4-H Focus – August 2024

Results for the Final 4-H Volunteer GivePulse Raffle Drawing

The Yakima County 4-H program conducted the final quarterly raffle drawing of the year. Giving all our 4-H volunteers who have accurately documented their volunteer hours on GivePulse an opportunity to be rewarded for their efforts. Check out the Volunteer Leaderboard for the most hours entered on GivePulse from April – June.

For each volunteer hour entered within GivePulse gave our volunteers an entry into the raffle drawing. The more volunteer hours you record, the higher chance to winning a cash prize!

Last months lucky winner was revealed via Zoom on Friday, July 26th rewarding them with $50 for entering their hours from April – June.

Congratulations to our winner, Kattie Blanchard!

Thank you to all our volunteers who regularly volunteer their time to our program and are dedicated to making a difference in our community. We are so grateful for all the amazing things you all do. If you have any questions regarding the GivePulse raffle contest or simply need instructions for the GivePulse website and how to enter an ‘impact’, please contact Katlyn at 509-574-1600 or email Yakima.4H@wsu.edu.

Volunteers: YOUR TIME MATTERS TO US

Every hour you spend supporting 4-H is a donation. All certified 4-H volunteers are required to report hours; reporting protects and supports you and the local program! By reporting your hours you give Yakima County 4-H the numeric proof we need to show our funders and higher-officials that our programs are greatly valued and needed. In addition, reporting your hours makes you eligible for the Department of Labor and Industries medical aid program (this program allows an injured volunteer’s medical expense to be paid by the Dept. of Labor and Industries), and allows you protection under the state of Washington tort claims law, RCW 4.92.060, for acts or omissions while performing, or in good faith purporting to perform, your official volunteer duties. What qualifies as volunteer hours? Anything and everything you do for 4-H! Teaching, planning, prepping, shopping, helping at fair and other events, paperwork, training, driving, calling, mentoring, presenting, emailing, even reading this counts! Email yakima.4h@wsu.edu or call 509-574-1600 if you need assistance.

Yakima County Leaders’ Council Documents available on Google Drive

In efforts to keep our 4-H community actively involved with decision making process, the Yakima County Leaders’ Council Board members and Extension Office have teamed up in making our documents transparent to all through Google Drive. All meeting agenda, minutes & budgets can be found accessed by the public at all times through Google Drive. If you have anything that you would like to add to the next meeting agenda you may contact the 4-H Program Manager, Autumn at Autumn.Britt@wsu.edu or 509-574-1578.

4-H Club News Wanted!

Send in pictures and highlights from a recent meeting or event your club attended for a chance to “Get stuck on 4-H!” Focus Newsletter or even our social media! We would love to share your club news! Please send in a small blurb about what your club has been doing by the 25th of the month to yakima.4h@wsu.edu, or drop them off at the office.

4-H Clubs Facebook Groups

Facebook has proven to be a useful tool for reaching volunteers and parents. If your club or group has a Facebook page, please ensure the page is private, not public, to support youth safety. A private but searchable page will allow new member families and volunteers to find your page but stop unaffiliated public members from seeing youth photos or any identifying information you post when sharing contest results, meeting reminders, and more. All 4-H pages should have at least three admins: two enrolled volunteers and the 4-H office. Invite the 4-H office as an admin member of the group, by copying the link to your group and emailing it to yakima.4h@wsu.edu. The 4-H office’s role is not to run your club’s page but to help manage a page transition if required during leadership changes and support with set-up as needed.

• How to change a Facebook group from public to private
• How to add an admin and other Facebook group information

Does your club want to start a Facebook group? Let us know! The 4-H office can create a group for your club under our main page, saving you the trouble of clicking all the right privacy boxes and setting up admins.

Registration is Moving to Fair Entry

Originally published March 19, 2024

From Kellian Whidden, State Fair Manager

Hello 4-H Families,I am excited to announce that the Washington State 4-H Fair will be using FairEntry for all our registration and entry forms this year. This program can be used on any mobile device, laptop, and iPad. You will be able to login to FairEntry using your 4-H Online login and password. This will bring over your address, email, phone, and projects that you have entered in 4-H Online. All the classes will be listed in FairEntry for you to sign up for. An important item to note is to make sure that you are signed up in 4-H Online for the projects that you wish to display/show at the State Fair. If you are not signed up in 4-H Online for that project, FairEntry will not allow you to sign up to show/display the project. As a family, you will be able to enter all projects at one time and not fill out a stack of Entry Forms. County Extension offices will only need to fill out the Round UP form so I know who will be advancing to the State 4-H Fair. If you wish to enter a virtual project, you will be able to upload the link or pictures to the entry form. Iʼm so excited to use this program to help with entries and running the State Fair. Stay tuned for more information. Please let me know if you have any questions.

From the 4-H State Fair Manager’s Desk

Greetings 4-H Families and Staff, can you believe that we are 8 weeks away from the opening day of the State Fair? As of July 1st, Fair Entry for Washington’s State 4-H Fair has been open for 4-H members who have qualified at their county fairs to participate at the State Fair.

4-H State Fair registration

A family entry guide can be found on the WSU website (PDF). I am working on getting all 4-H Online managers access to Fair Entry to approve their county’s entries. I will be holding a training in the next couple of weeks on how to approve county entries in Fair Entry.

4-H State Fair Manager, Kellian Whidden, 503-741-6003, kellian.st4hfair@gmail.com.

2024 Central Washington State Fair 4-H
Department Exhibitor Book

For more details on all the activities, events and contests the please reference the 4-H Department Exhibitor Book (PDF) on the Central Washington State Fair website.

Denim Upcycle Contest

The denim that we know and love today originated in 1860 when Levi Strauss and Co. debuted a new kind of work pant. Now we can use denim for so many applications other than protective leg wear. Just when you think you have worn out your favorite pair of jeans you can bring new life to them by upcycling.

Rules: Create a project from used denim jeans.

Categories to enter:

• Wearables – Convert used denim into a wearable piece of clothing that was not it’s original purpose (ie. Skirts, shorts, jackets, apron, etc)
• Accessories – An item that can be used with an outfit. Made from used denim (ie. Purse, hat, belt, backpack, etc)
• Craft – Made from used denim. (Examples: coasters, garland, pillow, craft tote, ornaments)

Western Shirt Sewing/Embellishment Contest

Western shirts are a cowboy tradition. What sets them apart is how versatile the shirt can be. Workwear or formal wear, or both, the Western Shirt has seen it all and done it all. The first, generally most noticeable element of a Western Shirt is it’s yoke on the front and back.

There will be two (2) categories:

• Western Shirt Sewing – The contestant will sew a western shirt from scratch. A store-bought pattern or drafted pattern are acceptable. This garment must be a new project.
• Western Shirt Embellishment – Contestant will take a pre-owned or purchased western shirt and add embellishments as they see fit. Ideas could include sequins, fringe, paint, embroidery, etc.

Table Setting Contest

This contest is open to all 4-H Youth Members and serves as a fun way to learn how to properly set a table, plan a nutritional meal, and express originality and creativity. The contestant will be required to fully set 1 table for an occasion selected by the contestant. Card tables will be used for the contest.
table will need to be provided by the contestant.

The table should consist of a table cloth or covering, plates, utensils, glasses or cups, a centerpiece, and a menu for your occasion. Your menu should be include 3 items that are grown here in the Yakima Valley. Highlight those items in bold font on your menu.

There will be two (2) categories:

• Casual-themed place settings could be planned for indoors or outdoors using any type of table cover (tablecloth, blanket or paper) and any type of table service. Theme/Occasion examples: birthday party, family dinner, friends get together, harvest party, picnic, football watch party, etc.
• Formal-themed place settings would include more than three (3) Theme/Occasion examples: Tea Party, New Years Eve, Christmas Dinner, Formal Birthday, etc.

Judging: During judging you will present your table setting to the judge by telling them about your them/occasion and why you chose it. You should view yourself as the host of the judge as your guest. Remember to extend a welcome to your judge and present your ideas behind your theme/occasion.

Please do not prepare food as this is a presentation only.

Master Gardeners Summer Availability

WSU Yakima County Extension has a privilege of having Master Gardener volunteers within our office. They are an incredible informational resource with a passion for horticulture. If you have questions regarding a specific species of flowers or would like to have your soil PH tested, our Master gardener volunteers are happy to help! Please note that they are volunteers and offer their time to community when they are available. They tend to have office hours throughout the week on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9 am-12 pm & 1 pm-4 pm. If you would prefer to reach them by phone, please call the Yakima County Extension office at 509-547-1600 & we would be happy to transfer you to them.

Mental Health Matters: Suicide Prevention Hotline 9-8-8

WSU would like to provide our community with a resource for whenever they feel down. When feelings of hopelessness & doubt start to feel overwhelming, please reach out by calling or texting 9-8-8. We care about you. Your feelings are valid & you don’t have to deal with them alone.

Anyone in the United States can call or text the number 9-8-8. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if you or someone you know shows signs of crisis, especially suicide please reach out.

For more information regarding how WSU helps to implement a new suicide hotline, please visit their webpage.

Quick Links

Yakima County 4-H From Home

Yakima County 4-H Website

Yakima County Facebook Page

State 4-H Website

Volunteer Reporting Hours – Give Pulse

Volunteer Sterlings Background Screening

4-H Online Enrollment Link

4HOnline Enrollment Guide (PDF)

“WSU Yakima County Extension empowers our families, communities, and local partners through a network of educators and volunteers to provide research-based outreach and creative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity,  environmental stewardship, and quality of life.”

Alison White – Regional Specialist
4-H Youth Development
alison.white@wsu.edu

Autumn Britt – 4-H Program Manager
4-H Youth Development
autumn.britt@wsu.edu

Katlyn Shockey – 4-H Program Specialist
4-H Youth Development
yakima.4h@wsu.edu
katlyn.shockey@co.yakima.wa.us