WELCOME to JEFFERSON COUNTY, WASHINGTON 4-H


Welcome to Jefferson County 4-H where 'Learn by Doing' is our philosophy and 'To Make the Best Better' is our motto. For more information about our 4-H program contact Sue Hay, 4-H Coordinator, shay@jefferson.wsu.edu, 360-379-5610 ext 208

Cat club kids perform well at Chehalis Youth Fair!

Photo: Back row – Katie Bailey, Mikayla Osmer, Sam Smith with Misa. Front row – Sarah Smith with Frodo.

Four members of Jefferson County’s Paws-N-Claws 4-H Club competed this past weekend, May 5th and 6th, at the Chehalis Youth Fair at the Lewis County Fairgrounds with the following results.

Katie Bailey and cat Patches:  Score of 96 (of possible 100) in Intermediate Fitting & Showing for 3rd place. Champion in Intermediate Cage Decoration class. Cat Patches was Reserve Champion in the Household Pet Longhair class.

Mikayla Osmer and cat Frodo: Score of 93 (of possible 100) for a Blue Ribbon in Senior Fitting & Showing. Cat Frodo, a Manx, was Reserve Champion in the Purebred Class.

Sarah Smith and cat Raven:  Score of 92 (of possible 100) for a Blue Ribbon in Intermediate Fitting & Showing. Cat Raven received a Blue Ribbon in Household Pet Shorthair Class.

Sam Smith and cat Misa:  Score of 99 (of possible 100) for Overall Champion in Fitting & Showing. Cat Misa was Reserve Champion in the Household Pet Shorthair class. Sam was awarded Best In Show Overall.

Sam and Sarah Smith also showed last month at the April 14th Kitsap County 4-H cat show.  All Paws-N-Claws members will begin in June to prepare for the Jefferson County Fair, August 10, 11 & 12th, where they will compete to represent the Jefferson County 4-H State Cat Team at the 4-H State Fair in Puyallup in September.

For information about Paws-N-Claws 4-H Club contact club leader Laurie Hampton at  catwoman@olympus.net. For information about the Jefferson County 4-H Program contact Pamela Roberts at 379-5610, ext. 207

Jefferson County EXPO packs in the fun for families!

Tow Mater the talking truck
The 12th Annual 
Jefferson County EXPO 
will be held this weekend-

Sat. April 28 and Sun. April 29, 2012

Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Port Townsend, Washington

Family fun features include:
  • Tow Mater
  • 4x4 Events
  • Horse Gaming (Sat. only)
  • Car/Bike Show
  • Mechanical Bull Rides
  • Groovy Bingo (Sat. 5-8 pm)
  • Kid's U Fish Pond
  • Big Purple Slide
  • Vendors
  • Eating Contest and more!
Gates open at 8 am

Admission Prices:

Adults (18-64) - $6
Seniors (65+) - $5
Students (13-17) - $5
Kids (6-12) - $2
5 & under - Free
Active Military w/current ID - Free

Service dogs only allowed on grounds during event. 
For everyone's safety please leave your pet/animals at home.

For more information contact:
Jefferson County Fair Association
P.O. Box 242 (4907 Landes Street)
Port Townsend, WA  98368
360-385-1013
jeffcofairgrounds@olypen.com
jeffcofairgrounds.com

Support an up and coming theatre talent!

Madeline Holland-Jackson
Dear Friends of Youth in the Arts:

We invite you to a special production of "JUST ON A FENCE" originally produced in part at the Victorian Heritage Festival Ball this Spring.

This Friday, April 27, 2012 by generosity of The Palace Hotel, at 215 Tyler Street, this new expanded version opens its doors at 7 pm, the play starts at 8 pm.

Tickets include dessert and the play. $15 for adults, $7.50 for youth (7-18), Free age 6 and under. Just the play - $10/adult and $5/youth (7-18), Free age 6 and under.

(Low income $5/ticket) CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL will receive 20% of ticket sales.

Join our heroine, Lyndsey Mcglaughlin (portrayed by Madeline Holland-Jackson, age 13) in the year 1892, a time when young girls are to be "seen and not heard' as she determines her own path to the New York stage.

In a lush musical score with a voice to match, "Lyndsey" encounters a gypsy fortune-teller and a pair of enchanted toe shoes that can lead her on the path to success if she has the belief and courage within herself to follow her dream...

Miss Holland-Jackson performs a clown-ballet, toe dances, and even sings a little Grand Opera - entertaining with true classic, American musical theatre spirit. Proceeds from ticket sales and donations will begin a fund drive to propel Madeline in her real life ambition to become a Broadway performer.

Thank you for your interest in supporting Port Townsend youth!

Note: Madeline is a member of the Paws-N-Claws 4-H cat club led by Laurie Hampton.

Watershed Cleanup Day 2012 a success!

L. to R. Mikayla Osmer, Annaliese Chamberlin-Holt, Colby Graham,
Kale Gonzalez, Tanner Huntingford, Anna Brown, Ben Allen, Andi Niesen,
Marcelle Thimgan, Sam Allen,  Jennifer Fujii, Mary Pitts, Susan Piper,
Rosie Wilcox, Mike Spears, Jessica Kaahanui, Dan Collins and Ian Jablonski.





Susan Piper, U.S. Forest Service administrator.
Thank you to all the volunteers and 4-H Stewardship Program youth who worked on the Watershed Cleanup Day. We hauled four truck loads of garbage out of the forest! Youthful energies made all the difference - especially with the 50 gallon tank, bed springs and large heater tank brought up the slopes!

We could not have done this work without all our wonderful partners. Thank you to those people and organizations, who make this service opportunity available to our Jefferson County youth including:
  • 4-H Stewardship Program Crew Chiefs (Marcelle Thimgan and Andi Niesen)
  • City of Port Townsend Water Department (Ian Jablonski and Mike Spears) 
  • U.S. Forest Service (Jennifer Fujii and Susan Piper) 
  • WSU Beach Watchers (Mary Pitts) 
  • Pacific Northwest Trail Association (Dan Collins) 
  • Jefferson County 4-H (Pamela Roberts and Howard Gilbert) 
  • Jefferson County Solid Waste and Jefferson County Health Department
Andi Niesen, 4-H Crew Chief, talks with 4-H Stewardship Program participants during Watershed Cleanup Day.
The Watershed Cleanup Day is an annual event sponsored by the 4-H Stewardship Program and the U.S. Forest Service to clean up areas of the Quilcene watershed that provide drinking water to the City of Port Townsend.

Youth lead the way in meticulously picking up garbage such as spent bullet casings from a forest quarry where people like to target shoot, as well as bottles, cans, old appliances, box springs, cabinets, chairs, cement blocks and more.

The variety of items is truly interesting.

Our hope is that with each cleanup event we will make a dent in the garbage thrown into the forest environments. The largest concern is with water quality and the need to keep the area clean of toxic substances and pollutants. This program helps our youth learn more about stewardship principles and the importance of caring for the environment.
4-H Stewardship Program participants pick up spent bullet casings in a U.S. Forest Service quarry.

Help 4-H win $5000 - VOTE for FELICITY ANN on FACEBOOK!


Ann Davison was the first woman to sail solo, crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 1952-53.   

Her boat, the FELICITY ANN, has been adopted by a courageous group of modern young women, seeking to restore this iconic boat to a working condition. 

We have an opportunity right now to raise $5000 to help launch this 4-H project!


Empowering girls!
Note: You have to log in to Facebook to vote. If you don't have a Facebook account - sign up now to help! 

1. Click on the link above to get to the FELICITY ANN page.
2. Scroll down the FELICITY ANN video page. 
3. Click on "LOVE IT."  You can only vote once.  
4. After you "Love it," "SHARE" the video with your friends through Facebook and ask them to vote also! 

In partnership with the School of Wooden Boat Building,  
the Community Boat Project and Jefferson County 4-H.
-
Pamela Roberts 
WSU 4-H Faculty 
4-H, Youth & Families  
201 W. Patison
Port Hadlock, WA  98339  
 

Celebrate the "Felicity Ann" - and the first female solo crossing of the Atlantic



Felicity Ann might look like simply a boat, but she represents an amazing journey of courage and persistence. Ann Davison sailed Felicity Ann across the Atlantic in 1952 – the first female solo crossing. This was and still is an amazing accomplishment.

The Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building was fortunate to acquire this boat and we are now in the exciting process of restoring her to her original beauty. Jefferson County 4-H is a partner to this project - an opportunity for youth to be involved in the restoration and sailing of this remarkable historical boat.

Learn more at http://felicityann.com

4-H boat program launches Dragonheart!

Congratulations to our 4-H Leaders, Wayne Chimenti and Marci Van Cleve, and the youth of the Community Boat Project on the launching of their newly completed boat, Dragonheart! We appreciate all that you do to build leadership in our local teens. Thank you to all the partners - Pi and ICE Programs and the School of Wooden Boat Building. (Photo by Sue Hay)

Farmers Fight - Stand Up: advocacy for agricultural professions



“Farmers Fight is a student-led initiative at Texas A&M to reconnect American society to the world of agriculture. Beginning with university students, Farmers Fight encourages consumers to ask where their food comes from, and give students, faculty, public officials, and farmers and ranchers an opportunity to become "agvocates" for the agriculture community.” I wanted to share a UTube video of one of our students promoting our profession. I think other institutions may be interested in forming similar student groups. Let’s make this viral on social media!

Performed by Jasmine Dillon.

Flash mob Russian style - to an Irving Berlin tune!



This video made me smile and laugh and reminded me how important the arts are to every culture.
It makes us human and creates connections that are special between different peoples.
 

4-H youth wins Letters About Literature - 'Be proud of who you are'

4/11/2012 6:00:00 AM
PT youth wins Letters About Literature
'Be proud of who you are'
Lauren Salcedo of the Leader

“You only get judged from the way you dress, the way you act, the music you listen to and the friends you have,” said eighth-grader Samantha Smith.

Smith, 14, has lived most of her life in Port Townsend. She likes to wear black and listen to heavy metal and alternative music – Black Veil Brides and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are two of her favorite bands.

Before you go putting a label on her, you should also know that she has read five books since Friday, participates in showing cats for 4-H, secretly enjoys classical music, was a member of the 2011 Rhododendron Festival Queen’s Court and plans to attend the University of Washington. She wants to be a veterinarian or study psychology; she can’t decide yet.

When asked what she is most excited about for this summer, she named two things: the state fair and a school trip to Washington, D.C.

“We spend all year getting ready for state and county fairs,” said Smith, whose 1-year-old Siamese-mix show cat, Misa, won a 2011 state championship.

She is also excited about the Smithsonian student travel trip to Washington, D.C.– a school-sponsored educational trip for which she has raised almost $2,000 by fundraising and working for the Quilcene Trail Rangers.

‘Keeping You a Secret’

The statewide Letters About Literature contest, sponsored by the Washington State Library, the Library of Congress and others, encourages students to write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead. Three winners were chosen, including Samantha Smith, 14, of Port Townsend for the grades 7-8 division. Here is her letter to Julie Anne Peters about her book Keeping You a Secret.

Dear Julie Anne Peters,

Every teenager goes through phases; phases with our style and our preferences in general. Sometimes we even start to question our orientation. Maybe we’ll notice that the girl across from us is hot, even though we, too, are girls. That’s what happened to me. I was no longer looking at a girl and thinking, ‘Oh, I like her top.’ I was looking at her and wondering about going on a date with her, even though I still liked boys. I didn’t go shout it from the mountaintops, but I did look for a good book to hide myself in. While scouring the library I fell upon your book: Keeping You a Secret.

I was really able to connect with Holland, how she was ready for the normal life: a girl meets a guy, they fall in love, have sex, and get married, not necessarily in that order. She had Seth, her boyfriend, then suddenly she met Cece and her life changed. Her thoughts shifted and she learned about a new side of herself. I’m able to connect with that, the feeling that your world’s been turned upside down and things aren’t the way they should be. I was exploring a new side of my life and mind the same way she was.

As you wrote, “It’s about getting past that question of what’s wrong with me, to knowing there’s nothing wrong, that you were born this way. You’re a normal person and a beautiful person and you should be proud of who you are. You deserve to live and live with dignity and show people your pride.” It’s startling, realizing that you’re out of the normal, even if that’s not uncommon. It’s terrifying and people can be cruel about it. But as I read this book, I knew I could be strong just like Cece and Holland were. It reminded me that being myself wasn’t a crime; that it made me unique not different.

After I finished Keeping You a Secret, I made an effort to find other books like it. I read more of your books, such as Far from Xanadu, Luna, and Define “Normal,” as well as books written by others with similar content, for example, Empress of the World by Sarah Ryan. I love how these books make me feel like I have friends in familiar situations. Even though they’re just book characters, they seem real. Sometimes their fictional actions give me the confidence that I didn’t have, to do things that I otherwise never would have done. Like the confidence to turn this letter in to my teacher.

Your Literary Believer,

Sam Smith

Read more

4-H makes a positive difference in Iraq

Education Week
An Iraqi student tends cattle on the farm of the 4-H Club in 
Mahmoudia, Iraq, last month. Months after most U.S. troops 
pulled out of the country, Iraq now has 4-H clubs 
in each of its 18 provinces.
—Kamaran Najm/Getty Images for Education Week

Published Online: April 3, 2012
Published in Print: April 4, 2012, as American-Born 4-H Clubs Flourish in Postwar Iraq

USDA employee imported program to serve Iraqi youths