San Juan County Residents Urged to Support 4-H Levy Lid Lift

Longtime islanders Clinton and Kathryn Gauthier make the case for investing in youth programs

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:36pm

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An out-of-focus photograph featuring children playing in a lush, green outdoor setting, their forms and faces blurred into abstract shapes of warm, soft light and color.The vibrant, hands-on learning of 4-H programs brings joy and community to families in San Juan County.Friday Harbor Today

In a letter to the editor, Clinton and Kathryn Gauthier, a couple with a combined 45 years of experience in the 4-H program, are urging San Juan County residents to vote 'Yes' on the upcoming levy lid lift. As lifelong Friday Harbor residents and parents of two young daughters, the Gauthiers believe the $22 monthly increase for the average homeowner is a necessary investment in the community's youth and the valuable life skills developed through 4-H.

Why it matters

4-H is a critical youth development program that teaches valuable skills like financial literacy, civic responsibility, and public speaking. If the levy lid lift fails, the Gauthiers warn that 4-H and similar programs in San Juan County face significant budget cuts, depriving local families of these important learning opportunities.

The details

The Gauthiers, who have 25 and 20 years of experience with 4-H on Orcas Island and in Pierce County respectively, are passionate about the program's impact. They want their own young daughters to have the same 'learning by doing' experiences that shaped their lives and brought their family together. While they acknowledge the weight of any tax increase, they see the levy lid lift as a worthwhile investment in the community's future.

  • The April ballot with the levy lid lift proposal is now in the hands of San Juan County residents.
  • The Gauthiers have been involved with 4-H for a combined 45 years, with Clinton's experience spanning 25 years on Orcas Island and Kathryn's spanning 20 years in Pierce County.

The players

Clinton Gauthier

A lifelong Friday Harbor resident and third-generation islander with 25 years of experience in the 4-H program on Orcas Island.

Kathryn Gauthier

Clinton's wife, with 20 years of experience in the 4-H program in Pierce County.

4-H

A youth development program that teaches valuable life skills such as financial literacy, civic responsibility, and public speaking.

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What they’re saying

“As homeowners and property tax payers, we understand the weight of any tax increase. However, we also value the return on that investment. In our rural community, 4-H is where youth learn financial literacy, civic responsibility, and the public speaking skills needed to advocate for themselves.”

— Clinton and Kathryn Gauthier, Lifelong Friday Harbor residents and 4-H advocates

“We are voting 'Yes' because we want the life skill development opportunities that made us who we are today to be there for our daughters and their friends and encourage you to do so as well.”

— Clinton and Kathryn Gauthier, Lifelong Friday Harbor residents and 4-H advocates

What’s next

San Juan County residents will vote on the levy lid lift proposal in the upcoming April ballot.

The takeaway

This case highlights the vital role that 4-H and similar youth development programs play in rural communities like Friday Harbor. By investing in these programs through the levy lid lift, residents can ensure that local children have access to the valuable life skills and learning opportunities that shaped the Gauthiers' lives and brought their family together.