MINNESOTA 4-H. In This Issue: Camp Shetek. 4-H Camps coming in June

Transcription

1 MINNESOTA 4-H CLOVER UPDATE WATONWAN COUNTY April 2016 In This Issue: Camp Shetek... 1 Cloverbud-Grade K Dairy Bowl Teams CONTACT US Watonwan County Extension 108 8th St South, Suite 1 St James MN SUE CRAIG 4-H Program Coordinator craig037@umn.edu MICHELLE KNUDSON County Support Staff mknudson@umn.edu Rube Goldberg Meeting... 2 Bowl Teams... 2 Youth Leaders... 2 Tween Adventure- Grade Share the Fun... 2 Livestock ID... 2 County Fair Information... 3 State Information Calendar Camp Shetek 4-H Camps coming in June Third through sixth graders are invited to come to SW MN 4-H Camps on Lake Shetek (north of Slayton) in June. Campers will chose from wiggly worms, buttons or ribbons with thread, theatre masks, and fun with food. There will be singing around the campfire, canoeing and swimming and so much more. All campers will experience STEM activities and learn team work through games. Camp for Jackson, Martin, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock & Watonwan counties is June Costs for camp is $130 when you register by the May 1 early bird registration deadline. Watonwan County pays for ($65) of the early bird registration fee. Non-members are invited to attend at full cost. Camp brochures will be available on the county website or at the Extension Office. Learn sewing skills, explore performance through voice, movement & masks, find out why staying active and eating healthy is important and check out the Red Wigglers who are super composters. 4-H camp could be the most memorable summer activity! 2014, Regents of the University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to

2 PAGE 2 Cloverbud Cloverbud-Grade K-2 April 2 Exploring Spring 10am-noon Extension Office Bring an old pot or pan if possible for our Kitchen garden May 7 Spanish Fiesta Rube Goldberg Meeting Sunday, April 10 th 2:30pm Extension office Bowl Teams Congratulations to our youth and leaders that competed in the Regional Bowl team competition. Andy Pierson coached a Junior and Senior Dairy team. Leah Eischen-Senior Poultry, and Kyle Blomgren Junior Poultry team. Sr. Dairy placed 2 nd, and Jr. Dairy 1 st and both teams will compete at state. Kaydi Anderson also competed in Horse Bowl team with Brown County and will also move to state. Youth Leaders Next Meeting Sunday, April 17 th 7pm Extension office Tween Adventure Grades 3-7 Fun in the Kitchen Workshop Saturday, April am St. James High School FAC room Basic Cake Decorating and Fancy Fruit bugs Sign up by April 13 th!!! Coming in May Bingo night at Prairie View Housing. Share the Fun It s the year of Stage Wars Battle of the Acts Sunday, April 24 th Goal all the clubs having a club act or small acts Madelia High School Times will be set as soon as clubs turn in registration forms Livestock ID Watch for your letters with required information about animal ID if you are planning on entering any in the county fair. ID deadline is May 15 th. 1. New Ear Tags for 2016 cost is $1.50/tag only swine can use 2015 tags Must return all unused tags or report if lost or broken BAH is contacting offices for record of eartags. 2. All animals need to be ID online by May 15th. Or signed worksheet turned into the office by 4:30pm May 14th We have limited taggers so may only check them out overnight, and need to be returned.

3 PAGE 3 County Fair Food Stand All 4-H members and their parents are expected to work a shift in the 4-H food stand at the county fair. Closing on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is 10pm followed by cleanup. Closing on Sunday is 6pm (or earlier if we run out of food!) followed by cleanup. Barn clean-up is starts at 6pm on Sunday but split your family so we have help everywhere. Food stand and Bingo schedules will be posted soon. Bingo at the fair Jobs for Bingo: 1 caller and 6 workers for each shift. (More workers needed if including under 6 th grade) Clubs working this year Darfur North Star, Jimmies/Rosendale Skippers, Nelson Wide Awake, and Nifty Thrifty. County Fair News *July 6 th Presentation Day (Clothing, Fashion Review, Food Review, Performing Arts). All judging will all take place in the morning! Followed by the showcase that evening. *Barn set up and General set-up (which includes the food stand and the exhibit building) same night July 7 th! Everyone is needed if you show anything at the fair including general exhibits, your family should be represented. We start at 7 pm and with enough help we can be done by 9pm. Don t forget to do your share. * General Exhibit Judging Tuesday, July 12 th * General Judges we have tried reorganizing our projects/judges so hopefully there will be smaller waiting lines in all areas. * Wednesday July 13 th volunteers needed to help set up the general exhibit building. Please call. *Don t forget we need volunteers for judging assistance, livestock shows, office volunteers, display of general exhibits Message from Dorothy Dear 4-H families and volunteers, April 10-16, 2016 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and I would like to take a moment to thank all of our volunteers for their invaluable contributions to the Minnesota 4-H program. Volunteers are 4-H's most valuable asset. We rely on our adult volunteers to deliver the 4-H program, whether leading 4-H clubs or after-school programs, working with groups of youth on community service efforts, or providing their skills and expertise mentoring youth on a 4-H project. Research shows that relationships with caring adults are an essential component to positive youth development. Our success in providing Minnesota youth with meaningful learning experiences is dependent on our adult 4-H volunteers, some who have special knowledge or expertise, or enjoy organizing events, or like the smell of animals, and most

4 PAGE 4 importantly, like working with young people. Thank you for your contributions of time and talent to support the positive development of Minnesota youth through the 4-H program! Our youth are thriving because of your involvement. Sincerely, Dorothy M. Freeman Associate dean and state 4-H director Sign up now for H Rube Goldberg Challenge! It s April and teams are already signing up for the H Rube Goldberg Challenge! Help your team get a jump start and sign up now! Then start designing your machine to crush an empty aluminum soft drink can and put it into a recycling container! The handbook with all the information you need for this year s challenge is posted at Remember that this year, each team needs two adult volunteer leaders, and both leaders must register for the challenge before youth team members can register. Teams are encouraged to sign up by May 15 in order to have time to design, build and test their machines before bringing them to county fairs this summer! Contact your county 4-H program coordinator with any questions. Announcing the 2016 Fall Volunteer Training The 2016 Fall Volunteer Training, "Vibrant Youth, Vibrant Clubs - It Takes a Village, will focus on creating a healthy club culture with an emphasis on a shared rotation of leadership. The training will utilize club management tools and provide support for engaging other adult volunteers to help the club reach its full potential. Watch 4-H Clover Update for dates and additional information. WeConnect global citizenship curriculum: Choose your 30- minute webinar Volunteers--Teach global citizenship and connect to your teens! At the 2015 Fall Volunteer Training, we shared a curriculum resource with you, and we'd like to tell you a little more about how you can use that resource with your 4-H club or other group. Plan to come to either one of two upcoming 30-minute webinars on WeConnect: A Global Citizenship Curriculum on April 22 at 12 noon and 7:30 p.m. This resource developed by Minnesota 4-H is a series of 20 lessons that help young people learn about who they are and how they connect to others in the context of a global world. During the webinar, you'll get an overview of the lessons and sample an activity. The webinars will also be recorded for those unable to make the live events. If you are looking to really connect with your teens and help to keep them engaged, you will find this resource to be very helpful. The WebEx-based meeting link for either meeting is:

5 PAGE 5 umn.webex.com/umn/j.php?mtid=mae13c f7b77440e b22ad072f (or go to umn.webex.com and enter meeting number ). Questions? Heidi Haugen at haugen@umn.edu. Minnesota 4-H Horse Expo volunteers needed We are looking for 4-H ers and their families to volunteer at the Tack Swap at the Minnesota 4-H Horse Expo. This event is the main fundraiser for the Minnesota 4- H Horse Program. This event is run by volunteers and depends on you to help! This is a great opportunity for you to provide service to 4-H as well as see all the items at the tack swap! You can sign up for one or more shifts. This is a great outing for a club or horse project group. The proceeds of the Expo Tack Swap help to keep the costs down for the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show and provide many other educational opportunities for youth involved in the Minnesota 4-H Horse Project in counties. Support the program, sign up for a volunteer shift or two at -- we need you! Register for YELLO! Registration will open by April 1 online at 4-h.umn.edu/yello for the H Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Out loud! (YELLO!) Conference to be held in St. Paul, June This year's theme will focus on global citizenship and how you can "think global and act local". The conference will include keynote speakers, educational sessions, a field trip, and several service projects that will use the jeans collected at the BLUs! The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors cannot wait to see you there! Apply to be a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador Applications for the Minnesota 4- H State Ambassador team will be posted online at 4-h.umn.edu/ambassadors on April 4. The State Ambassadors plan and facilitate youth leadership retreats around the state (BLU and YELLO!), and serve as spokespeople for Minnesota 4-H at several functions, including the Minnesota State Fair. Applicants must have completed their sophomore year of high school at the time of application. The application deadline is May 13. Spaces still available for CWF! Application materials for the 2016 Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) are available online at 4- h.umn.edu/events/citizenship-washingtonfocus and will remain open until filled! CWF is a leadership and citizenship program for high school youth from across the United States, and 50 youth attend each year as part of Minnesota's delegation. This week-long conference is held outside of Washington, D.C. at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center, and engages youth in learning about the legislative process, touring DC sites, meeting 4-H youth from across the country, and visiting Minnesota legislative offices. Minnesota's delegation will be attending July 2-9, what better place to see Independence Day fireworks

6 PAGE 6 than in our nation's capital?! Adult chaperone applications are also posted. Attend the 2017 Presidential Inauguration Applications are now available for a new opportunity for youth to learn about the executive branch of the US government. CWF: Presidential Inauguration Focus (PIF), will engage up to 50 Minnesota 4-H youth in learning about the office of the president, including a field trip to Washington, DC, where participants will attend a youth conference with 4-H youth from across the country and view the inauguration. Additional information, including application materials is available at 4-H grows true leaders Is 4-H helping your youth become a leader? Beginning April 11, join Minnesota 4-H on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to celebrate ways our youth are #TrueLeaders. Share a photo of your 4-H er via social media with a brief description of how they have real confidence, work well with others, endure through challenges, or will stick with a job until it s done. Be one of the thousands of 4-H families from across America who participate. View an example at z.umn.edu/trueleaders. Let s celebrate our 4-H #TrueLeaders! Scholarships for collegebound 4-H youth Applications for scholarships from the Minnesota 4-H Foundation are due in just two short weeks. Over $20,000 is available to college-bound 4-H ers and we encourage you to apply. Visit the Minnesota 4-H Foundation website ( or contact Erin Kelly-Collins (erinkc@umn.edu / ) to learn more. Announcing FairEntry.com Minnesota 4-H families registering for their county fair in 2016 will be going online to register their fair entries. FairEntry.com is integrated with 4HOnline.com, which means that families will be using their 4HOnline logins to access FairEntry, and all previously entered family members and contact information will already be there. FairEntry is mobile friendly, so families can easily use any Internet connected phone or tablet to register for the fair, along with any Internet connected computer running an updated web browser. (Alternative registration options will be available for those without Internet access.) Families can prepare for this transition by: Watching for future communications about when fair registration is opened and when it will close (registration deadlines will still apply) Making sure all youth are currently enrolled or re-enrolled (only active 4-H members can register for the fair)*

7 PAGE 7 Knowing the address and password associated with the family's 4HOnline account (forgotten passwords can be reset easily, as long as the is known)* * More information about enrollment and family 4HOnline accounts can be found at 4-H/4honline/. Super session: A 4-H Dog Project training workshop 4-H dog owners bring their dogs to this training and networking workshop for youth age third grade and older, their families, trainers, potential trainers, youth and adult leaders. Topics presented include: agility training, obedience training, agility games, rally training, showmanship training and much more. Each class will have a certain focus, not just the basics of how to do each class. A focus for every class will be Keeping your dog s focus on you! June 11-12, 2016, Redwood County Fairgrounds, 201 North DeKalb Street, Redwood Falls Early bird registration deadline: May 23, 2016 Cost: $30 per person for weekend, $20 per person for one1 day only More information available at youth/mn4-h/events/dogsupersession.html Train the Trainer: A 4-H Dog Project leader training workshop This is only for youth leaders of high school age and adult leaders who train in county programs - not for youth leaders/parents who want to experience more of the Minnesota 4-H Dog Project. Obedience guidelines taking effect in 2016 have had major changes. The showmanship guidelines have had minor changes. The dog project development committee is sponsoring training for the trainers recommended for all to attend. April 9, 2016, Bloomington Obedience Training Club Or April 30, 2016 Wadena County Fairgrounds, 4-H building You must pre-register for this training by April 1. More information is available at H.umn.edu/events/dog-train-thetrainer.html. Livestock and horse bonus trips Links for livestock and horse bonus trip applications will be available online starting April 1: These are awarded in state fair livestock species (except lama) for quality programming and quality animals (60 extra trips awarded annually) Awarded in horse for quality programming (20 trips awarded annually)

8 PAGE 8 Very Simple Process words (one page) along with one page of photos and one page of publicity, etc. Designed for volunteers and PDC s to put together NOT staff. Updated applications will be posted April 1 at H.umn.edu/state-fair/livestockbonus-trips.html. LQA&E policy All youth participating as a state fair livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbit, meat and dairy goat and lama must have completed a Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics workshop. Certification is good for three fair seasons. The level of training required is determined by the grade of the youth at the time the training takes place. Note: Since 2006, pre-state fair age 4-Hers are recommended to be certified. Some counties do, however, require certification of pre-state fair age 4-Hers for participation at the county fair. It should be recognized that county policies might be stricter than this state policy. Please contact your local Extension office or visit to find a training near you. basis upon receipt of the nomination forms. This reminder is to help alert everyone to keep Share the Fun in mind so that nominations are in on time in late July. More info can be found at h.umn.edu/events/share-the-fun.html. If your county has a Share the Fun competition at county fair, reserve a place on the rehearsal time schedule any time after June 1 (this will hold a time for your county). Gopher Dairy Camp Gopher Dairy Camp, presented by the Gopher Dairy Club and the Minnesota State 4-H Dairy Committee will be held on the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus June 12-14, Gopher Dairy Camp is a fun 3-day workshop for teens who want to improve their dairy cattle skills. The camp is open to all youth who have completed grades 6-9, but have not yet started 10 th grade. Activities include dairy fitting and showmanship workshops, dairy showmanship contest, the Gopher Gold Auction, dairy foods workshop, fun around the Twin Cities, and an awards banquet. Learn more at her-dairy-camp/ Share the Fun reminder This is an early reminder that state fair Share the Fun nominations/application forms will be available June 1, Start thinking about your Share the Fun acts and if you d like to participate. Rehearsal times are assigned on a first come, first served

9 PAGE 9 Making Clubs Better Quality is one of the most important issues in youth programs. 4-H clubs and activities have a great responsibility for experiences they provide to all youth involved. The Pyramid of Youth Program Quality has four parts. In an engaged environment youth plan, make choices, and reflect. Are there open ended ways to include all youth in the planning, such as the use of brainstorming every idea and then youth narrow down the ideas? Are youth involved in making choices while adults step back and remain a quiet resource? Do youth reflect in some way, on what went well and what they might change if they do it again? These elements lead youth to higher levels of learning with their projects and activities so be sure to include plan choose reflect in everything youth are involved in! Please look over the pyramid and refer to it before, during and after your 4-H club meeting and continue to be a 4-H Quality Champion! Explore Your Options in Southwest Minnesota Career Tour Join us as we explore the career and higher education opportunities available in Southwest Minnesota! With tours in Martin, Watonwan, and Pipestone Counties, we will receive real insight into careers by actual professionals out in the field as well as explore the numerous degree programs offered to get you on the path to your desired career! Together we will discover the plethora of career and education options that are in our very own backyard! These tours are available for youth in grades 8+. Wednesday, June 15 Pipestone County Tour Minnesota West Community & Technical College Pipestone County Implement - John Deere Juhl Energy, Inc. Pipestone Veterinary Services & Pipestone System Tuesday, June 28 Martin and Watonwan Counties Tour Presentation College Mayo Health Systems South Central Electric Smithfield Foods, Inc. Cost to attend is $20, which includes transportation and lunch. Stay tuned for further details on how you can register.

10 PAGE 10 Upcoming Events April 1 Minnesota Alliance with Youth Red Wagon nomination deadline 2 Cloverbuds 2 Regional Project Bowl, Snow Date 2 Youth Leader Dance 3 General Livestock Meeting 7 County Livestock PDC Training Webinar 9 Train the Trainer: a 4-H Dog Project leader training workshop, Bloomington 9-14 National4-H Conference, Washington D.C. 10 Rube Goldberg Meeting National Volunteer Appreciation Week 11 Sewing Classes May 1 Early Bird Deadline for Camp Shetek 2 Registration Closes for YELLO 7 Cloverbuds 13 Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador Application deadline 15 Animal ID Deadline H Rube Goldberg Challenge registration due June 8-10 YELLO! Super Session: A 4-H Dog Project training workshop, Redwood County Fairgrounds Gopher Dairy Camp, St. Paul Campus July 2-9 Citizenship Washington Focus 15 Minnesota 4-H Foundation College Scholarship Applications Due 16 State Project Bowl. Sauk Rapids 17 Youth Leader 18 Sewing Classes 23 Tween Pizza Workshop H Shooting Sports & Wildlife Leader Certification Training, Mora and Worthington 24 Share the Fun 30 Train the Trainer: a 4-H Dog Project leader training workshop, Wadena