WSU Extension Stevens County Newsletter
February 2026
Latest news, projects, workshops, free resources, and more. Keep Reading!
We need snow… NOW!
In This Issue
Master Gardeners
- Advanced Beekeeping – Library classes in February
- Milk Jug Gardening – Library classes in February and March
Forestry
- Forest Owners Winter School – Feb 7th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Agriculture
- Stevens Co Conservation District Annual Meeting – Feb 26
4-H Happenings
- Big Tree Contest – order by February 20th
February Calendar and Resources
Master Gardener News
Advanced Beekeeping classes at Libraries of Stevens County
Advanced Beekeeping – covering Varroa mites, diseases and what to expect when looking in your hive. Plus Q&A time to answer questions for people that already have bees.
- February 3 at 4:00pm – Colville Library
- February 5 at 4:00pm – Chewelah Library
- February 10 at 4:00pm – Northport Library
- February 12 at 11:00am – Lakeside Library
- February 17 at 3:00pm – Loon Lake Library
- February 18 at 3:00pm – Hunters Library
Milk Jug Gardening (Winter Sowing) classes at Libraries of Stevens County
Milk Jug Gardening is the perfect way to kickstart your garden! It’s a cost-effective way to grow strong seedlings, making it easier to monitor their progress and plant the when they’re ready. Learn how to get started with experts from WSU Extension! This is a “make-and-take” class!
- February 9 at 3:00 pm – Loon Lake
- February 23 at 4:00pm – Kettle Falls
- March 2 at 3:30pm – Lakeside
- March 5 at 4:00pm – Northport
- March 10 at 4:00pm – Chewelah
- March 18 at 4:00pm – Colville
- March 27th at 1:00pm – Hunters
SAVE the DATE! April 11th
“From the Ground Up” 1-Day Master Gardener Workshop at SCC-Colville campus
Details to be announced as we confirm the schedule. We’re excited about an amazing line-up of presenters! Stay tuned!
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
Forestry – Eastern Region
Forest Owners Winter School
The Forest Owner’s Winter School is a hands-on, interactive educational event for families who own forestland in Washington. Whether you live on your land or are an absentee owner, this is a great opportunity to learn how to gain more benefits from your family forest, no matter where it is located in the state. Classes are 50 minutes, with 10 minutes to change between programs. Throughout the day, over one dozen topics will be presented for you to choose from! By the end of the day, you will have attended as many sessions as time allows. In addition, there will be a resource area featuring exhibitors, vendors, displays by the public, private, and nonprofit organizations that provide products and services to assist landowners.
- When: February 7th, 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., doors open at 8 a.m.
- Where: Spokane Community College, 985 S Elm Street, Colville
- Cost:
- Advance Registration, RECEIVED BY Feb. 7, is
$30 per person and $40 per family.
- Registration on the day of the event is $40 per
person and $50 per family. - Refunds available until the day of the event.
- Advance Registration, RECEIVED BY Feb. 7, is
Save $10 before February 7, 2026!
Registration includes all class materials and refreshments. Bring the entire family! Box lunches will be available for purchase for an additional $10 each and must be pre-purchased by February 7.
For information about our Forestry program, visit our website: Extension Forestry, Eastern Washington or contact Joshua Cardin, 509-308-8224
Agriculture
Stevens County Noxious Weed Board and Stevens County Conservation District
Please join us for our Annual Meeting!
Doors open at 8:00am, program starts at 8:30.
This meeting is free and open to the public. On-site lunch available for $10- must pre-register for lunch! Door prizes provided by local businesses!
- When: Thursday, February 26, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Sheriff’s Ambulance Building – 425 N. Hwy, Colville, WA
- Cost: Attendance is FREE! ($10 on-site lunch requires pre-registration at 509-684-7579 or sccd@stevenscd.org
- 5 WSDA Pesticide recertification credits
- 6 WCLA Master Loggers CE credits
Updates from Local Agencies:
- Stevens County Conservation District
- Stevens County Noxious Weed Board
- Farm Service Agency
- Natural Resource Conservation Service
- WSU Stevens County Extension
- WA Department of Natural Resources
- WA Department of Ecology
- and more!!!!
Contact us:
509-684-7579
SCCD@stevenscd.org
stevenscountywa.gov/sccd
232 Williams Lake Rd.
Colville, WA 99114
Presentations By:
- Wilbur Ellis Co.
- Rainier Seed
- Spo. Co. Noxious Weed Control Board
- Stevens Co. Noxious Weed Control Board
Elections for SCCD Board of Supervisors
Polling site open from 10:00am – 2:00pm
For information about our Agriculture program, visit our website: Agriculture | Stevens County or contact Kathryn Hoogheem, 509-684-2588
4-H Happenings
Big Tree Contest
The Big Tree Contest was developed in 2004 by Stevens County Conservation District and WSU Stevens County Extension. The program was created as an incentive-based approach to forestry education. Youth grow trees from March to August in hopes of growing the largest tree to sell at the Biggest and Best Auction. 100 percent of the proceeds from the Biggest and Best Auction goes to the youth clubs.
Any organized youth group meeting certain criteria can grow trees for the auction, where the top 10 trees are sold. Individual youth can grow trees for cash prizes. Trees must be ordered by February 20, grown throughout the summer and brought to the NE WA Fair in August. Participants will also create a forestry related educational poster and decorate the bucket their tree is shown in.
For complete rules and applications visit Big Tree Contest Rules and Application
For information about our 4-H program, visit our website: 4-H Youth | Stevens County or contact Shannon Rowley, 509-684-2588
Events Calendar
February (also see Events page)
- Feb 3 – Advanced Beekeeping at Colville Library, 4:00pm
- Feb 5 – Advanced Beekeeping at Chewelah Library, 4:00pm
- Feb 7 – Forest Owners Winter School at SCC
- Feb 9 – Milk Jug Gardening at Loon Lake Library, 3:00pm
- Feb 10 – Advanced Beekeeping at Northport Library, 4:00pm
- Feb 12 – Advanced Beekeeping at Lakeside Library, 11:00am
- Feb 17 – Advanced Beekeeping at Loon Lake Library, 3:00pm
- Feb 18 – Advanced Beekeeping at Hunters Library, 3:00pm
- Feb 23 – Milk Jug Gardening at Kettle Falls Library, 4:00pm
- Mar 2 – Milk Jug Gardening at Lakeside Library, 3:30pm
- Mar 5 – Milk Jug Gardening at Northport Library, 4:00pm
- Mar 10 – Milk Jug Gardening at Chewelah Library, 4:00pm
- Mar 18 – Milk Jug Gardening at Colville Library, 4:00pm
- Mar 27 – Milk Jug Gardening at Hunters Library, 1:00pm
Other Events
Forester Winter School
February 7, 2026 at SCC-Colville
“From the Ground Up” MG Workshop
April 11, 2026 at SCC-Colville