September Welcome Back
Family Newsletter - September 14, 2022
Heartfelt Thanks!
County and State Fairs are over. The State Shoot took place this past weekend, the State Horse Show is this weekend with the State Dog Show following the last weekend in September. Congratulations to all the 4-H’ers who participated in the county fair and state events! We trust you learned something from your judging experience, met other 4-H’ers with the same passions, and have memories you will hold for years to come!
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to the many dedicated volunteers who support our 4-H programming! From the dedicated Dog Trainers, Shooting Sports Trainers, Arts In PDC, Livestock and Horse volunteers, Food Stand Committee, State Fair chaperones, Champion Program, and many others, thank you for all you do! We couldn’t provide all these experiences for the youth without you, THANK YOU!
We now start a new 4-H year! Whew….time just keeps moving on! We would like to challenge our 4-H youth to try something new in the coming year, whether it’s taking on a new project area, attending a workshop, camp, clinic, or getting more involved on the club and/or county level. Expand your horizons, you wont regret it!
We would like to challenge 4-H parents or guardians to get more involved as well. When adults get involved, they also form lasting friendships with other adults while contributing to your child's program. If every parent gave just one hour of their time to one aspect of the 4-H program we would be flooded with help! Please start by taking the time to get your 4-H’er(s) to their monthly club meetings and offer to help your club leader. Maybe you can share some of your skills at a county wide workshop, help on a committee, provide assistance during the fair…..we welcome you all to join the fun!
We look forward to working with all of you in the coming year!
Ann, Megan, Caitlin and Kathy
Thank you to outgoing Club Leaders
Many thanks to the dedicated leaders who have turned over the reins of their Club’s to new leadership! Thank you Bridget Herman, Michael Liegl and Mindy Richmond for your leadership over the years! You made a difference for the youth in your club, thank you!
Welcome to new Club Leaders!
Woodbury - Laura Kruse
Riverside Routers - Emily Murphy will join Crissy Wagner as a co-leader.
Happy Hornets - Sara Delaney and Amy York have joined Jeff & Jolene Abelson as they transition.
Wranglers - Tracey Hillquist and Jodi Collette will be joining Lisa Kalka and Colleen Bergmann as co-leaders.
Thank you to our new Club Leaders for stepping up to offer the club experiences! Please reach out to your leader(s) to offer your help! It will be greatly appreciated!
A Thank You from the Food Stand Committee
The food committee would like to thank all the volunteers who helped Hooley Hall and look forward to seeing everyone back next year!
Tammy and Dan Lewis
Andrea and Amelia Wollak
Mike and Laurie Saniti
Bob Hervig
Morgan Casner
Also if you would like to be part of the food committee please contact the 4-H office. We welcome parents and 4-H youth to be part of the process looking forward to next year.
New 4-H Year Begins!
BUDGET REQUESTS for 2022-2023 4-H year
We will be working on the annual Federation Budget in the next few weeks. Any requests for funds (from project areas who do not have their own designated funds) should be sent to Ann (churc109@umn.edu) no later than Friday, September 23. Please indicate the amount of money being requested and what it will be used for.
Livestock PDC Meeting - Sept. 21
The next Livestock Project Development Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21, beginning at 7:00 pm. Location TBD. All livestock enthusiasts are welcome to join us. We will recap the county fair and make plans for the coming year. If you are new to the committee, email Ann so the location of the meeting can be communicated to you. Contact Ann at churc109@umn.edu
Ambassador Kick-off Meeting - Game Night! - Sept. 26
Are you in 7th grade or older? Are you interested in growing your leadership skills, meeting new friends and getting involved on the county level? If so, the Washington County Ambassador program is for you! Join us at the Washington County Government Center on Monday, September 26th from 6-7 PM for game night, food & fun! We will get to know one another, and begin brainstorming activities for the new 4-H year.
Register to be a County Ambassador here!
Contact Megan Slater with any questions at slate187@umn.edu
Executive Board Meeting - Sept. 26
We are in need of additional youth to serve on the Executive Board! The Executive Board will meet on Monday, September 26 beginning at 7:00 pm at the Stillwater Gov’t Center.
Serving on the County Executive Board is a great way for youth to grow in leadership! The Exec Board is a leadership team similar to club officers, but on the county level. The officer team is made up of a; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and 6 District Reps. We also have 6 adults who serve 2 year year terms.
If you are a 4-H member who has completed 7th grade or older and would be interested in serving, please complete the application at; Federation Application.
What is the Washington County 4-H Federation?
The Washington County 4-H Federation is the county-level program and policy decision-making body for the Washington County 4-H club program. The full Federation is composed of youth and adult leaders from all 4-H clubs. The Federation meets quarterly, in October, January, April, and June. The organization is guided by an Executive Board composed of eleven youth and six adult representatives. The Executive Board meets the months between Federation meetings; September, November, February, March, May.
Who is eligible to be on the Executive Board?
The Washington County 4-H Federation Constitution states that youth officers "shall be elected for a term of one year only, but any given 4-H youth leader can hold a different office or position in ensuing years, providing it is not the same office or position held in a previous year. At the June Annual Meeting, youth who have completed grades 7-12 are eligible to vote and run for office. Youth must be enrolled in the Youth Leadership project in the year in which you are a Federation officer."
What is the time commitment?
Officer candidates should consider their other time commitments when applying. Please make sure you are available to attend meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. We cannot run a meeting without officers
If you are interested in serving, please attend the meeting on Monday, September 26th at 7:00 pm at the Gov’t Center! Contact Ann (churc109@umn.edu) with any questions!
All Youth Invited - Please complete by Oct. 1
We want to learn about you and your 4-H experiences. We use your feedback to share what youth learn in 4-H and to make the program better.
This survey is private. No one at your school, home, or 4-H program will see your answers. Please answer all of the questions as honestly as you can. If you are uncomfortable answering a question, you may leave it blank. Your responses will not affect your participation or place in the program in any way.
Youth Teaching Youth Teen Teachers needed!
Are you in grades 9-12 and interested in teaching your younger peers? Youth Teaching youth is for you! Teen Teachers teach in elementary school classrooms and library settings. Training and guided curriculum options are provided. We are looking for teens in or around the South Washington County, Stillwater, and Forest Lake Area Schools. Don’t miss this opportunity to build your resume and improve your public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Contact Megan Slater if you are interested in learning more at slate187@umn.edu.
7th Annual Fall Open House - Oct. 14
We will be hosting our 7th annual 4-H Fall Open House on Friday, October 14, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds. We also plan to have some smaller animals on site, games and activities, and more!
We encourage all new members to attend this event to learn more about what 4-H has to offer. It is also a great opportunity for you to bring a friend or family member that may be interested in joining! If you are someone you know is interested in attending this event let us know at https://z.umn.edu/2022Washco4-HFallOpenHouse. You do not need to complete this survey to attend, but it helps us coordinate and estimate numbers.
If you have any questions, please contact Caitlin at crademac@umn.edu. If you are interested in having a table for your club, PDC, etc, please contact Caitlin as well.
Shooting Sports fall certification/re-certification - Oct. 15
Washington County has a large Shooting Sports program. We are looking for additional volunteers who would be willing to be ‘4-H certified’ for the various disciplines. There will be an upcoming Training in Jordan, Minnesota on October 15. See registration steps below.
The training is designed for adults and youth (9th grade and up) that lead or would like to lead training in shooting sports or wildlife. Classes will be offered in the disciplines of coordinator, archery, rifle/pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading, and wildlife. Although range time is on schedule, the majority of the training is classroom work to become an effective instructor, not to practice your own shooting skills.
2022-23 SS&W Leader Trainings
Prior to SS&W Leader Trainings, adults must be ‘screened 4-H volunteers’ prior to attending certification. The steps to become a screened volunteer can be found here: Becoming a 4-H Volunteer.
Once you have become a screened volunteer, complete the online steps:
Step 1 - Complete the National 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor online training course - This online training will fulfill many traditionally in-person instruction hours in volunteerism and positive youth development. There is no end date to complete, but will need to be completed prior to attending a one-day in-person discipline training. This course takes about 5 hours to complete. Registration is available on the SS&W Leader Certification site.
Step 2 - View recorded Minnesota 4-H SS&W Risk Management webinar - This recorded session will be 50 minutes in length and will be emailed to you once you complete Step 1 (for new instructors) or register (for recertification instructors). A survey will need to be completed to record completion of the video.
Step 3 - Attend a one day in-person discipline training - Check the Shooting Sports & Wildlife Leader Training web site for available dates.
RECERTIFICATIONS - SS&W Instructors are required to recertify every seven (7) years. Recertifications only need to view recorded Minnesota 4-H SS&W Risk Management webinar (Step 2), AND attend a one day in-person discipline training (Step 3).
October SS&W Leader Trainings:
October 15-16, SCALE Facility, Jordan, MN
Saturday disciplines - Rifle/Pistol, Shotgun, Archery, Muzzleloading, Wildlife
Sunday disciplines - Rifle/Pistol, Archery, Wildlife
4-H ATV Safety certification will also be offered on Saturday
Coordinator discipline training will be held as an on-line training option in October (Dates TBD)
Washington County 4-H will pay the registration fee for adults willing to be trained. Contact Ann for more info at; churc109@umn.edu
Fall Volunteer Training
Every year, Minnesota 4-H offers a Fall Volunteer Training. This training is designed to support the work of all volunteers in the 4-H program.
Washington County will offer the statewide Fall Volunteer Training virtually. Please consider attending! Dates of the virtual training are;
Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 7 to 8:15 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Please hold one of those dates (training will be the same on both evenings), and register at; this registration form.
4-H Yearly rollover is tonight!
Families are encouraged to Re-enroll early after Sept. 15th to get the most out of 4-H in the coming year. More details will be emailed directly to families in the coming weeks! The most important part of re-enrolling is updating your information. Maybe you have a new email, new projects to add, changing to a different club, updating the grade you are in or any health updates. All of this and more can be done though your family account in 4honline. https://v2.4honline.com/
Remember you must re-enroll yearly to participate in 4-H! If you have any problems with registrations or need more information on enrollment please contact our office by email at mnext-washington@umn.edu or phone at 651-430-6800. While the 4-H year is a year-round organization, you must be enrolled BEFORE May 15th to avoid any penalties. This is also the deadline that all animals must be identified in your family account.
Yearly Membership Fee
As you may have noticed, shortly after you enrolled online you were approved. Monthly email reminders are sent to families who have not paid their county fees up until the County Fair. Members who do not pay or fill out a scholarship request are flagged at the county fair. We continue to accept checks/cash at any time. Please pay your membership fee, county fees are used not only for programming but also towards salaries for county personnel. Without this income we will be forced to raise fees for all events.
Washington County has a yearly enrollment fee of $25.00 per member (youth only) or $100 max per family for 4 or more children. We ask that you please send payment to our office address listed below.
Checks should be made out to Washington County 4-H and sent to the following address:
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
**For those using online banking, please be sure to include Washington County 4-H as checks made out to just Washington County go directly to the property tax office**
We don't want anyone to miss out so please just let us know by completing the scholarship form.
Washington County Extension Website
- Current and past Family Newsletters
- County Animal ID letters
- News articles about our larger ongoing project areas
- Events calendar
- County club map with contacts
- County Fair information as it becomes available
- Much more
Ann Church
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6809
churc109@umn.edu
Megan Slater
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6805
slate187@umn.edu
Caitlin Rademacher
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6807
Kathy Erf
Principal Office & Administrative Specialist
(651) 430-6800 or (651) 430-6803
eber0002@umn.edu
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
(We are located in the Stillwater Government Center)
Office hours - Please call ahead as staff hours do vary.
8:00am-4:30pm (Monday-Thursday)
Friday by appointment
651-430-6800 or mnext-washington@umn.edu