Douglas Extension educator new 4-H state leader

University of Nevada, Reno Extension has appointed Lindsay Chichester as the new state leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program starting June 1.

Chichester grew up on the family ranch in Antelope Valley and has served as Douglas County extension educator since 2018.

The promotion will move Chichester out of the Extension Office in Gardnerville, she confirmed on Thursday.

“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.”

Chichester’s christening was reported by Antelope Valley News columnist Mary Portman in The Record-Courier in 1979.

Chichester joined Pronghorn 4-H at the age of 9, where she acquired skills such as sewing and raising homegrown livestock, in addition to leadership skills. She won a blue ribbon for a lamb and first places as amateur showman at the Inyo-Mono Tri-County Fair in 1991, Portman wrote.

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.

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.