— by D. N. Kinsey  4-H Leader —

Fun at the Fair with Orcas' Fur and Feathers 4-Hers

Fun at the Fair with Orcas’ Fur and Feathers 4-Hers

More than 6 million young people across the United States are in 4-H clubs. Orcas Island has over 50 members enrolled in 4-H with most of them demonstrating a years worth of work at the San Juan County Fair last week. The work that the members and the volunteers do has a positive impact on the local community, so many thanks are in order to the San Juan County Fair Board & Staff, 4-H Leaders, the families, WSU Extension and our feed sponsors, Island Hardware & Supply.

This year Orcas 4-Hers won several awards in showing and judging contests. Here is a sampling of the project areas:

  • Will Stephens brought Dweedin the Blue Cochin chicken and Mokey the cavy. He got blues in showmanship and the Grand Champion in cavy showmanship. Will also got the trophy for outstanding achievement in Rabbit/Cavy.
  • Joe Stephens had Ticken the Chicken, a Partridge Cochin or a Brahma cross plus Pumpkin the cavy. Joe is a Primary 4-H member (Five years to Third Grade) so he received Rainbow ribbons for his efforts
  • .Lindsey Simpson showed her rabbit, Indy. Results were a 1st place for breed, a 1st place for showmanship and a Grand Champion for Rabbit/Cavy judging for the Intermediate age group.
  • Emalyne Babcock brought her rabbit, a French Angora, Midnight and won Grand Champion for rabbit showmanship and rabbit/cavy judging for the Junior age group.
  • Moose Kinsey brought his rabbit, Blacktail Bonnie, an Orcas Wild and his chickens Grey Ghost the Flytie rooster and Fluffy the Silkie. He was awarded a Reserve Champion for Rabbit Showmanship and an award of Merit for the Rooster while Fluffy the hen received a best of class award.
  • Anwyn Thompson, Moose Kinsey and Tashi Litch all participated in the San Juan County demonstration contest taking Grand and Reserve Grand Champion awards.

Plus a big thank you to Eric Webb, Rick Hughes, Ingrid Gabriel and Sandy Strehlou for judging the demonstrations.

Anwyn Thompson, Lael Watson, Moose Kinsey, Tashi Litch and Kaj Litch played instruments and sang during the 4-H Performing Arts Contest with Tashi and Kaj earning Grand and Reserve Champion awards. Another thank you to the judge, Mary WillAllen.

Many of the 4-H members also showed other livestock or horses during the fair week, including Alpacas!  Orcas Island 4-H Club Fur & Feathers has an Alpaca club, thanks to the help of Orcas Moon Alpacas.  The Alpaca barn along with youth demonstrations of showmanship and obstacle classes were a hit. Many thanks to Mother Hildegard from Shaw Island for judging these competitions.
4-H Trailblazers

4-H Trailblazers

The Orcas Island Trailblazers Horse 4-H club won numerous awards this year for showmanship and riding classes plus herdsmanship.  The club has five members who have qualified to participate at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup this September.

A huge thanks is also in order for those folks who supported the livestock auction.  Several Orcas based businesses such as Rose’s and the Lum Farm bid on project animals.  All the money goes directly to the 4-Her who often utilizes the funds for future projects or for college savings.  Here’s looking forward to next year’s auction on August 20th, 2016 at 1:00 pm at the San Juan County Fairgrounds in Friday Harbor!

In 2014 Orcas Island 4-H received a grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation to purchase educational materials for Poultry, Sheep, Dog, Rabbit and Horse projects.  Our 4-H members and leaders were able to utilize and study the materials before competing at the 2015 San Juan County Fair – the Ohio State learning kits have helped everyone learn more about their projects and it made for success at the Fair so thank you to all who donated!

ICYMI research has proven that participation in 4-H has a significant positive impact on young people. Findings from a Tufts University 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that, when compared to their peers, young people in 4-H are:

• Nearly four (4) times more likely to contribute to their communities,
• Two (2) times more likely to pursue healthy behaviors, and
• Two (2) times more likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programs outside of school

In San Juan County, the 4-H clubs always welcome more participants as both members (anyone aged five through 19) and volunteer youth leaders.

About 4-H:
4-H, the largest youth development organization in the world, is a community of seven million young people across the globe learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. In the US, 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Overseas, 4-H programs operate throughout more than 50 countries.

Learn more about 4-H in general at www.4-H.org or contact the local clubs at www.orcas4h.com or find us on Facebook.

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