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Last Chance to Register for the 2024 Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest

As a reminder this Saturday, June 29, the 2024 Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest

There is still time to REGISTER! A few last-minute reminders:

• Early registration has passed but we are still accepting sign-ups until contest morning on the 29^th. If bringing registration to the contest ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork and required signatures before showing up to the registration desk.  If you do not, then you will be turned away.
• Be sure that you are ready for team/individual PAYMENT either with a check made out to WSU Spokane County, a card (we will use Square for payment), or with cash.
• Bring a copy of your registration with you and have those individuals within the division (jr, int, sr) identified as team 1, and if you have more than 1 team, continue with team 2, etc. by the time you reach the registration table.
• Coaches you will need to determine who your 3 or 4 team members will be if you have more than 4 individuals signed up in a division (Jr, Int, Sr) at check-in/registration.
• Also, coaches of senior teams: familiarize yourself with the travel rules for national contests.
• REMEMBER THE DRESS CODE!  See the contest rules! Hats will not be allowed during contests and awards. Also abide by shirt, pants, and buckle guidelines; we don’t want to police, so be aware! THANK YOU!
• Contest rules, guidelines, and registration can be found at https://bit.ly/2024walivestockjudging

This will be our third year hosting the Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, WA. The committee is looking forward to another successful contest year. In 2023 we had 121 participants across the 3 divisions (Junior, Intermediate, Senior) offered. The 2024 contest is scheduled for June 29 and will be held at the Ardell Pavilion, centered on the Grant County Fairgrounds. Contest guidelines and rules with NEW for 2024 updates are available for viewing on the Washington 4-H website (https://bit.ly/2024walivestockjudging). Additionally, the travel guidelines document and fillable registration forms specific to Junior, Intermediate, and Senior contest registrations are also available on the website. Again, there is NO Requirement for Qualifying, just come and participate. 

Remember to read the rules as some items will impact your team’s participation in this contest. There are some simple requests that we ask you to pay attention to, such as the dress code.  This is something that was implemented in 2023 and I would say that many met the request with appropriate clothing and accessories. Let’s keep this up for 2024! Further entry fees have increased for this year to cover additional expenses for contest execution. All registration materials signed by the county extension professional (specialist, educator, coordinator, administrative, etc.). Late registrations that are recorded by the WSUE Spokane County office after June 15, will be accepted with a late fee charged ($20/individual). All fees (check, credit, or cash) will be collected on the day of the contest. Checks will need to be made out to WSUE Spokane County and in the memo line note “State 4-H Livestock Judging”. As a reminder teams and coaches must be prepared to identify the contests they would like to travel to by the end of the state contest.  If the first-place team has not determined that when asked, then they will forfeit first choice, and so on.  So please, coaches and parents, be prepared before you come to the contest to compete.   

 Registrations will need to be sent to Robert.kestell@wsu.edu and CC pskuber@wsu.edu. Any questions about the contest please contact Paul Kuber pskuber@wsu.edu. See you on June 29^th.

Save the Date – Level 2 Shooting Sports Training in October

It’s that time again – National 4-H has set a date for the Level 2 training for shooting sports. The next one will be October 27 – November 1 in Columbia, NC. Registration information will be available soon!

As a reminder, Level 2 instructors are volunteers who train new Level 1 4-H shooting sports instructors. They must be certified and fully enrolled in 4-H when they attend training, and they need to have been a level 1 shooting sports volunteer for at least one year prior to the training.

If you have volunteers you think may be qualified, send their first and last name and we will reach out to them with the application when it becomes available. Volunteers must pay their own way to and from the conference. If you have any questions, contact Ashley (a.hernandez-hall@wsu.edu).

State 4-H Horse Medallion Donations Needed

State Dog Committee Optional Assessment for the 2023-2024 Program Year

The State 4-H Dog Leaders’ Committee has implemented a sustainable way of funding the needs of the State Dog Project regarding awards, equipment, and other requirements to provide an outstanding experience for each of our 4-H members who attend state-level events.

The State 4-H Dog Leaders’ Committee asks each county dog program to contribute an assessment, a $3.00 fee for the exhibitor allotment for your county dog show days at State Fair from the previous year. This is a suggested donation amount, and since this allotment is based on the county entries at State Fair from the previous year, it provides a sustainable and equitable way for each county to support the State Dog Project. (For example, if your county had a State Fair allotment of ten your county suggested contribution would be $30.00 for the current year.)

You may find out your allotment for the current year from your county Extension office 4-H staff or you may send an email to the contacts listed below. Please note that this assessment is not mandatory and does not in any way affect your county dog program’s participation in 4-H state events – but provides an opportunity to support the State 4-H Dog Project.
We would like to receive your donation by August 1st. Please make your checks payable to the WA ST 4-H Dog Project and mail to:
Sarah Gunderson
P.O. Box 850
Carnation, WA 98014-0850

If you have questions regarding specifics details on how the funds are used or allocated, please contact
Sarah Gunderson, State Dog committee treasurer sarahgcpa@gmail.com
Barb Taylor, State Dog Committee member barb@nventure.com
Kari Smith-Schlecht, State Dog Committee member jeskarsk9@aol.com

On behalf of the State 4-H Dog committee, thank you for your support.

WSU 4-H Scholarships Offer Ability to Make the Best Better

Scholarships at Washington State University (WSU) Extension 4-H are funded through generous endowments from Woody and Joan Bernard, Thomas R. Quann, WA 4-H Foundation, Lewis County 4-H Leaders Council, O.M. Plummer Memorial fund, J. Orville/Helen Young Memorial fund, and the WSU 4-H College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) Dettman Scholarship with continual funding support made by the friends of 4-H. The donors created these legacy accounts to make a long-term gift for WSU Extension 4-H high school seniors to make a positive impact on society. Their gifts help enable future generations of students to benefit from higher education to make even greater contributions to the public good.

WSU Extension 4-H is thankful for the 4-H Scholarship Committee as they volunteered their time to diligently select our 2024 scholarship winners. The application review is an important and thorough process that helps to ensure a fair selection of awardees, which would not be possible without the committee’s dedication. Thus, we are proud to announce the 2024 WSU Extension 4-H scholarship award winners.

The Woody and Joan Bernard 4-H Higher Education Scholarships were awarded to Abby Ruddell (Island) and Arcelia Sciarrotta (Kitsap). Ruddell will attend Montana State University to make the most of this scholarship opportunity by continuing to strive for excellence in all her endeavors. Ruddell’s 4-H career has expanded and evolved with several projects from dog to archery and she realized that being a good showman crosses over into any project—and into life. Sciarrotta will attend University of Idaho to pursue a degree in archaeology.  This has always been a dream of Sciarrotta’s, and 4-H has helped her achieve this next step by building life skills and the confidence to try and to succeed. Sciarrotta stated, “In 4-H, the idea is not that you acquire skills to hoard trophies and ribbons, but to share all that you have learned with the other youth and the community.”

Jenna Fennerl (Clark), Anna Hansen (Skagit), and Adryen Valdez (Franklin) were awarded the Thomas R. Quann 4-H Scholarships. Fennerl will attend Santa Clara University to major in environmental studies and minor in political science, with plans to continue onto law school to become an environmental policy lawyer. Through 4-H Fennerl realized her love for the environment and her dream to help protect it. Hansen will attend Montana State University to study nursing. Hansen participated in dog 4-H and shared that the values promoted in 4-H helped her understand the importance of community involvement and service. Hansen stated, “The 4-H program means so much to me, and I am so thankful for all I have learned from it. Not only have I gained life skills, but now (…this scholarship) has provided me with funds to help me continue the path of success in my education.” Valdez will attend WSU to pursue a degree in computer engineering. His involvement in 4-H has made Valdez the person he is today through an understanding of a strong work ethic, and the benefits of donating his time and energy to help others through community service.

The Washington State 4-H Foundation Trustees Scholarship was awarded to Emma Fontenot (Snohomish). Fontenot will attend Western Washington University where she is planning to study art education with a minor in museum studies. Fontenot’s participation in the 4-H creative arts project molded her love for making art, and the public presentation curriculum helped her emerge from 4-H as an engaging and confident speaker.

Will Amonette (Whitman), Anna Carman (King), and Gracie Miller (Clark), were recipients of the Lewis County Leaders 4-H Council Scholarships. Amonette will attend the University of Idaho. Amonette’s time in 4-H gave him a love for animals and their habitats. These are interests related to his future field of study in rangeland management and ecology as he hopes to be able to work closely with farmers and ranchers, educating them on new farming practices to reduce environmental impact. Carman will attend California Polytechnic State University to study animal science with a pre-vet emphasis and an equine focus. 4-H allowed Carman to pursue her love of horseback riding and to navigate the world of horse showing. Miller will attend WSU and major in business administration or management, plus minoring in photography. 4-H has taught Miller leadership skills, a deeper compassion for animals, and an enhanced understanding of communication techniques and critical thinking skills.

The O.M. Plummer Scholarship of the Oregon Community Foundation awarded a scholarship to Brea Tracy (Lewis). Tracy will study at Pacific University Oregon to major in speech language pathology. She learned how beneficial 4-H was through building relationships, discovering that winning was not the only important thing about her dairy project, and the importance of leadership skills and work ethic.

Cade Cowell (Thurston) received the J. Orville/Helen Young Memorial Scholarship. Cowell will attend Central Oregon Community College to attend culinary school to obtain an associate’s degree in baking and pastry, as well as a certificate in culinary arts. Cowell’s experiences with 4-H and his county fair baking and cooking showcases sparked a real passion inspiring a future career.

The WSU 4-H CAHNRS Dettman Scholarship was awarded to Elyssa Kofler (Skagit). She will be attending WSU CAHNRS, majoring in animal sciences, as her passion for working with animals in 4-H has inspired her to pursue a career as a veterinarian. Kofler attended the 2023 4-H State Teen Conference in Pullman which solidified her choice to attend WSU.

Congratulations to all the 2024 award recipients who dedicated their 4-H experience “to make the best better,” and continue working towards accomplishing their next steps in higher education. For more information on the Washington State 4-H scholarship opportunities or to support 4-H visit https://extension.wsu.edu/4H.

Upcoming Horse Shows and Clinics

Mark your calendars for the annual Washington State Junior Horse Show and clinics. The show is dedicated to Maravell Gonsiorski, a long-time 4-H leader who also kept the Washington State Jr. Horse Show going for many years. If you need more specific information, contact Kim Lansing, show manager at ms.berly@yahoo.com.

The links for the various activities are as follows:

June 27: Clinics

• Horsemanship for Gaming and Performance with Liz Martinez: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2083/2024/03/2024-WSJHS-BARREL-RACING-HORSEMANSHIP-Liz-Martinez.pdf
• Ranch Riding and Ranch Obstacle with Sue Sultze: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2083/2024/03/2024-WSJHS-Ranch-Horse-Clinic-Sue-Sultze-11.13.2023.pdf
• Showmanship with Diane Pixlee: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2083/2024/03/2024-WSJHS-showmanshiip-Clinic-Diane-Pixlee-12.2.2023.pdf

June 28-30:  Washington State Jr Horse Show – 4-H Show: https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2083/2024/04/2024-WSJHS-4-H-2.10.2024.pdf

June 29-30:  Washington State Classic Dual Open Show: https://3xg709.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024-Washington-State-Classic-Prize-List-FINAL-Corrected-Copy.pdf

Updated June 25, 2024