Since joining 4-H in 2015, Savannah Tuss has tried her hand at many different activities, including photography, baking, raising animals and competing in shooting sports, all with much success. 4-H has also helped the Albuquerque teen become more comfortable at public speaking and taking on leadership roles.
“It’s just become part of who I am,” said Tuss, now an New Mexico State University Global Campus student. “4-H introduced me to new people and new things that I never would have come across if I hadn’t joined.”
As the largest youth development organization in America, 4-H empowers nearly 6 million kids and teens through hands-on projects that teach life skills. In New Mexico, more than 40,000 youth from all 33 counties engage in 4-H activities offered through NMSU’s Cooperative Extension Service.
Tuss began her 4-H journey at age 8. She grew up in a military family in Albuquerque and joined the program at her grandmother’s urging. Tuss said she initially had reservations but quickly warmed up to the camaraderie of her club. It didn’t take long for Tuss to find a place among her peers and climb up the county ranks.
“It’s my favorite thing ever,” she said.
Now in her last year in county 4-H, Tuss is working to make it easier for youth in military families to participate in the program on their own terms. This effort is part of her role as the state 4-H military ambassador, an elected position she holds through the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Coming from a military family, I want to help military kids become more involved in 4-H,” she said, “because 4-H is in every state, and I want them to start their own clubs like we did in Albuquerque with the National Guard and Air Force 4-H clubs.”
Her message to young people in urban areas is simple: “You are one of us, even if you’re not from a traditional 4-H background.”
Jaime Castillo hopes to take a similar message across New Mexico as he works to reach more youth as the new department head for 4-H Youth Development at NMSU.
“I want to help the 4-H program serve all youth communities in New Mexico,” Castillo said. “I am committed to our traditional programs and want to expand our network so that we can offer more programs to more youth from corner to corner throughout New Mexico.”
Castillo points to the success of the 4-H Fridays program as an innovative way of engaging youth. The program brings 4-H into classrooms at an Albuquerque elementary school.
In 2016, Stephani Treadwell, the principal of Collet Park Elementary School, sought new ways to help students succeed. For help, she turned to Brittany Sonntag, the 4-H agent at the Bernalillo County Extension Office, who transformed the traditional 4-H curriculum to fit within the school day. The school now provides 4-H activities to its students.
As a result, student attendance, behaviors and academic performance have improved across the board.
“The 4-H Fridays program shows that when we meet youth in their classrooms, we remove barriers to participation and open the door for every student to belong,” Sonntag said. “It sparks curiosity, builds confidence and helps youth succeed both academically and personally, while connecting them to skills and opportunities that last a lifetime.”
RaeAnna Gallegos had similar success starting an after-school 4-H club at her old middle school in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Gallegos is possibly the first – and perhaps the only – 4-H member in Bernalillo County to help launch such a program.
The idea came to Gallegos as a sixth-grader at Ernie Pyle Middle School.
“I had already seen how 4-H builds leadership, sparks community service and grows confidence,” she said. “I knew my friends deserved those same opportunities.”
The program became a reality by the time Gallegos entered eighth grade. It makes 4-H activities and projects available to students after the school day. Gallegos said students learn many skills that “help them learn how to thrive in their daily lives.”
Now in high school, Gallegos views the program as proof that 4-H has a place within cities.
“I raise my animals right here in Albuquerque, and that’s exactly what makes Bernalillo County 4-H unique,” she said. “In an urban setting, we make it happen – and we do it together.”
A version of this story appears in the fall 2025 issue of ACES Magazine. For more stories, visit https://nmsu.news/aces-magazine-2025.
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Cutline: From left, Evinn Pedroncelli, Allison Westfall, Savannah Tuss, Macy King, RaeAnna Gallegos and Abigail McSween, all 4-H members in Bernalillo County. (Photo by Sam Wasson)