4-H Youth Program

Welcome

4-H is the youth development education program of Washington State University Extension, which is conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your state land grant university (WSU) and Klickitat County. As the largest youth development organization in Washington, 4-H reaches nearly 80,000 young people. The 4-H Youth Development Program helps young people and adults put knowledge to work in all of Washington’s 39 counties, cities and towns. In the 21st century, 4-H serves a broad clientele with an expanded program using a variety of ways to “learn by doing.”

4-H teaches life skills that lead young people to become self-directing, positive, contributing members of our society. These life skills include positive self-esteem, effective communication, a sense of responsibility to oneself and one’s community, sound decision making and a strong sense of belonging. These skills give young people the tools necessary for successful adulthood. The 4-H mission is reached through a number of delivery methods that relate to the total concept of youth development.

4-H club work has something for everyone – more than 140 projects from which to choose! Membership in Klickitat County clubs is open to children ages 5 to 19. Traditional clubs are organized and managed by volunteer adult leaders who work with the WSU County Extension Office to teach life skills education through 4-H project work. Learning life skills helps club members become competent, contributing adults.

Clubs are located in all parts of the county to make membership convenient. Enrollment in 4-H occurs annually from October 1st through December 31st but youth who enroll up to May 1st can participate in the Klickitat County Fair as a 4-H Member.  Youth may enroll in Klickitat County 4-H through August 1st. The results of 4-H project work are frequently seen at the County Fair in August of every year.

 

Our Mission: Positive Youth Development

We seek to help young people grow into responsible, contributing citizens. To reach this goal, 4-H has developed educational materials that emphasize development of life skills in young people through fun, hands-on projects. The 4-H educational materials are developed by education specialists, and updated approximately every five years to keep the content fresh and relevant. Each leader and member manual is full of directions for fun, hands-on activities that, at the same time, teach critical life skills.

Who can join 4-H?

4-H is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 19 (on October 1st of the current 4-H year).  4-H Youth are identified in the following groups in the WSU 4-H Program:

• Cloverbuds: 5 to 7 years of age
• Junior: 8 to 10 years of age
• Intermediate: 11 to 13 years of age
• Senior: 14 to less than 19 years of age

As the largest youth development organization in the nation, we want to see kids from all backgrounds have the opportunity to experience what 4-H has to offer. WSU 4-H Youth Development is committed to providing safe and inclusive environments for all youth and adults regardless of race; sex; gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; citizenship; physical, mental, or sensory ability; genetic information; and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military.

How to Join 4-H

You can join 4-H in a few easy steps:

• Find a Club:
  • Find a club that offers leadership in a project you’re interested in. Contact the extension office to find a club or start your own.
• Decide on a Project:
  • There are numerous different project opportunities for 4-H members to participate in and with self-determined projects. Find the list of projects HERE.
• Enroll in 4-H online:
  • Access the website HERE to enroll online.
  • View the Member Enrollment Guide if you need help.
• Get involved and HAVE FUN!

Need help? Please contact the extension office or take a look at the state website Member Resources Page.

Please Visit or Contact Us!

We warmly welcome you to Klickitat County 4-H! Whether you are new to the Clover or already part of the 4-H family, we hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for on our website. If not, please email Harkey Clever at harley.clever@wsu.edu You can also give us a call at 509-773-5817.

 Our office is located at 115 W. Court Street, Suite 102, Goldendale, WA 98620

Our office is open Monday – Friday from 8:00am-5:00 pm.  The office is closed for lunch from 12 pm – 1 pm. 

Drop-ins are welcome, though we do recommend that you call ahead to ensure someone will be available to help you.

More information about joining 4-H can be found under Member Resources. If you would like to learn more about how to become a volunteer, check out our web page on Becoming a Volunteer.

4-H: Leaders Grow Here!

4-H Specifics

Read our Welcome to Klickitat County 4-H guide to better understand some of the specifics about our 4-H Program, the enrollment process, deadlines, and FAQ.  This guide restates part of the Washington State 4-H Policy and sets policies for Klickitat County 4-H.

Welcome to Klickitat 4-H PDF 

4-H Clover Reports

Each month there is at least one Clover Report sent out with up-to-date information on upcoming events and opportunities for 4-H Members and Volunteers.

Need Help Enrolling?

4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. We reach out to kids and their families to build skills for real life. WSU 4-H Youth Development is committed to providing safe and inclusive environments for all youth and adults regardless of race; sex; gender; sexual orientation; gender identity/expression; religion; age; color; creed; national or ethnic origin; citizenship; physical, mental, or sensory ability; genetic information; and/or status as an honorably discharged veteran or member of the military.

Our pages provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. WSU Extension does not manage these external sites, nor does Extension review, control, or take responsibility for the content of these sites. These external sites do not implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.