Mary Engebreth Honored for 46 Years of 4-H Leadership

Author: Karen Giovannini
Mary Engebreth was presented with one of the Sonoma County's highest
honors, a Gold Resolution from the Board of Supervisors. Mary was
presented with the Gold at the State 4-H Leaders Forum by Louise Silacci,
"As President of the CA 4-H State Leaders Council, I wanted to recognize
one outstanding leader at our convention, and that one leader was Mary.
One of her most important contributions came this past year when we were
approved to start a new program called "Discussion Meet." We follow the
Young Ranchers and Farmers outline with a 4-H twist. Mary wrote the
project manual and I can't say enough wonderful things about her."
From the Gold:
"Mary Engebreth's countless hours of volunteerism, the
leadership of a successful youth program and her
continuing spirit to help our youth succeed, should be noted as a
model for our community to celebrate."
Mary Engebreth started her 4-H career in 1969 as a project leader for
Sewing and a project called Beginning Boys for new 4-Hers. Little did she
know that 46 years later she would still be a vital part of the organization.
Although she started at the club level, she took on greater leadership roles.
 Sonoma
County Club Council officer 1980-88, president 86-88
 North Coast Section officer 1986 including Policy Secretary & President
 Sonoma County All-Star adviser 92-93
 California Diamond Star program adviser 92-94
 National 4-H Conference 94 & 97
 Western Regional Leadership Forum 93-present
 National 4-H Camping Institute 98-02
 Developed California 4-H Camping Institute 2000, president 00-02
 Discussion Meet committee charter member 2012-present
Mary has created innovative programs:
 Started
the Countywide Wildlife Project in 1987 and continues to be the
project leader of this non-traditional project, the project was awarded
the Golden Clover earlier this year;
 She partnered with the six counties that use Los Posadas 4-H Camp to
create CAMP (Create a Memorable Program) staff training weekend;
 She founded CAL Conference (Create a Leader) for North Central Section
youth leadership weekends;
 Began WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program) with a team of
specialist and teachers - WHEP is a takeoff of a National Program that
focused on California habitat.
And if that wasn't enough, she was an integral part of the re-write of the
original State Presentation Day Manual and State Fashion Revue Manual.
THANK YOU MARY for your past, present, and future
contributions to and leadership of the 4-H program