Equine Members. Mark your calendars for county spring and summer equine educational seminars at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

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1 WSU Grant and Adams Area Extension Courthouse, P.O. Box 37, Ephrata, WA Fax: TDD: H Friday Update March 11, H Community Service Activity Available The mission of the 4-H program is to teach life skills and service to one s community. For those reasons, all Grant/Adams 4-H clubs are required to provide an annual community service project. You all have done a great job with community service projects in the past. I wanted to make you aware of a community service project, one that might be of interest to 4-H clubs/members that have a specific interest in sheep. The Washington State Shearing School will be held April 4-9 th in Moses Lake. This year we will be hosting the school at the Grant County Fairgrounds. With this location change this will be our first time at the fairgrounds in over 15 years, so we are looking for some help to ensure that the school runs smooth and we offer the best education experience possible while maintaining safety for both the students and sheep. If your club would like to help with daily activities or clean-up the support would be greatly appreciated and you would fulfill your community service requirements. I have 16 beginning students from Washington, Oregon, Canada, and Georgia coming for the training and almost 500 sheep scheduled for the week-long class. Therefore, if your club is interested in assisting please call or me so we can arrange an appropriate time. Space in the shearing trailer is limited so unannounced visitors are difficult to accommodate. Sarah M. Smith WSU Grant-Adams Area Extension Faculty--Animal Sciences ATTENTION MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLERS Are you interested in gaining some leadership skills, attending a camp, and having fun? I am looking for a couple of teens that would like to be our County Ambassadors. March at Camp Kinonia in Cle Elum, WA. There will be a 4-H Leadership Summit. The cost is in which I believe one could recover from leader s council. For flyer, registration, forms and schedule go to Let me know if you want to go. I hope we could be represented and you could meet some great friends. Please contact me, drusso@wsu.edu. Equine Members. Mark your calendars for county spring and summer equine educational seminars at the Grant County Fairgrounds. This year we will have several events on Thursday evenings from 5:00-9:00 p.m. June 30, July 7, July 28, and August 4. Weekend events will be May 7 and July Location at the fairgrounds may vary so look for us at the pavilions, outside arenas, or the rodeo grounds.

2 ATTENTION TEENS ATTENTION TEENS ATTENTION TEENS If you have not already, please take five minutes and do this survey. It will help Chris with his senior project and our programming. Thank you very much for your time. Please follow this link to the online survey Demonstrations for Area I youth will be Monday, May 2, 7:00 p.m. at the Ephrata Public Library. For information please contact Jackie Pope at Judging Contest Skill-A-Thon --submitted by Toni Gwin, Tuesday News This skill-a-thon is taking place Saturday, April 9 starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Pacific County fairgrounds, Menlo. This event will provide youth and adults the opportunity to measure projects against a commonly accepted standard and clearly state the relationship between them. Youth will develop a keen sense of judgment and confidence to make a defendable decision. Judging in expressive arts, small animals and livestock will be offered. Registration brochure is available online at Register early (by March 23) and save. Show Pig Sale Announcement from Gene Pirelli at OSU Extension/Department of Animal Sciences Oregon s Best Showpigs presented by Wendte Farms Polk County Fairgrounds - Rickreall, Oregon Saturday April 2, :00 A.M. Preview 12:00 noon Sale 120+ Head of Top Quality York,Hamp, Duroc and crossed Showpigs Late January to mid February born For more information contact Mike Wendte at or wendtefarm@aol.com or contact Gene Pirelli, Oregon State University Extension: , gene.pirelli@oregonstate.edu

3 4-H and the Sand Hill Crane Festival, Othello. 4-H is on the docket in a big way. Join in on March 26 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Othello High School. The morning will be integrated with our 4-H members giving demonstrations combined with two guest speakers. Chad Kruger will speak at 10:00 a.m. on Green Farming sharing his research program and its progress. Butch Elrod, a chain saw artist will be sharing his talents with a demo as well as conversation about his art. Brian Charles Clark, WSU Assistant Director of Marketing News and Ed Communications, will be on site to film the activities. Sarah Smith, WSU Extension, will begin Quality Assurance training at 1:00.p.m. Hope you can come. Any questions call Christy Ratray at or ATTENTION 4-H DOG MEMBERS AND LEADERS Christy Lyon, a 4-H Leader with Kidz-N-K-9s 4-H Club in Skagit County, has contacted me with the following information: Our club is hosting the 2nd Annual K9 Camp Out this year. This is a full day and overnight fun and educational event that is open to all dog 4-H members in Washington State. We have classes planned for the kids to attend with and without their dogs, some guest speakers, and games. It is a chance for members to further their dog knowledge and skills, while making new friends and having a great time. This year s event is scheduled for June 11th and 12th at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. If you have any questions call Christy Lyon, Skagit County 4-H Dog Leader, at Enrollment. We still have enrollment packets for the following clubs: Barn Bums Llama Adventures Super Seven Please let us know your intentions for enrollment this year.

4 Kids Explore College, Careers at Academic Camp PULLMAN - Young people can gain academic motivation, discover new interests and consider career options through participation in WSU's Cougar Quest camp, which will celebrate its 11th year this summer. Registration is open at The simulated six-day college encounter is intended to be a fun adventure in experiential learning. Camp dates for students entering grades 7-9 in fall 2011 are July Dates for grades 9-12 are July Students entering grade 9 have the option of attending either or both weeks. Students choose three workshops (out of 27) to attend daily; each lasts two hours over four days. Some of this year's offerings include: A Pet Lover's Guide to the Galaxy, where students are trained to take "vitals," give physical exams and explore preventive medicine and health care for pets. 3D Journey into the Molecules and Atoms of the Human Body Making 3D Images with Lasers Chocolate: Living the Vida Cocoa Check out more workshop offerings at Workshops are structured to engage students in the learning process and to further their skills in a particular discipline through hands-on interactive projects. Social and recreational activities round out the camp experience during evening hours. s and phone calls from parents of former campers provide testimony that, through the workshops and social and recreational activities, students have gained confidence, developed social skills and discovered new interests. For more information visit

5 I thought you might find the research findings below interesting. 4-H is the largest youth organization in the USA serving 6 million youth and you are part of the action. Do know that your work as a volunteer and/or a 4-H parent really does make a difference! I am sure that you have seen the difference it makes, but now we have research based evidence to support our knowing. Research Shows 4-H Helps Young People Excel Beyond Their Peers The structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that young people receive through their participation in 4-H plays a vital role in helping them achieve future life successes. For nearly a decade, preeminent youth development scholar, Dr. Richard Lerner, and the team at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University have been working with faculty at land-grant universities to conduct The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development. The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study that began in 2002, and continues today, surveying more than 6,400 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 34 U.S. states. The study is made possible by the contributions of our nation s land-grant universities and National 4-H Council. This in-depth study has discovered that, when compared to other youth, young people involved in 4-H: Have higher educational achievement and motivation for future education Are more civically active and make more civic contributions to their communities 4-H Youth Make More Healthy Choices According to Wave 6 of the study, 4-H ers regardless of their background, socio-economic status, race, and gender thrive through the health/safety education and experiences they receive through 4-H programming. In fact, young people in 4-H are: Less likely to have sexual intercourse by Grade 10, 56% more likely to spend more hours exercising or being physically active, Shown to have had significantly lower drug, alcohol and cigarette use than their peers. Young People in 4-H are Committed to Improving Their Communities A notable trend of the study indicates that 4-H youth are three times more likely to actively contribute to their communities when compared with youth who do not participate in 4-H. 4-H ers Excel in School and the Sciences The advantages of 4-H participation also include higher educational achievement and higher motivation for future education. Young people in 4-H: Report better grades, higher levels of academic competence, and an elevated level of engagement at school, Are nearly two times more likely to plan to go to college, Are more likely to pursue future courses or a career in science, engineering, or computer technology. The study also finds that girls in 4-H are more than twice as likely to participate in science, engineering, or computer technology programs than their peers. submitted by Toni Gwin, Tuesday News

6 Important Information & Dates for Volunteer Leaders Each club is required to send a leader or representative to at least three leader meetings a year. County Council meets the first Monday of every other month at 7:00 p.m., alternating between the Grant County Fairgrounds, Fuller Building (December, April, August) and the Othello Fairgrounds, 4-H Building (October, February, June). (Please NOTE: subject to change please watch the Friday Update for any location or time changes) Area Council meetings are determined by your area. The Grant County Livestock Committee meets the second Thursday, February through September at 7:00 p.m., Grant County Fairgrounds, Fuller Building. Report Your Volunteer Hours Every Month. If you are a volunteer leader, you will need to log your volunteer hours monthly at Your user name will be either your last name only or your First & Last name with a space in between. The password is password! (don't forget the exclamation point). Each year all leaders need to take the 4-H Volunteer e-learning Course online at The Password is volunteer. Click HERE for a pictorial overview and tips Important Dates: Grant County December 1 Enrollments are Due for Existing Clubs December 1 Club Financial Summary is Due January 1 Dairy - Sale Springer & Bred Heifer Certificates are Due April 1 Horse Ownership Certificates are Due April 1 Beef Ownership Date - Weigh & Tag Day - to be announced May 1 All other Dairy Ownership Certificates are Due May 8 Market Swine Ownership Date May 12 Llama Ownership Date June 1 Enrollments are Due for New Clubs June 8 Market Goat Ownership Date June 10 Market Sheep Ownership Date Weigh & Tag Day - to be announced June 30 Pork Quality Assurance Needs to be Completed August 1 Secretary Books are Due to Extension Office 2011 Important Dates: Adams County December 1 Enrollments are Due for Existing Clubs December 1 Club Financial Summary is Due February 1 Dairy - Sale Springer & Bred Heifer Certificates are Due April 1 Horse Ownership Certificates are Due April 30 Beef Ownership Date May 1 All other Dairy Ownership Certificates are Due June 1 Enrollments are Due for New Clubs June 12 Llama Ownership Date June 15 Market Swine Ownership Date June 15 Market Sheep Ownership Date June 30 Pork Quality Assurance Needs to be Completed July 8 Market Goat Ownership Date August 1 Secretary Books are Due to Extension Office Any class of animal must comply with minimal state requirements. See Publication EM 0758E - Washington State 4-H Youth Development Program Policy Click HERE for PDF Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Grant and Adams Counties. Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extensions office

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