WSU Extension Stevens County Newsletter
June 2026
Latest news, projects, workshops, free resources, and more. Keep Reading!
Congratulations Debra on your retirement!
In This Issue
Extension Office News
- Debra Hansen is retiring! Join us for a Farewell Open House, June 25th, Noon-4pm!
Master Gardeners
- “Bee Curious” and “Citizen Science” – Library Classes
- NEW! Seed Library at our office! Come visit!
Agriculture
- Virtual Fencing Demonstration and Pasture Management Field Day – June 17th
4-H Happenings
- Youth Farm and Ranch Safety – June 20th
- Youth Wilderness Day Camp – June 27th
Forestry
- Forest and Range Owners Field Day – June 27th
June Calendar and Resources
Extension News
Debra Hansen is Retiring!
THANK YOU for all the good work you’ve done for Stevens County!
**Farewell Open House**
JOIN US!
While we will miss Debra’s leadership greatly, we are also celebrating with her on her retirement and wish her well!
DATE: June 25
TIME: Noon to 4:00 p.m.
HOST: Tri-County Economic Development District (and WSU Extension office), in the Large Conference Room
ADDRESS: 986 S. Main, Suite D, Colville
Debra has been with WSU Extension since 1999 focusing on Community and Economic Development. Some of the programs and activities you may been involved with:
- College Knowledge for Adults –a statewide conference with 17 locations, helping 574 adults learn about going to college
- Horizons Leadership for Poverty Reduction held in nine Stevens County communities, engaging 1,226 adults and 112 youth to learn leadership skills
- Stronger Economies Together- organized a seven session series with 370 people spending 1,952 hours to determine and strategize regional priorities
- Women in Agriculture – supported the seven statewide conferences with a local option (6,950 statewide attendees, 166 in Stevens)
- Pathways to Prosperity – created this series of small business ecosystem and workforce development workshops (2,600 statewide attendees, 190 in Stevens)
- Ripple Effects Mapping – created this evaluation tool that is now being used internationally
She’s best known for the formation of the Stevens County / Spokane Tribe Broadband Action Team (the BAT Team). Her passion to increase broadband access and literacy in Stevens County brought together county government, public agencies, the Spokane Tribe, telecommunications, and community partners. “I’m proud to say we’ve made good progress on getting more people connected. I was relentless about telling the real story of rural connectivity – to everyone who would listen. We hosted Washington’s governor, our U.S. senators and congresswoman, three state legislators and the FCC Chairman to hear our stories.”
“I have spent my career with WSU Stevens County Extension listening to issues affecting our communities and organizations and figuring out ways to work with staff and partners to solve them. It’s been a wonderful experience and have forged many friendships through critical working relationships and many, many meetings. I’ll miss being engaged in the work and the people (but not the meetings) and know there are many talented leaders still on the bench, doing this great work.”
For more information about WSU Stevens County Extension programs, visit our website: WSU Stevens County Extension Home, email: Stevens Co Extension email or call 509-684-2588
Master Gardener News
JUNE Library Classes
Bee Curious About Pollinators (Kid-Friendly!)
Plant a Seed – READ!
Join the Master Gardeners at your local library and learn about bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with fun activities and crafts.
Dates/Locations:
- Northport – JUNE 2nd @ 4:00pm
- Lakeside – JUNE 4th @ 3:30pm
- Kettle Falls – JUNE 9th @ 3:00pm
- Hunters – JUNE 10th @ 3:00pm
- Chewelah – JUNE 11th @4:00pm
- Colville – JUNE 16th @ 4:00pm
- Loon Lake – JUNE 18th @ 2:00pm
Nature Trackers – Become a Citizen Scientist
Scientists Need YOU!
Come to your local library and learn how to collect and share data for research using mobile apps. Become a Citizen Scientist and make an impact!
Dates/Locations:
- Lakeside – JUNE 17th @ 2:00pm
- Colville – JUNE 18th @ 1:00pm
- Kettle Falls – JUNE 18th @ 3:00pm
- Hunters – JUNE 24th @ 2:00pm
- Northport – JUNE 25th @ 1:00pm
- Loon Lake – JULY 7th @ 2:00pm
- Chewelah – JULY 7th @4:00pm
NEW! Seed Library now available at the Extension office
Do You Need Seeds? or Have Seeds to Donate?
Visit our new Seed Library and help it grow!
Take a small packet (or a few varieties) of seeds you can plant this season, and enjoy growing your own food or flowers. If you have extra seeds to share, we welcome donations to keep the library thriving. We also encourage you to learn about saving seeds so you can give back in the future—together, we can build a sustainable, community-powered resource for everyone.
In Partnership with: HRCC
(Huckleberry Range Community Collective)
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
Agriculture
Virtual Fencing Demonstration and Pasture Management Field Day – June 17th
Virtual Fencing, Grazing Stick Use, Local Programs and more!
The Bell family is in their second year of utilizing Gallagher Collars to control cattle grazing. They will demonstrate how the system works in the field and discuss practical
lessons learned along the way. WSU Extension and the Stevens County Conservation District will also demonstrate how to use a grazing stick for pasture evaluation and grazing management.
All attendees will receive a free grazing stick to take home.
- When: Wednesday, June 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Where: The Bell family
- 941 Orin Rice Rd, Colville, WA
- RSVP: 509-684-7579 ~ sccd@stevenscd.org (Conservation District)
or 509-684-2588 ~ Kathryn Hoogheem (WSU Agriculture Educator)
Speakers
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – Programs available for virtual fencing
Stevens County Noxious Weed Board (SCNWB) – Programs available
Rainier Seed, Gavin Doree – Pasture Management, Rotational Grazing, and Assessing Forage Need/Quality and Planting Grazing Systems
For information about our Agriculture program, visit our website: Agriculture | Stevens County or contact Kathryn Hoogheem, 509-684-2588
4-H Happenings
Youth Farm and Ranch Safety – June 20th
at Vetter Farm, 5281 Hattery-Owens Road, Deer Park
FREE EVENT!!!
Join us on June 20 from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to learn about Equipment and Animal Safety on your farm or ranch.
This interactive workshop will be held at the Vetter Farm (5281 Hattery-Owens Road, Deer Park). Rotate through several sessions to learn about livestock handling, safe practices around large animals, tractor and PTO operation, protective gear, and more. Participants must sign a liability waiver. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Call 509-684-2588 to register.
Co-sponsored by Stevens County Conservation District.
Youth Wilderness Day Camp – June 27th
at Camp Princess Pine
ANOTHER FREE EVENT!!!
It’s the third year for this day camp at Camp Princess Pine!
The day begins at 10:00 a.m. and goes until 3:00 p.m. with lunch provided.
Learn about wildland fire safety and firefighting, emergency first aid, water safety, survival skills, tree and plant ID, a make ‘n take craft, and a scavenger hunt. Open to youth ages 8-18. Call Shannon at 509-684-2588 to sign up.
Co-sponsored by Stevens County Conservation District.
For information about our 4-H program, visit our website: 4-H Youth | Stevens County or contact Shannon Rowley, 509-684-2588
Forestry – Eastern Region
Forest and Range Owners Field Day – June 27th
An “In the Woods” Educational Event
The Forest and Range Owners Field Day is a practical, hands-on learning event built for everyday landowners!
Whether you have a few wooded acres or a larger piece of land, this event connects you with experts who will walk you through real-world topics like keeping your forest healthy, managing grazing, protecting your land from fire, working with wildlife, and even making the most of your timber. You’ll get straightforward answers to your specific questions, useful tips you can put to work right away, and the confidence to make better decisions about your land. Kids are welcome and will have activities to keep them engaged throughout the day. More than 20,000 families across Washington and Idaho have already attended and walked away better prepared to care for their land — come see what you’ve been missing and take the next step toward becoming a more informed, successful landowner.
This event will be held in Cheney at the Shea Family Ranch, 23405 W Shea Lane, Cheney, WA. More details: Forest and Range Owners Field Day Event Page
For registration, please contact Joshua Cardin, WSU Forestry Extension Program Coordinator: 509-904-4045, joshua.cardin@wsu.edu
- Date: Saturday, June 27th
- Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Gates open at 8 a.m.
- Where: Shea Family Ranch -23405 West Shea Lane, Cheney, WA
- Cost: $30 per person, $40 for a family of two or more
- Save $10 if you register before June 24th!
What You Can Expect to Learn:
A detailed schedule of presentations will be available on June 1st here: Extension Forestry | Washington State University or at your local Extension office.
On-site BBQ lunch to benefit the Future Farmers of America ($10). One free lunch is provided with registration. Additional lunches can be purchased for $10. Or, pack a lunch.
For information about our Forestry program, visit our website: Extension Forestry, Eastern Washington or contact Joshua Cardin, 509-308-8224
Events Calendar
June (also see Events page)
- Jun 2 – Bee Curious Library Class at Northport, 4pm
- Jun 4 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 1-3pm
- Jun 4 – Bee Curious Library Class at Lakeside, 3:30pm
- Jun 5 – MG booth at Chewelah Farmers Market 11a-3:30pm
- Jun 6 – MG booth at Colville Farmers Market 9am-1pm
- Jun 8 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 9-11am
- Jun 9 – Bee Curious Library Class at Kettle Falls, 3pm
- Jun 10 – Bee Curious Library Class at Hunters, 3pm
- Jun 11 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 1-3pm
- Jun 11 – Bee Curious Library Class at Chewelah, 4pm
- Jun 15 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 9-11am
- Jun 16 – Bee Curious Library Class at Colville, 4pm
- Jun 17 – Virtual Fencing Field Day @ The Bells’, 9:30am
- Jun 17 – Citizen Science Library Class @ Lakeside, 2pm
- Jun 18 – Citizen Science Library Class @ Colville, 1pm
- Jun 18 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 1-3pm
- Jun 18 – Bee Curious Library Class at Loon Lake, 2pm
- Jun 18 – Citizen Science Library Class @ Kettle Falls, 3pm
- Jun 19 – MG booth at Chewelah Farmers Market 11a-3:30pm
- Jun 20 – MG booth at Colville Farmers Market 9am-1pm
- Jun 20 – Youth Farm & Ranch Safety @Vetter Farm, 9:30am
- Jun 22 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 9-11am
- Jun 24 – Citizen Science Library Class @ Hunters, 2pm
- Jun 25 – Citizen Science Library Class @ Northport, 1pm
- Jun 25 – Debra Hansen Retirement Open House, 12pm
- Jun 25 – Master Gardener Answer/Plant Clinic, 1-3pm
- Jun 27 – Forest & Range Owners Field Day in Cheney, 9am
- Jun 27 – Youth Wilderness Day Camp @ Princess Pine, 10am