Wallowa County 4-H Court members - from left, Emily Ketscher, Myranda McFetridge and Shai Allen-Young - share a laugh while sitting in the fairgrounds grandstands.<I><BR>Elane Dickenson/Chieftain</I>

A busy year will come to an end for members of the 2009-10 Wallowa County 4-H Court – Emily Ketscher, Myranda McFetridge and Shai Allen-Young – in the very near future.

After handing out plaques and trophies at the annual awards program Aug. 7, the last day of the 2010 Wallowa County Fair, a new trio of 4-Hers will be announced as the new court and their official duties will come to an end.

“It’s been a good learning experience, and a lot of fun,” Emily said about her year on the court.

Court activities ranged from answering the phone during the annual 4-H Radio Auction to helping present awards at 4-H Family Appreciation Night and the 4-H Spring Fair. They promoted 4-H in several parades, including Hells Canyon Mule Days, Jingle through Joseph, Enterprise Winterfest, and just last weekend, the Chief Joseph Days junior and grand parades. For a community service project, they decorated the Tree of Giving and helped fill food boxes for Elks Christmas Basket program.

They’ve also continued to work with projects in their clubs, and participate independently in 4-H events. Emily, for example, took part in livestock judging at the University of Idaho, and Shai attended an Eastern Oregon Leadership Retreat.

All three girls have been active in 4-H since they were in fourth grade, and are all enthusiastic supporters of the program.

Myranda, 15, the daughter of Carl and Deena McFetridge, will be a sophomore at Enterprise High School this fall and is a member of the Golden Arrow Livestock Club. She has the distinction of having shown the grand champion 4-H market steer at the Wallowa County Fair four years in a row. She is now a member of FFA, and plays volleyball and softball. She helps on the family farm on Crow Creek, and also works for her uncle, Jay McFetridge.

“I’ve enjoyed getting closer to these girls (the other court members) and have had fun with our activities, especially the parades, even though some of them were cold,” Myranda said about her court experience.

Shai, 14, is a member of the Lower Valley Livestock Club and the Wallowa Trailblazers horse club. A freshman this year at Wallowa High School, she lives with her grandparents, Steve and Gena Young. Her parents are T.J. Allen, Wallowa, and Karen Young, Baker City.

Among other awards, Shai has shown a reserve champion market lamb and been reserve champion showman at the Wallowa County Fair and also won the high point dressage trophy in the horse show.

Shai plays volleyball and softball, and works as a babysitter in her spare time.

She, like the other girls, encourages young people to get involved in 4-H. “You get to be with your friends, and learn a lot of stuff, like talking to large crowds,” she said.

Emily, 14, a freshman at Enterprise High School, belongs to the Golden Arrow Livestock Club and the Nez Perce Riders. She is the daughter of Phillip and Charity Ketscher.

Emily showed the grand champion 4-H market lamb at the county fair last year, as well as the all-around sheep project. She has also been high-point gamer at more than one local horse show. This year she and her partner, Amy Edison, were champions in the intermediate team Illustrated Talk competition at the spring fair.

In addition to 4-H, Emily plays volleyball and basketball, and helps on the family ranch on the Zumwalt Prairie.

“It’s really fun,” Emily said about 4-H. She joined with her fellow court members in inviting everyone to enjoy the 2010 Wallowa County Fair.