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Washington State University

What’s Happening in Thurston County 4-H?

Program Contact: Emily Killeen, 4-H Program Coordinator
(360) 867-2157 • tc4h@co.thurston.wa.us

Thurston County 4-H Calendar

Please use the 2023-24 Thurston County 4-H Calendar to help your family plan 4-H involvement and remember 4-H activities and eligibility deadlines. The calendar lists opportunities for currently enrolled 4-H youth members, families and volunteers. If you are not already enrolled in a 4-H Club or as a 4-H Leader/Volunteer, please contact the 4-H Office at tc4h@co.thurson.wa.us for assistance.

Thurston County 4-H News

Stay connected and find out what’s happening in Thurston County 4-H:

2024 Winter Quarter Newsletter

2023 Fall Quarter Newsletter

WSU 4-H Youth Development Tuesday News

To find out what’s going on in 4-H statewide, go to Tuesday News.

Experience 4-H!

Try something new and find your spark!  Free  virtual classes are open to youth ages 5-18 unless otherwise specified.  Pre-registration required.  Go to the Calendar for live registration links, or like the Explore 4-H with WSU Extension Facebook page for updates on all the offerings.

Articles from Thurston Talks

Local 4-H Member Competes in First Archery Competition at Thurston County Fair

Every year the  Thurston County Fair brings with it food and fun for everyone in our community.  Members of local 4-H clubs work hard all year to get their projects ready to show at fair.  This year, the Thurston County Fair will have 4-H archery for the first time and Levi W., a local 4-Her, is excited to show his skill.

“I think it is exciting to do something new,” he says. “I’ve never competed at fair.”  Read the entire article.

Head to the Thurston County Fair and Meet 4-Her Rowan Scholl and Her Dogs

If you thought county fairs and 4-H were just for livestock or farm animals, think again! If your child is interested in dogs, 4-H is an amazing place for them to learn about training, showing and caring for them. At the 2023 Thurston County Fair you can meet 4-H member Rowan Scholl and her crew of canines. Ask her questions and see the amazing job she has done training her partners.  Read the entire article.

Thurston County 4-H Members Madison Keller Lives the Farm Life

Thurston County sprawls across small-town farms and bustling city dwellings. This means that 4-H clubs in the county have everything from STEAM projects to market animals. Madison Keller is a lifelong 4-H member who is prepping for her ninth year at the Thurston County Fair happening July 26-30, 2023.

Madison, who is heading into the 11th grade this fall, belongs to the Jr. 12’s 4-H Club. “I have been in 4-H for nine years,” she says.  Read the entire article.

Thurston County 4-H Holds Virtual Contests in Lieu of 2020 County Fair

Everyone loves a county fair. But for 4-Hers, it’s especially important. The annual Thurston County Fair marks the end of a year of hard work getting their projects ready to show. It’s a week of fun with friends, learning and of course, fair food. When the Thurston County Fair was cancelled due to COVID-19, the 4-H community stepped up to ensure her kids still got as much of the Fair experience as they could.  Click here to read the entire article.

4-H: Head, Heart, Hands, Health, and Helping Hounds

Dogs are often considered man’s best friend. While many people may teach their best friends simple tricks, not all of them go the extra mile and do advanced training. 4-H is a nationwide organization focused on service for children of all ages. The four H’s stand for “Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.” 4-H has a variety of subjects such as sewing, raising show chickens and
horseback riding. Erin Gayton of Olympia leads a 4-H dog training group called “Helping Hounds.” There are several 4-H dog clubs in Thurston County, but Helping Hounds has a special emphasis on inclusion. Click here to read the entire article.

4-H Options Go Beyond the Barnyard

When we think of 4-H, working with livestock is what usually comes to mind. But 4-H (which stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health) is about so much more. While the program was started to teach youth about agriculture and bring technology to farms, it has grown into the largest youth development organization in the United States with the mission to “help young people and their families gain the skills needed to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.” Click here to read the entire article.

A Day in the Life of a 4-H’er at the Thurston County Fair

The Thurston County Fair is bustling with visitors – families eager to spend a pleasant, stress-free day looking at animals, playing carnival games and enjoying the food. Oh, the food! But amidst that crowd is a group of kids and parents who are bustling for an entirely different reason. For 4-H’ers and their parents, fair week (and the week leading up to it) is without a doubt the busiest time of their year and most likely not stress-free. Click here to read the entire article.

Thu 21
Thu 21

4-H Garden Project Meeting

March 21 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Mon 25

4-H Leader’s Council Meeting

March 25 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Wed 27

4-H Still Life Project Meeting/Activity

March 27 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Apr 01

4-H Horse Committee Meeting

April 1 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Apr 08

4-H Dog Committee Meeting

April 8 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Apr 09

Worm Composting Workshop

April 9 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Apr 11

4-H Robotics Project Meeting

April 11 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Apr 18
Apr 18