4-H Focus – September 2024

Leader’s Council 4-H Contest
“Most Prolific Participants”

Attention 4-H’ers!! The Yakima County Leaders Council is giving all 4-H participants an opportunity to win a $25 Visa gift card! The winners for this contest will be the Top four 4-H participants with the most exhibit entries in the Modern Living Building at the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima. This contest is for Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions. Cloverbuds will get a ribbon and a prize.

4-H Recognition Awards

Show your gratitude to a specific 4-H member or volunteer by nominating them for one of the following awards:

• Leader of the Year Award (Sept 16th)
• Outstanding Youth of the Year (Sept 16th)
• Outstanding First Year Club Award
• New Honorary Leader
• Lew Evans Memorial Award
• Inez Walter Award
• Toppenish Rotary Awards – Agriculture & Home Economics
• Certificate of Appreciation Nomination

If you would like to nominate a deserving individual, you can find the applications at the links above or on our 4-H Policies and Forms page. Please be sure to submit your nominations by October 16th, 2024.

Certificates Of Appreciation

It’s time to say “Thank you” to all the individuals and businesses who’ve helped, donated time, or sponsored your club and/or event. Please send your list to Yakima.4h@wsu.edu, so these individuals may be invited to the Leader Luncheon and receive a Certificate of Appreciation for their support of 4-H. Due in Extension office October 16th, 2024.

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.

Annual 4-H Club Packets

Club packets have officially been sent out. Please be sure to keep a look out for these within your mail. If you have any
questions, concerns, with any of the forms within this packet please call Autumn or Katlyn at the Extension office at
509-574-1600.

Yakima County 4-H Volunteers Needed

Yakima county is always needing extra hands on deck! Afterall, 4-H wouldn’t be what it is today, without all our leaders & volunteers. If you have an interest in starting up a club, encouraging the youth through skill development, or would just like to get more involved with the community – then this may be the perfect fit for you! Feel free to reach out to the Yakima County Extension office at 509-574-1600 or email us at Yakima.4h@wsu.edu for more information on how to get started.

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.

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.

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)

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cookoff

This year’s in person cookoff challenge will be a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Cookoff. A grilled cheese sandwich is defined as a toasted hot cheese sandwich that is prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread and using a cooking fat to make it toasted.

Rules: Create a grilled cheese masterpiece. Any type of bread, cheese, cooking fats, or alternatives and inclusions can be used. Exhibitors will create their entry in the prep kitchen. Their sandwich will then be judged by the panel of judges and then present their entry for judging. Contest will take place Sunday, September 29th at time TBD.

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.

Helpers & Volunteers are Needed!

Each year the Yakima County 4-H provides activity stations within the Agriculture Building for the kids on school field trips. This years school field trips are scheduled for Wednesday, September 25th and Thursday, September 26th. Some activity stations we have planned are:

• Hay Bale Catapult STEM Table
• Wildflower Seed Bombs
• Friendship Bracelets

If you are a 4-H volunteer or youth member who is interested in helping with these activities, we would appreciate the extra support. Please contact the Yakima 4-H Program Manager, Autumn Britt for at Autumn.Britt@wsu.edu or by calling 509-574-1578.

State Fair Park Stall Front Staple Removal Service Project

Thanks to all who assisted with our State Fair Park stall front staple removal service project! I estimate that we contributed 20 hours worth of work toward cleaning the fronts of 20 stalls/tack rooms. Good job! – Netta H.

Equine Participants at Puyallup State Fair

Seniors returned home from Puyallup Fair. Faith is State Champion in Western Dressage Seat Equitation. Jake is State Champion in both Level 1 Western Dressage & English Disciplined Rail. Great job to you all! Be sure check out some of these awesome photos from fair.

Yakima County 4-H Benefactor Program

You’re invited to join our community of benefactors! We seek individuals, families, and businesses that believe in the benefits of 4-H’s high quality youth development opportunities and want to show their support by making an annual donation to ensure this program’s success.

A local challenge is, not every youth who wants to join 4-H has the means to do so. Directly because of donors like you, youth in our community have access to 4-H club membership, educational workshops, programs, and leadership development events. Youth are able to engage with their peers at the local and state level to learn how make positive change in their clubs, communities, countries, and their world.

Generous donations are used in funding 4-H enrollment fee sponsorship, attendance at national summits, 4-H conference registration fees, livestock judging, basic programming supplies, postage, and other necessary materials to support the large network of dedicated volunteers who give their time and talents to mentor, lead, and support 4-H youth. Your donation ensures that all youth may be provided quality programming opportunities, that encourage the lasting development of self-esteem, self- reliance, personal responsibility, civic responsibility, and leadership ability.

Find more information on how to become a Benefactor for Yakima County 4-H and support the development of leadership, citizenship, and responsibility among Yakima County’s youth by visiting our webpage.

Master Gardeners 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, our Master gardener volunteers are happy to help! Please note that they are volunteers and offer their time to the community when they are available. From now until the end of October, 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.

4-H Curriculum and Publications Available for Purchase at the Extension Office

We have a library of 4-H curriculum available to our 4-H members and volunteers to help you on your projects! Everything from poultry to sheep & sport fishing to woodworking, to… Well, you get the idea! We are happy to find you the publication you need to take your projects to the next level! We have record books and record book cover in stock. Peruse our samples of 4-H curriculum before ordering!

Come by Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm or 1:00 pm to 4:30pm at the Yakima WSU Extension office.

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