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."

"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