January 4-H Newsletter

Super Saturday

Get ready for another exciting Super Saturday, hosted by the Pierce County 4-H Leaders Council! This year, the event will take place at Franklin Pierce High School on February 8, 2025. Enjoy a full day of learning and fun with five sessions offering a variety of workshops. The schedule of workshops will be sent out on January 10th.

Registration will be available through 4HOnline from January 17th to February 2nd. Be sure to register early to secure your spot in the workshops you’re interested in, as some sessions fill up quickly. The registration fee is $25, with an optional pizza lunch available for an additional fee. The pizza lunch includes one or two slices of pizza, chips, dessert, and a drink.

Know Your Government

Are you a teen interested in learning more about how our government works? The Know Your Government (KYG) program is the perfect opportunity for you! KYG is a civics event held in Olympia over Presidents Day weekend in February. This year, the focus will be on the Judicial Branch of government.

The event includes:

A mock trial where you’ll serve as the jury
A tour of the Temple of Justice, home of the Washington State Supreme Court
A service project with the Olympia Food Bank
A County Afternoon Out activity

Registration will be through 4HOnline and is open from December 13th to January 13th. The fee for the event is $290, plus hotel room and County Night Out expenses. The Pierce County Leaders Council also offers Opportunity Grants for events like KYG.

Pre-event meetings will be held with King County, so if you plan to attend, be sure to contact the 4-H Office and Sue Adams from King County- she will be able to give you the meeting details. Don’t miss out on this incredible learning experience!

Pierce County Volunteer Leaders Award

If you have a Pierce County 4-H volunteer who goes above and beyond for the 4-H program, you can nominate them for an Outstanding Leader Award from Pierce County Government. The volunteer can be a project leader, club leader, or county leader. Anyone can nominate a youth or adult volunteer by going to the Volunteer Recognition website. If there is any information you need to make the nomination, contact the 4-H Office. Nominations close on January 12th.

County Wide Cloverbud Meeting

Join us on Saturday, January 11, from 10 AM to noon for our January meeting… Snow, Snow, Snow! We’ll have crafts, team-building activities, snacks, and an opportunity to make new friends. The meeting will be held in the rabbit barn at Frontier Park in Graham (21718 Meridian E). Please RSVP to Shelley or 253-798-7160.

FUN’Raiser

The 2025 Pierce County 4-H Leaders Council FUN’Raiser for Cats, Dogs, and Horses will take place on April 26, 2025, at Frontier Park. Funds raised at this event will support opportunity grants and scholarships for 4-H members.

Each animal section (Cats, Dogs, and Horses) will have its own registration forms, fees, and start times. Be sure to check the Members and Leaders Info page by the end of the month for more details and flyers.

Upcoming Events

Happy New Year - 2025 from balloons. Wishing you a New Year filled with new hopes, new joys and new beginnings. May 2025 bring you endless happiness and success

2024-2025 Membership Enrollment Incentive

There are only a limited number of incentive patches remaining for new and returning members and leaders. If you haven’t re-enrolled for the 2024-2025 program year yet, be sure to enroll today!

GivePulse

As we wrap up the year, be sure to enter all your October – December 2024 volunteer hours into GivePulse as required by Washington State University. Volunteer hours must be submitted by the end of each quarter to ensure you’re covered by L&I and liability insurance. Failing to enter your hours could mean you’re not protected. Keep your hours up to date to stay covered and ensure your participation is fully supported.

Add Still Life Activities to Your Winter Program!

The winter months are the perfect time to focus on Still Life entries for the Pierce County Fair. Reach out to your club leader to learn about the projects your club offers. If your club doesn’t have the project you want, check out the Open Club List to find one that does. Your yearly registration fee covers participation in as many clubs as needed to help you achieve your 4-H goals.

Winter is also a great opportunity to dive into Arts, Photography, and STEM activities, which can all be done indoors. The 4-H office offers kits that can help you incorporate these projects into your club. Visit the S.T.E.M website to see what’s available free of charge, and don’t forget that clubs can also borrow STEM, Photography, and Art kits from the Pierce County 4-H Office for free.

For those involved in animal projects, there are classes for equipment you can make. Items you create to use with your animals can be entered in the Fair and may even qualify to be shown at the State Fair.

Start planning your entries by checking out the Pierce County Fair Book. The 2024 Fair Book is still available on the Fair website, and the 2025 Fair Book should be posted by April 1st.

WSU Pullman Teen Conference – June 23-26, 2025

Washington State University in Pullman will welcome 4-H teens to campus for the Teen Conference from June 23-26, 2025. This exciting event gives teens the chance to experience life as a university student for a few days.

The conference will include:

Campus and department tours
Workshops to help navigate the college application and enrollment process
Leadership development sessions
Opportunities to meet and connect with other teens from across the state.

If you’re a graduating 8th-grade student or older, mark your calendars and save the date! More information will be available soon, so stay tuned for updates.