


Yakima County’s Monthly 4-H News and Updates
Pardon our dust as we transition to a digital version of the 4-H Focus Newsletter!
Club, Volunteer, and Program News
Opportunities for 4-H clubs, activity highlights, program updates, and volunteer needs
4-H Promotional Posters Contest
Take a sneak peek at some of the amazing posters our 4-H youth made for the Yakima County Poster Contest! Be sure to drop by the West Valley Blue Barn during fair to check out all our youth members creativity.




Yakima County 4-H Leaders’ Council Meeting
June 29th at 6:30 pm
You are invited to the next Yakima County 4-H Leaders’ Council Meeting scheduled on July 29th, at 6:30 pm in the WSU Extension Office large conference room. Volunteers, leaders, members and families are all invited to attend. This is your council and it’s very important to have your input on the decisions made. At this specific meeting, we will be forming official committees for future activities and events this year, such as public presentations, record book judging, and more. We also intend on setting dates for next years contests and events. We hope to see you there! If you are unable to physically attend the meeting, the zoom link may be requested by contacting Autumn at Autumn.Britt@wsu.edu or by calling 509-574-1578.
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.
Yakima County 4-H Dog Show
Hey all you dog lovers! Have you heard about the 4-H dog show in August? The 4-H Dog Show is scheduled to be held at the Selah United Methodist Church on August 17th at 9:00 am. This event is considered a county qualifier for the Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup and is open to all 4-H members in Yakima and neighboring counties. Registration is due August 10th and can be found on the WSU Extension 4-H Forms page.
Registration is due August 10th! For questions or concerns please contact Becky Johnson at 509-969-7565 or by emailing bjoh461@fairpoint.net.
Recording of 4-H Poultry Virtual Fit and Show Clinic – Now Available!
The recording of the 4-H Poultry Virtual Fit and Show clinic is now available! The clinic is for any youth or volunteer looking for basic information on fair preparation for poultry including Fitting & Showing, pest control, and bathing. The recording is approximately 1.5 hours. We’d appreciate it if you’d take the survey at the end. You can access the recording on WSU’s Zoom recording archive. The workshop took place on June 9th and was hosted by the WSU Small and Companion Animal Committee and Explore 4-H with WSU Extension.
Teen Opportunities
Events, conferences, and scholarships just for teens
Yakima County 4-H Presentation & Demonstration Contest
Listed below are dates that are available for our Yakima County 4-H Presentation & Demonstration Contest. Our goal is to have multiple youth speakers sign up within a 1 hour time block, thus creating a built in audience of members waiting to go next. If none of these options listed within the survey work for your family, I’m sure we can make further accommodations as necessary.
- July 29th from 4:00-6:00 pm – WSU Large Conference Room (The Yakima County Leaders’ Council Meeting will follow directly after at 6:30 pm)
- August 2nd from 9:00-11:00 am
- August 9th from 1:00-3:00 pm – Grandview Fair (no tech supported at this venue)
Youth members may sign up by visiting the Google Form. We ask that members please select their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for presentation dates using this form.
Volunteer News
Updates and reminders for 4-H volunteers
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.
Save the Date – Level 2 Shooting Sports Training in October
It’s that time again – National 4-H has set a date for the Level 2 training for shooting sports. The next one will be October 27th – November 1st in Columbia, NC. Registration information will be available soon!
As a reminder, Level 2 instructors are volunteers who train new Level 1 4-H shooting sports instructors. They must be certified and fully enrolled in 4-H when they attend training, and they need to have been a level 1 shooting sports volunteer for at least one year prior to the training. If you have volunteers you think may be qualified, send their first and last name and we will reach out to them with the application when it becomes available. Volunteers must pay their own way to and from the conference. If you have any questions, contact Ashley at a.hernandez-hall@wsu.edu.
4-H Volunteer GivePulse Raffle Drawing
Be sure to log your volunteer hours from the months of April through June 2024. We will be conducting our final quarterly raffle drawing on July 26th, giving our volunteers a chance to win $50. This raffle was held via Zoom for all to watch the wheel spin on July 26th at 2:00 pm.
Join on Zoom from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, or Android.
Meeting ID: 910 8822 3973 | Passcode: 913434
Nominate Outstanding Volunteers for State Awards
It’s that time of year again! Volunteer Recognition! Let’s work together to nominate those volunteers for our state awards that have given so much the past year. County Volunteer of the Year/Teen Leader of the Year are due October 1st, and all other awards are due August 1st. Award descriptions and nominations can be found on the Washington State Volunteer Recognition webpage.
If you need assistance completing the nomination forms, contact Jana
Ferris at ferrisj@wsu.edu.
Fair News
Important updates for families participating in our fairs
Washington State 4-H Fair Creative Kids Projects!
No pre-qualification at the county level. Open to all 4-H members. Regardless of 4-H project enrollment. See State Fair Exhibitor Guide for complete requirements. The 4-H State Fair is offering new projects in Creative Kids! Projects include:
- Arts: ‘Nature Craft’ – Use natural items found in nature to create your entry.
- Recycled Newspapers – Use newspaper as the primary basis for your creation. The creation should be either usable or decorative.
- Poetry: ‘Summer Fun’ – Entries may be metered, free verse, haiku, or any other style of poetry.
- Photos: ‘Summer Fun’ – Show your storytelling ability with a 5×7 or 8×10 matted photograph.
- Culinary Project: ‘Chocolate’ – Entries will contain chocolate in some form and will consist of 4 cookies, muffins or other individual items.
- Garden Project: ‘Garden Gift Basket’ – Create a small basket filled with tools, seeds, and supplies for your garden, including at least one handmade item.
Details are available in the Fair Exhibitor Guide. Feel free to print and share the flyer with your clubs!
West Valley Fair News
Mark your calendars for the 71st annual West Valley Fair and Fat Stock Sale, Inc.! The Fair Board and its supporters hope that you enjoy this very special event and the many fun activities provided. Activities include, 4-H & FFA Livestock exhibits, annual parade, Family & Consumer Science project displays, fun contests, food and more! For more information or rules and classifications please see their Premium book.
Thursday, July 20th – Saturday, July 22nd at 3100 Block of S. Wiley Rd.
- Dog Show – Cancelled
- Horse Show – Monday, July 15th at 8:00 am
- Livestock Judging – Thursday, July 18th at 9:00 am – Open to all 4-H / FFA members, even if you are not showing at this fair we welcome you to come participate!
- Livestock entries – Due June 1st through Showman. The registration link & premium book can be found on the West Valley Fair website.
Reminder! Records books are required for juniors, intermediates & senior members showing animals! These will be due in the Blue Barn on July 17th by 8:00 pm. For Guidelines and scoresheets please reference our website or feel free to contact the Extension Office for further information at 509-574-1600 or by emailing yakima.4H@wsu.edu.
Livestock News
Deadlines, news, rules, and opportunities for members in animal agriculture projects
Washington State 4-H Livestock Judging
Seniors
Rylee O’Neal
Elise Golladay
Dylan Schlosser
Cynthia Southwick
Kenadie Snyder
Caiden Beaman – 3rd Beef
Juniors
Addalyn Wagner – 5th Beef, 7th Individual
Logan DeBoer – 5th Goats, 2nd Pigs, 3rd Reasons & Questions
Paisley Snyder – 9th Individual
Junior Team
2nd Goats
4th Sheep
2nd Pigs
3rd Beef
3rd Reasons & Questions
3rd Overall Team
Intermediate Team 1
1st Goats
2nd Sheep
5th Pigs
5th Reasons & Questions
2nd Overall Team
Intermediate Team 2
1st Beef
Intermediate 1
Raygan O’Neal
Grace Morales
Addison Blanchard – 1st Goats, 2nd Reasons & Questions, 4th Overall Individual
Wyatt Blanchard – 5th Sheep, 6th Overall Individual
Intermediate 2
Emilia Winn
Levi Morales
London Snyder
Dallas Snyder
Excessive Heat Alert – Watch Over Your Animals!
Take special care and watch over your 4-H animal projects this week as we experience HOT weather! Pay special attention to the recommendations on the flyer below. These are good reminders for ALL Animals (including 4-H’ers) during this time of excessive heat.
Pre-Register for the West Valley Fair Livestock Judging Contest
Are you participating in the West Valley Fair Livestock Judging Contest on July 18th? This year we are asking that all participants to please pre-register for this event by filling out Google Form, so that we may ensure we have enough judging cards for everyone. Registration deadline for Livestock Judging Contest is July 12th. If you have any questions please contact the Extension Office at yakima.4H@wsu.edu or by calling 509-574-1600.
West Valley Fair Livestock Judging Contest Registration Form
Equine News
Updates and opportunities for horse project members
WA State 4-H Equine Science and Horsemanship Series Continues!
Hands-on Fun for Everyone! Every fourth Thursday of the month, 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Zoom! For example, on December 28th everyone learned about Body Condition Scoring. If this is something you may be interested in, be sure to register online or by email to: kim.baker@wsu.edu.
Upcoming Dates: July 25th, August 22nd, September 26th
State 4-H Horse Medallion Donations Needed
Donations are needed to provide the Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for all the Equine classes plus the Groom Squad and Equine Presentations Contests (Judging Medals are already sponsored). The total cost last year was $2,700. Please consider a donation so that our outstanding members may receive this special recognition!
All donors will be listed on posters in the barns and announced during the events. Contributions are welcome from County Programs, Clubs, individuals and businesses.
Please make checks payable to Snohomish County 4-H Horse Program (who have been acting as the banker since the 1980’s) and note “State Medals” on the memo line. Mail to Pat Pehling at 7310 83rd AVE SE. Snohomish WA 98290
Any questions can be directed to Pat Pehing at pehling@frontier.com.
Sagebrush Riders Horse Show Results
Fitting & Showing
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry, Brandon Gossett, Shelby Gossett,
Madison Morgan - Junior – Annalies Sheehan, Addelyn Wagner
Red Ribbons
- Seniors – Lucy Mullinnex
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun, Addison Blanchard
- Junior – Lexy Bolin
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Lilliam Miles
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
- Junior – Nattelie Calhoun, Paisley Snyder
Stock Seat Equitation
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry, Shelby Gossett
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
Red Ribbons
- Junior – Nattelie Calhoun
In Hand Trail
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
Red Ribbons
- Junior – Addelyn Wagner
Trail
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
Red Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
- Junior – Annalies Sheehan, Nattelie Calhoun
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Lucy Mullinnex, Lillian Miles
- Junior – Paisley Snyder
Western Dressage
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Jake Beaudry
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Nattelie Calhoun
Saddle Seat Equitation
Red Ribbons
- Seniors – Jake Beaudry
- Intermediates – Kaidence Schmidt
Reinsmanship
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
Bareback Equitation
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry
Red Ribbons
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
Reining
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
Red Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
- Junior – Nattelie Calhoun
Western Dressage Seat Equitation
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry, Shelby Gossett
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
-
Junior – Nattelie Calhoun
Red Ribbons
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
Hunt Seat Equitation
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry, Shelby Gossett
Red Ribbons
- Intermediates – Kaidence Schmidt
Dressage
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Jake Beaudry
White Ribbons
- Intermediates – Kaidence Schmidt
Disciplined Rail
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler
Red Ribbons
- Seniors – Jake Beaudry, Shelby Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
- Junior – Annalies Sheehan, Nattelie Calhoun
Dressage Equitation
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Faith Koffler, Jake Beaudry
Red Ribbons
- Intermediates – Kaidence Schmidt
Precision Driving
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
Pleasure Driving
Blue Ribbons
- Seniors – Shelby Gossett
Western Games: Idaho Fig. 8
Red Ribbons
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Lucy Mullinnex, Brandon Gossett
- Intermediates – Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Addelyn Wagner, Lexy Bolin, Nattelie Calhoun
Western Games: 2 Barrel Flags
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Lucy Mullinnex, Lillian Miles
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard, Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Nattelie Calhoun
Western Games: Pole Bending
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Lucy Mullinnex, Brandon Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard, Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Addelyn Wagner, Lexy Bolin, Nattelie Calhoun
Western Games: Pole Key Race
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Lucy Mullinnex, Brandon Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard, Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Nattelie Calhoun
Western Games: International Flags
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Lucy Mullinnex, Brandon Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard, Clay Calhoun
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Nattelie Calhoun
Western Games: Texas Barrels
White Ribbons
- Seniors – Madison Morgan, Lucy Mullinnex, Brandon Gossett
- Intermediates – Addison Blanchard
- Junior – Paisley Snyder, Addelyn Wagner, Lexy Bolin, Nattelie Calhoun
News You Can Use
Local events and opportunities through WSU Extension and our community partners
Two Free Garden Classes in July!
Yakima Master Gardeners are offering two Free gardening classes this month at the Ahtanum Youth Park Demonstration Garden. Both classes confront a gardening challenge and ways to overcome them.
Invasives New to Central Washington – Saturday, July 13 at 10:00 am
Never a gardener’s delight, weed eradication is a challenge. Learn about the new invasives as well as common invasives to Central Washington and how to deal with them from Sue Bird, Yakima County Noxious Weed Control Board Officer.
Challenges of Gardening in the Yakima Valley – Saturday, July 27 at 10:00
am
Even an experienced gardener must learn new gardening practices in our arid environment. Learn about some of the challenges recent “transplants” to our valley have experienced from guest speaker Angela Galbreath, Master Gardener 2017.
Google x CLOVER C S Additional Activities Just Released
Since the fourth quarter of 2023, Google and CLOVER have teamed up to
release over 50 Computer Science activities. These activities focus on
coding, programming, and other computer science concepts through
engaging, interactive, and innovative activities that foster creativity,
problem‑solving skills, and a deeper understanding of technology. Over the
last month, with the help of the University of Georgia Extension and Purdue
University Extension, four new courses have gone live on CLOVER. These
courses are:
- Coding in Python – learn how to code in Python, one of the best
computer languages to learn today! - Coding in Scratch – this course provides ten interactive video
tutorials and a workspace to learn block coding using the computer
program Scratch. - Media Design – use free apps to learn how to design & create
media, including images, audio, and video. - Design & Technology – these five activities provide real‑world
design skills that you can use to help create your own apps and
software.
Free Summer Movies!
Enjoy Free summer movies at The Majestic in Union Gap! Every Wednesday & Thursday Morning from June 26-August 15.
Free Morning Movie Schedule for July:
- July 10-11: Migration
- July 10-11: Puss in Boots, The Last Wish
- July 17-18: Ruby Gilmore, Teenage Kraken
- July 17-18: Shrek 2
- July 24-25: Sing 2
- July 24-25: Shrek
- July/August 31-1: The Bad Guys
- July/August 31-1: The Little Rascals
Valley Mall Kid’s Club
Join the Valley Mall Kids Club for FREE themed activities and goodies for kids! Come to the Valley Mall Center Court, 11:30am to 1pm, Every Wednesday from June 26-July 31.
Schedule & Themes:
- July 10: Puppet Show by Half Pint Puppets
Build a Puppet, Face Painting - July 17: Summer Stem Olympics
Javelin Throw, Relay Races & Archery,
Olympic Torch Craft - July 24: Triple Rainbow
Enjoy lighthearted, upbeat songs from the
trio! Hoops & Ribbons, Heart Canvas Art Craft - July 31: Peter Irish, World Champion Hacky
Sack Playing Comedy Juggling Entertainer
Witness the world’s greatest foot-juggler!
Craft: STEAM Sailing Boat Experiment
USDA Emergency Loan
Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates 17 Washington Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas. This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
- Triggering Disaster: Severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.
- Application Deadline: December 30, 2024
Primary Counties Eligible: Colville Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Skagit, Skamania, and Wahkiakum
Contiguous Counties Also Eligible: Washington: Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lincoln, Pierce, San Juan, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Whatcom, and Yakima. Oregon: Clatsop, Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Multnomah, Sherman, and Wasco
More Resources:
On the USDA’s farmers.gov page, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet (PDF), and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.
FEMA offers different assistance programs for individual citizens, public groups including government agencies and private nonprofit organizations. To find the FEMA help you need following a disaster event, visit FEMA’s Get Assistance AFter a Disaster page.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
4-H Resources and 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
Calendar of Events
Updated regularly – check here for up-to-date happenings for Yakima County 4-H youth and families
July 2024
1st – Registration closes for small animal barn at the Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo, Grandview, WA
1st – Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition, Hall of Fame Nominations Due, contact Jana Ferris at ferrisj@wsu.edu.
10th – Registration for West Valley Fair Horse Show Medal Classes, Wiley City, Yakima, WA
11th – West Valley Fair Board Meeting, Wiley City, Yakima, WA



