July 2026 Newsletter

FairEntry Office Hours

If you need help making entries in FairEntry, there will be office hours available on most Tuesdays through the end of July. They will alternate between Noon and 6:00 pm. This is open to all 4-H families in Washington. General help will be given to make entries into FairEntry for County Fairs and State Fair. 

Office Hours Dates and Times

• July 7 – noon
• July 14 – 6 pm
• July 21 – noon

Meetings will be hosted on Zoom. Contact Mike Seiber for questions

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Teen Gathering at Pierce County Fair

All 4-H Teens are welcome to attend the 2^nd Teen Gathering at the Pierce County Fair.  The Teen Gathering will be on Thursday August 13^th and will be held at the Shooting Sports Area near the Grange Building.  The Gathering will begin at 9:45 pm and last about an hour.  This is an opportunity to meet other teens from the county and give your input into our Pierce County Teen Program.

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Pierce County 4-H T-Shirts

Pierce County 4-H T-shirts have arrived and will be distributed throughout July. Dog Clubs may pick up their shirts on July 6 at the Dog Leaders Meeting. Horse Clubs can collect theirs at the Horse Board Meeting on July 8 or during the Horse Leaders and Members Meeting on July 15. All other clubs may pick up shirts on July 23 or July 25 during Poster Turn-in. Club leaders may also contact the office to schedule an appointment to pick up shirts after July 6. Contact your barn superintendent for details on the date, time, and location of your barn photo.

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4-H Information Booth

The 4-H information booth has moved this year! We will be located in the Grange building. Thank you to the parents/volunteers that are at the fair for coming and helping throughout the day.

Barn Info Booth Schedule

• 10:00-11:30 Dog Barn
• 11:30-1:00 Cat and Poultry Barns
• 1:00-2:30 Small Animal Barn
• 2:30-4:00 Goat Barn
• 4:00 – 5:30 Horse Barn
• 5:30-7:00 Livestock and Goat Barns

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Welcoming Small Pet Select as a 4‑H Partner

We’re excited to share that Small Pet Select has joined Washington State 4‑H as a new partner, supporting the youth, families and volunteers who care for small animals across our state.

As part of this partnership, 4‑H families can enjoy 20% off their purchases at Small Pet Select using code SMALLPET4H. It’s a great way to stock up on high‑quality hay, bedding, treats, and supplies for your small pets.

We’re grateful for partners who believe in the hands‑on learning and compassion that 4‑H youth bring to animal care every day.

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Seeking High School Youth to Pilot 4-H Future Forward

4-H FutureForward is a pilot program that helps 4-H youth turn their project work, leadership, and hands-on learning into an electronic portfolio that may qualify for college credit through prior learning assessment.

Participants choose a college course of interest and work with a 4-H coordinator to match their 4-H experiences to the course’s learning outcomes. During the pilot, the Spokane County 4-H Intern supports youth as they build a portfolio that may include a résumé, PACT goals, reflections, project records, financial summaries, photos, videos, supporting documents, and a final showcase project.

FutureForward helps youth go beyond listing achievements—it helps them demonstrate that their 4-H learning aligns with college‑level expectations. This structured approach supports National 4-H Beyond Ready by building skills, confidence, and preparation for future education and careers.

After a student is accepted to a college, their completed portfolio may be submitted to the registrar for review for possible credit. The program serves as both a youth development strategy and a bridge to higher education, helping students recognize the academic value of their 4-H work.

Families interested in how 4-H can support college and career pathways can learn more by contacting Tammy Wilson or Alex Gustafson .

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Dog Days of Spanaway

4‑H Dog Project members will take the stage at Dog Days of Spanaway on Sunday, August 2, at Sprinker Recreation Center. They will present a series of short demonstrations during three scheduled time slots beginning at 11:00 a.m. and concluding by 3:30 p.m. Registration for Dog Days of Spanaway is now open.

Additional details about the on‑stage demonstrations, along with guidance for preparing and hosting a 4‑H information booth, will be shared as the event date approaches. For questions, please contact Caleb Campbell.

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Help us come up with the 2027 Pierce County Fair Theme

Do you have a fair theme for 2027 for the Pierce County Fair? Submit your theme idea by July 12!

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WSU National Index Study for Youth

Call to Parents of 4-H’ers (ages 13-18 years of age) to participate in the WSU 4-H National Index Study for Youth!

The mission of National 4-H Council is to empower youth in 4-H programs to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults. To assess our success in this endeavor, we are conducting an annual study to measure the impact of 4-H on youth and we invite your 4-H’er(s) to respond. You are voluntarily deciding whether or not to allow your child to participate in this study. By allowing your child to complete and submit their survey response, you have given your permission for your child to participate. Your child can withdraw from the study at any time. If participating, please complete the survey by July 15, 2026.

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Lead to Change – Youth Opportunity

Big changes start with one idea – if you’re doing something good in your community this summer, Lead to Change can help you take it further. Lead to change is a 4-H teen community action planning platform that provides grant funding to support individuals or groups in bringing their ideas for change to life. (Implementation Grant $2000) . For more information or to apply – Lead to Change. The deadline to apply is September 15.