A banner featuring a green pot of gold coins and a green 4-H clover logo on a white background, accented by a scattering of four-leaf clovers and sparkles on the left side.

March 2026
4-H Newsletter

Important Dates

March 1

San Juan County 4-H Animal Project Enrollment Deadline. 4-H members wishing to exhibit an animal at the San Juan County Fair must be enrolled in 4-H Online by this date.

April 10 – 11

Whatcom County Youth Fair

Upcoming Events

Ag Summit Youth Track Recap

On Saturday, February 28th, thirteen youth from across the San Juan Islands gathered at Friday Harbor High School to explore various facets of agriculture through hands-on workshops hosted by dedicated community members.

The morning kicked off with high-energy challenge games, many of which were led by the youth themselves. Participants then transitioned into a “Dream Garden” and milk-jug seed-starting workshop, graciously hosted by our wonderful San Juan County Master Gardeners.

After lunch, the energy stayed high with four interactive afternoon sessions:

  1. Ag Waste to Art: Led by Sonora and Kimberly, youth created vibrant collages using recycled feed bags, baling twine, and burlap. This year’s theme was the “Year of the Horse.” Keep an eye out for these pieces—they will be laminated and displayed during the County Fair!
  2. Worm Bins: Led by Leslie and Trinity, this workshop taught youth all about worm habitats and diets. Each participant even built their own in-ground worm bin to take home for their own gardens.
  3. Chick Hatching: Led by Clinton, with expert help from 4-H members James, Sebastian, Amelia, Kaylee, and Evan. With two live chicks in an incubator as the stars of the show, the group had a great discussion regarding hatching, brooding, and raising poultry.
  4. Thank a Local Farmer: Led by Kathryn, this station gave youth the chance to write thank-you cards to our local producers. The group discussed the elements of a thoughtful note and the diversity of farms within our county. A LEGO building station was also provided as a creative decompression activity to wrap up a long day of learning.
A group of children and several adults are active in a gymnasium with a high, wood-truss ceiling. Several of the children are running across the polished wooden floor, including one child in the foreground wearing a green t-shirt with a white 4-H clover logo on the back. A basketball hoop and a large American flag are visible in the background.
Youth participants kick off the morning at Friday Harbor High School with high-energy challenge games led by their peers.
A smiling adult man and three young girls are gathered around a large, bright blue plastic tarp in a gymnasium. They are holding the edges of the tarp, which is ruffled with movement as if they are playing a game. The man and one of the girls are wearing 4-H branded apparel. Wooden bleachers and a grey wall are visible in the background.
Nothing says 4-H fun like the parachute games! Youth and volunteers worked together to kick off the morning with plenty of smiles and energy.
Inside a classroom decorated with colorful geometric paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, several children and an adult woman are working at a long table covered in a green cloth. They are focused on a "seed starting" project using recycled plastic milk jugs filled with soil. Spray bottles and seed packets are visible on the table.
Getting our hands dirty for a good cause! Youth worked with the San Juan County Master Gardeners to repurpose milk jugs into miniature greenhouses for seed starting.
In a colorful classroom filled with student artwork and geometric ceiling decorations, two adult women stand at the front of the room leading a workshop. One woman stands near a whiteboard that reads "Welcome to Planting with Master Gardeners," while about ten children sit at long, green-clothed tables. The children are focused on the presentation, with some holding repurposed milk jugs and one student raising their hand to ask a question.
Questions from our future farmers! San Juan County Master Gardeners led an engaging morning session on container gardening and the importance of healthy soil.
In a brightly lit classroom, two children sit at a table covered with a green cloth, working on an art project. One child, wearing an orange hat and a grey hoodie, is focused on gluing materials onto a large piece of orange paper. On the table are various recycled materials, including colorful blue and red plastic feed bags, scraps of paper, and scissors. In the background, other tables and classroom supplies are visible.
Turning ‘trash’ into treasure! Youth used recycled feed bags and burlap to create their ‘Year of the Horse’ collages during the Ag Waste to Art workshop.
In a classroom, an adult instructor and about a dozen children are sitting in a circle on a large brown tarp spread across the floor. Each child has a bright green plastic bucket and is focused on assembling an in-ground worm bin. A tri-fold poster board with the title "Why We Love Worms" stands on a desk in the background, alongside a whiteboard with notes on vermiculture.
Getting the dirt on decomposition! Youth participants worked on a tarp to build their own in-ground worm bins while learning about the vital role worms play in healthy soil.
A close-up, high-angle view shows two children leaning in to look at a small, clear-domed Brinsea incubator resting on a red countertop. Inside the incubator, two small, fluffy chicks—one black and one yellow—are visible.
The stars of the show! Youth got an up-close look at the miracle of life with these newly hatched chicks during Clinton’s poultry workshop.
In a cozy classroom corner with tan couches and a Guatemalan flag on the wall, a group of about ten children are gathered. Several wear bright orange hats. In the center, a young boy in a green 4-H t-shirt sits on the back of a couch, holding a yellow object and speaking to the group. In front of them sits a small, black-and-white mesh portable pet playpen used as a brooder.
4-H member Sebastian takes the lead, sharing his expertise on how to properly set up a brooder for young chicks.
Three children stand at a table, deeply focused on creating "Thank You" cards for local farmers. The table is covered in farm-themed stickers, rubber stamps, and colorful paper. Several completed cards with "Thank You" written in bright colors are displayed in the foreground.
Heartfelt thanks: Youth used stickers, stamps, and creativity to craft personalized thank-you notes for our local farming community.
Three young girls are standing at a long table in a classroom, busy decorating thank-you cards. The table is covered in craft supplies, including sheets of animal stickers, rubber stamps, and markers. In the background, a blue tarp on the floor is covered in LEGO bricks for the decompression activity.
From card-making to LEGO building, there was never a dull moment during the afternoon youth track sessions.

Thank you to all of the volunteers and the Ag Summit staff for making such a successful event for our youth. A special thank you to those who led a workshop or helped during any of the sessions. Please scroll through the 10 pictures above to get a first hand view of the work accomplished by our youth!

San Juan County Youth Lead the Way in Olympia!

Five of our local 4-H youth and one adult volunteer recently returned from a transformative experience at the 4-H Know Your Government (KYG) conference. This year’s theme focused on the Legislative System, giving our delegates a front-row seat to the democratic process.

Spotlight: Sponsoring a Bill on Artificial Intelligence

Our San Juan County team stood out by drafting and sponsoring a bill focused on Artificial Intelligence. Before heading to the state capital, the delegation spent weeks researching the complexities of AI to prepare for committee testimony and floor debates.

Highlights from the Conference:

  • Hands-On Lawmaking: Participants acted as Senators and House members, navigating parliamentary procedure and civil discourse.
  • Legislative Success: After intense debate, two bills were officially signed into 4-H “law” by the State 4-H Director.
  • Leadership & Service: Beyond the capitol, our youth engaged in community service projects and networked with over 70 peers and 4-H staff from across the region.

We are incredibly proud of our delegates for tackling such a modern, complex issue with professionalism and insight. They represented San Juan County exceptionally well!

What is KYG? Know Your Government is a civic education program that empowers teens to become confident, capable citizens through hands-on learning about our judicial, legislative, and political systems.

A group portrait of five youth and one adult from San Juan County 4-H standing in front of a WSU Extension "Know Your Government" banner. The youth are dressed in professional attire, and the image is framed by a green border with the text "Advocating for Change: Know Your Government Conference 2026."
A green infographic titled "Youth Bill 004 PASSED: CPR, Narcan & Stress Training in Schools." The image features three circular photos: someone performing CPR on a mannequin, a hand holding a Narcan nasal spray, and a student looking stressed at a desk. Below the photos, three checkmarks highlight the bill's goals: mandatory training for students and teachers, coping with stress education, and making Narcan accessible in schools.
From debate to ‘law’: Youth Bill 004 passed at KYG 2026, focusing on life-saving skills and mental health support in our school systems. This is what youth leadership looks like!
A green infographic titled "Youth Bill 013 PASSED: Lower the DUI Limit to 0.05 BAC." The image features three circular icons: a digital breathalyzer, a "Don't Drink and Drive" road sign, and a police car with flashing lights at night. Below, two checkmarks highlight the bill’s goals: lowering the BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05 and providing enhanced education for first-time offenders.
Making Washington roads safer: 4-H delegates successfully passed Youth Bill 013, which advocates for lowering the state’s DUI limit to 0.05 BAC and increasing education for first-time offenders.

Washington State Fairs Association Super School

Event Overview

The WSFA Statewide Super School is a dedicated training day for fair exhibit staff, superintendents, and volunteers. This year’s program focuses on enhancing competitive exhibits through improved judging, creative display techniques, and effective community engagement.

  • Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
  • Location: San Juan County Fairgrounds
  • Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Registration Fee: $25.00 (includes lunch)
  • The deadline to register online is Monday, March 23, 2026.
An aerial view of the San Juan Islands featuring a white banner overlay. The banner includes the WSFA logo, a 2026 calendar icon, and text announcing the Management Conference on March 27 and Super School on March 28 at the San Juan County Fairgrounds in Friday Harbor, WA.
Full Event Schedule

Registration Now Open – April 25 2026 – SJC Youth Fair

The 2nd Annual San Juan County 4-H Youth Fair is scheduled for April 25, 2026 at the San Juan County Fairgrounds from 9:00 – 2:00.

The tentative schedule for this year is:

  • 9:00 a.m. Judging Contest Clinic
    • Break
  • 10:15 a.m. STEM Activity
  • 11:30 a.m. Lunch Provided
  • Noon – Public Presentation & Demonstration Contest
    • You will have the opportunity to sign up for a public presentation time during registration.
    • During this time we will also host:
      • Q&A with Clinton
      • Educational Poster Making Workshop
An image promoting the San Juan County 4-H Youth Fair on April 25th, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the SJC Fairgrounds. The flyer features the green 4-H clover logo and a photo of a young boy holding a blue ribbon next to his educational poster titled "How to Raise Hedgehogs."

Registration is open through April 15th

Register Here

WSU 4-H Scholarship Applications – Closing Soon!

Hey 12th graders! The 4-H Scholarship application is now live!

Check out our website for requirements and details on how to apply.

Applications must be submitted in 4-H Online by March 15th. Don’t wait!

Complete Scholarship Application

Promotional graphic for the 4-H Scholarship Application. The text states that applications are open through March 15th and provides a link and QR code to apply. The 4-H clover and WSU Cougar logos are displayed at the bottom on a dark green background.

Whatcom County Youth Fair – April 10 & 11th 2026

The annual Whatcom County Youth Fair is back for 2026! Registration is open through March 15th and the Fair is April 10 & 11. The Ramblers Club is planning to rent out a local skating rink and host the County participants for skating and pizza! Educational Scholarship funds will be available through the San Juan County 4-H Leaders Council.

A promotional banner for the Whatcom County Youth Fair features a central circular logo with a blue ribbon, evergreen trees, and water, stating "EST 1989". Surrounding the logo are four black-and-white photos of animals: goats, a cow in a halter, sheep, and a bulldog licking its nose. The text on the banner reads, "WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!" and "APRIL 10-11, 2026".

Help Needed – May 2nd

In preparation for the Spring Weigh-in and Showmanship Clinics (see below), we will be preparing the tent, arena, and scales on May 2nd! Nolan, from the fair, will be on site to assist but we need lots of parent and leader help to accomplish this!

A group of people working together to fold or spread a large white vinyl tent canopy on a grassy field in front of a white barn and several parked vehicles.

Save the Date – Showmanship Clinic & Spring Weigh-In

The Livestock Market Animal Auction Committee is happy to share that our annual Showmanship Clinic and Spring Weigh-In will be held on May 30, 2026 this year.

The Schedule Includes:

  • Showmanship Clinics For:
    • Livestock (Cattle, Sheep, Goat & Hogs)
    • Small Animal (Poultry, Rabbit & Cavy)
  • A presentation from Kings Market/Marketplace on careers in butchering
  • Official early Weigh in for fair auction animals – weights and ear tags

All 4-H members and their families are welcome!

More details to come including a registration link. Livestock member participation is not required but is highly encouraged for the weigh-in especially.

Save the Date flyer for the San Juan County 4-H Livestock Weigh-In & Showmanship Clinic, May 30, 2026. Includes a schedule for animal clinics, weigh-ins, and a career presentation. Featuring WSU Extension and 4-H branding.

Save the Date – Lamb, Wool & Goat Festival – May 10th

On May 10th on Lopez Island the Lamb, Wool, and Goat festival is happening. The planning committee is looking to see if any 4-H members are interested in being involved. Clinton plans to attend and represent 4-H but lamb and goat members could bring animals or host an educational table, and fiber arts members could offer demonstrations or host a table as well. Please contact Sara Hurley if interested in participating.

A young girl with a ponytail, wearing a striped shirt, stands in a grassy field and hand-feeds a fluffy, dark-faced sheep. In the background, green trees and a hillside are visible under a bright, soft sky.

Save the Date – Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser – July 25th

We’ll be hosting a pancake breakfast fundraiser in the Rambler’s Booth on July 25th, 2026. The proceeds of the fundraiser will be split between 4-H and the San Juan County Fair. Please save the date if you would be interested in helping cook, serve, and be on site for the fundraiser.

A top-down view of a stack of golden-brown pancakes on a white plate, topped with a melting square of butter and drizzled with maple syrup.

If you’d like to contribute anything for the monthly 4-H newsletter, please contact Clinton by email or phone.