YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Due to COVID-19 hardships and program changes, Yuba County 4-H enrollment was down by almost half at the end of 2020.

The Yuba River Endowment Board of Directors voted unanimously to support and promote 4-H. Yuba River Endowment Member, Steve Springer, presented Browns Valley 4-H Club Leader, Alicia Wright, with a $15,000 donation. The funds will reimburse the $100 enrollment fee paid by their 75 current members, and support the Club with an additional $7500 towards special projects and expenses.

“4H is vital in an ag community. To have a strong FFA program, you need a strong 4H program,” said Steve Springer, Yuba River Endowment member. “It’s important we don’t let this pandemic define the future for our children.”

In the coming weeks the Endowment will make similar donations to the other four Yuba County 4-H Clubs, and later this spring, a second round of donations will be made to each of the Yuba County 4-H Clubs to cover all additional enrollment fees for any youths who join 4H now through the end of spring.

“This donation is truly a light at the end of a tunnel for our local youth,” said Wright. “We’ve gone from concern over reduced enrollment to being able to do a membership drive. Any youth who wants to participate in Yuba County 4-H, now can for free, thanks to the Endowment.”

The Yuba River Endowment is a non-profit organization created by Yuba County farmers. Since formation in late 2019, the Endowment has donated over $150,000 to support Yuba County ag education, provide food resources, veteran’s support, and much more.

The Yuba River Endowment was established by a select group of Yuba County farmers who have a right to water that flows on the Yuba River. In a truly win-win situation, the farmers’ water is used to provide the required flow levels to protect endangered fishes on the Yuba River, then once past this critical point, the water can be sold to drought-stricken areas of the state. Proceeds from these transfers provide the funding for the Yuba River Endowment, allow these farmers to expand their agricultural operations and create jobs in Yuba County. Through generations of conservation, cooperation, infrastructure investment and groundwater recharge, Yuba County is a model for water management in California.

Since 4H began more than 100 years ago, it has become the nation’s largest youth development organization, with over 6 million 4"'H’ers currently involved. To learn more, and join a Yuba County 4-H Program, please contact the UCCE Sutter-Yuba Counties 4-H Office at (530) 822-7515. Programming is available for ages 5 to 18.