Tuesday News

Introduction to Hippology Opportunity

An Introduction to Hippology will be held at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, WA on May 2, 2026, 10 am to 2 pm. Junior, Intermediate, and Senior 4-H members are welcome and encouraged to come find out how fun Hippology is by working their way through introductory level Hippology phases of Written Exam, Slide Exam, ID Stations, and Horse Judging. $10 per member. 4-H Volunteers are welcome to shadow for no cost.

Introduction to Hippology! May 2, 2026; 10am to 2pm. Grant county Fairgrounds, Moses Lake, WA. $10 per person. Looking for a fun way to test your horse knowledge and meet friends who love studying horses, too? Hands-on, learn-by-doing introduction to hippology! Open to enrolled Junior, Intermediate, and Senior members in Washington State 4-H. You will participate in a fun, non-competitive version of a hippology contest and learn study tips. 4-H Volunteers may attend for free. Bring a sack lunch and something to drink!

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Apply to Attend Purdue Agronomy E-Learning Academy

Are you a 10th or 11th grader interested in Agronomy? Through Indiana 4-H’s participation in the Ballmer Grant, a limited number of spots have been reserved in the Purdue Agronomy E-Learning Crop Professional Program specifically for states and territories not directly participating in the grant. Washington students are welcome and encouraged to apply. Thanks to grant funding, all three courses (a $2,000 value each) will be offered at no cost to any accepted participant, regardless of state. This is an exceptional chance for students to gain college-level learning and earn a respected professional certificate. You can download the Informational Flyer for more details. The Application Forms are due by April 20th. Questions can be directed to wdecker@purdue.edu.

2026 Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest Opens Registration

As of April 1, registration is officially open. Coaches and or leaders can register their teams and alternates (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) in 4-H Online.

You will have to be a certified volunteer to access 4-H online. If you serving as a coach but are not a certified volunteer, you will need to work with one in your county that will be attending the contest with your team to enter your youth. Early registration will be open until 9:59 pm May 29, 2026. Late registration will end 9:59 pm June 12, 2026. Please note that there will be NO day of registration. This year we are using 4-H Online with altered registration deadlines for verification purposes according to the 2026 rule changes. We know that this is a new process if you have any questions, please reach out.

Also, will be using a new scoring system that will require Scantrons. We will provide clipboards and pencils for contestants, and they will be expected to complete the Scantron independently. We will follow up with some resources as we approach the contest so that you can work with your youth. We will also work with group leaders assuring that they will be able assist our youth participants during the contest. The new registration process should speed things up in the morning. We will confirm registration, check in and coaches will be able to declaration teams. If you have multiple teams, you will let us know which members are team 1, which are team 2, etc. We are planning to start the contest earlier, refer to schedule provided in the rules (below).

We will follow up closer to the contest to request names of people to assist with group leading and contest organization prior to the event date. Refer to the rules and travel guidelines before registration making sure that you understand the process forward.

Check-in will be at the Huck Fuller Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds Gold Entrance. Thank you for your participation in the 2026 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.

Upcoming Judge’s Training Opportunity

Are you interested in supporting youth and learning how 4-H fair judging works? Join us for the 4-H Still Entry Judges Training (Westside) on May 30 from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM at the Puyallup Research Center, Allmendinger Room (2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371).

This introductory course will prepare you to become a registered WA 4-H judge in Photography, Posters, Presentations, Food Activities, or Textile Arts. It is open to current 4-H volunteers, parents, and anyone in the community interested in fair judging.

Judge’s Training Highlights

4-H judging principles (Danish system, working with youth, scorecards)
Hands-on workshops in your chosen area
Knowledge check and mock judging
Networking with other judges and instructors

Fees and Support

$25: Full day (become a registered judge, includes lunch)
$10: Partial day / learning only (no lunch)
Cost a barrier? Attend at no cost or pay what you can afford – no questions asked.
King County residents: If you plan to judge Food Activities, your full-day registration is covered by the King Family Living Project.

Call for Instructors – Textile Arts

We are looking for additional instructors for the Textile Arts track, especially in quilting, fiber arts, embroidery, and other fabric or fiber disciplines. We prefer to have people that have 4-H judging experience to be instructors. If you are interested, please reach out to Alyssa Bowers at alyssa.bowers1@wsu.edu.

Ask Dr. Universe: Do Worms Have Mouths?

How do worms eat? Dr. Universe digs into this surprising question with a fascinating explanation that may change how you think about these underground helpers. Read this week’s Ask Dr. Universe to uncover the science behind how worms get their meals

Submit your question online and you may see your question featured in a future Ask Dr. Universe!