since 1902, and when we evaluate our youth development impacts, we find encouraging results. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension CRED Team surveyed Arizona 4-H alumni this summer and found 95% would recommend 4-H to others, 80% credited 4-H with helping them foster a sense of responsibility, 77% reported they learned leadership skills while in 4-H, and 74% said 4-H taught them to follow through on commitments.

There’s a lot more revealed in the survey and it paints an inspiring picture of our 4-H program. But rest assured that when you see a 4-H member engaged in project work, attending camp, going to the fair, or participating in a statewide event, you’re really seeing a future adult developing the skills for success both for themselves and their community.

The Arizona 4-H Gala Recap

Thank you to our Table Donors and Auction Item Donors

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the generous sponsors and donors who made this event possible. Your support directly strengthens Arizona 4-H youth programs, allowing us to provide meaningful learning experiences, leadership development, and community impact across the state. Thank you for investing in the future of our young people and believing in the power of 4-H.

Extra special thanks to everyone who participated. Together, we raised nearly $60,000!

With gratitude,
The Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation Board & Staff

Table Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Arizona Farm Bureau
Arizona Farm Bureau Financial Services

Silver Sponsors

AgWest Farm Credit
OneAZ Credit Union
Vortex Group
SRP Desert Basin Generating Station

Bronze Sponsors

Custom Technical Solutions LLC
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
Kari Petterson
Pima/Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau
Pima County Horse Advisory Board
Graham Co. 4-H Leaders
Yuma County 4-H Leaders
Yavapai County 4-H

Other Sponsors

Farhan & Medcoff Attorneys
Cindy & Albert Hanson
Baird Wealth Management

Auction Item Donors

Wade Eckel - Mountain Lion Hunt
Felicia Robinson
AlaskaZona Flight Training - Eric Rovey
Steinbeck Vineyards and Winery
Ashley Menges
Thuy Bishop - Gila Co. 4-H
Grace Bombulum
Brett Benedict
Kristy Kinlicheenie
Marlene - Yavapai County
Sandra Germann
Yavapai Cowbells
Sara Keeno Freeman & Robert Freeman
Esther Turner - Pinal Co. 4-H
Eb Wilkinson
Mountain Trails Gallery
Todd Kesner
Calvin Arnold
Polka Dot Goat Farm
Michael Pierce
Kristin Tomlinson
Pony Express Cowboy Clothes at Rancho Rio
Emil Moline
Yuma Co. 4-H Leaders
Matt Halldorson & Caroline Williams

The Arizona 4-H Gala Event Photo Gallery

Link to Beyond Ready Video

Link to Gala Photos

2025-2026 4-H State Ambassadors

Your impact truly mattered. Thanks to your generosity during the $100 Paddle at The Arizona 4-H Gala Raise, we were able to provide embroidered jackets for all seven of our 2025–2026 Arizona State 4-H Ambassadors. We are also honored to introduce this outstanding ambassador team for the year. (Not pictured above: Tyann Layton, Navajo Nation.)

2025–2026 Arizona State 4-H Ambassadors:

Benton Wilson – Apache County

Tyann Layton – Navajo Nation

Abigail Herrera – Maricopa County

Ethan Kanuchok – Maricopa County

Lianna Seidler – Maricopa County

Benna Sanders – Yavapai County

Andrew Brown – Gila County

Meet Our Team: Board Members, Staff, and Past Advisors

Executive Committee

President – Cindy Webb Hanson

Past - President - Kari Petterson

Vice-President – Brett Benedict

Secretary – Emily Cathey

Treasurer – Gregg Brummer

Trustees 2024 - 2025

Tom Peterson

Emily Cathy

Taylar Irvin

Advisors

Tim Bee, Tucson

Nick Pierson, Phoenix

Michelle Mixer, Tucson

Peter Hooper

Kristen Sharp

Ex-Offico Members

Todd Kesner

State 4-H Program Leader & Associate Director

Esther Turner, Pinal Co.

4-H/Extension

4-H Foundation Staff

Sandra Germann, Executive Director

Donna Wertman, Bookkeeper

Christopher Rochester, Graphic Artist

Kimberly Alvarez, Student Talent; Newsletter Publisher

Arizona 4-H Staff

Todd Kesner, State 4-H Program Leader & Associate Director

Joe Corbett, Events & Projects Manager

Vacant, 4-H Curriculum Specialist

Margaret Carroll, James 4-H Camp Director

Ariana Dillard, Finance & Policy

Wishlist & Building Arizona's Future Through 4-H

4-H has been giving opportunities for building leadership, serving communities, and igniting the spark of learning for over 100 years in Arizona for youth ages 8-18. 4-H has been teaching the skills needed for the workplace and in our communities since its inception in 1902. Today’s 4-H Youth are “Beyond Ready” to meet the challenges of today and those not known to us yet in the future.

Youth today can participate in 4-H clubs, camps, and after-school programs from all 15 counties and 6 Tribal Nations in Arizona. As 4-H grows across the state, we need your help to offer the programs and projects needed for statewide and county events.

WISH LIST AND GOALS LOOKING FORWARD....

We call them the Great 8, and here’s the 2025-2026 breakdown ($142,250 Budget)/$265,750 Goal):

AGRICULTURE ($18,000 budget/$36,000 Goal)
- AZ 4-H Stock Show & Roundup- learning show before spring county fairs, all ages
- National Judging Contests – including WNR, NAILE, ANLS (PRIORITY THIS YEAR!)
- State Dog Show
- State Horse Show (NEED A SPONSOR FOR THIS!)
Camping and Shooting Sports Education ($11,500 budget/$23,000 Goal)
- James 4-H Camp scholarships
- Shooting Sports training, equipment, and events

Civic Engagement ($12,000 budget/$18,000 Goal)
- Engaged Citizens Event @ AZ State Capitol for State Ambassadors and county youth.
- National 4-H Congress - Top record book winners (16 and up) travel to Atlanta with over 400 youth nationwide to be inspired by national change makers and develop leadership skills
Community Service ($20,000 budget/$30,000 Goal)
- AZ 4-H Summit- UA experience for learning, team building, community service focus and current issue problem solving for 150 older teens. (NEED A SPONSOR FOR THIS!)

Cultural Understanding ($2,000 budget/$3,500 Goal)
- Inbound exchange from Japan
- International exchange outbound
- Cultural bias review and develop materials with cultural review.
Healthy Living ($2,500 budget/$3,750 Goal)
- State leadership team of Healthy Living Ambassadors
- Family & Consumer Science (FCHS) Contest

Leadership ($38,250 budget/$76,500 Goal)
- AZTAC(AZ Teen Adventure Camp), formerly JOLT (Journey for Leaders of Tomorrow)- Experience for older teens at James 4-H Camp, building tomorrow’s leaders
- AZ delegates to attend National 4-H Conference - State 4-H Ambassador leadership team to Washington D. C. (PRIORITY THIS YEAR!)
- Arizona delegates to National 4-H conferences (including Nat’l Summit, IGNITE, Healthy Living Summit).
- Expenses incurred in the Emerging Leader Event.
- State 4-H Ambassador Team Travel and Expenses
- State Communications Contest

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) ($20,000 budget/ $35,000 Goal). (NEED A SPONSOR FOR THIS!)
- Projects like STEM Youniversity – Training youth & adults to lead programs like Augmented Reality Floating Farms, Underwater Robotics, Build your Sustainable Greenhouse, and purchasing those programs
- Projects like Mission Command – Selected youth get the opportunity to work on science projects with NASA scientists that can end up on a rocket headed for the International Space Station.
- Implementing STEM programs around the state

Sandra Germann

Executive Director

Plus Special Grants:

Innovative County Grants $10,000 budget/$30,000 Goal – counties apply for these grants to start a new program in their county. Topics range from STEM to Shooting Sports, Leather making to welding... so many more. Most years, we can only fund 1/3 of the applications that come in. (NEED A SPONSOR FOR THIS!)
Volunteer Background checks $8,000/$10,000 Goal – the Foundation pays for background checks submitted by the counties, totaling the amount budgeted.

Thank you for reviewing our statewide budget at our current levels and our Wish List. To better meet the needs of the state, I can only imagine with wonder what that would look like to increase these amounts. Just think of all the kids who would benefit from that increased funding? It is noteworthy to know that thanks to some “forward-thinking” individuals in the past, some of these programs have endowment funds that support them. We appreciate this very much! The reality is that most don’t have restricted funds set aside, or even an annual sponsor. To honor our commitment to these annual program needs, the Foundation uses general support to fund these, and thanks to many of you who send in an annual contribution, rest assured, it is valued and appreciated. Our biggest request for additional funds right now is to increase the amount of dollars available for the National trip expenses for our youth. As more youth qualify to attend out-of-state events, our current funding is not enough to offer significant support. If you can help, you will open the door for young people to experience these opportunities.

One last thought as we approach the year-end:

At the end of the year, as some of you are looking at your estate plan and will (and I hope you are doing this regardless of whether it involves a charity or not), please consider putting Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation in your will or estate plan. Once you’ve taken care of those near and dear to you, it is easy to leave a lump sum or a percentage to the charity of your choice. You can even designate a specific area of support within that charity. For 4-H, all you need is our name and tax ID # (#23-7083384). If this is something you are interested in and able to do, thank you for your philanthropic spirit! For the rest of you, don’t put off getting your will and/or estate plan in order. The National average for U.S. adults who die without a valid will or estate plan is a staggering 60-67%. This means the state of Arizona will create a plan for your estate through its laws of intestate succession. And if you’re like me and have a will but haven’t looked at it since your kids (who now have kids) were young, it is time to re-evaluate. I will if you will. Let’s just get it done!

Calling ALL High School Seniors and College Undergraduate 4-H Alumni

Did you know the Arizona 4-H Youth Foundation awards over $40,000 in scholarships to current and former 4-H members? These opportunities are open to high school seniors and current undergraduate students.

Applications open December 2025
Deadline: April 2026

Stay tuned for more details!