WSU Extension Stevens County Newsletter

April 2025

Latest news, projects, workshops, free resources, and more. Keep Reading!

WSU Extension Logo
Picture of Yellow Arrowhead Balsamroot flowers on a green hillside against a blue sky with light wispy clouds
Arrowleaf Balsamroot – our “spring sunflower”

In This Issue

Master Gardener Happenings

  • APRIL Library classes – START on the 1st! (no foolin’!)
    • Firewise Landscaping
  • “From the Ground Up” 1-day Gardening Workshop
    • April 19th, 9a-3p – Register EARLY to get the classes you want before they fill up

4-H Happenings

  • Meat ‘n Good Time – Livestock Judging Contest & Showmanship Clinic: April 5th

Agriculture News

  • 2025 Meat Summit in Moses Lake, April 5th

April Calendar and Resources

Master Gardener News

Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program flower logo

Extension Master Gardener Presentations at the Libraries of Stevens County

Libraries of Stevens County logo.

The Master Gardeners have been presenting a different class each month and traveling to ALL the libraries in the county.  The last class for the Spring is starting APRIL 1st: Firewise Landscaping! Check the LOSC Library website for this and other offerings!

Firewise Landscaping

Presenter: Kathy Hansen

High on the list of concerns that Northeast Washington residents worry about in the warmer months is the threat of wildfires. Learn how your landscape can be the difference from losing your home or saving your home, and gain greater peace of mind during fire season.

  • Apr 1st @ 3:30 p.m. – Lakeside Library (Nine Mile Falls)
  • Apr 2nd @ 6:00 p.m. – Colville Library
  • Apr 3rd @ 2:00 p.m. – Kettle Falls Library
  • Apr 4th @ 3:30 p.m. – Northport Library
  • Apr 8th @11:00 a.m. – Loon Lake Library
  • Apr 8th @ 2:00 p.m. – Chewelah Library
  • Apr 9th @ 4:00 p.m. – Hunters Library

April 19th: “From The Ground Up”
-> a 1-day Gardening Workshop

Spokane Community College Colville Center logo

WHERE: Spokane Community College – Colville Campus, 985 S Elm St., 4 classrooms running 4 classes concurrently

WHAT: 16 Classes to Choose From:

TIMERoom 1Room 2Room 3Room 4
9:00-10:00amA Gardener’s Guide to a Bee-Friendly YardCommon Pests and Beneficial InsectsPreserving the HarvestWaterwise Landscape Planning
10:15-11:15amBest Practices for Managing Wildlife Conflict in Your Home LandscapeYour Garden Has Cooties! (Soil Microbiology)Raising PoultryIntroduction to Washington Bee Atlas
12:30-1:30pGardening for the Penny-PincherBest Practices for Managing Wildlife Conflict in Your Home LandscapeRaising PoultryWildfire Preparedness & Home Ignition Zones
1:45-2:45pLandscaping with Trees & ShrubsSaving Seed from Your GardenRaisin’ Cane: Grapes, Gardens, and Good TimesComposting for Beginners
Table of the Workshop Schedule: 4 time-slots in 4 different classrooms. Two titles are offered twice.

TIME: Doors open at 8:30am, classes start at 9:00a, 10:15a, 12:30p, and 1:45p and end at 3:00pm
1-hour lunch break at 11:30am.

See the Workshops Page for Detailed descriptions of each presentation.

Register for Workshop

For more information about Master Gardener programs offered by WSU Extension in Stevens County, visit our website: Gardening | Stevens County, email: Linda Teller or call 509-684-2588

4-H Happenings

4-H Grows Here with 4-H shamrock logo

Meat ‘n Good Time – Livestock Judging Contest and Showmanship Clinic – April 5

Group of kids in front of a barn learning judging and showmanship from adults sitting on hay bales in front of them.

FIRST SATURDAY IN APRIL!

Join us on April 5 as Stevens County 4-H sponsors a Livestock Judging Contest and Showmanship Clinic. It is open to all youth ages 8-18 in 4-H, FFA, and Grange. The day begins at 9:30 am with registration followed by the judging contest. Then we will break for lunch. BBQ beef sandwiches will be provided and participants are asked to bring a side to share. After lunch there will be a showmanship clinic. The day ends with awards. It will be held at Marv and Helen Burgess’ (292 Mantz Rickey Road in Colville). Contact Helen at 509-675-4942 with any questions. 

For information about our 4-H program, visit our website: 4-H Youth | Stevens County or contact Shannon Rowley, 509-684-2588

Agriculture

Agriculture Logo.
You are cordially invited to join WSDA Meat and Poultry Assistance Program, WSU, & other members of the WA Meat Up Community on April 5th from 10 -4 pm in Moses Lake for our 2025 WA Meat Summit! WHO: Farmers, ranchers, meat processors, slaughterers, composters, consumers, resource providers, regulators, veterinarians, waste management folks, eaters WHAT: o Keynote address by Reed Anderson of Anderson Ranches and Kalapooia Processing – talking about how transparent practices improve customer relations o Opportunities for peer-to-peer networking, relationship building, and education o Hands-on workshop about low-stress livestock handling both at the facility and for on-farm slaughter o Insight into how customer expectations change in various market channels o Facilitated discussion on building trust and support up and down the meat supply chain WHEN: Saturday, April 5 – 10:00am – 4:00pm WHERE: Pillar Rock Grill, Moses Lake Golf Club, 1373 Rd F.2 NE, Moses Lake, WA, 98837 COST: $35 before March 26 (covers lunch and materials) REGISTER HERE: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20607_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1970 Feel free to share this invitation!

2025 WA Meat Summit – April 5th in Moses Lake, WA

You are cordially invited to join WSDA Meat and Poultry Assistance Program, WSU, & other members of the WA Meat Up Community on April 5th from 10 -4 pm in Moses Lake for our 2025 WA Meat Summit!

WHO: Farmers, ranchers, meat processors, slaughterers, composters, consumers, resource providers, regulators, veterinarians, waste management folks, eaters

WHAT:

  • Keynote address by Reed Anderson of Anderson Ranches and Kalapooia Processing – talking about how transparent practices improve customer relations
  • Opportunities for peer-to-peer networking, relationship building, and education
  • Hands-on workshop about low-stress livestock handling both at the facility and for on-farm slaughter
  • Insight into how customer expectations change in various market channels
  • Facilitated discussion on building trust and support up and down the meat supply chain

WHEN:  Saturday, April 5 – 10:00am – 4:00pm

WHERE: Pillar Rock Grill, Moses Lake Golf Club, 1373 Rd F.2 NE, Moses Lake, WA, 98837

COST: $35 before March 26 (covers lunch and materials)

–> Register Here

Feel free to share this invitation!

Events Calendar

March-April (also see Events page)

  • Apr 1st, 3:30p – Firewise Landscaping @ Lakeside Library (Nine Mile Falls)
  • Apr 2nd 6:00p – Firewise Landscaping @ Colville Library
  • Apr 3rd, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 3rd, 2p – Firewise Landscaping @ Kettle Falls Library
  • Apr 4th, 3:30p – Firewise Landscaping @ Northport Library
  • Apr 5th, 10-4 – 2025 WA Meat Summit in Moses Lake
  • Apr 7th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 8th,11a – Firewise Landscaping @ Loon Lake Library
  • Apr 8th, 2p – Firewise Landscaping @ Chewelah Library
  • Apr 9th, 4p – Firewise Landscaping @ Hunters Library
  • Apr 10th, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 14th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 17th, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 19th, 9a-3p – “From the Ground Up” – Gardening Workshop @SCC-Colville Campus
  • Apr 21st, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 24th, 1-3p – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours
  • Apr 28th, 9-11a – MG Answer/Plant Clinic Office Hours

Other Events

Visit the WSU Extension Forestry page for several April forestry events in Eastern Washington:

Forestry Classes – Northeast Region

Resources

Farmer Assistance Request
Ask A Master Gardener (Submit Questions)
Master Gardeners Facebook Page
The Evergreen Thumb Podcast