Thurston County 4-H News
Enrollment for the 2026-27 4-H Year Begins October 1!
4-H members and volunteers must re-enroll annually in 4-H Online in order to maintain membership. Reference the 4-H Online Family Enrollment Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to enroll.
Please email the 4-H Office if you would like to request a member fee scholarship or if your child is a Wellpoint member. Wellpoint is partnering with Washington State 4-H and will pay the $25 state 4-H membership fee for all Wellpoint members.
Each club needs at least two certified 4-H adult volunteers who are officially enrolled/re-enrolled in 4-H Online for the 2026-27 4-H year before conducting club gatherings.
4-H volunteers who need to have their background check renewed will be contacted by the 4-H Office and will receive an email invitation from Sterling Volunteers to complete a background check. WSU requires all volunteers to submit a background check every three years. Enrollments will not be accepted until background checks are current.
New 4-H Project Opportunity Beginning in October
Do you have a Pokémon-obsessed kid? Are they trying to “catch ‘em all” while you want them to learn it all? Join Thurston County 4-H for our STEM Pokémon Project!
Each month we will follow the journey of Ash and Pikachu by learning the science around each gym’s Pokémon type through a hands-on project. Afterwards, we will learn how to become a better player and sportsman, focusing on the trading card game.
This project is open to all ages; no experience or cards are necessary to join in. Please note: Youth must be enrolled in a Thurston County 4-H club to participate.
Meetings will be held the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm in the WSU Thurston County Extension Office (Thurston County Fairgrounds) beginning October 21.
During the first meeting (October 21), youth members will get to know each other, discuss Pokémon, learn some basics of the game and go home with some cards to start or add to their collection.
We highly encourage a parent or guardian attend the first meeting to ask questions and understand the project expectations.
For more information and to RSVP please email 4-H volunteer and Pokémon Professor Justin Spruiell at justinspruiell@gmail.com.
4-H Achievement Celebration–Hold the Date
Hold the date – The annual Achievement Afternoon celebration is scheduled for Sunday, November 22! Remember to turn in Record Books and Award Nomination Forms:
- Drop off record books at the WSU Extension 4-H Office by Thursday, October 29 to receive project achievement awards. Be sure to make corrections to your record book based on the fair judge’s feedback and add new information if appropriate. You may drop off record books any time during regular business hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 9:00am-4:00pm), or until 8:00pm on October 20, 21 and 22.
- Nominations for Leader of the Year and Teen Leader of the year are due October 11.
- All other nominations are due no later than October 25.
- All nomination forms are found on the Thurston County 4-H Youth Development Website: Award Nomination Forms
Apply to become a Youth Thurston County Fair Board Member
The Thurston County Fair Board is seeking two new members for our open youth positions. Eligible applicants must be in high school, with 16+ preferred, and be a resident of Thurston County. Job duties include attending the monthly board meeting, participating in committees or special projects for the fair, and being a positive representative of the fair in the community.
To learn more and apply, click on the “Fair Board” tab on the Thurston County Website.
Leaf It Up: Spokane and Thurston County 4-H Youth Growing More Than Microgreens
From article posted in the August WSU Extension Newsletter
What started as an idea to address food insecurity has grown into a youth-led movement that is making an impact across Washington State and beyond.
Leaf It Up was created by Spokane and Thurston County 4-H Youth Advocates for Health (YA4-H!) teens after learning that many college students experience food insecurity. Working alongside Washington State University Extension, the teens designed easy-to-use microgreen growing kits that include seeds, grow pads, a reusable growing container, spray bottle, scissors, a fun “garden pet,” and QR codes linking to growing instructions, recipes, and evaluation resources. Each kit costs less than $2 to produce, making the project both economical and sustainable.
During the 2025 Washington State 4-H Teen Conference, more than 100 youth from across the state assembled over 600 Leaf It Up kits which were distributed to 11 college campus food pantries throughout Washington.
The project was selected as one of only three national finalists in National 4-H Council’s Lead to Change initiative. Spokane and Thurston County teens presented their project to nearly 2,000 youth and adult leaders from across the country at Ignite by 4-H in Washington, D.C., earning second place nationally. They created a replication Leaf It Up Toolkit for other states. Washington State teens also joined forces with University of Idaho 4-H at their teen conference. Teens from both states worked together to assemble 150 microgreen kits that were distributed to college campuses across Idaho.
While the national recognition was exciting, the greatest success has been watching young people realize the power they have to create meaningful change. The teens developed leadership, public speaking, problem-solving, collaboration, and project management skills while addressing a real need in their communities.
Thurston County 4-H Council
The Thurston County 4-H Council meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise announced. The Thurston County 4-H Council is our county-wide advisory board. Enrolled 4-H volunteers and 4-H teen leaders are encouraged to attend.
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android: Council Zoom Link Meeting ID: 933 0900 5414 Passcode: 345746
Annual Financial Reporting Due December 1
Each 4-H club or project committee, whether they have a bank account and hold funds or not, is required to submit the Annual Financial Form no later than December 1. Please contact the 4-H Office if you have questions or need assistance filling out the forms.
Important Dates to Remember:
- October 1, Enrollment for the 2026-27 4-H year opens; go to 4-H Online to enroll
- October 26, 7:00 pm, 4-H Council Meeting/New Year Kick-off Leader Meeting
- November 22, 1-3pm, 4-H Achievement Celebration, Heritage Hall, Thurston County Fairgrounds
- November 27-December 13, Tractor Supply Clover Days
- December 1, Club/committee annual financial reporting due
- January 31, Deadline for returning members to re-enroll to avoid late fee
Go to Tuesday News to find out what’s happening in 4-H statewide.
Follow the Washington State 4-H WSU Facebook page for statewide 4-H opportunities and announcements.
