LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Charlie Adams of Lakeport recently was recognized for his leadership and community engagement by earning the county’s highest 4-H award as All-Star Ambassador.

Adams has been a member of the Blue Heron 4-H club in Lakeport for 10 years.

From the start, he was intensely engaged. Growing up with an animal-loving family, he and his sister Robin became responsible for a backyard menagerie of ducks, chickens, chinchillas, rabbits, goats, guinea pigs, cats and more. Many of these animals have been shown annually at the Lake County Fair and elsewhere as he became an award-winning showman.

Adams has been an officer in his club for the last seven years, serving in the roles of president, vice president, treasurer and sergeant of arms, to name a few.

Each year after he turned age 11, he began teaming with adults to lead several undertakings including four animal science projects, community service, arts and crafts, and youth leadership. He also mentors youth in his role as 4-H camp counselor each summer.

As part of his efforts to earn his All-Star, he promoted the 4-H program with presentations to the Lakeport Elks and the Lake County Arts Council. He partnered with the Arts Council to create a Children’s Art Day held in October of 2018.

Adams visited the Anderson Marsh 4-H club and shared a presentation on “How Service Learning differs from Community Service.” He has skillfully served as the MC and host for a variety of 4-H county events in recent years.

He has been a frequent volunteer at local civic club fundraisers like the Kiwanis Memorial Weekend Pancake breakfast, People Services Chickenque, Channel Cats Bingo night, Lake County Literacy Vineyard Walk, Lake County’s Junior Livestock pen set up and auction, and others.

He is the son of Sue Smith-Adams and Mike Adams and is a senior at Ukiah High School.

The 4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension.

For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-6838.

More information about the 4-H program can be accessed at http://celake.ucanr.edu/4-H_Program/ .

Peggy Alexander is the club leaders for the Blue Heron 4-H Community Club.