Local Club Takes Part in National 4-H Week

WAITSBURG-National 4-H week is underway in Walla Walla County. Local groups are taking to storefronts to create displays representing their areas of expertise.

"Our club, Homegrown Go Wild, does...everything," said general leader Cindy Daves during the installation. This year the group added shooting sports to their already impressive repertoire.

"We became the Walla Walla County Shooting Sports Club on top of doing livestock, cooking, food preservation, photography, science, art and public speaking, said Daves. She and Beth Daves are co-leaders, while Leslie Nichols is an unofficial leader in this group, but is also a formal leader in another.

Columbia County 4-H clubs encompass a range of project areas from cooking and sewing, to livestock and shooting sports. All activities are youth driven. Each club begins the year with their display, then they meet to discuss what events the children want to participate in.

This year Homegrown Go Wild participated in the Top Chef cooking competition which requires tablescaping as well as preparing a meal for judges.

"We had three kids qualify and participate in state where they actually had to prepare their foods and do their demonstrations in front of people walking through the state fair," said Daves.

While everything begins at the local level, some amount of travel is required of participants.

Homegrown Go Wild participates in the Waitsburg Junior Livestock Show, the Columbia County Fair, the Walla Walla County Fair, and this year went as far as the Palouse Empire Fair in Colfax. "We try to allow the youth to see what else is out there, outside of our little bubble," said Daves.

"This is our third year doing the window display," she added. "It doesn't come together on its own and it's a lot, but it's for the kids...to show them there's more than video games. We just encourage youth to come out, try their best and be the best they can be."

See the Homegrown Go Wild group's display at 222 Main St in Waitsburg and vote for your favorite at https://pollev.com/melanieowens056.

DISPLAY LOCATIONS:

Premier Mortgage at 1 E. Main St, Walla Walla

222 Main St, Waitsburg

Brights Candies at 11 E Main St, Walla Walla

Book & Game Company at 38 E. Main St, Walla Walla

Walla Walla Sweets Baseball at 109 E Main St, Walla Walla