4-H Focus – May 2026

*New* 4-H Fair Form and Record Book Completion Deadline

Yakima County 4-H is moving our 4-H record book scoring to the end of the 4-H year in September in order to allow youth members to include their fair experiences and finalize their market sales before their record book is scored for 4-H year completion and Medal of Honor. 

To assist with this change and maintain accountability, the Yakima County 4-H office requires that all 4-H youth members participating in livestock projects at Yakima County Fairs (including those from other counties) turn in a Yakima County 4-H Fair Form (linked and attached) at check-in to participate. 

This form attests that the youth member has followed the animal ownership timeline, that they agree to follow the 4-H behavior expectations and that they will complete their record book and submit it to the Yakima County 4-H office for scoring in September as one of the requirements to complete their 4-H year. Yakima County 4-H Fair Forms will be collected at fair check-in and retained by the WSU Extension Office. 

*Non-Yakima County 4-H participants are still required to submit The Yakima County Fair Form to participate and will attest that they agree to meet the 4-H requirements of their home county. 

IMPORTANT:Fairs are independent organizations and are free to set their own requirements for record books in addition to those set by Yakima County 4-H.

At this time, Central Washington Junior Livestock Show and West Valley Fair will still require record books and scoring will be done by the fairs themselves. Yakima County 4-H youth participating in these fairs will turn in their record book at the fair, then update and complete it for scoring by the Extension Office in September for 4-H year completion.

We recognize that this is a big change, and we appreciate your patience and your assistance as we adapt our systems to better meet the needs of our youth members, volunteers and staff. Please reach out to me with any questions you may have and I will be happy to help.

Thank you for being a part of Yakima County 4-H. We’re glad you’re here!

Yakima County Council Meeting – July 27th at 6:30 PM

All 4-H youth members, volunteers and families are invited to attend the Yakima County Council meetings. Your input is greatly needed to make decisions on up coming events. Please consider joining us on Monday, July 27th at 6:30 pm in the Yakima County Resource Center – Large Conference Room, Side A. Located at 2403 S. 18th Street, Union Gap, WA.

Volunteer Hour Tracking – GivePulse

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.

How to Record an Impact on GivePulse

An impact in the GivePulse system refers to the time you spend working on behalf of Washington State 4-H Youth Development, or more simply your volunteer hours. Watch this video on how to create an impact (log your volunteer hours) in GivePulse.

1. Log in to GivePulse
2. Click “Add Impact” (a green button in the top right side of your group screen).
3. Enter the date and time for your impact.
4. Next; enter the number of hours for your impact (rounded to the nearest quarter of an hour: (Example: 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 hours).
5. Enter the type of activity from the pull-down menu. Select the activity type that best fits your impact (a description of each is provided).
6. Rate your experience with the event and provide reflections/comments for the group to see. 
7. Personal notes are available only to you, enter notes you might want to remember.
8. Attach any items you’d like (pictures, agendas, etc.)
9. Click “Add Impact” (green button on the bottom left) to submit your hours.

Save the Date for Washington State 4-H Teen Conference – June 22-25, 2026

Interested in inspiring the next generation of leaders?

We’d love to invite you to host a workshop at the Washington State 4‑H Teen Conference! We are currently seeking engaging, youth‑centered workshop proposals that will spark curiosity, build skills, and create meaningful experiences for teens from across the state.

If you have an idea you’re excited to share, we’d love to hear from you—learn more and submit a proposal here: Request for Workshop Proposals Teen Conference

High-school aged teens (those who have completed 8th grade and up) are encouraged to come to the Pullman Campus of Washington State University in June each year for the Washington State 4-H Teen Conference.

Some highlights include: touring the beautiful Pullman campus of WSU, staying in college dormitories, eating at WSU’s dining center, and attending workshops and tours to highlight career pathways and opportunities. We will include workshops to help youth begin preparing for college applications, scholarship applications, choosing a college major, and choosing a career pathway. We will also have opportunities for leadership development, service projects, team-building activities, and fun!

Date: June 22nd-25th, 2026

Location: WSU Pullman Campus

Ages: High School students who have completed 8th grade through 12th grade

More information on this event can be found on the Washington State 4-H Teen Conference webpage.

Military Teen Adventure Camps

Washington State University (WSU) is hosting its sixth annual Military Teen Adventure Camp in the San Juan Islands this July, offering camp to teenagers (ages 13 to 18) of active duty, guard, reserve, and retired military personnel at very low cost. Campers can select between a traditional Camp Orkila experience—featuring hiking, kayaking, swimming, archery, ropes courses and BMX—or an overnight sea kayaking island-hopping adventure, with applications open until the sessions fill. For more information and to apply, visit the Military Teen Adventure Camp website.

West Valley Fair – Wiley City

2026 Washington 4-H State Livestock Judging Contest Opens Registration

As of April 1st, registration is officially open. Coaches and or leaders can register their teams and alternates (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) in 4-H Online.

You will have to be a certified volunteer to access 4-H online. If you serving as a coach but are not a certified volunteer, you will need to work with one in your county that will be attending the contest with your team to enter your youth. Early registration will be open until 9:59 pm May 29th, 2026. Late registration will end 9:59 pm June 12th, 2026. Please note that there will be no day of registration. This year we are using 4-H Online with altered registration deadlines for verification purposes according to the 2026 rule changes. We know that this is a new process if you have any questions, please reach out.

Also, will be using a new scoring system that will require Scantrons.  We will provide clipboards and pencils for contestants, and they will be expected to complete the Scantron independently.  We will follow up with some resources as we approach the contest so that you can work with your youth. We will also work with group leaders assuring that they will be able assist our youth participants during the contest.  The new registration process should speed things up in the morning.  We will confirm registration, check in and coaches will be able to declaration teams. If you have multiple teams, you will let us know which members are team 1, which are team 2, etc.  We are planning to start the contest earlier, refer to schedule provided in the rules (below).

We will follow up closer to the contest to request names of people to assist with group leading and contest organization prior to the event date. Refer to the rules and travel guidelines before registration making sure that you understand the process forward.

Check-in will be at the Huck Fuller Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds Gold Entrance. Thank you for your participation in the 2026 State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. 

Sagebrush Riders 4-H Club – Horse Show

Join the Sagebrush Riders 4-H Club for an exciting day of horsemanship and competition at the 2026 Sagebrush Riders 4-H Horse Show on Saturday, May 30th, 2026, at Diamond U Arena! Judge Michelle Koffler will oversee a full schedule of English, Western, Dressage, Trail, Showmanship, and Gaming classes for Senior, Intermediate, Junior, and Walk-Trot riders. Out-of-county 4-H participants are welcome!

The show office opens at 8:00 am with the first class beginning at 9:00 am and afternoon events starting no earlier than 1:00 p.m. Riders can enjoy a wide variety of classes including English Equitation, Western Pleasure, Reining, Pole Bending, Texas Barrels, and more. Donation concessions will be available during the lunch break. Find more information on the Sagebrush Riders 4-H Horse Show Entry Form (PDF).

Pre-entries are required at least two weeks before the show, (ie, May 16th, 2026). Dressage, Western Dressage, and Reining classes must be pre-entered with no exceptions. Entry fees are $10 arena fee per rider plus $5 per class. Approved helmets are required for all mounted riders, and all participants must meet Washington 4-H eligibility requirements.

For questions or entries, contact Cathy at 509-728-1111 or email entries to cicrushing@gmail.com with the subject line “SBR Horse Show.”

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

WSU Extension offers a Farm Stress & Suicide Prevention Program dedicated to supporting the well-being of our agricultural communities. You’re not alone—help and resources are available.

Cheryl offers COMET classes at no cost, thanks to grant funding. These sessions are a valuable way to build confidence in having supportive conversations with someone who may be struggling or approaching a crisis. Reach out to our local Farm Stress Co-Coordinator, Cheryl Reese for more information at 509-574-1584 or through email at cheryl.reese@wsu.edu.

You can find more information in regards to farm stress and resources offered on the Skagit County Farm Stress webpage.

WSU Extension is Hiring!

WSU Extension is moving forward with the approved plan to pilot the regionalization of administrative functions for our county and tribal offices in two pilot regions. The Northeast region consists of our offices in Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan, and Spokane Counties and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program. The SW region consists of our offices in Thurston, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz and Clark Counties.  

Searches for the new regional administrator positions have been initiated.  Those search announcements can be found on the WSU jobs site at: NE Position, SW Position

The search committees for each of those positions will begin reviewing applications on or about Friday, May 15th.  A multi-step review will ultimately yield a small finalist pool for each position. Interviews will be scheduled which will allow participation and input from representatives of each affected Extension regional partner government. The schedule for these will be shared through our Tribal and County offices in each region.

Ask Dr. Universe: How Does Bread Rise?

Have you ever watched bread rise in the oven and wonder how that happens? This week, Dr. Universe explores the science of bread baking with Mel Darbyshire, the head of baking at WSU’s Breadlab. Read about how yeast rises to the occasion to make bread into the fluffy snack it is!

Submit your question online and you may see your question featured in a future Ask Dr. Universe!