Skagit Valley Boots and Buckles 4-H Club at Hickson Community Hall
Skagit Valley Boots & Buckles may be a brand-new 4-H club this year, but their enthusiasm, dedication, and impact have already made them stand out. With 14 active members, the club is rooted in hands-on learning, community involvement, and a shared love of animals and creative projects.
Members meet at Hickson Community Hall, where several are also involved with the local community outside of 4-H. One of their first service projects this year brought members together to help clean up the hall and sand and stain the outdoor railings—working side by side with senior citizens who share that space.
Projects, Pride, and Progress
Boots & Buckles focuses on poultry, dairy goats, and still life projects, and members have been busy all year building their skills. In March, the club’s poultry team participated in the Cascade Spring Show, an open class APA/ABA event in Monroe, WA, featuring more than 1,000 birds. Every member of the poultry project team attended—and their efforts paid off.
4-H members with their poultry projects in the show ring at the Cascade Spring Show
Skagit Valley Boots & Buckles 4-H members ready for the show ring!
Annessa, in her very first showmanship competition, earned Champion Intermediate Novice.
Ailey earned Reserve Champion Intermediate in a competitive showmanship class, the smile says it all.
In May, members also competed in the Udder Spectacular, an American Dairy Goat Association open class show held at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. Events like this give youth opportunities to practice real-world skills in the show ring, build confidence, and connect with project mentors from across the region.
Ailey and Liam cuddle with their Nubian goat kids, Lily and Daphne.
Spotlight on Leadership and Learning: Penelope and Ruby
Sisters Penelope (13) and Ruby (11) are active leaders in Skagit Valley Boots & Buckles, serving as club secretary and president, respectively. Both are involved in poultry and still life projects and have been in 4-H for two years. Penelope is focused on breeding dual-purpose heritage Plymouth Barred Rocks. Ruby has been breeding Seramas and recently introduced a ginger-red variety to her flock, aiming to be more competitive in ABA-sanctioned shows. They both added market poultry this year to broaden their project knowledge.
Left to right: Skagit Valley Boots & Buckles 4-H members Penelope, age 13, and Ruby, age 11, show off their market poultry projects that will be sold at the Skagit Junior Livestock Sale Saturday August 9th at 10:00am
Recently, both girls embraced a new phase of their market project: gaining sponsors and engaging with the community. They created personalized buyer letters, booked appointments, and took the initiative to speak with local businesses about the upcoming livestock show and sale. The experience gave them a chance to grow their communication skills and confidence—an excellent example of 4-H values in action.
If you’re interested in supporting local 4-H youth in their livestock market projects, visit the Skagit Junior Livestock Sale website to learn how you can get involved. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a returning supporter, your participation helps empower young people, build lifelong skills, and strengthen our agricultural community.
Fair-Ready and Future-Focused
As the Skagit County Fair approaches, Boots & Buckles members are focused on preparing their animals, finishing still life entries, and polishing their showmanship skills. For many, this summer represents the culmination of months of effort, learning, and growth.
From raising animals to painting canvases, from dairy goat show rings to handwritten buyer letters, these youth are gaining far more than ribbons—they’re building skills that will last a lifetime. And for a brand-new club, the path they’re blazing is already something to be proud of.
We hope you’ll join us at the Skagit County Fair, August 7–10, to see these dedicated 4-H members in action and enjoy the exhibits they’ve worked so hard to prepare. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate youth achievement and the spirit of our local 4-H community.
Skagit Valley Boots & Buckles 4-H members show off their buckets donated by our Mount Vernon Coastal store, an appreciated sponsor of the Skagit County Fair
4-H in the News
Check out this awesome video by Cameron Martinez from the Skagit Valley Herald highlighting Skagit Valley Boots and Buckles 4-H club. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how these dedicated members are preparing for the Skagit County Fair and representing what 4-H is all about. And don’t miss the photo gallery and article also featured in the Skagit Valley Herald — it’s a great look into all the hard work and heart these members are putting in.