Green Valley 4-H – Sunnyside Fire Station Tour

This month, the Green Valley 4-H club went to the Sunnyside Fire Station for a tour. The Firefighters are a very important part in our Community, and it was very nice of them to take time out of their day to show us around! We had a lot of 

people from our 4-H club visit, bringing snacks and drinks for the firefighters as a thank you for their service.

From what I heard and saw, it was a lot of fun. Everyone loved it, meeting the Firefighters and learning about all their equipment, gear, trucks, their gear for extinguishing fire, and their station. We also had a race to see who could roll up the water hose the fastest! I thought this was really cool, because it kind of shows what being a Firefighter is like- and we could all see how everything worked. Maybe some people from our club will become a Firefighter someday. How about you, would you like to be a Firefighter someday?

Submitted by the Green Valley 4-H Reporter, Seth

Fur, Feathers & Fun – Now Taking New Members!

Are you interested in raising rabbits or poultry? We have a new club that is currently open and looking for kiddos to join – Furs, Feathers & Fun!

If you are interested please contact their club leader, Trisha Porter by calling 509-941-8819 or by emailing sweetlikeafila@gmail.com.

2024 Dairy Scholarships – Now open for applications!

We are happy to announce that the Washington Dairy community scholarships are officially open for applications!

Dairy Farmers of Washington is committed to empowering the next generation of dairy leaders and industry professionals to achieve their educational goals and strengthen the Washington dairy industry.

The winning scholarship recipients will be leaders amidst their peers and committed to strengthening the Washington dairy community. The winning recipient for each scholarship will receive $5,000. Two runners-up for each scholarship will each receive $1,500.

Scholarships available:

• Washington Dairy Ambassador Scholarship 
• Dairy Strong Scholarship

To learn more about the scholarship criteria and application process, please visit their website. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2024, so make sure to submit your application before then.

You’re Invited! To the Kittitas County 4-H Cat & Dog Pre-Show

Be sure to mark your calendars! Kittitas County 4-H would like to invite Yakima County 4-H Youth to attend their Cat and Dog Preshow. 

• Cat Pre-Show will be held on June 18 at the Kittitas Valley Event Center, Western Town VIP (Rodeo Arena entrance)
• Dog Pre Show will be held on June 20 at the Kittitas Valley Event Center, Hunt Memorial Dog Arena

More detailed information will follow at a later date. For further information on this event, contact the Kittitas County 4-H Youth Development Program Manager, Amy Alder, by calling (509) 962-7507 or emailing amy.alder@wsu.edu.

Registration for the Washington State 4-H Shooting Sports Qualifying Event Opens March 1st!

Save the date for the Washington State 4-H Shooting Sports qualifying event on May 17-19 in Eatonville, WA at the Upper Nisqually Sportsman Club. This event is open to Intermediate and Senior 4-H members. Disciplines include Archery, Rifle (air and rimfire), PIstol (air and rimfire), and Shotgun. More details to come; stay tuned!

Coaches: we could really use your help! If you are interested in helping, please contact Ashley at a.hernandez-hall@wsu.edu.

4-H Club Leaders’ “To Do” List

• Financial Forms: If you are a club leader and the 4-H Office does not have your club financial documents, please turn them in ASAP. We are now asking that you please send and updated copy of you bank card, stating the names listed on your account. These remain entirely confidential, but it is crucial that we have your on file. Financial forms were due December 1, 2023 so please get these in ASAP.
• Club Plan: Make a plan for this year’s 4-H club activities & goals, the location of your meetings & status of your club (open/closed). Annual Club Plan were due February 1, 2024.
• Update Constitution & Bylaws: A digital copy of this form has been emailed to all of our club leaders. Please take the time to look over this form and retrieve signatures from the required parties. These are to be sent back to the Extension Office by March 1st.
• 4-H Member Cards:  keep an eye out for your mail as the first batch of 4-H member cards will be sent out early next week! These will be sent to the club leaders mailing address listed in 4-H Online. Enclosed with the member cards you will find a roster of all your clubs members enrolled on 4-H Online. If you notice any members or volunteers who are not listed, this means that they have not enrolled for this 2023-2024 4-H year.
• Enrollment: If you are a member or leader who has not enrolled for this 2023-2024 4-H year, please enroll in 4-H Online as soon as possible. If you need fee enrollment sponsorship, contact Katlyn at Yakima.4H@wsu.edu
  

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  Save the Date! Upcoming Shooting Sports Leader Training

  The next Level 1 training has been scheduled! If you are a 4-H volunteer, 21 or older, and are interested in becoming certified to teach shooting sports to our amazing youth, this is for you!

  • Date: March 22-24
  • Disciplines Offered: Archery, Rifle, Shotgun, and Pistol (up to 2 disciplines per volunteer allowed)
  • Cost: $110 for the first discipline, $30 for the second
  • Location: 12736 Marksman St SW, Olympia, WA 98512

  Registration opens on February 15!  https://extension.wsu.edu/4h/projects/shooting-sports

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  4-H Volunteer GivePulse Raffle Drawing!

  Attention volunteers be sure to get those hours input into GivePulse! The Yakima County 4-H program is conducting quarterly raffle drawings, rewarding our 4-H volunteers for accurately documenting their hours. Check out the Volunteer Leaderboard for the most hours entered on GivePulse from October-November.

  For each volunteer hour entered within GivePulse gives our volunteers an entry into the raffle drawing. The more volunteer hours you record, the higher chance to winning a cash prize! 

  Be sure to keep entering those hours, as we will be conducting another raffle drawing on April 26th! This next drawing will be based on volunteer hours tracked during the months of January – March. If you have any questions regarding the competition or simply need instructions for the GivePulse website and how to enter an ‘impact’, please contact Katlyn at 509-574-1600 or email Yakima.4H@wsu.edu.

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Washington 4-H Horse Program Q and A Session Continue

The Q and A session for parents, leaders, county faculty/staff and 4-H members will continue to be offered monthly on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm to June 2024. It will be on the following Wednesdays, January 3rd, February 7th, March 6th, April 3rd, May 1st, and June 5th. So “mark your calendars”!

Come join us anytime with your questions. The zoom meeting ID is 452-082-9765 with no passcode. You must have a zoom account to participate. The meetings are facilitate by Kim Baker, 4-H State Equine Coordinator and/or Jennifer Leach, State 4-H Equine Specialist.

2024 WSU and UI Youth Livestock Field Day Series

4-H and FFA Youth, leaders and families are invited to attend Youth Livestock Field Days scheduled for Saturdays, 

March 9 – Beef at Asotin County Fairgrounds; March 16 – Sheep & Goat at University of Idaho Livestock Pavilion; and 

March 23 – Swine at Latah County Fairgrounds from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm each day. Topics covered at the field days include the selection of project animals; Health Care, Feeding and Nutrition; Fitting and Showing Demonstration; Clipping Demonstration; and other pertinent topics.

The cost for each field day is $10 per person (+$1.30 transaction fee) and includes lunch and handout materials. Registration is now open and will close when maximum capacity for each event is reached. Register soon as it fills fast! Registration details are at bit.ly/clearwater_events and listed under transaction item.

Speakers for the program include local Veterinarians, Extension Faculty and Staff from the University of Idaho and WSU, UI Block and Bridle Students, WSU Veterinary Students, Industry Representatives, and 4-H/FFA volunteers. Whether beginner or advanced, this program is designed to provide information and skills so youth will be successful with their market livestock projects. For more information contact 509-397-6290 or 509-243-2009.

Pre-register Now for the 4-H Livestock Nutrition and Health Workshop

Sponsored by the Keller Valley Highriders Club and the Colville Reservation Extension 4-H Program, this program features hands-on learning about a variety of topics, including:

• What and how much to feed your animal
• How to identify if your animal is sick and when to call a veterinarian
• How to take your animal’s temperature and administer vaccines

The workshops will be taught by Dr. Don Llewellyn, PhD. of the WSU Lincoln County Extension, and students from the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

To ensure enough supplies, please pre-register by March 5th. Lunch will be provided to those who pre-register. Contact the WSU Colville Reservation Extension office to pre-register: 509-634-2304. – Event Flyer

Mark Your Calendars for Upcoming Dairy Events

Check out the upcoming 4-H Dairy events scheduled for 2024! All of these events take place at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA. Reference the Dairy Events page for more details.

• Springtime Youth Calf Sale – March 16th: The Springtime Youth Calf Sale is open for youth up to 21 to purchase a registered dairy heifer for a 4H or FFA project. There are $500 calf grants available, but you must be 9-18 to apply. This is a sale in which the youth do the bidding. You may view the heifers and bid on them at the sale on Saturday, March 16. Contact Liz Holtcamp sycs4H@gmail.com for more information.
  • Calf Grant Applications: due February 20th
  • Scholarship Applications: due March 1st
• Washington State 4-H Dairy Quizbowl – March 16th: You do not need to be a part of a team. Come and join us and a chance to compete in the National Quizbowl contest. Contact Gary Fredricks for more information: garyf@wsu.edu
• Evergreen Junior Dairy Show – April 26-27

International Agricultural Education Fellowship in Mexico

Exciting Opportunity Alert! Explore a ten-month fellowship for U.S. citizens who possess a degree in an ag-related field.  This @usdagov-funded program in Mexico will support and train eleven fellows to be based in a high school for an academic year to promote agriculture and leadership among the students and community during the 2024- 2025 academic year. The last day to apply is March 20th. Learn more here!

4-H “To Do” List

4-H Volunteer GivePulse Raffle Drawing!

Attention volunteers be sure to get those hours input into GivePulse! The Yakima County 4-H program will be performing a raffle drawing. The volunteer with the most hours entered within GivePulse from October, November & December will have a chance to win $50! Winner will be announced on  Monday, January 29.

Upcoming Leaders’ Council Meeting

The next Yakima County Leaders’ Council Meeting will be held January 22, at 6:30 pm in the WSU Extension Office large conference room. Attendance to this meeting is crucial as this will be the official day to nominate leaders for positions on the executive board. If you are unable to physically attend the meeting, the zoom link may be requested by contacting Katlyn at Yakima.4H@wsu.edu or by calling 509-574-1574.

4-H Club Holiday Celebrations

‘Tis the season of parties, gift giving, games & friends. Many of our clubs held their very own celebrations in spirit of the holidays. Some even spread the holiday cheer by participating in a community service project.

2023 Annual Selah Lighted Parade

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years annual Selah Lighted Parade! There was such an amazing turn out featuring 3 of our local 4-H clubs, including, Selah 4-H, Naches Valley 4-H & Sagebrush Riders 4-H Club. We made sure to include some photos of the event in case you missed it!

Know Your Government

On President’s Day weekend members of the Know Your Government (KYG) 4-H Club will have the opportunity to gather in Olympia, February 17-19, 2024 for the Know Your Government Teen Conference. This conference will have a focus on the election theme, called “It’s Your Choice”. Youth members at this event will pick a candidate and campaign for other delegations to also vote for them. Making a really fun and engaging year for new 4-H youth members to join! If this is something your high school youth member may be interested in, please join us at the pre-conference meeting on January 15 & February 4. Both of the Know Your Government pre-conference meetings will be held at the WSU Yakima County Extension Office large conference room. During these meetings families will get more information on the state conference in Olympia & 4-H members will gain strategies & tools that can be utilized at the event.

4-H Youth Membership Fee

The youth membership fee is due at the time of enrollment and is done through the 4-H online system.  The fee is $25.00 per youth member.  Volunteers do not need to pay the fee. You have the option to pay by credit card, send in a check. To request sponsorship for the membership fee, send an email with member(s) name to yakima.4h@wsu.edu.

Annual 4-H Club Plans Due February 1st!

Club packets have officially been sent out in the mail, please keep a look out for those! We ask that club packets are filled out, completed, and sent back to the office February 1, 2024 with the exception of the financial summary. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like any help in filling this paperwork out please call to Katlyn at the Extension office at 509-574-1600.

Annual Financial Summaries

 Annual Financial Summary Report for October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 were due December 1st.  If your club does not have a checking or savings account, please make a note to that fact on the form, sign the form and return it. This submission may also be completed by emailing Katlyn at Yakima.4H@wsu.edu by simply stating, “____ 4-H club has no checking account”. Any forms that are not completed or signed will be returned. Instructions are in the Leader’s Guide to the Treasurer’s Book (C1059E). If you have any questions, please contact Katlyn at the Extension office 509-574-1600.

4-H Club Bank Accounts and EINs

4-H Clubs are given non-profit status under the umbrella of the Washington State 4-H Program. 4-H clubs must be a chartered club in good standing, in order to have a bank account, to fundraise, or to accept funds or gifts and claim non-profit status for their club. To have a 4-H bank account, clubs are required to have an EIN with the IRS.  New EIN applications must be completed by 4-H office staff.  If your club needs an EIN, please contact Katlyn at the extension office by calling 509-574-1600.  Clubs are NO longer allowed to have “shoebox accounts”.  Clubs are not required to have bank accounts or EINs, but learning about money is a truly valuable life skill.

Washington 4-H Horse Program Q and A Session Continue

The Q and A session for parents, leaders, county faculty/staff and 

4-H members will continue to be offered monthly on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 pm to June 2024. It will be on the following Wednesdays, January 3rd, February 7th, March 6th, April 3rd, May 1st, and June 5th. So “mark your calendars”!

Come join us anytime with your questions.

The zoom meeting ID is 452-082-9765 with no passcode. You must have a zoom account to participate. The meetings are facilitate by Kim Baker, 4-H State Equine Coordinator and/or Jennifer Leach, State 4-H Equine Specialist.

Swine Regulations Identification Requirements

According to the WSDA “All swine that leave the farm of origin, moving through a public livestock market or collection facilities and all participating exhibition swine, must have official USDA-approved identification” In other words, if you buy piglets this year, the seller needs to have already applied an RFID tag when you get them. 

Free identification tags and applicators to Washington State Fairs & youth swine exhibitors may be attained by calling, David Hecimovich the WSDA Animal Disease Traceability Coordinator at 360-725-5493 or by email at dhecimovich@agri.wa.gov.  

To request an instructional form on how to apply the applicator you may contact the Extension Office by emailing Yakima.4H@wsu.edu or by calling 509-574-1600.

Looking for more information? 

• Click here to find out how to get an official, USDA-approved, individual identification.
• Click here to learn about our import requirements.

Dog Pulling Event

Are you interested in training your dog on weight pulling? In February and March the International Weight Pull Association will host a sanctioned event February 24 & 25 at the Yakima County Sundome during the Central Washington Sportsman Show. Here you could earn fun ribbons and points towards a medal near the end of the season. There is no age restriction for this event as both youth and adults are invited to participate with their dogs. 

Some things to know:

• This is NOT considered a 4-H event and would be held as an event from outside of our organization.
• Dogs do not need to have any registration to participate in weight pulling.
• Owner must be able to handle their dog out in public.
• Mixed breeds are allowed.
• Dogs may be fixed or intact.
• No weight pulling previous training needed.
• Practice events are free of charge.
• Dogs must be over 1 year old before Feb 23rd to pull at this event.
• Recommended that dogs over 6 months old start to practice.
• Dogs can only perform up to the age of 13 years.

For further information on practice times and locations, please contact Trisha at 509-941-8819 or by emailing sweetlikeafila@gmail.com.

Solar Brilliance: Exploring the Secrets of Our Sun 🌞

Developed by Utah State University and EDP Renewables, help youth dive into the world of experiential learning! 4‑H youth will build a solar energy model, get their hands dirty (well, not literally), and learn about renewable energy. From understanding the principles of photovoltaics to assembling the components, every step is a chance to explore, discover, and apply real‑world knowledge. Click here to be redirected to 4-H.org & start the activity!

Travel to Outer Space…and Back Again

Developed by Utah State University and brought to you by HughesNet, learn about how data travels worldwide with the help of 8,000 active satellites orbiting our planet. Discover how satellites transfer data from one place to another, the definition of “decomposition”, and much more! Click here to be redirected to 4-H.org & start the activity!

Agricopia – Recap

The Central WA Ag Museum held it’s 8th Annual AGRI-COPIA event, from October 14-15, 2023!  Alongside the wagon rides, tractor games, & pumpkin decorating; Yakima County 4-H had the pleasure of running our “Hop into 4-H” booth. Introducing families to some cute bunnies, educating the youth on fun rabbit facts and making hopping bunny cups! We also included a wildflower seed bomb station for kiddos to learn about pollinators and the many different native wildflowers that can be planted in our area. While featuring an informational table of all things 4-H & a raffle drawing, giving families a chance to win some awesome 4-H merch!

Thank you to the Central Washington Ag Museum for having us! & Thank you to our 4-H volunteers for your time & efforts in making this event a success!

76th Annual 4-H Celebration & Leaders Luncheon – Recap

To honor all of our club members & volunteers hard work over the year, Yakima County 4-H held the 76th annual leaders luncheon event on November 4th. This event was located in the Terrace Heights Grange where they accommodated our party with a spacious set up, beautiful clover decorations, and a lovely mexican style lunch. 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 2022-2023 4-H year.

Click here to view our award winners from the 2022-2023 4-H Year.

#GivingTuesday – November 28th

Join the global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity and a global day of giving, fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and kicks off the charitable season and end-of-year giving.

Join the #GivingTuesday movement with Yakima County 4-H. Whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local 4-H community. In the spirit of friendly competition, each Washington state county 4-H asks local donors to make donations on #GivingTuesday—Nov. 28, with the goal of receiving at least four donations. The county with the most contributors receives a prize.

Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts. Join the #GivingTuesday movement and reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and radical generosity. Support your county 4-H by sharing the link to Make a Gift Today!

Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition in Ellensburg – Recap

The Washington State 4-H 2023 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon was held on Saturday October 28th, 2023. Many hardworking 4-H volunteer awardees were recognized & honored this day. Everyone seemed to have had a great time! Thank you again to everyone for your contributions & making a difference in the lives of youth statewide!

Know Your Government

On President’s Day weekend members of the Know Your Government (KYG) 4-H Club will have the opportunity to gather in Olympia for the 2024 Know Your Government Teen Conference. This conference will have a focus on the election theme, called “It’s Your Choice”. Youth members at this event  will be pick a candidate and campaign for other delegations to also vote for them. Making a really fun and engaging year for new 4-H youth members to join! If this is something your youth member may be interested in be sure to keep an eye out for updates! 

More information regarding this event, can be found on the KYG Webpage or you can even watch a short video of what KYG is all about!  For further questions or queries please reach out to Katie Dunn at kjdunn2022@gmail.com.

4-H Enrollment Year

Welcome to the new 2023-2024 4-H year! As of October 1st the online enrollment program should be back up in running for our new & returning families to complete enrollment at https://v2.4honline.com/.

4-H Youth Membership Fee

The youth membership fee is due at the time of enrollment and is done through the 4-H online system.  The fee is $25.00 per youth member.  Volunteers do not need to pay the fee. You have the option to pay by credit card, send in a check. To request sponsorship for the membership fee, send an email with member(s) name to yakima.4h@wsu.edu.

Annual 4-H Club Packets

Club packets have officially been sent out in the mail, please keep a look out for those! We ask that club packets are filled out, completed, and sent back to the office February 1, 2024 with the exception of the financial summary. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like any help in filling this paperwork out please call to Katlyn at the Extension office at 509-574-1600.

Annual Financial Summaries

 Annual Financial Summary Report for October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 are due December 1st.  If your club does not have a checking or savings account, please make a note to that fact on the form, sign the form and return it. Any forms that are not completed or signed will be returned. Instructions are in the Leader’s Guide to the Treasurer’s Book (C1059E). If you have any questions, please contact Katlyn at the Extension office 509-574-1600.

4-H Club Bank Accounts and EINs

4-H Clubs are given non-profit status under the umbrella of the Washington State 4-H Program. 4-H clubs must be a chartered club in good standing, in order to have a bank account, to fundraise, or to accept funds or gifts and claim non-profit status for their club. To have a 4-H bank account, clubs are required to have an EIN with the IRS.  New EIN applications must be completed by 4-H office staff.  If your club needs an EIN, please contact Katlyn at the extension office by calling 509-574-1600.  Clubs are NO longer allowed to have “shoebox accounts”.  Clubs are not required to have bank accounts or EINs, but learning about money is a truly valuable life skill.

Know Your Government

On President’s Day weekend members of the Know Your Government (KYG) 4-H Club will have the opportunity to gather in Olympia for the 2024 Know Your Government Teen Conference. This conference will have a focus on the election theme, called “It’s Your Choice”. Youth members at this event  will be pick a candidate and campaign for other delegations to also vote for them. Making a really fun and engaging year for new 4-H youth members to join! If this is something your youth member may be interested in be sure to keep an eye out for updates! 

More information regarding this event, can be found on the KYG Webpage or you can even watch a short video of what KYG is all about!  For further questions or queries please reach out to Katie Dunn at kjdunn2022@gmail.com.

Table Sponsorships Are Available For The 2023 4-H Washington State Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in Ellensburg October 28th

Your sponsorship is a $250.00 investment that will help the 4-H Washington State Volunteer Recognition Luncheon celebrate the contributions of volunteers who promote the positive development of youth in communities. Sponsorship includes your logo and recognition on-screen and signage through the event.

To sponsor ($250), go to our direct donation link for Washington State 4-H Excellence Fund. Under Other, type in $250, and at proceed to checkout, under Additional Comments please type “Volunteer Luncheon”

Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon 

Please join us in honoring our volunteers! Our 2023/2022 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon will be held Saturday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg, WA. All state awardees (Alumni Award, Salute to Excellence Ten Year and Lifetime, Heather Rider Award, Volunteer Staff Award, [state] Friend of 4-H AND Hall of Fame) for years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be honored. Volunteers of the Year and Teen Leaders of the Year for 2022 and 2023 will be honored through narrated video during the program.

All state awardees will receive an invitation directly to reserve their space at the event and will RSVP as indicated on their invitations. Others may attend at a $20/person cost. For further questions or concerns, please contact Jana Ferris at ferrisj@wsu.edu or 360-548-3301.

Centerpieces Needed for the Volunteer Recognition Dinner – Hosted on October 28th

The Washington State 4-H Volunteer Recognition dinner is in need of centerpieces!  We are asking for clubs to volunteer to create a centerpiece that’s theme is focused on a specific 4-H project. Choices of projects listed below:

Arts | Small Animals | Food/Nutrition | Stem | Horse | Livestock | Shooting Sports | Leadership | Plant Science

The color scheme for this event is green & white with accents of pumpkin and fall colors. The tables at this dinner will be round and measure at about 60″ inches, 

We need clubs to create centerpieces that are visible to all without obstructing anyone’s view of each other and made with a theme of a project. Centerpiece should not exceed size of 12″ wide from end to end and 12″ high. Featuring pictures of your club members partaking in the project are highly encouraged! If your club is interested in participating, please reach out to Bonnie at the Extension Office by calling 509-574-1576. We ask that upon signing up, you please list your 1st -2nd -3rd project choices that you would prefer making the centerpiece on. If you have any additional questions, feel free to call the office. We look forward to seeing your amazing creations!

4-H Enrollment Year

Welcome to the new 2023-2024 4-H year! As of October 1st the online enrollment program should be back up in running for our new & returning families to complete enrollment at https://v2.4honline.com/.

4-H Youth Membership Fee

The youth membership fee is due at the time of enrollment and is done through the 4-H online system.  The fee is $25.00 per youth member.  Volunteers do not need to pay the fee. You have the option to pay by credit card, send in a check. To request sponsorship for the membership fee, send an email with member(s) name to yakima.4h@wsu.edu.

Annual 4-H Club Packets

Club packets have officially been sent out in the mail, please keep a look out for those! We ask that club packets are filled out, completed, and sent back to the office February 1, 2024 with the exception of the financial summary. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like any help in filling this paperwork out please call to Katlyn at the Extension office at 509-574-1600.

Annual Financial Summaries

 Annual Financial Summary Report for October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 are due December 1st.  If your club does not have a checking or savings account, please make a note to that fact on the form, sign the form and return it. Any forms that are not completed or signed will be returned. Instructions are in the Leader’s Guide to the Treasurer’s Book (C1059E). If you have any questions, please contact Katlyn at the Extension office 509-574-1600.

4-H Club Bank Accounts and EINs

4-H Clubs are given non-profit status under the umbrella of the Washington State 4-H Program. 4-H clubs must be a chartered club in good standing, in order to have a bank account, to fundraise, or to accept funds or gifts and claim non-profit status for their club. To have a 4-H bank account, clubs are required to have an EIN with the IRS.  New EIN applications must be completed by 4-H office staff.  If your club needs an EIN, please contact Katlyn at the extension office by calling 509-574-1600.  Clubs are NO longer allowed to have “shoebox accounts”.  Clubs are not required to have bank accounts or EINs, but learning about money is a truly valuable life skill.

Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup

Washington State 4-H Fair Results

Unfortunately the extension office is still waiting to receive the official results from the Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup. However, we were thrilled to hear of the highlights from our 4-H participants & their parents! Pictured here are some of the highlights we received. Congratulations to all our 4-H Youth members and families, we are so proud of all your hard work!

Central Washington State Fair in Yakima

Central Washington State Fair in Yakima Recap

We had an amazing turn out this year, with a total of 4 kitchen activities,16 public presentations and over 90 youth enter projects into the 4-H department still life exhibit. Out of the many youth who entered their projects, our top 5 youth entries were as follows:

• Addison – 4-H Intermediate
• Lillian – 4-H Senior
• Jacob – 4-H Intermediate
• Svea – 4-H Cloverbud
• Annelise – 4-H Junior

Thank you for all who participated & especially thank you to our super intendant of the 4-H department for all your hard work in making this years fair a success.

Yakima County 4-H Horse Council Meeting

This meeting will be hosted at the WSU Extension Office on Wednesday, October 11th at 5:30 pm. Weather will determine if it will be hosted inside or outside in the parking lot. We welcome you and your friends to attend this meeting, but please be sure to bring your own: chair, dinner & refreshments!

Topics of Discussion

• Vote on WSH Officers
• WSJHS/Grant County 5 year contract
• WSJHS – possible upsizing of trailer
• Possibly set up of Dressage ring – strategize simpler/better ways to utilize

Important Dates

Equi-Fair discussion/dates – April 27, 2024

WSJHS date – June 27-30, 2024

The Bits & Buckles 4-H Open Horse Show

This show is scheduled to be hosted on October 1st. Registration forms and directions are available here:

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/…/2023-Bits-Buckles-Fall-Show-10…

Please call 509-962-7507 or email: kittitas.4h@wsu.edu with any questions you may have regarding this event.

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! We ask that you please submit your hours by September 30th & if you need to have the deadline extended for additional assistance, please reach out to Katlyn at yakima.4h@wsu.edu or call 509-574-1600. 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. 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, emailing, even reading this counts!

Washington State 4-H 

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon 

will be held Saturday, October 28 at 12:30 p.m. at The Armory in Ellensburg, WA. All state awardees (Alumni Award, Salute to Excellence Ten Year and Lifetime, Heather Rider Award, Volunteer Staff Award, and [state] Friend of 4-H) for years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 will be honored. All invitations to awardees will be sent directly to the recipients. More information will be forthcoming.

To facilitate further nominations, we are reopening nominations for state awards with a firm deadline of Monday, September 11th at 8:00 a.m. After this deadline, no further nominations will be accepted. To locate nomination forms, go to the State 4-H page. 

Volunteers of the Year from each county will be honored through narrated video during the luncheon. The deadline for submitting your Volunteer of the Year has been changed to October 1st; with this deadline, you must submit a high-resolution photo with the nomination if you would like one displayed. County displays will be shown digitally; we will send out instructions for displays no later than Monday, September 11th.

Please join us to honor our deserving volunteers. Those wishing to attend the luncheon who do not receive a personal invitation are welcome to attend at a $20/person cost. More information about reserving your space will be distributed the first week of October.  Please contact Jana Ferris ferrisj@wsu.edu OR 425-595-2950 with any questions.

Save The Date!

Annual 4-H Celebration & Leaders Luncheon on November 4th

This years celebration will be scheduled as listed below.

• The Leaders’ Council meeting begins at 10:00 am.  

• Honorary Leaders meet at 11:00 am.  
• Luncheon begins at Noon in the Terrace Heights Grange

All award applications are available on the 4-H website, Leader, Member and Club Awards Applications and due October 18th.

4-H Enrollment Year

Reminder! Our new 4-H 2023-2024 year starts October 1, 2023. The online enrollment program is currently shut-down.  It should be back up in time for enrollments on October 1, when the new year starts. Enroll online at https://v2.4honline.com/.

4-H Youth Membership Fee

The youth membership fee is due at the time of enrollment and is done through the 4-H online system.  The fee is $25.00 per youth member.  Volunteers do not need to pay the fee. You have the option to pay by credit card, send in a check. To request sponsorship for the membership fee, send an email with member(s) name to yakima.4h@wsu.edu.

Annual 4-H Club Packets

 We are currently in the process of putting these together, due to the new 4-H year starting on October 1st, be sure to keep a look out for these within your mail. With the exception of the financial summary, club packets will be due February 1st. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like any help in filling this paperwork out please call to Katlyn at the Extension office at 509-574-1600.

Annual Financial Summaries

 Annual Financial Summary Report for October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 are due December 1st.  If your club does not have a checking or savings account, please make a note to that fact on the form, sign the form and return it. Any forms that are not completed or signed will be returned. Instructions are in the Leader’s Guide to the Treasurer’s Book (C1059E). If you have any questions, please contact Katlyn at the Extension office 509-574-1600.

2023 Central Washington State Fair in Yakima

September 22nd – October 1st, 2023. – 1301 S Fair Ave, Yakima, WA 98901

4-H members have many opportunities to participate at our local fair, exhibiting their art projects, showing animals, participating in contests & so much more! For further information on how to participate, or where to find the entry forms, click here!

Washington State 4-H Fair in Puyallup – Creative Kids Projects

• Creative Art Project “Lego Creation”
• Creative Recycling Project “Recycled Cardboard”
• Creative Culinary Project “Cookies”
• Creative Gardening Project “Garden Themed Gift Basket”
• Creative Photo Project “Springtime”
• Creative Poetry Project “Autumn” or “Harvest Time”

Cash awards and rosettes will be awarded and mailed with fair premium checks following the fair. Such awards given within each age group of each class, as follows:    1st place – $15    2nd place – $10    3rd place – $5

All Creative Kids Projects entries are to be delivered to the 4-H Still Life display area. Due no later than 3 pm on Tuesday, September 5th. For more information on general guidelines or the rules of qualifications for each Creative Art Project Design, please request the Creative Kids Projects brochure by emailing, katlyn.shockey@co.yakima.wa.us or by visiting the state 4-H webpage.

Check out our list of upcoming events by clicking here!

Save the Date! State Horse Bowl and State Hippology May 6-7, 2023

The 2023 WA State 4-H Horse Bowl Contest and WA State 4-H Hippology Contest will be held over the first weekend in May at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake. Horse Bowl will be on Saturday, May 6 and Hippology will be on Sunday, May 7. All the details are in the registration packets, available below.

2023 Horse Bowl Registration Packet

2023 Hippology Contest Registration Packet

We hope 4-H members will try both!!The list of sources that state contest questions and materials will be drawn from has been condensed to those are that free and/or easily accessible in hopes that addressing accessibility challenges will increase participation in state equine knowledge contests. These sources are free downloads from our WA State 4-H website:

• The 4-H Horse Member Manual https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/the-4h-horse-project
• The 4-H Horse Judging Manual https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/4h-horse-judging-manual
• Beginning Horsemanship https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/beginning-horsemanship-mm
• Contest Guide https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2050/2022/06/PNW574-REV-2015.pdf
• 4-H Driving Manual https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/4h-driving-manual
• 4-H Dressage Manual https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/4h-dressage-manual
• Hunt Seat & Jumper https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/hunt-seat-and-jumper-manual
• Groom Squad https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/washington-state-4h-fair-groom-squad-contest

And one additional source, available for purchase or digital rental: https://www.ayhc.com/shop

• Equine Science by Jean T. Griffiths

We are hosting an Introduction to Horse Bowl and Hippology on January 23^rd at 6:30 pm via Zoom for all 4-H members and adults who want to learn about the contests. Come have your questions answered and maybe start contests in your county!! Register to join us here: https://bit.ly/intro2contests.

Having a county hippology program is not a requirement of registration for the state hippology contest. Recognizing that a county may have only one or two interested, eligible members, the following provision is provided:

• A county may combine with another county (or multiple counties) to form a team. If unable to coordinate with another county, you may register your county’s interested members as individuals. The contest coordinator will form catch teams, if possible, and notify you. If impossible to form a catch team, individuals may compete independently in all phases except team problem solving. All contestants are eligible for overall individual awards.
• To provide additional support, a Prepare for State Hippology Zoom is scheduled for Sunday, March 26, 2 to 3:30 pm. All 4-H members are welcome to join, from those who are definitely planning to compete to those who aren’t quite sure yet. Come learn about the competition so you can feel prepared to do your best! Supporting adults are very welcome! Register in advance for this meeting: http://bit.ly/3CltFga

WSU Extension Helps Implement New 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (Originally published in WSU Insider)

As of July 16, anyone in the United States can call or text the number 9‑8‑8, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, if they or someone they know shows signs of crisis, especially suicide.

The number works much like 911, with calls routed based on where someone is calling from. For states that don’t have local services established, calls automatically reroute to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

“This stems from the need to be available for mental health emergencies,” said Don McMoran, a Washington State University Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension educator and member of Washington’s taskforce for implementing 988. “Everyone knows you call 911 in an emergency. Mental health has a lot of numbers available, so 988 should be easier to remember when time is vital.”

McMoran leads the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, which covers 13 western states and four U.S. territories, thanks to a $7 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

WSU Extension has several active programs working to reduce and eliminate suicide in the state.

“Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teens in Washington,” said Ashley Hall, a 4‑H assistant professor based in Snohomish County. “I’m hoping 988 is as simple and effective as 911 and helps reduce the stigma around mental health.”

Hall is involved in a program, led by her colleague Stephanie Roeter Smith, that implements research-based suicide prevention strategies for youths. The program provides trainings for parents and volunteers so they can recognize signs and symptoms in young people.

Hall and Smith also work closely with teens to provide leadership opportunities and training. Those opportunities have led to a program called “4‑H Teens Helping Teens,” which started earlier this year with teens in three different Washington counties talking about mental health and suicide prevention via social media.

“It’s very rewarding to volunteer for such an important cause,” said Abby Ruddell, a 16‑year‑old member of the “4‑H Teens Helping Teens” program. “The teen suicide awareness and prevention project is making resources readily available, and in ways that make it less scary to talk about. Our goal is to get the conversations started, have people seek help, change the way we talk about suicide, and ultimately, to prevent it.”

Teens Helping Teens booth at this past spring’s
Washington Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee.

Another way Hall and Roeter Smith’s program is helping is by having people attend community events and passing out info and safety measures.

“Firearm death, including suicide and other gun deaths, has overtaken auto accidents for youth as the leading cause of death,” Hall said. “And attempts of suicide with firearms are more likely to be lethal than other methods.”

Along those lines, Hall and Roeter Smith teamed up with McMoran to give away gun safes to anyone who asks for one. Hall, who leads the 4‑H Shooting Sports program in Washington, said locking up firearms slows down people contemplating suicide and buys invaluable seconds or minutes.

“The mental pause that happens when you have to go to a safe and open it often gives people enough time to get into a better mental space,” McMoran said.

Overall, he said more than 250 safes have been distributed around the state at no cost. Recipients are asked to complete a short, anonymous survey, but nothing more. McMoran hopes to purchase 100 more safes to give away.

McMoran’s program is aimed at helping prevent suicide in agricultural and rural communities around Washington and the other states in his larger USDA-funded program. One of the people working with him is Alyssa Wade, a WSU Extension Farm Stress and Suicide Prevention coordinator.

“I go to functions with cattlemen, loggers, farmers, and farm workers. As soon as mental health and stressors come up, things get quiet,” Wade said. “They’re paying attention; there’s such a stigma about mental health. But I can see how stressed they are.”

At a recent wheat growers meeting, she said she talked with a farmer for half an hour about the financial stress he faced and his cousin’s death by suicide. She gave him informational resources and magnets with the suicide hotline number as well as her business card, adding she was available to talk anytime.

“Being able to admit he was struggling seemed like a huge relief for him,” Wade said. “He really needed to talk to someone. And I felt like I may have saved a life that day.”

Financial stress is one of the biggest factors in agriculture workers’ mental health. To directly address that topic, WSU Extension Economist Shannon Neibergs joined McMoran’s program to help.

“There can be incredible stress created by poor profitability and profit risks,” Neibergs said.

He and Extension Specialist Jon Driver are doing workshops to talk directly with farmers about record keeping, insurance programs, and management philosophies, then offering one‑on‑one financial management counseling for those who want more information.

Their goal is to conduct workshops across Washington. So far, they have talked with hay growers, cattle ranchers, and eastern Washington farmers and beginning farmers, with the hope of meeting with orchard growers in central Washington this fall and covering western Washington after that.

“It’s exciting to be able to provide this service,” Neibergs said. “Reducing growers’ fears and increasing their efficiency and providing cost of production tools can help address the needs of people at high risk for suicide attempts.”

Patty Ratzlaff

Yakima & Kittitas County Master Gardener Program Coordinator

patty.ratzlaff@wsu.edu / (509) 574-1582

Patty joined the WSU Extension team in July of 2022.  She supports the Master Gardener Programs for Yakima and Kittitas Counties in a full-time position.  She has long admired the program and now plans to support Master Gardener Volunteers in reaching their full potential for sharing horticulture and environmental stewardship information in their communities.

Patty’s background as a Certified Activity Coordinator brings years of experience planning and leading activities as well as working with volunteers.  She and her husband are long-time PNW residents.  They are finishing their new home and look forward to putting in a vegetable garden next spring ,where Patty hopes to teach her grandchildren how to grow vegetables and flowers.

What’s New in 2022

As we move into our first full face to face fair since Covid pandemic, there are some changes in store for this year’s fair.

General Activities and Contest Events

• County qualifying is not required in any project area. Counties still need to certify the entries and work within the animal allocation process.
• Dormitories will NOT be available for the 2022 fair. Camping and hotels in the area is available.
• Junior division has been added in each of the judging contest. Juniors do not have to give oral reasons.
• Live kitchen activities will NOT held this year.
• Public Presentations have a virtual option for 2022
• Equine – Reining is added to the Senior Performance Section. Western Dressage is dropped from all performance sections.
• Equine – Small equine is an addition to the State 4-H Fair and will combine with the harness section.
• Dog obedience schedule has been reduced to six days.

Kitchen activities – there is a virtual option for any 4-H member wishing to participate.  Please refer to the exhibitor guide “General Activities and Contests” page 25 under “Food Activities” on how to participate.  Contact the Extension office for the Exhibitor forms and placed on the State Fair list.

Fashion Revue – Sept 10, 18 and 24.  Finals on Sept. 25. Public showing for all Fashion revue events will be on the Blue Showplace Stage. Contact the Extension office for the Exhibitor forms and placed on the State Fair list

Public presentations – 4-H members may film their presentation and send a link and the completed entry form to the State 4-H Fair Office.  We can also set up a zoom meeting for presentations if that is also desired. Please refer to the exhibitor guide “General Activities and Contests” page 21 under “Public Presentations” on how to participate.  Contact the Extension office for the Exhibitor forms and placed on the State Fair list.

Judging Contests: Equine judging, Saturday, September 10 at 8 am.

Livestock Judging, Saturday, September 17 at 8 am.  This contest will not be used to select national judging teams this year. Dairy judging, Saturday, September 17 at 12 pm.  This is not a national qualifying event.

Contact the Extension office for the Exhibitor forms and placed on the State 4-H Fair list.

Reining is added to the Senior Performance Section.  County qualification is not necessary in 2022.  Please refer to reining project manual, Reining pattern and score sheet can be downloaded: https://extension.wsu.edu/4h/projects/animal-science/companion-performance/horse/

Western Dressage is dropped from all performance sections.  English dressage classes are reduced to better fit the needs and skills of our exhibitors.

Small Equine is an addition and will be combined with the harness section.