4-H Focus

Yakima County 4-H Invitation to Mealtime Manners Event in Kittitas County

Dear Yakima 4-H Families,

Ever wondered which fork to use during a three-course meal? Or how to order with confidence? Join us for Kittitas County 4-H Mealtime Manners, a fun and educational event for youth!

WHAT: Learn dining etiquette, ordering tips, and proper mealtime manners
WHO: Youth ages 5–19
WHEN: Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
WHERE: Kittitas Valley Event Center – Armory Hall
COST: $5 for 4-H youth | $10 for others

✅ Reserve your spot by January 23: RSVP for Mealtime Manners in Kittitas County
✅ Volunteer with us: Sign up to be a helper!

Questions? Contact Kittitas County 4-H at 509-962-7507 or amy.alder@wsu.edu.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Opportunities for volunteers, activity highlights and volunteer needs

Annual Club Packets – Due December 1st

This is your friendly reminder that your 2024-2025 end of the year paperwork was due December 1st. For your convenience, please see the end of the year paperwork checklist at the bottom.

In addition, we have been notified by WSU that all 4-H events in our county (including your club meetings and club events) must be registered with WSU by the end of December. 

Please help us meet our WSU deadline by registering your club events using this form as soon as possible: 2025-2026 Club Events & Information Registration Form

Washington 4-H Policy Recommendation Process Now Open

We’re excited to announce that the Washington State 4-H Policy Recommendation process is now open for submissions. As in previous years, certified volunteers or groups of volunteers are invited to propose new policies or changes using the official online form. Please review the attached document for full details, including the timeline, submission instructions, and delegate allocations for the upcoming State Council meeting on January 31st, 2026.

Your input is vital to shaping the future of our program. We encourage you to discuss potential recommendations within your local councils and submit recommendations to your local 4-H professional before the December 15th, 2025 due date. Proposals are due to the state office, using the online form, by December 15th, 2025. Thank you for your continued dedication to Washington 4-H!

Youth Officer Training School – POSTPONED

Due to recent flooding, Yakima Emergency Management needs to use the room that was originally scheduled for our 4-H Youth Officer Training. As a result, the training will not be held Sunday, December 14th as planned and will be rescheduled for the new year. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding—please stay safe during this time. We look forward to gathering with you in January.

The 4-H Youth Officer Training School will offer an engaging afternoon focused on what it takes to be a successful 4-H club officer and best practices for leading effective, fun meetings. This free workshop is open to all Yakima and Kittitas County 4-H youth ages 10 and up, as well as adult supporters and volunteers—whether you have already been elected to an officer role or are considering one in the future. Participants will explore officer roles, learn how to keep meetings quick and engaging, and gain fresh ideas to bring back to their clubs. Lunch and games will be included. Updated dates and registration details will be shared soon—thank you for your patience, and we hope to see you in the new year!

Are You Interested in the Know Your Government Conference?

Are you a 4-H teen interested in the Know Your Government project? Contact the Yakima County 4-H Program Manager, Autumn Britt to express your interest. More information on the conference & pre-conference meetings can be found on the Washington State 4-H website.

Letter from the Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup

Hello 4-H Families,

Thank you for a great 4-H State Fair this year. It was so good to see so many participating in the 4-H State Fair. I have placed all 4-H State Fair Premium checks in the mail as of Tuesday, November 18^th, so please watch your mailboxes for the checks.  All checks were mailed to the address listed in 4-H Online. If you haven’t received your check in two weeks, please reach out to me, and I will see if it has been returned. All checks need to be processed within 90 days of receiving them.

Please take a few minutes to complete a survey to let us know how we did and what we need to improve on.

I look forward to seeing everyone again at the 2026 4-H State Fair from August 28-September 20. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Kellian Whidden
4-H State Fair Manager
kellian.st4hfair@gmail.com

 Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) Outbreak – Updates

The 4-H Equine Program, in collaboration with the State 4-H Office, would like to bring to your attention important information regarding the recent Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak. Cases have been reported in Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma. At this time, no cases have been identified in Washington State, but continued awareness is essential.

EHV-1 is a contagious virus that can pose serious health risks to horses. We strongly encourage all involved to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of EHV-1 and the recommended preventative measures. While there is no cause for alarm at this time, this is an opportunity to act with foresight. Effective biosecurity protocols, quarantine procedures, and early symptom monitoring are essential to safeguarding the health of our 4-H horses and the broader equine community. We ask our 4-H families that have horses to remain vigilant, practice the biosecurity measures outlined in the resources, and contact their veterinarian if they have any concerns.

Out of an abundance of caution, local 4-H equine volunteers are advised to postpone or cancel upcoming 4-H horse events until more information is available. The WSU College of Veterinary Medicine recommends at least a one-week pause in activities while the situation continues to be evaluated nationwide.

For those seeking more detailed information, the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) recently hosted a webinar outlining the latest updates on the outbreak, virus transmission, and protective measures for horse owners.

Helpful Resources:

• Go to the Equine Disease Communication Center website for disease alerts
• For further information, please consult the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s website on Equine Herpesvirus at WSDA EHV-1 Resource
•  An additional resource is Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC). The EDCC monitors and communicates disease reports throughout the nation. Those with interest in monitoring this current concern may visit the EDCC webpage dedicated to this outbreak.
• On November 25^th the American Association of Equine Practitioners and Equine Disease Communication Center produced a webinar for horse owners to learn more about the equine herpesvirus outbreak in Texas. Drs. Krista Estell, Dr. Katie Flynn and Texas state veterinarian Dr. Lewis “Bud” Dinges, presented information about the virus, biosecurity, and updated the status of the outbreak that originated at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Finals and Elite Barrel Race event November 5th – 9th in Waco, Texas. This includes the latest information on virus transmission and how to protect horses at events. – Watch the Webinar to learn more about the EHV-1

Thank you for your attention and commitment to equine health and safety.

Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) Outbreak – December 15th Update

” Good Morning 4-H Folks-

I want to share the latest information regarding the recent EHV-1 situation in Washington. At this time, there are still only two confirmed EHV‑positive cases in the state, and importantly, neither has shown neurologic signs. The horses in those two cases were released from quarantine on December 3^rd and the last message from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) says they both tested negative on blood and swab. Our WSU Vet Med Extension program has stated that the cases do not appear to be spreading further from the show where they originated. Based on this, the risk of continued spread currently seems minimal, provided that horses from the affected shows remain under proper quarantine and are not brought to 4‑H events. Therefore, we can lift the cancel and/or postpone order from earlier for 4-H horse events.

When you let your volunteers and youth know that they may start having in-person 4-H horse events again, please encourage them to continue to follow biosecurity practices to the best of their ability. While the current risk is low, we must remember that any time horses are co‑mingled at shows, there is an inherent risk of infectious disease transmission.  The latest updated from the EDCC on December 11^th states that there were 60 horses that have tested positive in 8 states; the spread has slowed, but it is still popping up. The Equine Committee shared the following information with me and it is a great website to share with your volunteers and members.  From the committee, here is a great video on the EHV-1 outbreak that includes disease information, common myths, disinfection recommendations and more: USEF Webinar on EHV-1 and Biosecurity | Equine Disease Communication Center.

Thank you for your continued diligence in keeping our horses and participants safe.”

Kayla Wells-Yoakum 4-H Director, WSU Extension

Flood Support & Recovery Efforts

Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods

We are heartbroken by the flooding, mudslides, and widespread power outages impacting our communities. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. Please use the link below for guidance on keeping your food and water safe during this emergency. – Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods

New! WSU Yakima Extension Office Facebook Page

Have you heard? The WSU Yakima County Extension Office is now on Facebook!

Our Extension team is proud to serve the community with a wide range of educational programs, including:

• 4-H and Youth Development
• Tree Fruit
• Farmer Suicide Prevention
• Animal and Agriculture
• Master Gardener Program
• Consumer Food Safety and Canning

Be sure to follow and like our new page to stay up-to-date on the latest news, resources, and program offerings. We’d also appreciate your help in spreading the word—share our page with friends and family so they know we’re now on Facebook!