Joining 4-H as a child set Lindsay Chichester on a path that eventually led to college and into a career as an educator. Now she hopes to use 4-H to help other youth find their own path through 4-H.
University of Nevada, Reno Extension has appointed Chichester as the new state leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program. With a focus on enhancing youth engagement across Nevada, she will officially begin her role on June 1.
Chichester brings extensive experience in Extension community work, having served in related positions for nearly 15 years. Before her tenure at the University, she was an educator at University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension for six years, where she focused on beef and livestock systems. She joined University of Nevada, Reno Extension in 2016, initially as the Extension educator in Carson City, and then transitioned to the Extension educator in Douglas County in 2018.
Chichester developed her love for animals growing up on her family’s ranch in Topaz, Calif. and started 4-H as a 9-year old in the Smith Valley 4-H Livestock Club and the Smith Valley 4-H Community Club.
“As a youth my passion was livestock. I raised homegrown market and breeding animals, as well as participated in livestock judging,” she said.
Those live animal evaluation skills helped her team win the Nevada 4-H livestock judging contest in 1996, and they went to Louisville, KY for the national competition. While there, she was recruited to judge livestock for Redlands Community College (El Reno, Ok.) and then Oklahoma Panhandle State University (Goodwell, Ok.).
After participating in collegiate 4-H, she volunteered as a 4-H leader.
“I am excited about this new opportunity, as 4-H has heavily influenced the trajectory of my life and my career,” Chichester said. “The skills I learned as a youth gave me life advantages throughout college and continue to shape my professional career. I am humbled and honored to move into this leadership role in Nevada 4-H, where I was once a member. It has come full circle.”
In addition to public speaking and being able to defend your choice via judging, Chichester said other skills that 4-H helped with was record keeping, responsibility, time management, and sportsmanship.
As an Extension educator, Chichester has provided guidance to livestock producers, helping them to maximize productivity and ensure the health of their livestock. She has also developed and implemented educational programs for the 4-H Youth Development Program, including the promotion of initiatives such as Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Program. Additionally, she has provided expertise for various youth contests and events, such as honeybee and pollinator programs and livestock judging. In her most recent position as the Douglas County Extension educator, she leveraged her skills in community outreach and hands-on learning to develop methods for measuring impacts of Extension programs within the community.
As Nevada’s new 4-H leader, Chichester will work collaboratively with Extension specialists, parents, community leaders and volunteers to lead and develop educational and leadership programs for the group’s nearly 26,000 youth participants. Her objective is to expand youth engagement in 4-H programs across Nevada and ensure that the organization offers opportunities to every youth in the state.
Chichester earned her bachelor's degree in animal science and agriculture business, and master’s degrees in animal/meat science and speech communication from West Texas A&M University, where she later earned a Ph.D. in systems agriculture. Her instructional expertise spans a diverse range of topics, including livestock programming, food safety, agriculture business, environmental sciences, horticulture, and cropping systems.
"As we welcome Lindsay as the state leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program, we embrace not just her wealth of experience, but also the passion and dedication she brings to empowering the youth of Nevada,” said Jacob DeDecker, Extension director and associate dean for engagement with the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. “Her journey with 4-H reflects a deep-rooted commitment to nurturing young minds and shaping the leaders of tomorrow, and I have every confidence that her vision will inspire positive change and growth within our 4-H community."
The Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program caters to youth, ages 5 to 19, providing hands-on learning experiences, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to explore various STEM disciplines in fun and interactive ways. The program offers a diverse range of clubs, STEM programs, in-school and after-school activities, and summer camps, all aimed at empowering youth with the skills and confidence needed to thrive as engaged citizens.
Chichester is excited to, among other things, help grow the 4-H summer camps, which have provided lifelong memories for Nevadans for decades. This year, summer camps in southern Nevada’s 4-H Camp and Learning Center in Alamo are scheduled from late May to early September, while those in northern Nevada’s Nevada State 4-H Camp at Lake Tahoe will run between early May and mid-July. Chichester said registration is open for campers, and camp counselors are also needed as well.
The Nevada 4-H Program will also present hands-on, fun, and educational activities at the College’s 2024 Nevada Field Day & Ag Expo. Those interested in camp information or the program in general are encouraged to stop by the event on May 31, 2 – 6 p.m., at 1000 Valley Road.
Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should contact Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at [email protected] or 702-257-5577 at least five days prior to the scheduled event with their needs or for more information.
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