Chisago County 4-H Bi-Weekly News

Happy Thursday!

I would like to remind everyone to re-enroll in 4-H Online for the 2023-2024 year! Please see the following link for help, if needed:

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QF9641ZSv1CblNAknlhWNqpMxBjJb5B_mje4FXTEscA/edit?usp=sharing

I hope you all have had a wonderful 2023, this will be the final newsletter for the year! Take time to reflect on the year and celebrate all of the highlights as you gather with friends and family during this holiday season. Take time to rest and relax before we all dive head first into the busy new year of 2024!

Happy holidays and a happy new year to you all!

Josiah

As always if you need help please contact the office. Our hours are M-F 8-4:30 pm*. Please call to make sure someone is in the office to help you, at times our schedules lead us out of the office.

*NOTE: Josiah is only in office Monday-Wednesday. He can still be reached by email (colex300@umn.edu) on Thursday and Friday.

A couple of weeks ago, a link to a survey was sent out regarding programming in Chisago County. Thank you to those of you who responded and shared your opinions, but I am still looking for responses!

This is your chance to let your voice be heard on what kind of programs you would like to see in your county and help me to plan programs and events that everyone can attend and enjoy!

I invite volunteers and 4-Hers alike to fill out this form to get truly rounded out feedback. Parents/Guardians, feel free to fill out this survey by asking your 4-Her the questions on the survey and fill in their answers accordingly.

This survey should take you 5-10 minutes to complete. I'll be including this survey in the next couple of newsletters to get as many responses as possible, so if you don't get around to it anytime soon, know that you will have time to do so in the future.

Want to learn about or show an animal, but you don't own one? Take advantage of the 4-H animal leasing program!

You'll gain valuable hands-on experience managing and showing animals, and you'll learn from caring adults.

Visit https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-projects/leasing-animal for more information!

Our annual fundraiser is on! Cheese sales will run through January 26, when all order forms will need to be turned in to the office. Once orders are turned, pick up for all orders is planned for the final Saturday in February, the 24th.

If you need any order forms, please contact the office!

Have an interest in crops and crop scouting? Join us to learn more about the plant science project bowl team and discuss meeting times and dates for practices!

Please contact Lisa Thao if you are interested at Lisathao_1@hotmail.com.

Horsebowl season is almost here! If your youth is interested in being on a senior team, please fill out this survey: https://forms.gle/cmrfqnEbWdrgKFLg9

What is Horse Bowl?

• Horse Bowl is a contest (the second most attended 4H event of the year!) where teams of 3-6 youth compete to answer questions about horse care and riding. This is not a riding contest, you don't need a horse to participate.

Who is Horse Bowl for?

• 4Hers who love horses and are in grades 3 and up. We learn about horse care, nutrition, breeds, gaits, and veterinary medicine, but the program is geared specifically for grades 3+."

Join us on the following dates for a fun, wood pallet project!

January 4th

• Wall Storage Rack
• Price: $30

March 21st

• Hat Rack
• $35

Want to learn about dogs and get together with other friends who also love dogs? We have one established Sr. Team and are open to working with a 2nd team depending on if there is enough interest.

Please contact Janet Schweigert if you are interested at jtaschweigert@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at 320.358.3911

Interested in joining a project bowl team? We are currently putting together teams for poultry. In Project Bowl, teams of 3-6 youth build skills working and thinking together while testing their knowledge. Teams will meet weekly and study hard to learn breed standards, health, nutrition, reproduction, management, market use, and more. Then, we will compete against other teams in a game-show like quiz contest. It is a lot of hard work, and we have a great time doing it! Team coach this year is Aimee Weinand.

If you have any questions, or want to attend a meeting and get more info, please contact Aimee Weinand, aimeeweinand@yahoo.com General information about project bowl is here: https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-showcase-events/regional-and-state-project-bowls

Coaches will structure the teams and appoint captains based on age, experience, and ability.

• Senior (grades 4 through 4-H graduation)
• Junior (grades 3-8)
• Bowling (grades 2 and under, limited practice sessions, purpose is to give experience but not overwhelm)

Do you have a special project in mind to help members build their skills but need help funding it?

Chisago County's Youth Livestock Foundation is offering a new structure to honor funding requests for programming, workshops, equipment, educational materials, and other livestock project expenses to support youth development in these areas in Chisago County.

A Google form (below) is now available to use and will be used to accept funding requests to be considered at quarterly meetings. These requests are geared toward impacting a group of youth and should not be considered scholarships for individuals, but rather funding for a specific project or initiative. This could also be used to assist with costs of offering an educational event. Requests may be submitted at any time throughout the year, but will only be considered at official meetings (November, January, May, August)

Funds have been used in the past for projects like:

• County Cattle fitting equipment
• County sheep shearing equipment
• Barn tools for the fair
• Fair bedding
• Wash rack
• Showring pens
• Many more!

The first funding requests will be due January 1st 2024! Check out our form for more information.

Form link: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdwxfNGnb.../viewform

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a camp counselor! 4-H’ers in grades 9 & up can apply to be a camp counselor - apply now!

4-H camp is the highlight of summer for so many kids! Camp counselors play a special role in working with campers, building relationships with young people, leading games, crafts, activities and so much more!! If you’ve ever attended summer camp, you know how fun it is!

New counselors should fill out the online application by January 12th at: https://forms.gle/MBmhyNRX9LDG9SQE9

Hosted by Isanti and Chisago County 4-H, B-BOP is a livestock learning overnight for youth in grades three through six. Sessions will be offered in dog, general livestock (beef, dairy, sheep & swine,) goat, horse, llama, poultry and rabbit. Sessions are filled on a first come first served basis. We will attempt to fill first choices for species, but first choices are not guaranteed.

We will also be offering Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) during B-BOP. You do not have to attend B-BOP to attend LQA&E. Please note that LQA&E is required for all youth sixth grade and up if they would like to show an animal at the State fair or NE Livestock show. For more information on LQA&E visit the event page.

Audience

• Youth in grades three through six from Isanti or Chisago County.

Cost

• $20.00 if you register by January 26th. $30.00 if you register by February 9th.
• LQA&E is free for youth from Isanti and Chisago counties, and $5.00 for youth outside of those counties.

Registration

• Registration will open January 1st via 4-H Online. Deadline to register is February 9th.

There are two leadership workshops being offered this February! Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) is a youth-led workshop for youth in grades 6-9 that strengthens leadership, communication, and relationship skills. Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) is for youth in grades 10+ who want to boost their leadership skills. Becoming better leaders all while having a great time.

This year’s theme is "3, 2, 1, Blast off into Leadership!" Youth will learn about communication skills and the intake of information through engaging activities and discussions.

BLU & TEEL will be hosted in Annandale and is an overnight experience:

• Feb. 17-18-BLU & TEEL at Camp Friendship, Annandale

To learn more about BLU and register visit z.umn.edu/4-HBLU and to learn more about TEEL and register visit z.umn.edu/4-HTEEL.

Registration for the 2024 BLU & TEEL workshops is now open! Building Leadership & Understanding (BLU) is a leadership workshop focused on building leadership skills and developing an understanding of others. The experience is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors for emerging and developing youth leaders in grades 6 - 9. Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL), is a companion experience to BLU. TEEL is a leadership workshop focused on developing and advancing skills for youth leaders in grades 10 and up, and is facilitated by recent alumni and advanced 4-H youth leaders. We rely on a team of volunteer chaperones to help make these experiences possible.

BLU & TEEL are being held at Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN on February 17 and 18, 2024.

Chaperones perform a variety of roles that help make BLU & TEEL possible. You can read more about the Chaperone Role here. If you would like to apply to be a chaperone, please submit an application using this form. Or, if you have any questions, please feel free to connect with the 4-H office. The deadline to apply to be a chaperone is Friday, January 19th.

Looking for something to do this fall/winter? Check out the document below!

New in the summer of 2024 and now open to eight graders! This trip is designed for youth in grades 8+ to experience the beautiful Isle Royale National Park while backpacking, camping, and working with biologists to study the unique ecosystem and wildlife of the island. Participants will be expected to join monthly Zoom meetings from February through July for trip preparation – we’ll determine these meeting dates to accommodate the group. Trip dates are Aug. 4-10. This trip is limited to 8 youth and will cost $600. Fees include most transportation to and from the island, food during the backpacking trip, park fees, some gear, and the 4-H Backpacking Expedition curriculum.

Participants will need to provide some gear, transportation to and from pick up points for the van, and food during van travel. Contact Nicole Pokorney at pokorney@umn.edu with any questions.

Registration deadline: Dec. 29 (requires $250 deposit; additional $350 due March 15).

Learn more and register.

The National 4-H Council is looking for singers, dancers, instrumentalists as well as visual artists and creators of all kinds to feature in upcoming events. Applications from students ages 14-19 will be accepted through Jan. 1 at 4-h.org/story-submission.

Winter Round Up is just around the corner and you don’t want to miss this great opportunity to connect with fellow horse friends, meet new horse friends, learn about horses and leadership in a fun weekend camp setting! We have some amazing speakers and fun activities scheduled for this year. Josh Tjossas is our keynote speaker. He will be talking about what judges are looking for when they judge your county fair shows. We have fun opportunities to learn about new programming in horse as well as dip into existing horse program areas to learn more. Oh and did we mention there would be fun and prizes!

Winter Round Up is scheduled for January 19-21, 2024 at Castaways Club in Detroit Lakes. This is the first time we have been in the Northwest! Registration is $110 until January 10th . Winter Round Up is for youth 6th grade and up and adults. It it always an engaging and fun weekend! You can register through 4-H online and if you need help your local educator can help. For more information contact 651-277-0150. Hope to see you there!

Minnesota 4-H Photography is excited to offer another statewide photography challenge open to youth in grades K-13!

Capture a moment in your life each day for a week! Document your daily activities as they unfold naturally - mealtime, friends, family, hobbies, backyard, animals, etc.

Select five of your seven images (with no or minimal editing) taken between December 15-January 15. From your five images, select one to write 1-2 sentences on why that photo is important to you.

Submit five (5) jpg or jpeg images and your statement in one email to fourhphoto@umn.edu by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on January 15, 2024. Please type “A Day in the Life” in the email Subject line, and in the email include the participant’s name, grade, state, your 1-2 sentence statement, and which photo you wrote your statement about, as indicated in the rules.

Register at: https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Questions? Email fourhphoto@umn.edu.

Explore the wonderful world of animal science through hands-on activities and guest speakers. We’ll learn about beef cattle, swine, horses and chickens from industry professionals as we tour their facilities. Sessions will be held on Saturdays in January (6, 13, 20, 27). After each lesson, youth can work on at-home activities. Then, email a picture of your child(ren) with their completed project to mohrh002@umn.edu!

Youth have the opportunity to sign up for individual sessions or all four sessions, depending on their interest. All youth in grades K-3 are invited to attend these sessions and must complete 4-H online enrollment. Sessions will be held via Zoom from 10-10:30 a.m.; links will be provided once registration is complete.

Registration is free and can be completed here.. You only need to register once and can attend any or all sessions. For assistance, read this guide or contact Kelly Dahlke at dahlk124@umn.edu .

Let's Talk about Mental Health is a 5-session series designed to provide a safe place for youth to have important conversations about mental health and wellbeing. This series demonstrates to youth that they are valued and welcomed by 4-H, and gives all youth the tools to be supportive and effective. The curriculum was created by Minnesota 4-H leaders in equity alongside local Extension educators.

Sessions include:

• Let's talk about mental health
• Words and culture matter
• A walk in their shoes (panel discussion with youth and adults impacted by mental health)
• What can I do?
• World cafe

Youth will be able to connect, share, and hear from facilitators in a safe and supportive environment online Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30, and Feb. 6 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Youth can register online through 4HOnline events.

Registration is now open for the 2024 - 2025 cohort! This 2-year adventure-based leadership program is designed to provide youth in grades 6 - 11 with intensive hands-on exploration in an area of interest associated with the outdoors, a Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) trip, and support to lead a conservation project. Cost is $350 for the two years, which includes three retreats and the canoe trip. Registration deadline: Dec. 22.

Ambassador Meeting:

• First Monday of the Month
• 6:00 pm
• Chisago County Community Center

Management Board:

• First Monday of the Month
• Immediately following Ambassadors Meeting, ~7:00 pm
• Chisago County Community Center

Fair Board Meetings:

• 4th Monday of the Month
• 7:00 pm
• Chisago County Fairgrounds/Chisago Lake Town Hall

Livestock Committee:

• 4th Tuesday of the Month
• 6:30 pm
• Chisago County Community Center

• December 22 - 26 - Office Closed
  
• December 30 - Horse Project Bowl First Meeting
• January 4 - Wood Pallet Workshop
• January 6 - Sewing Workshop
• January 7 - Dog Project Bowl First Meeting
• January 22 - Ambassador's Meeting
• January 23 - Livestock PDC Meeting
• January 27 - Winter Workshop

1. Read the newsletter!
2. Links to calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/week? tab=rc,

• https://extension.umn.edu/local/chisago/events?local_program=3416

1. Chisago County 4-H Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/chisago

Email: colex300@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/chisago
Location: 38814 Third Avenue, North Branch, MN, 55056
Phone: 651-277-0150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chisago4H

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chisagocounty.4h/

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