LIMITED RESUMPTION OF 4-H

IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES

Announcement Revised May 5, 2021

On March 11, Governor Inslee announced that all counties would move to phase 3 on March 22. On April 12, the Governor moved Pierce, Cowlitz and Whitman counties back to phase 2. On May 4, the Governor announced a two-week pause on phases. Under the pause, every county will remain in its current phase.  At the end of two weeks, each county will be re-evaluated. NOTE THAT CHANGES TO REQUIREMENTS MAY BECOME MORE OR LESS RESTRICTIVE, depending upon the course of the COVID-19 virus.

2021 4-H State Fair Update – Tom Gwin, 4-H State Fair Manager

With the possibility of the entire state moving into a full reopening on June 30, the Washington State 4-H Fair Board wanted to provide an update for this year’s fair.

The Washington State Fair is currently planning to open with a face-to-face fair this year.  The dates are September 3-26, 2021.  There may be some modifications to show schedules and activities.

The State 4-H Fair Board is currently planning for both a face-to-ace fair and a virtual fair.  A decision as to whether the fair is face-to-face, virtual format or a  combination of both will be made after the proposed State of Washington reopening of June 30.

As some counties have already decided not to hold a face to face fair in 2021, we will be waiving the county qualifying requirement for all exhibits in 2021.   It is still up to each county to determine who will represent their county at the state fair.

If we do have a face to face fair, we will continue with the allocation process for animals as we have in previous years.  Again, the counties will each need to determine how their allocation is filled and by whom.

We hope to be able to provide answers to our 4-H exhibitors and their families as soon as we can once the final decision is made as to the format we will follow this year.

2021 4-H State Fair Patch Design Contest Open Now!

Your design could be here!

The 2021 Washington 4-H State Fair Patch Design Contest is now open to all Washington State 4-H members!

The winning patch design will be selected by members of the Washington State 4-H Fair Board, 4-H State Fair Manager, and a representative from the company that manufactures the patches. The creator of the winning patch design will receive a patch and a cash award.

Guidelines and General Rules for entering can be found here.

The Official Entry Form can be found here.

THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS JUNE 15, 2021

For more information, contact:
Tom Gwin, WA State 4-H Fair Manager

Email: tagwin@wsu.edu

International Exchange Program Announcement:

The Global Exploration Series

Our State’s International Exchange Program has been hard at work planning a series of cultural events to keep youth connected, engaged, and excited about cultural exchange opportunities this summer. Below is information they have provided on an upcoming series of events. We hope to spread the word and generate interest until our in-person summer Exchange Program resumes again in 2022.

Sadie Williams 
4-H Pierce County Office Coordinator

“We are very excited to announce the launch of our Global Exploration Series for U.S. youth. This summer, in collaboration with our international partners we will be hosting six free virtual events that will highlight six different countries around the world. The virtual events will include cultural trivia, language intros, and hands-on craft and cooking activities. These events are created for youth ages 9 – 18, but other family members can attend as well!

We will be hosting two events each month from June – August, starting with the following countries:

• Taiwan: Wednesday, June 9 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Pacific
• Japan: Friday, June 25 from 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Pacific

Registration is now OPEN for our June events!! All interested youth/families can register for either June event using this link:

Global Exploration Series: Taiwan & Japan Registration Link:

Project Supporting Rural Youth Experiencing Covid Stress Featured in WSU Insider Article

The article, by Lauren Paterson of CAHNRS, explores the partnership between  WSU Extension’s Child and Family Research Unit (CAFRU) and Washington State 4-H to address Covid stress in rural youth.

A survey commissioned by the National 4-H Councilfound that 70% of youth in the U.S. are struggling with their mental health in the wake of COVID-19.

Rural areas in Washington often lack access to internet services, childcare, and medical services. The goal of the project is to support students in rural areas who have been isolated from their normal support system.

Kits with supplies like stress balls, fidgets, and noise cancelling headphones will be sent to 600 young people in rural Washington to use when they are stressed during remote learning. Along with the kits, 4-H county Extension staff  are being trained on how stress and trauma disrupt learning, and how to promote emotion regulation at home.

To read the full article, click here.

REMINDER! Play It Safe Around Poultry!

There is an ongoing multi-state salmonella outbreak associated with backyard chickens. The story link is below, along with extracted CDC advice about how to stay healthy around chickens. ONLY KISS CHICKENS ON THEIR LIPS!

😷

Susan Kerr, DVM, PhD

WA State Dept. of Ag Educational Outreach Specialist

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/05/21/salmonella-outbreak-backyard-chickens-michigan/5204451001/

The CDC has this advice for backyard flock owners:

• Always wash your hands with soap and water right after touching backyard poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.
• Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Don’t let backyard poultry inside the house, especially in areas where food or drink is prepared, served or stored. Keep flock supplies outside the house.
• Set aside a pair of shoes to wear while taking care of poultry and keep those shoes outside of the house.
• Children younger than 5, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems shouldn’t handle or touch chicks, ducklings or other poultry.
• Don’t eat or drink where poultry live or roam.
• Don’t kiss backyard poultry or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth.
• Stay outdoors when cleaning any equipment or materials used to raise or care for poultry, such as cages, or feed or water containers.

Here’s how to handle eggs safely:

• Collect eggs often, don’t let them sit the nest as they can become dirty or break.
• Throw away cracked eggs. Germs on the shell can more easily enter the egg though a cracked shell.
• Rub off dirt on eggs with fine sandpaper, a brush or a cloth. Don’t wash them because colder water can pull germs into the egg.
• Refrigerate eggs to keep them fresh and slow the growth of germs.
• Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm. Cook egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160 degrees to kill all germs.

Looking Back….

…Washington State 4-H Memories

This is a picture of the first home economics club in the state, and debatably the first 4-H club in the state (both this one and a Spokane club started in 1914).  George Nelson, also shown in this picture, was the first Extension agent in the state, and likely the first west of the Mississippi,   He arrived here in 1912.  He attended a conference in Washington DC about steam canning and brought the information back to Wahkiakum County to share.  He worked with the Seal River school teacher to start the club, organizing fundraisers for the equipment and supplies they needed.  The girls took their canned goods to the Wahkiakum County fair by skiff that year.

Thanks to Carrie Backman and Jennifer Leach for passing this along!