Chowchilla 4-H’ers cultivating community growth

Editor’s note: Chowchilla salutes the young people, leaders and advisers of the local 4-H clubs. 4-H grows confident, capable and caring kids with the life skills to thrive in today's world. 4-H develops leadership, community service and encourages kids to follow their dreams. 4-H community leaders and all those who volunteer their time to participate with projects lead by example. We salute your dedication and commitment to the goals and vision of the 4-H program. We also recognize the achievements and growth of out local 4-H members. As you read the following articles, you will definitely see the positive influence 4-H has on today’s youth.

Rider Bass

Rider Bass is 12 years old. He is the son of David and Vicki Bass of Chowchilla. He is the oldest of four children. Rider has a little sister, Rhilee, 8, a little brother, Ridge, 3, and a baby sister, Rheigan, 1.

Rider has lived in Chowchilla all of his life and is in seventh grade at Dairyland Elementary School. He is a member of the advanced band as a drummer and he is also a member of GATE. Rider likes to play sports. He is currently playing recreation soccer in Chowchilla.

Rider joined the Chowchilla 4-H Club in 2009 and has been involved in Community Pride, Market Meat Goats, Food and Nutrition, Electricity, Sign Language and Arts and Crafts. Rider has volunteered his time to help provide service to the different organizations in town that have requested the Chowchilla 4-H to help out. He likes to tie the red ribbons down Robertson Boulevard and he enjoys selling the Kid’s Day papers and he has been a great help at many of the events like the Cornerstone Church Thanksgiving Feast, Relay for Life Pancake Breakfast and the Save the Fair Dinner.

Rider also enjoys showing hisgoats at the Los Banos and Chowchilla spring fairs. He will tell you that goats are very stubborn and that it takes hard work, time, dedication and effort to train your animal to prepare them for showing at the fair. All of Rider’s hard work has paid off for him as he has made sale at all of the fairs that he has attended.

By joining the 4-H, Rider has become a better leader and a stronger person as he is able to work with other members and help out people in his community. He has learned so much in the past few years and it shows as he helps out more at home and at school. Rider has learned that teamwork is a very important aspect in life and that if you help others, they will help you. He encourages his friends to join 4-H as it is a great club to be a part of and offers many projects to involve yourself in. Rider’s participation in 4-H has really helped him grow and feel better about himself as he knows he is helping others, yet he is still learning at the same time.

Kyle Beels

Kyle Beels is 17 years old and a senior at Chowchilla Union High School. His parents are Gene and Bo Beels. He has two brothers, Eugene Beels and Rick Diaz. Kyle has been in the Chowchilla 4-H Club for 10 years and he is currently the vice-president of the club. This will be Kyle’s last year because he will graduate in June and leave for the Arts Institute in San Diego in July. He has enjoyed being involved in 4-H because it has given him many opportunities to meet new people and at the same time has helped him give back to his community.

In the past years he has been involved in several projects but his favorite one of all is Community Pride. He is currently the teen leader for the Community Pride group. He feels this project has given him and the other members the opportunity to help their community throughout the year. As a teen leader, he gets a chance to help assist the project leader and members in all the activities that they do for the community. He enjoys being in this project because they do so much for the community and he believes by doing for the community it helps him get out and meet new people.

The Community Pride group does several things throughout the year. This past year, the group did over 15 events for the community which kept the members very busy. One of the activities that Kyle really enjoys is selling newspapers on kid’s day for Valley Children’s Hospital. This event was meaningful for him and his family because he knows that all the money raised goes directly to the hospital for the children. This event had a special meaning for him and his family because his one month old niece was diagnosed with cancer and they had to spend a lot of time in the Craycroft cancer unit at the Children’s Hospital.

“People don’t realize how special that hospital is to families until you have to experience it yourself and the wonderful care that the doctors and nurses do for the families,” Kyle said. So when Kyle and his mom were selling the newspapers they thanked everyone that donated money and he even thanked the members for coming out and working hard for a good cause.

Another event he helped with was the Relay for Life Breakfast and the Relay for Life Garden Tour this year. Kyle was excited to help this year because again this meant a lot to him because of his niece being sick. He enjoyed working at these events because he gets to hear their special stories and they share their experiences and it’s nice to be able to be there to help support others that have gone through the same thing. The money that is raised goes to the Relay for Life Fund so that the funds can help the ones who really need help.

This year the club was asked by several organizations to help serve at dinners in the community. The club served at dinners from 50 to 600 people depending on the guests that attended the dinners. Some of the dinners that they served at were Save the Fair Dinner, NRA Dinner, 50th Anniversary, Friends of Library Taco Dinner, Jay Varney Election Dinner and Gary Ray Family Fundraiser. Serving at these dinners members do several things from physically serving each person to doing a buffet line and they help clean up after the events depending on what they actually need them to do.

Other events that Kyle has helped with are Red Ribbon Week. That’s where members meet and then they tie on each tree and pole that covers Robertson Boulevard from one end of town to the other. He also helped serve at the Thanksgiving Feast for the Cornerstone Preschool. Kyle is involved in all the committees that the club provides because he is one of the older members who helps direct the younger members when needed. Kyle co-chaired several committees with his mom who is the community club leader along with being the Community Pride leader.

Kyle says, “Our club does a lot of things for the community that people don’t realize they do.” The club helps sponsor a family in need at Christmas by giving them food for their family along with gifts for the whole family. He also helps along with his fellow members donate cookies and coats at Christmas time to the Lioness Christmas Tree Lighting. He helped at the Senior Citizen Center by decorating their Christmas tree.

Since he has been involved in 4-H, he believes it has helped him become a better person and leader and has given him the experience to go out and meet people and help his community. He tries to volunteer as much as he can and he always encourages the members to do the same.

4-H has benefited him in so many ways with one in helping him become a better person all around. It has given him a chance to meet new people that he probably would of never met if he hadn’t joined 4-H. He is sad that this is his last year but is excited about the new adventures that are in the future.

Colby Deniz

Hello, my name is Colby Deniz and this is my 4-H story. I am 11 years old and am ending a fantastic third year in 4-H. I will soon be starting sixth grade at Fairmead Elementary School. My parents are Cheri Farmer and Tom Deniz, and I have two sisters, Ashley and Kylie Farmer. Most of my family has been involved in 4-H, so I decided to give it a try.

My sheep leader this year was Angie Barney. We worked hard to prepare for large animal expo. Since I have done expo before, I enjoy helping the new members. This was a great experience this year.

I joined the rabbit group during my third year in 4-H. Though I didn’t show a rabbit this year, I learned a lot about them just by being in this group. One thing that surprised me was how many different breeds there are. I am glad I signed up for this group, because it was a great learning experience for when I do show.

I have made many memories this year and have had a great third year 4-H experience.

Roman Diaz

Roman Diaz is beginning his sixth year as a member of the Chowchilla 4-H Club.

Since his first year as a mini-member in 2009, Roman has been a dedicated member who has proved his willingness to put forth the extra effort whenever possible to assist those in need, as well as serve his community with pride. Roman has been a great role model to his younger brother, Ryan, for whom he is always ready to lend a hand or offer advice. Roman’s parents, Rick and Maggie Diaz, couldn’t be more proud of him.

He has been able to participate in many groups such as Community Pride, Arts and Crafts, American Sign Language, Market Meat Goat, Rabbit Group and Outdoor Adventure, all while playing multiple sports, maintaining honor roll in school as well as perfect attendance for seven straight years. Roman has a clear understanding on the importance of education and is planning to pursue a career in veterinary medicine after college. Roman would like everyone to know how thankful he is for the opportunities he has been granted by being a 4-H member and would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of those who dedicate their valuable time and knowledge to the 4-H’ers in the community and county.

Ryan Diaz

Ryan Diaz is a 10-year-old fifth grader at Dairyland Elementary School in Chowchilla, where he lives with his parents Rick and Maggie Diaz, and his older brother Roman. Ryan enjoys playing sports including football, basketball, baseball, soccer and spending lots of time with his family.

Ryan joined 4-H as a mini-member in September of 2011 to volunteer his time and effort in supporting his community by assisting with events such as Red Ribbon Week, Relay for Life Pancake Breakfast, Food Drive for Animal Shelter, Veteran’s Day Ceremony, Thanksgiving Feast at Cornerstone Church, Server at Community Food Bank and he sold newspapers for Kid’s Day every year since 2012.

Ryan has proven to be an exemplary member of his 4-H Community Pride group. He attends every event and contributes 100 percent effort to every task while maintaining a positive attitude and being well mannered. In the three years that Ryan has participated in Community Pride with 4-H, he has become more aware of things that affect his community and is ready to assist wherever help is needed. Now in his second year as a full member, Ryan will continue in community pride and will be showing an animal once again at the Chowchilla-Madera County Fair in May.

Ryan was elected to the office of correspondence secretary this year by his fellow members and is excited as well as proud to serve his club and community. 4-H is playing an important role in Ryan’s future; he currently plans to attend college after high school and is interested in the field of law enforcement. He also plans to continue with 4-H and with community involvement. Ryan would like everyone to know that 4-H has had a positive impact on his life and encourages others to get involved with their local 4-H Club.

Kylie Farmer

Hi, my name is Kylie Farmer and this is my 4-H story. I’m 13 and have just completed my fifth year in the Chowchilla 4-H Club. I started eighth grade in August. My parents are Cheri Farmer and Craig Farmer and I have three sisters, Ashley Farmer, Colby Deniz and Jilian Olmos. I also have a brother, Tyler Badger. Although most of my family has been involved in 4-H, my sister Ashley was my main inspiration for me to join 4-H.

This year I was unable to show a lamb, but being in the sheep group still was the great learning experience that it has always been. I had fun helping the members as the sheep group junior leader, whether it be preparing them for EXPO, or helping them with their projects at the fair. Even without showing a lamb this year, I was able to learn things that will help prepare me for next year when I show.

I’ve had so many great experiences in 4-H and this year was no different. Anyone even considering joining 4-H should join, because you have a ton of fun while helping the community and learning important life lessons.

Christine Fry

Christine Fry is a ninth year member of the Alview-Dairyland 4-H Club. She is a Madera County winner in her Horse and Pony project record book and has been selected as a 2014-2015 California 4-H State Ambassador.

A senior at Chowchilla Union High School, Christine is the daughter of Tom and Norma Fry of Chowchilla. When she graduates, she plans to attend the University of California, Davis, and major in veterinary science and later become an equine veterinarian. Some of her interests are vet science, riding quads and horses, showing livestock, horse judging, and hunting, but her main interest is in horses. Christine joined 4-H when she was 9.

Christine, as in previous years, is involved in many projects. Those projects are All-Star, Teen Leadership, Vet Science and Citizenship. What she noticed is that these projects all circle around her horse project.

Christine earned 12 firsts and two seconds, along with the Golden Bear Belt Buckle at the California State Fair this past year. She earned reserve champion for low hunters and earned the high point buckle for the pony flat classes at the California State 4-H Horse Classic. She competed in the educational contest at the California State 4-H Horse Classic. She qualified there in the individual demonstration to compete at the National Horse Classic in Denver, Colo.

Her Vet Science project was based on techniques and strategies used for keeping animals healthy. As she observed the animals on the Fry farm, cats, dogs, horses, sheep, turkeys and wild animals, she noticed there is a lot of common sense as to what techniques she could use to keep her animals happy and willing to work for her. She also learned more about bio security and its importance. She spoke of bio security and how important it is to maintain it in order to prevent disease from spreading.

Another project Christine was involved in was citizenship and being a 2013-2014 Madera County All-Star. Both this project and position allowed her to help out in her community and county to share her leadership skills with other 4-H members. In her 4-H club, the members and Christine have donated food for Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets. She has helped sell newspapers to raise money for Children’s Hospital and tied red ribbons up and down Robertson Boulevard to remind children to be drug free.

Looking at her past year as a Madera County All-Star, it has given her the opportunity to meet more of Madera County 4-H members and inspire them to do more in 4-H. There is so many opportunities 4-H can offer that very few participate in, such as being on state 4-H advisory committees. She feels that most youth can benefit a lot from these committees, along with building their leadership skills and confidence. From her personal experience of being on both the state 4-H Animal Educational Advisory Committee and the state 4-H Equine Education Advisory Committee, it has been a phenomenal opportunity and something she would recommend to members to be a part of. Being the state youth chairwoman on the state 4-H Animal Educational Advisory Committee has helped her learn to be more efficient and responsible. Besides that, being on these committees allows you to meet individuals from all over our state of California and gives 4-H’ers a chance to learn about different concerns and voice their opinions.

Through the 4-H program, Christine has been inspired even more to follow her dream of becoming an equine veterinarian. Ever since she attended the Equine 4-H Field Day at UC Davis, Fry has fallen in love with not only the thought of becoming an equine veterinarian, but also attending UC Davis.

Beverly and Jewel Goncalves

4-H is a fun and exciting organization that many young people join every year. There are many projects that you can commit to. You can have a market animal to sell, or a breeding project to show at the fair. There aren’t just animals though, there is also cooking, outdoor activities, crafting, and many other fun educational projects you can get involved in.

4-H is open to all students that are between the ages of 9 to 19. In addition, many clubs also have what are called primary members. Primary members are younger than 9.

There are many life lessons to learn by getting involved in 4-H. It helps young people develop leadership skills, by becoming an officer in your club. Feeding and caring for an animal on a daily basis teaches responsibility. If you want to work with animals for your career, 4-H is a good place to start.

4-H week was the second week of October. This is a week to celebrate 4-H and make people aware of what 4-H is all about.

Isaiah Goudie

Isaiah Goudie is in the seventh grade at Dairyland Elementary School. This is his fifth year in the Chowchilla 4-H Club. His main project is beef. He is a junior leader in beef. He is also in Community Pride.

Besides 4-H, Isaiah is involved in many extra activities. He is on the flag football team at school and participates in fall ball baseball in Chowchilla. Isaiah is also in advanced band where he plays the trombone and takes piano lessons. He is the assistant coach for his little brother’s soccer team.

Isaiah is looking forward to anther fun and successful year in 4-H. He plans to accomplish winning the Cattlemen’s Association Carcass contest again like he won the previous year. Isaiah’s pride and joy is agriculture and he plans to pursue his education in ag business in the future.

Rachel Mancebo

Rachel Mancebo is a third year member of the Alview-Dairyland 4-H Club. Rachel is beginning her second year as the club’s song and game leader.

Aside from being an officer, Rachel is also active in the Dairy Goats, Meat Goats, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Judging and Scrapbooking projects. In the past, she has participated in Baking and International Foods. This year, she plans to try a new project – watercolors. Rachel loves to be creative, and this project seemed like a great way to do that.

Last year, Rachel participated for the first time in 4-H Presentation Day. She gave a speech about ice cream, and she received gold medals at both the county and regional levels. She plans to participate again this year, because she has found that public speaking is one of her strengths.

Rachel’s goal for this 4-H year is to keep having fun. “Everyone who knows me knows that I like to have fun. I love to teach the club members new games, and help them get to know each other. 4-H is a great way to make new friends and learn about all kinds of different things.”

Annai Martinez

Annai Martinez is in the seventh grade at Dairyland School. She is 12-years-old and this is her third year in the Alview-Dairyland 4-H. This year Annai is historian. As historian, her duty is to make a scrapbook of all 4-H memories of her 4-H club.

Her projects include Sheep, Dairy Goats, Sewing and Scrapbooking. She is junior leader for Sheep. Annai says her seven-year-old ewe had triplets and after getting sick, and having multiple antibiotic shots, she was finally put down. It made her sad because she was trying to be a good mother. She bottle fed and nipple bucket fed her lambs. One of her triplet lambs had inverted eyelashes. Her leader taught her what would happen to the lamb if they didn’t fix it, which included possible blindness. They performed a minor procedure to correct it. Since inverted eyelids are somewhat rare, this was an experience for her. Annai says without 4-H she would not have the experience and knowledge she has in her projects.

This story was originally published October 21, 2014 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Chowchilla 4-H’ers cultivating community growth."