Publication of the Daily Record
4-H & FFA 2015 Kittitas County
KELLEHER MOTOR COMPANY
2015
KING RANCH
“Our family serving your family since 1911”
602 N. Pearl Street | Ellensburg, WA | 509-925-1911
www.kellehermotors.com 2 | 4-H and FFA
1313517 07.30.15 GP
Learning life lessons on the range
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
From left, leader Andrew Hall, Alexandra Hall, Chloe Clyburn, Kathryn “Katie” Gabriel, Dominick Woolsey, Zach Gabriel and Vicente Hall line up and practice their stances at the Armory Building.
4-H shooting club teaches local kids safety and sportsmanship
V
By BONNIE DAVIDSON For the Daily Record
icente Hall, 15, has been involved with the On Target 4-H Shooting Club in Kittitas County for seven years, starting in third grade. He said that he’s grown into the sport for most of his life. “It’s a great opportunity to learn about firearms and safety,” he said. The 4-H year begins in October and about 45 kids signed up to participate in the club last year. Closer to 20 kids consistently show up to compete. Glenna Maskal, the adult leader of the club, said 4-Hers from third grade through high school participate in archery, air rifle, air pistol, rifle and
shotgun competitions. They meet up to two times a month to practice and talk a lot about safety. Thirteen of the 4-Hers performed well at the state championship in May in Eatonville. A few qualified for nationals in June, but no one went this year. The club has been around for 10 years. About 10 leaders help teach proper etiquette, proper stance and proper safety when taking part in their chosen shooting sport. “The first thing we work on is safety, we want to develop our youth to be safe,” said Andrew Hall, one of the club leaders.
See Shooting, Page 5
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Zach Gabriel, 14, in the prone position, practices shooting skills.
3 | 4-H and FFA
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Instructor and leader Andrew Hall teaches his daughter, Alexandra Hall, 11, the proper technique to shoot her arrow. 4 | 4-H and FFA
SHOOTING Continued from Page 3 “The next goal is good shooting techniques and that leads to good marksmanship.” Currently there’s no range in the county to help out with practice, so participants travel to get in shooting time. They use a mobile range for air rifles and pistols and archery. Maskal said the group has been fortunate to have received more than $10,000 in funding for equipment from Friends of the National Rifle Association. Very recently, the former Ellensburg Trap and Skeet Club, which disbanded due to the loss of its range, donated $6,000 to the club. Maskal has continued to write grants to help the club continue with equipment, and possibly one day a range. Leaders explained that there haven’t been a lot of difficulties, but it’s always a challenge to get the kids to focus in the beginning. Anthony Gabriel, another leader, said teaching 4-Hers to act as if every gun is loaded is a big focus. Hall added 4-Hers have to memorize rules before they are able to fire. Hall said his favorite moments are when the kids are able to shoot well and safely. He gets to watch the kids get a look of satisfaction as they shoot well. Hall said that the kids sometimes teach their parents. Gabriel said seeing the older kids jump in and start to teach the younger kids is also rewarding. “Them gaining confidence and watching
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Vicente Hall, 15, takes aim for the On Target 4-H Shooting Sport Club at the Armory Building. the amount of improvement in every child is rewarding,” Gabriel said. Chloe Clyburn, 10, a member of the group who is involved in archery, said she enjoys shooting on a 3D range. A 3D range is where animals and objects are set up in challenges. Kathryn “Katie” Gabriel, 16, the president of the club, said she also enjoyed the 3D range. You don’t have a distance given to you so you have to take a guess, but it’s possible to do better than others with
From 11 AM -4 PM Daily
better and more expensive equipment, she said. Alexandra Hall, 11, has been shooting a .22 rifle and the air rifle. She said she has enjoyed shooting the silhouettes and making her mark when taking her shot. One thing all the kids seem to agree on, no matter what their choice of shooting sport, it was a good way to learn about sportsmanship. One of the parents added that the local club was known in neighboring counties for good sportsmanship.
Voted
The Northwestʼs Premier Store for Specialty Foods, Wine, Fruit & Antiques
“BEST ANTIQUE MALL” by King 5 Evening Magazine 2012, 2013 & 2014!
O Over 50 5 Antique Dealers on 2 floors • Local Fresh Seasonal Fruits by pound or the box • Walla Walla Onion Salad Dressings & Mustards • Selection of Northwest Wines • Preserves • Salsas
Proud supporter of 4-H & FFA of Kittitas County
925-5542 I-90 Exit 106 1313448 4H15 GP
925-5442 University Way & Alder St.
509-964-2474 Exit 101•Off I-90 www.thorpfruit.com 1316381 ChamDir15 BU
5 | 4-H and FFA
• BBQ & Grilling Sauces • Applets & Cotlets • Honey • Espresso • Winegar’s Ice Cream
4-H, family and community
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Marie Riegel points to her mom, Mary Matthews, in a photo from her early 4-H years as a member back in the 1950s.
Mary Matthews has been involved with 4-H for six decades
E
By BONNIE DAVIDSON For the Daily Record
ngaging youth and promoting leadership, learning and community involvement are all things Kittitas County 4-H does. But the true story behind the organization lies with the people who make it happen.
One of the names that is synonymous with 4-H in Kittitas County is Mary Matthews. Matthews is the second generation in her family to participate in the program. Her father, Ivan Hutchinson, was possibly in the program during the beginning when it was called the Boys and Girls Club in 1918. Matthews’
parents met in Pullman at a club event. Mary followed suit in 4-H at age 10 in 1947. Her first project was raising a sheep. She continued as a member in the club for 11 years before moving on into a leadership role. Her six children were all involved in 4-H throughout the years, and so are five of her grandchil-
6 | 4-H and FFA
dren. This year will be Matthews’ 56th year as a leader. But after adding her years involved as a youth, she’s spent six decades involved in the program. “I just kept going on year after year, and the kids just all stuck with it,” Matthews said. “The boys have kind of petered out over the years, and some of them (family) have been more into it than others.”
See Matthews, Page 8
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Mary Matthews getting ready to show her sheep. She noted her hair was pinned because she was also prepping for the fashion show and modeling her sewing work back in the 1950s.
We install what we sell.
Good luck at fair to all 4-H participants!
Services Include: Windows & Doors, Door Hardware, Shower Doors, Mirrors, Glass Repair, Screens, Knobs & Bath Accessories, Blinds & Window Treatments, Decorative Glass, Auto Glass & More…
Please call today for a free estimate
509.674.6990
Grebb, Johnson, Reed & Wachsmith, L.L.P. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
415 East 1st St., Suite B, Cle Elum, WA 98922
www.allcityglass.us
209 E. 5th Avenue • Ellensburg, WA 98926 | (509) 925-9876 | www.GJRW.com 1313527 4H15 GP
7 | 4-H and FFA
1313585 4H15 MW
MATTHEWS Continued from Page 6
While Matthews was involved with livestock in her younger years, now she’s much more involved in sewing. Her daughter, Marie Riegel, is involved with food and clothing projects. Riegel and her siblings all have clippings from the local paper of their days involved in 4-H. Riegel never really got involved in livestock, but always had a passion for the home economic activities. Matthews’ husband, the late John “Buck” Matthews, also was involved and was a fair superintendent. “I’ve done almost all categories, but the judging has been a big change over the years,” Mary Matthews said.
Changes over the years
In one change, youth have to know all the parts of their animals. Record-keeping also plays a more important role. Kids involved in 4-H are required to keep a book that tracks all their expenses, all their progress and also tells a little bit of their own story. Those books are due before the fair this year and the clubs are all working on turning in
the books. The books help youth log their progress, their challenges, their goals and things they’ve learned. In essence these books help them reflect on all their experience. It’s something Matthews said there wasn’t as much focus on in the past. The books don’t have to be updated after the fair, but progress does need to be logged and turned in after the fair to receive medals and awards. Matthews now has a big part in looking over these books and judging. As she’s been around for a few years and volunteered thousands of hours, she’s probably the perfect candidate to read through the triumphs and challenges of the many kids involved in Kittitas County 4-H. She’s no stranger to service, and also has volunteered for the FISH food bank. A few years ago she was named volunteer of the year by the Ellensburg Noon Rotary Club. Currently there 100 volunteer leaders who participate with local 4-H youth. When asked why she’s continued to volunteer over the years, she jokes there aren’t volunteers to take her place. In reality, she said it’s just something she does.
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Marie Riegel poses for a photo with her mother, Mary Matthews. Matthews has been involved with 4-H for more than 60 years.
America’s First Name For Quality Timothy Hay & Feed Products
PROUD SUPPORTERS OF 4-H & FFA!
P.O. Box 68 Ellensburg, WA 98926 (509) 925-2827 1313914 4-H15 MW
8 | 4-H and FFA
1313919 4-H15 MW
BRANDS OF
KITTITAS COUNTY Kev in F Matthe lying A w And erson
ily l & Fam LLC e r r a H Paul arms I I, brook F w lo il W
nch Rafter B Ra land B rt a Larry & B
Bill &
Mary
owe
ll
usan & Fam Barnhart ily
rt
Triangle P
Flying Carl & M Ranch Teri Mic hael
McD
Ken & S
derson rrie An a C & Mark & Family s eration 2 Gen
Seube
& Be
cky
Pat & Lind a Clerf Fam ily
an & Sons Bill Haberm tions 3 Genera
Ranch
Acheson Ran
ch
Jim & Carrie Seat on Seaton Ranch
klund
Kir laine & t E , n i v r Ke Barnha
1315008 4H15 GP
Don & Barb Greg & Kris ara, A Longhorn C kehurst attle Co. & Quarter Hors e Ran Since 1951 ch
W Ranch Standing hloe Eldon & C h c Weidenba
Sting
ley R
anch
4-H family takes on swine
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Cassidy Gay, 12, and Chance Allemand, 18, show off their swine before the fair season this year. This year will be Allemand’s 10th and final year involved in the 4-H swine category.
Livestock projects a tradition for Kittitas family
C
By BONNIE DAVIDSON For the Daily Record
hance Allemand, 18, is finishing up his 10th and final year in 4-H. He’s president of the Wild Hogs 4-H Club and has been raising hogs for all 10 years. He also recently graduated from
Kittitas High School and is looking toward the future. He might attend college at Yakima Valley Community College, where he’ll be looking at fire science classes, but is willing to take a variety of classes to see what he really enjoys. His raising and selling hogs in 4-H will help him pay for the first two years of college.
“When it comes to dinner time, you just don’t think about it,” Allemand said, about eating homegrown pork after the 4-H season is over. Swine has been a popular venture for 4-Hers in Kittitas County the past few years. The category peaked in 2013 with 163 kids entering into the category, but that number dropped to 158 kids in
10 | 4-H and FFA
2014 and is down to 144 this year. That’s roughly a third of the 390 kids enrolled in 4-H this year. Allemand’s mother, Shelley Gay, said the rising costs of feed and cost of buying a pig could possibly be a reason that numbers are falling somewhat, but she added that sports programs and other activities have been pulling kids away, along with kids graduating out of the program. Shelley Gay participated in 4-H with rabbits when she was younger and
when her children came of age to enter into the program, they thought it might be good to get Allemand involved. He and his sister have raised the pigs on their uncle’s place in Kittitas and at one point were raising sows and feeding orphaned piglets. Allemand’s sister, Cassidy Gay, 12, is in her fourth year of 4-H swine projects. Allemand said it can be a little sad at the end of the year when the pigs are sold in the market. Only one of two animals can be auctioned, while the other is sold at cost. Often times they’ll put the meat in the freezer after the fair season comes to an end. Shelley Gay said that the first year butchering their pigs was difficult on Allemand, but eventually he got used to the process. The reason they chose swine over other livestock animals had a lot to do with costs and commitment. “Steers are a huge commitment, they get them in October or November,” Shelley Gay said. “The feed is much more expensive and you don’t make as much money on them.” Over the past 10 years they’ve been involved, costs for steer and swine have risen. Pigs are only about a five-month commitment. They receive the piglets
when they’re about six to eight weeks old, usually sometime around Mother’s Day. The focus in the beginning is a lot about making sure they’re fed properly and they grow up healthy. This year they purchased two pigs locally, and then bought two from Oregon. With only a few more weeks until the fair, the focus will be on hitting the right weight mark, which is somewhere around 270-300 pounds. Allemand said this is often one of the biggest challenges in raising swine. Most of the grand champs are 280 pounds and over. Allemand has won reserve grand champ for fitting and showing twice. The first time he took the title was in his first year in 2005; he took that title again in 2011. He also took the top 15 in market in his first year. Chelsey Gay took top 13 in market last year for her swine. Beyond the experience of raising livestock, Allemand says he’s taken away other lessons from his time in 4-H. One of those lessons is responsibility, especially during fair week, where the kids often spend 12 to 15 hours a day on the fairgrounds taking care of their animals and preparing for show and the market sale. “It’s easy to just think about yourself
Proudly supports of 4H and FFA groups with Elenbaas Feed programs and by being active in the livestock sale.
925-3525 FARM SUPPLY 925-3525
FERTILIZER FUEL & PROPANE IRRIGATION 925-3378 925-3171 925-6141
and care about yourself, but with an animal you have more to think about,” Allemand said. Part of that responsibility is checking on the animals every day, making sure they are fed and watered and they aren’t sick. Shelley Gay said youth learn a lot about public speaking and community service being involved in 4-H. While Allemand has also been involved in sports and other activities, he has shined in 4-H. Gay said the record books and presentations they’ve done, as well as the community service projects, like adopting a family for Christmas and planting flowers with seniors, have all been good lessons. When asked if he was sad to see the last year come, Allemand said that the last year is a blessing and a curse. He’ll miss taking care of the animals and working in the community, but he said it’s a lot of work and he’ll be looking forward to a little more free time and focusing on school in the year ahead. “This community is so generous with the local kids,” Shelley Gay said. “They’re much more supportive than in other counties and we appreciate those people that come out and support these kids.”
Bonnie Davidson / For the Daily Record
Chance Allemand, 18, feeds his swine that will be entered in the fair this year for his 10th and final year in 4-H. His sister Cassidy Gay, 12, will also have two hogs entered into the market this year.
We proudly support our local 4-H kids!
2550 Hungry Jct. Rd. Ellensburg, WA 98926 Phone: 509-962-8133 Fax: 509-962-4443 Email: no9hay@elltel.net 1313907 4H15 MW
11 | 4-H and FFA
Contributed
Members of the Ellensburg High School FFA participating in the Kittitas County Elementary Ag Appreciation Day sponsored by Kittitas County WSU-Extension.
Contributed
Alexis Andrews, left, District IV FFA officer for 2015-2016, and Ethan Shields, right, District IV FFA Officer 2014-2015.
Contributed
Front from left, Alexis Andrews, Jannell Montgomery, Cade Lyyski. Back: From left is Ethan Shields, Morgan Harding, Moira Turner.
12 | 4-H and FFA
An overview of Ellensburg FFA in 2014-2015 By STEVE RUSSELL For the Daily Record
I
t was a busy year for Ellensburg High School’s FFA. EHS had 42 members involved this year and 21 attended the state convention in May. Nationals will wrap things up in the fall before the start of a new year. State competitions this year concluded with EHS taking sixth in livestock evaluation, third in horse evaluation, sixth in farm and third in creed in sub-state (Karlee Hanson). In districts the EHS crew took second in parliamentary procedure and first in novice parliamentary procedure. Contributed Morgan and Ethan Shields received the State FFA Third place winners State Horse Evaluation, from left, are Katie Duncan, Annie Vincent, Julie Hillemann, Megan Ray and Tatum Najar. Degree.
much more than just a feed store
Ready Mix Concrete
FROM WESTERN CLOTHING TO LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT, YOU’LLL FIND IT AT OLD MILL COUNTRY STORE RE
Sand & Gravel • Ecology Blocks • Crushed Rock Dump Truck Service • W.S.D.O.T. Approved Aggregate
Cont. Reg. #ELLENSCP255DP
933-7050 • 1-800-736-7289
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
2121 Hwy. 97 • Ellensburg www.ellensburgcement.com
500 W. THIRD AVE.
509-925-5397 1313587 4H15 MW
1313903 4H15 GP
13 | 4-H and FFA
Contributed
Featuring Lakota Charmac C&B Gooseneck Brand Maverick Titan Royal R oya yal T SSundowner undown
CARGO | UTILITY FLATBEDS SNOWMOBILE TRAILERS HORSE TRAILERS LIVING QUARTERS DUMP TRAILERS RV SUPPLIES HITCH INSTALLATIONS
ABOVE: On the left is Alexis Andrews District IV FFA officer for 2015-2016, and on the right is Ethan Shields District IV FFA Officer 2014-2015. BELOW: Members who attended the National FFA Convention were Moira Turner, Morgan Harding, Ethan Shields and Alexis Andrews.
SALES, SERVICE & PARTS
Now featuring O.K. Corral by Titan West Inc. An affordable corral that you can take with you and set up literally anywhere!
To view inventory visit www.LuftTrailers.com 1313910 4H15 GP
907 HIBBS ROAD • ELLENSBURG, WA (OFF DOLARWAY ROAD. EXIT 106) • 509-962-5445 • 888-342-2213 14 | 4-H and FFA
Kittitas County 4-H Clubs 2014-2015 4-Hooves Bits & Buckles Clover Rovers Ewe Pigs Fairview 4-H Get Up & Go Grow Em & Show Em Hard to Beat Hog Wild Hot Diggity Pigs
K-9 Kooks Kids & Kritters Kittitas Camelids & More Kittitas Flyers On Target Rockin’ Robots Royal Riders Sheepsteers Skyline Stirrups & Irons Strictly Stitches This N That 4-H Trailblazers Valley Crafty Critters Meat 2 Eat Inc.
When it’s time to lay down the lawn, call
509-962-8444 toll-free 1-866-962-8444 1313594 4H15 MW
ELLENSBURG TIRE CENTER We Offer Small Town Fast Friendly Service
400 W. University Way • Ellensburg
1313893 4-H15 MW
925-1044 15 | 4-H and FFA
dailyrecordnews.com
Perfectly charming in the country.
This Paula Deen inspired collection is available in both a deep brown or the rubbed through fi finish nish shown. shown
Always free delivery in the heart of Washington State Open 6 Days a Week
4th & Main • Downtown Ellensburg 509-925-9828 • 800-992-9828 fitterersfurniture.com //
Some nights are perfect for lemonade on the porch. Enjoy our Kittitas County evenings with quality home furnishings from Fitterer’s Furniture at 4th and Main in Ellensburg.
Let Fitterer’s designers show you the beauty that can be yours for country living like this outstanding Country Roads dining set! 1312266.4H15.cnr