Tuesday News
Teens Helping Teens Recruiting New Teen Leaders
“Teens Helping Teens” is a statewide youth driven program that tackles important topics in our local and state community. Past youth have championed a wide range of topics, from Drug take-back events, Mental Health Awareness, to Substance Abuse Prevention. Members in the past have gone on to present their creations at state and national events. Teens Helping Teens is now looking for passionate teens that are interested in making a difference in their community.
For more information, please contact the WSU CARES Teen and Communications Program Coordinator, R-A Mazzola (r.mazzola@wsu.edu), or Dr Ashley Hall (a.hernandez-hall@wsu.edu).”
2026-2027 4-H Equine Rule Book Available
The 2026–2027 Washington State 4-H Equine Rule Book is now available to view and download from the WSU Horse Program webpage under the Resources and Rules tab.
Edits were finalized at noon on October 2. If you downloaded a copy before then, it may not have all the changes, so please download it again to make sure you have the current version.
Saddle Up for the 2026 Northwest Washington 4-H Teen Summit!
Grab your boots and get ready for a weekend of leadership, learning, connection, and fun! Hosted by Skagit County, the 2026 Washington 4-H Teen Summit is open to 4-H teens ages 12–18 from across Washington State and will take place November 7–8, 2026, at Camp Lutherwood in Bellingham, WA.
This Western-themed overnight conference is planned with the help of 4-H teens and allows youth to build leadership skills, meet 4-H members from across the state, try something new, and make some great memories along the way. Registration is $50 per youth through October 27 and $65 during late registration, October 28–November 4.
We’ve got a full weekend rounded up! Teens will participate in hands-on workshops, leadership and team-building challenges, a service project, line dancing, and plenty of opportunities to connect with other 4-H members. Workshop topics include Grow Your Poultry Project, Canine Cuts, Leading with Grit, DNA & Genetics, Intro to Livestock Judging, Blanket Leadership Challenge, Artificial Insemination in Livestock, Biosecurity, and more. Whether you’re interested in animals, science, leadership, agriculture, or just trying something new, there’s something for everyone!
Registration is open now in 4-H Online and closes November 4 at 9:59 PM PT. Workshops are first-come, first-served, so don’t wait too long to submit your registration and claim your spot! Visit the event website for more information.
Saddle up, bring your 4-H spirit, and join teens from across Washington for a weekend at Teen Summit!
Washington State 4-H Hippology and Horse Bowl Contests Official Reference
Beginning October 1, 2026, Horse Smarts will be the sole reference for all questions and scenarios in the Washington State 4-H Hippology and Horse Bowl Contests. Copies are available for purchase on the American Youth Horse Counsel website. The Horse Smarts binder is designed to be updated over time so its content keeps pace with advances in equine science and industry practice, with revisions released about once every five years. If you already own a copy, purchase the 2026 Update packet and replace the affected pages with the revised and new content. If you’re buying a new copy, the 2026 updates are already included, so you don’t need the update packet.
Members planning to compete can start studying now, since everything you’ll see at the state contests will come from this one book. County horse programs are encouraged to purchase a copy and divide it into topic sections that youth can check out and study in manageable pieces. It’s also a great resource for club meetings, practice sessions, and study groups.
If you have questions about using Horse Smarts in your county, or would like help building hippology, horse bowl, and equine science activities for your members, please contact the State 4-H Equine Committee at 4h.equine@wsu.edu. We’re glad to help!
Ask Dr. Universe: Why Do Worms Come Out When it Rains?
Why do worms seem to appear everywhere after it rains? In this week’s Ask Dr. Universe, dig into the science behind this common sight, and explore how worms respond to wet conditions. Discover more about these important creatures and their surprising behavior!
Submit your question online and you may see your question featured in a future Ask Dr. Universe!
