{"id":5581,"date":"2023-10-04T15:36:24","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T22:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/?p=5581"},"modified":"2023-10-04T15:36:24","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T22:36:24","slug":"october-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/2023\/10\/04\/october-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"October 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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October 2023 Features<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Celebrate 2023 National 4 H Week \u2013 October 1st through 7th!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Denise Echelbarger<\/p>\n

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2023 National 4\u2011H Week is October 1 \u2013 7!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. The theme for this year\u2019s National 4-H Week,\u00a0\"\",\u00a0<\/em>is a campaign that was created by National 4-H Council to rally support for Cooperative Extension\u2019s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America.<\/p>\n

With so many children struggling to reach their full potential, 4-H believes that young people, in partnership with adults, can play a key role in creating a more promising and equitable future for youth, families and communities across the country. In 4-H, we believe every child should have an equal opportunity to succeed. We believe every child should have the skills they need to make a difference in the world.<\/p>\n

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To learn more about how you can get involved, visit\u00a0extension.wsu.edu\/4h\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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October 1, 2023 marked the beginning of a NEW Year for 4-H!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sign in to your accounts or register online at v2.4honline.com<\/a><\/h6>\n

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Save The Date! Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon \u2013 October 28th!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jana Ferris<\/p>\n

\"Volunteer<\/p>\n

Please join us in honoring our volunteers! Our 2023\/2022 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held Saturday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg, WA. All state awardees (Alumni Award, Salute to Excellence Ten Year and Lifetime, Heather Rider Award, Volunteer Staff Award, [state] Friend of 4-H AND Hall of Fame) for years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be honored. Volunteers of the Year and Teen Leaders of the Year for 2022 and 2023 will be honored through narrated video during the program.<\/p>\n

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All state awardees will receive an invitation directly to reserve their space at the event and will RSVP as indicated on their invitations. Others may attend at a $20\/person cost; registration for non-awardees opens on Friday, September 22 and can be found at:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/722452523947<\/a><\/p>\n

Contact Jana Ferris at ferrisj@wsu.edu or 360-548-3301<\/p>\n

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Table Sponsorship Packages Are Available for the 2023 4-H Washington State Volunteer Recognition Luncheon<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Denise Echelbarger<\/p>\n

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TSC Fall Paper Clover Campaign Kicks Off on October 4th!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Denise Echelbarger<\/p>\n

The Fall 2023\u00a0Tractor Supply<\/a><\/strong>\u00a04-H Clover Campaign is coming soon!. Tractor Supply campaign funds are to support 4-H camp and leadership experiences.<\/p>\n

Planning to work with your local Tractor Supply Store? The store managers and cashiers have a lot on their plate, so it\u2019s usually helpful if the local 4-H clubs\/program can reach out\u00a0(https:\/\/www.tsceventpartners.com\/events\/signup\/1<\/a>).<\/strong>\u00a0That interaction can look different, depending on the situation.\u00a0The clubs can ask to set up a table or display featuring the 4-H program in the store. It could also be as simple as telling them \u201cthank you,\u201d or having a foods member bring them a plate of cookies for the breakroom.\u00a0 Anything we can do to stay top of mind is helpful.\u00a0 The campaign will happen either way \u2013 because it\u2019s programmed into the pin pad now \u2013 but when you\u2019ve got employees who care about the 4-H program and are physically asking, it\u2019s always going to be more successful.<\/p>\n

Best wishes for a successful Fall Paper Clover Campaign!<\/p>\n

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State 4-H Fair Board Seeks Qualified Candidates For State 4-H Fair Manager Position Opening\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State 4-H Fair Manager Position Is Now Open!<\/p>\n

The job description for the State 4-H Fair Manager position is available for download by clicking\u00a0HERE<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State 4-H Fair Manager is not a WSU position, but reports directly to the State 4-H Fair Board.\u00a0 The salary is $32,500, paid in twelve monthly installments.\u00a0 There are no benefits associated with this position.<\/p>\n

This is a part time position of about 1,000 hours annually, with extended hours during August and September, during the fair cycle in Puyallup, Washington.<\/p>\n

The position will remain open until filled.<\/p>\n

Please forward your cover letter and resume to:<\/p>\n

Washington State 4-H Fair Board
\nPO Box 1225
\nPuyallup, Washington, 98371-0233<\/p>\n

or by email to the Fair Board at\u00a0st4hfair@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Ask\u00a0 Dr. Universe<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Besides Telescopes and Spaceships, How Do We Really Know That There Are Other Planets? \u2014 Ia, 12, Montana<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Check out the latest episode of the\u00a0Ask Dr. Universe podcast<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and meet 17-year-old Adah Crandall, a youth climate organizer. She got started as a middle schooler!<\/em><\/p>\n

Dear Ia,<\/p>\n

I looked through a high-power telescope for the first time in college. I couldn\u2019t believe how many stars I saw. It\u2019s hard to imagine all the planets orbiting all those stars. I talked about how we know those planets are out there with my friend\u00a0Jose Vazquez<\/a><\/strong>. He\u2019s an astronomer at Washington State University.<\/p>\n

He told me that scientists look for planets outside our solar system using a number of instruments\u2014like a photometer. That\u2019s a tool that attaches to a telescope and measures light. The sun and eight major planets make up\u00a0our solar system<\/a><\/strong>. All the planets outside our solar system are called\u00a0extrasolar planets<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or exoplanets. Some of them are called hot Jupiters. Exoplanets orbit other stars\u2014just like we orbit the sun.<\/p>\n

The closest exoplanet is nearly 25 trillion miles away. Scientists can\u2019t point a telescope and look directly at a planet that distant. They can\u2019t send a rover that far. Instead, they look for clues that a planet is there. One clue is called a\u00a0light curve<\/a><\/strong>. Imagine you\u2019re facing a distant star with a planet. As the planet orbits its star, sometimes it will pass between you and the star. The star\u2019s light will get dimmer as the planet passes by. Then it will get brighter again.<\/p>\n

Scientists measure a star\u2019s light using a photometer. They take lots of measurements over time. Then they plot them into a graph called a light curve. Any time the light dims, there\u2019s a dip in the graph. The dip shows when the planet passed in front of the star. Generally, the deeper the dip, the bigger the planet. Scientists also use a light curve to tell how long it takes the planet to orbit its star. They can even tell how hot the planet is and how thick its atmosphere is.<\/p>\n

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\nHere\u2019s what a light curve looks like, credit: KuriwaObs<\/p>\n

In 2009, NASA wanted to see how many Earth-sized exoplanets they could find. They wanted to learn more about the universe. They wanted to see if there were other planets that could support life. So, they launched a giant space telescope called\u00a0Kepler<\/a><\/strong>. Its main instrument was a photometer. It zoomed around measuring the light from different stars. Then, scientists made light curves and looked for exoplanets. So far, scientists have found\u00a0more than 5,500 exoplanets<\/a><\/strong>. They\u2019ve found many more possible exoplanets. Scientists are still combing through the Kepler data. Plus, another space telescope called\u00a0TESS<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0took over when Kepler ran out of fuel.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to be an astronomer to hunt for exoplanets. Anybody can use robot-powered telescopes online to look for planets and other objects in space. Or you can look through the\u00a0data from Kepler<\/a><\/strong> yourself. \u201cThe\u00a0MicroObservatory Telescope Network<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is for anybody who\u2019s interested in extrasolar systems,\u201d Vazquez said. \u201cWith just a few clicks, students can take pictures and try to make contributions to finding these planets.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s an invitation to do community science that\u2019s out of this world.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,
\nDr. Universe<\/p>\n

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Dr. Universe:\u00a0Why do cats purr? \u2013 Kaylee, 11, Kentucky<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dear Kaylee,<\/p>\n

I purr all. the. time. I purr when I get a good question like yours. I purr when I finish answering a question. I even purr when I\u2019m struggling to find an answer. Luckily,\u00a0Dr. Sarah Guess<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0says that\u2019s normal. She\u2019s a veterinarian at Washington State University. She told me that cats purr when they\u2019re content and when they\u2019re stressed out. It can be a little confusing for humans.<\/p>\n

Scientists have two ideas about why cats purr. It could have come from the way mother cats care for kittens. Or it could keep their bones and tissues healthy. But experts don\u2019t agree on the answer yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a hotly debated topic among scientists,\u201d Guess said. \u201cPurring is something unique to cats, and when it comes to cat communication, we\u2019re just starting to scratch the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

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We do know how cats purr. A cat\u2019s brain sends a message to muscles in the cat\u2019s throat. Those muscles begin to twitch. As the cat breathes, air whooshes over the muscle, bone and tissue in the throat. They vibrate, and that makes the rumbling sound we call a purr.<\/p>\n

A cat\u2019s purr can be\u00a0low or high frequency<\/a><\/strong>. That means the sounds move through the air at different speeds. Low purrs and high purrs sound slightly different. Some scientists think purring evolved as a way for moms and kittens to understand each other. Maybe low purrs and high purrs mean different things.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOne thought is that the different frequencies of purring relate to whether the cat is more content or more stressed,\u201d Guess said. \u201cThat offers feedback from kitten to mother or mother to kitten.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So, mother cats might learn how their kittens feel based on their purrs. Then, they know which kitten needs help. They might purr back to help soothe the kittens. Maybe grownup cats purr to soothe themselves. Maybe they purr to tell you that you\u2019re making them feel safe and happy like their mother. Or to ask you to fix something that\u2019s stressful like a slightly empty food bowl.<\/p>\n

We know some cats\u00a0knead while purring<\/a><\/strong>. That\u2019s for sure a throwback to when they were kittens. Kneading on their mothers\u2019 tummies while nursing helped the kittens get more milk. The other idea for why cats purr is that the frequency of the purr vibration may be healing.<\/p>\n

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\u201cCats tend to be inactive for a lot of the day with\u00a0sudden bursts of activity<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0surrounding feedings,\u201d Guess said. \u201cSo, maybe purring creates vibrations that help maintain bone and tissue structure while the cats are in those inactive periods.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So, it\u2019s possible cats purr to heal themselves and stay strong. There\u2019s even some research that shows that vibrations at the precise frequencies that house cats purr at can help heal human bones and tissues. Maybe your cat purrs to heal its own body or to heal you. Only a few kinds of cats purr at those frequencies\u2014including\u00a0cougars<\/a><\/strong>. Since I\u2019m a house cat and a cougar, maybe I should spend more time aiming my extra-powerful purrs at my human friends.<\/p>\n

Sincerely,
\nDr. Universe<\/p>\n

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Get more questions and answers here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Know a kid with a science question?
\nHelp them submit it for a chance to be featured in a future Q&A.<\/p>\n

Submit a question!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Q and A Sessions for the Washington 4-H Horse Program Continue \u2013 Now On First Wednesdays!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have questions about the Washington 4-H horse program?\u00a0Our monthly Q and A for leaders, parents, members, and staff will now be meeting on the first Wednesday of each month via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. beginning June 7th.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zooms are structured around the theme\/parameters of horses and youth development. They are more than \u201cwhat are the rules.\u201d There is also time set aside for input on future topics for subsequent Zooms.\u00a0The Zoom meeting ID is 452-082-9765 with no passcode<\/strong>. You must have a zoom account to participate.<\/p>\n

The meetings are facilitated by Kim Baker, State 4-H Equine Coordinator.<\/p>\n

Feel free to contact Kim with any questions at kim.baker@wsu.edu<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  October 2023 Features   Celebrate 2023 National 4 H Week \u2013 October 1st through 7th! Denise Echelbarger 2023 National 4\u2011H Week is October 1 \u2013 7! Every year, National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_external_link":"","_expiration_date":""},"categories":[6,14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5581"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5581\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/pendoreille\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}