By Mary Ridout
Your University of Idaho Extension office in Washington County has seen some changes this spring As Washington County gears up for another summer and fair season, you will see some new faces in old familiar places, but we are still the same office, here to serve our county.
We would like to welcome Mikayla Lincoln as our new 4-H Coordinator. Mikayla grew up on a dairy and crop farm in Parma, showing 4-H projects for 10 years in Canyon County. She attended Wilder High School where she helped jumpstart the Wilder FFA program. During her 4-H career, she served as senior ambassador on the Idaho 4-H State Teen Association and as a member on the NASA GLOBE 4-H Youth Leadership Council. She received the Idaho 4-H Key Award and the “I Dare You” National Leadership Award from the American Youth Foundation. Mikayla was serving as a 4-H Youth Development Instructor in the AmeriCorps program for UI Extension Gem and Boise Counties when she was hired to fill her new position. Mikayla jumped enthusiastically into 4-H upon starting in Washington County, attending the Leaders Council meeting her first day. She has resumed the Teen Leaders program and just attended swine weigh-in at the Washington County Fairgrounds last weekend. She is ready to immerse herself once more in all things 4-H!
Terry Wilkinson came on board a month later as our new Office Manager. Terry has done all things 4-H from showing livestock as a kid to trundling her own kids and their livestock to fair to leading a club of 24 youth through livestock projects from steers and beef breeding to goats and poultry! Now as her grandkids advance through 4-H, she is excited to be back, working with youth and helping keep the 4-H office running and functional! In Terry’s own words, “My family and I recently moved to Payette from Northern California because we love the area, the people, and the lifestyle. I have been involved in 4-H all my life. I was a member of both 4-H and FFA when I was young. When our girls were old enough to be involved in 4-H, I was a leader of several different projects as well a community leader. I truly believe that 4-H and FFA are two of the best organizations that youngsters can be involved in; they learn to be good stewards of our land and good leaders for our future. I am so excited to be a part of such a great organization again and cannot wait to meet everyone.”
Ethan Sullender has been serving as 4-H Program assistant since February. Ethan delivered a We-Do Lego® Robotics and Biology afterschool series this month and will be conducting more afterschool programming through May. We also look forward to bringing a 4-H Youth Development AmeriCorps intern onto the team in mid-May!
After over thirty years of collective service at the University of Idaho Extension Washington County office, long-time 4-H Coordinator Michelle Tate and Extension Office Manager Stephanie Butterfield moved on to new adventures and opportunities to serve the county. The office and families they served with so much dedication truly miss them! However, we are excited for them in their new ventures and wish them well in their new roles within the county and are equally glad to welcome an outstanding new team to the UI Extension Washington County office!
