4-H Focus – December 2024 and January 2025
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Club, Volunteer, & Program News
Opportunities for 4-H clubs, activity highlights, program updates, and volunteer needs
Club Opportunities
Volunteer Opportunities
4-H Award Deadlines
4-H Online Enrollments Youth Membership Fee
Yakima County 4-H is accepting enrollments of youth members and volunteers through 4-H Online. Please note, that in order to finalize the enrollment process for youth members, a payment of $25.00 per youth member must be submitted. Families have the option to pay online by credit card, by mailing send in a check or paying in person at the Yakima County Extension Office, located at 2403 S. 18th Street, Suite 100. Union Gap, WA 98903.
If the $25.00 per youth member is unattainable for your family’s financial situation Yakima County 4-H does provide the option to request a sponsorship. If this is the option you are seeking, we ask that you simply send an email to yakima.4h@wsu.edu that states, “Requesting sponsorship for (youth members name).”
Upon receiving your payment, you will receive another email confirming when we have officially approved their enrollment as a 4-H member. If you have any other questions or concerns feel free to reach out by calling 509-574-1600 or emailing Yakima.4H@wsu.edu. We are always happy to help!
Spotlight: 77th Annual 4-H Celebration and Leaders Luncheon
To honor all of our club members & volunteers hard work over the year, the WSU Extension Office held the 77th Annual 4-H Celebration and Awards Dinner on Sunday, November 3rd. This event was located in the Fruitvale Grange where they accommodated our party with a spacious set up, friendly service, and a delicious dinner. We are so grateful for our friends from the Grange! We were thrilled to see so many wonderful 4-H families and fellow friends of 4-H who attended the event in support of our program. As a final hoo-rah we would like to formally recognize our award winners for the 2023-2024 4-H year.
2024 Yakima County 4-H Award Recipients
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Yakima County Leader of the Year | Ashley Loza |
| Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year | Claire Sheehan |
| Outstanding First Year Club Award | Wenas Valley 4-H Club |
| Inez Walter Perpetual Traveling Trophy | Sagebrush Riders 4-H Club |
| Lew Evans Memorial Trophy – 1st Place Tie | Naches Valley 4-H Club |
| Dennis West Memorial – Livestock Judging (Senior) | Caiden Beaman |
| Dennis West Memorial – Livestock Judging (Intermediate) | Addison Blanchard |
| Dennis West Memorial – Livestock Judging (Junior) | Addelyn Wagner |
| Dennis West Memorial – Horse Judging (Senior) | Shelby Gossett |
| Dennis West Memorial – Horse Judging (Intermediate) | Madalyn Hanshew |
| Dennis West Memorial – Horse Judging (Junior) | Addelyn Wagner |
| Yakima County – Dairy Judging (Senior) | Andrew Sheehan |
| Yakima County – Dairy Judging (Intermediate) | Wilem Leatherman |
| Yakima County – Dairy Judging (Junior) | Devon Smeenk |
| Clover Leaf Award – 5 Years | Erica Hettick, Kennedee LeCuyer |
| Clover Leaf Award – 10 Years | Jennifer Southwick |
| Clover Leaf Award – 20 Years | Ilene Bushnell |
| Clover Leaf Award – 30 Years | Janet Boucher |
| Service Leaders & Lifelong Dedication to 4-H Program Award | Willard Mears (45 Years) |
| Service Leaders & Lifelong Dedication to 4-H Program Award | Virginia Wolverton (57 Years) |
| Service Leaders & Lifelong Dedication to 4-H Program Award | Catherine Mears (61 Years) |
| Newly Elected Honorary Leaders | Jenny Loyd, Barbara Harrer |
| “I Dare You” Award | Jake Beaudry, Kate Ketcham, Rylee O’Neal, Andrew Sheehan, Josh Monson, Kenadie Snyder, Lucy Mullinnex, Kayla Krueger |
Central Washington State Fair Public Presentation Trophies
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Senior 1st Place | Kenadie Snyder |
| Senior 2nd Place | Lucy Mullinnex |
| Intermediate 1st Place | London Snyder |
| Intermediate 2nd Place | Addison Blanchard |
| Junior 1st Place | Addelyn Wagner |
| Junior 2nd Place | Issac Mullinnex |
Washington State 4-H Fair – Puyallup
| Award | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Equine | Shelby Gosset (Senior Performance/Dressage, Equine Harness Driving, Small Equine) |
| Equine | Jake Beaudry (Senior Performance/Dressage) |
| Equine | Faith Koffler (Senior Performance/Dressage) |
| Equine | Madalyn Hanshew (Intermediate Performance) |
| Livestock Judging (Senior) | Jorge Lopez |
| Livestock Judging (Intermediate) | Grace Morales |
| Livestock Judging (Junior) | Max Hollingbery |
| Public Presentation (Senior) | Claire Sheehan, Andrew Sheehan |
| Public Presentation (Intermediate) | Madalyn Hanshew |
| Public Presentation (Junior) | Annelise Sheehan |
Certificates of Appreciation
Thank you to all the individuals and businesses who’ve helped, donated time, or sponsored a club and or event within the 2023-2024 4-H program year. In efforts to recognize these individuals, we presented them with a Certificate of Appreciation at the leaders luncheon to honor for their support of 4-H. These people included:
- Vance Nielson
- David Floyd
- Ian and Kari DeBoer
- Donna Snyder
- Cheryl Reese
- Charles Burger
- Jenny DAvenport
- Kirsten Wagner
- Alan Geho
- Helen Gassel
Continuing Seals of Support
- Honorary 4-H Leaders’ Council
- Wilco Farm Store
- Rob Ford
- Pacific Power & Light Company
- Engravings Unlimited
- Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo
- Toppenish Rotary
- Raime Mullinnex
- Nancy Miles
- Gloria Marley
- Yakima County Cattlemen’s Association
- Costal Farm Store
- Lynette Haller
- Fruitvale Grange
- Yakima Valley Dairy Women
- Central Washington State Fair
- Central Washington Junior Livestock Show
- Jeremy and Shayna Brown
- Kim Lansing
If there is anyone we missed, please contact Katlyn at the Extension Office so we may formally recognize their contributions as well.
Agricopia – Recap
The Central WA Ag Museum held it’s 8th Annual AGRI-COPIA event, from October 12th – 13th, 2024! Alongside the wagon rides & pumpkin decorating, Yakima County 4-H had the pleasure of running our own booths at this event. The Fur Feathers & Fun 4-H Club set up an incredible educational animal display for families to learn of the poultry & rabbit projects within 4-H. We also held a fun STEM catapult activity for youth alongside a volunteer recruitment booth where families could learn more about opportunities within our program. Thank you to the Central Washington Ag Museum for having us! & Thank you to our 4-H volunteers for your time and efforts in making this event a success!
October Halloween Costume Winners!
In the October Newsletter the Yakima 4-H Program presented our youth members with the opportunity to show of their Halloween costumes this year. From witches to ghosts or even spooky spiders, our costume committee has chosen the winners of this year’s Halloween costume contest. Check out the winners below! One 4-H’er from each division was chosen for a prize. Winnings are available within the Extension Office for the costume winners to pick up during normal business hours (Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 12:00 pm & 1:00 – 4:30 pm). Thank you all for participating!
Junior
Intermediate
Senior
Green Valley 4-H Club Update
Our October 4-H meeting concluded with these lucky people as our new officers of the year: Andrew Sheehan is our president, Darrin VanderMeulen is our Vice president, Natalie Schlenker is our Secretary, Hunter Tobin is our Treasurer, Annelise Sheehan is our Historian, Adilee George is our News Reporter, and Lucas McConnell is our Demonstration Announcer. We give these people our blessings as they start their new jobs. We are excited to take on all of our upcoming activities as we start a new year of 4-H.
Congratulations to the Sagebrush Riders 4-H Club and their 2024-2025 SBR Officers!
- President = Delilah
- Vice President = Kenadie
- Secretary = Madison
- Treasurer = Paisley
- Sergeant of Arms = Addy, Abby & Kaidence
- Reporter = Lexy & Anna
Attention Club Leaders – Members Pins are Available
Recognize your 4-H club members loyalty to the program by honoring them with their yearly participation pin or official club officer pins. If this is something you are interested in please fill out the form within your club packet and send it to Yakima.4H@wsu.edu. Can’t find the form? Contact the Extension Office for a new copy by calling 509-574-1600 or emailing Yakima.4H@wsu.edu
Register Now! Eastside In-Person Facilitate the Awesome Workshop in Moses Lake
WSU 4-H “Facilitate the Awesome” is designed to increase adults’ skills in successfully guiding teen-led projects. Join and interact with other volunteers and parents interested in supporting teen programs December 3rd, 6th, and 7th for this four-unit training program. Registration and more details on session times for this hybrid training is available online.
Deadlines
Teen Opportunities
Events, conferences, and scholarships just for teens
Teen Event Calendar
Fair News
Important updates for families participating in our fairs
Fair Calendar
Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo – Grandview Fair Boundaries
In preparation for the YVFR 2025 fair, the difficult decision has been made to make the following necessary changes to the fair boundaries effective immediately. The Yakima Valley Fair and Rodeo will be open to any boy or girl registered in 4-H or FFA, that has a permanent address within Yakima County school districts that fall South of Union Gap to/and including parts of Benton County, including Prosser, Paterson, and Kiona Benton school districts, and those of the Eastern Klickitat County including the Bickleton school district effective for the 2025 year. If you have any questions regarding this change, please reach out to Jennie Funston, Livestock Secretary at Registeryvfr@gmail.com.
Don’t Forget to Cash Your 2024 Fair Premium Checks!
If you have premium checks from 2024 Washington Fairs (county or state), please cash or deposit your checks as soon as possible. Fairs are trying to close their books for the 2024 year, which is difficult with checks still out there. One fair alone has over $6,000 in uncashed premiums! If you have questions or would like to discuss donating your premiums, you can find your fair on the Washington State Fair Association website. For the Washington State 4-H Fair, you can contact kellian.st4hfair@gmail.com.
2025 Washington State 4-H Fair Patch Contest
It’s time to start work on your entries for the 2025 Patch Contest for the Washington State 4-H Fair – enter your design and we could be wearing your art at next year’s fair! Details can be found on our Yakima 4-H calendar entry for the contest’s deadline or on the State 4-H Fair website.
Livestock News
Deadlines, news, rules, and opportunities for members in animal agriculture projects
Livestock Events
Equine News
Updates and opportunities for horse project members
Equine Events
News You Can Use
Local events and opportunities through WSU Extension and our community partners
Other Upcoming Opportunities
Free wind power activities for your classroom!
Create a FREE account on CLOVER and complete the interactive Be a Wind Warrior activity to receive the code and claim your Wonder of Wind Power 4-H Discover Box. Teach your students the fascinating science behind wind energy. Just pay shipping!
Empower Youth with STEM Skills Today!
Dive into the 2024 4‑H STEM Challenge with the latest kit, Food for Thought, and unlock the potential of young minds! Created by esteemed educators from NDSU, LSU, Penn State, and UNL, this kit is a treasure trove of hands-on activities like “Food Fighters”, “Chew on This”, and “Know to Grow”. It’s designed to spark curiosity and equip kids with the STEM skills needed to explore and innovate in the realm of food security. Perfect for classroom or home learning, Food for Thought is your ticket to inspiring the next generation of change-makers. Join us in empowering youth to create positive community impacts. Get your kit now and start a journey of discovery and innovation!
Avian Influenza, Migration South Brings New Detections in WA!
With five new detections of High Path Avian Influenza in domesticated poultry flocks (1 commercial/ 4 backyard) in WA State over the last three weeks it is time for updated information. While WA didn’t have any detections from Jan. 1, 2024 until mid-Oct., OR and ID both had detections during Spring migration North, Avian Influenza has been around WA with detections in wild fowl populations. As the wild waterfowl populations are migrating south it is important to stay alert and know where to find information. You can find new detections, contact information for the State Vet (WSDA), and Bird Flu FAQS (under- “For backyard flock owners”, including what to look for) on the WSDA Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza website.
More things to know:
You will also find the most recent news releases regarding Avian Influenza on the website. At the bottom of the WSDA webpage there are several additional resources that may be helpful in keeping your birds safe and healthy.
Keep in mind: This highly contagious and deadly virus requires quick action to safeguard our local bird populations and the health of our farmers’ flocks.
- No infected birds or eggs have entered the food supply.
- The risk to the general public remains low.
- There are no confirmed or suspected cases in dairy farms in Washington.
4-H Resources & Important Links
Quick links, references, and other useful information for 4-H clubs and families
“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