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November
4-H Family Newsletter - November 10, 2022
Enrollment Gift Card Giveaway!
Here is your chance to win some extra cash for the upcoming Holidays. If you have enrolled and paid your membership fee of $25/per youth or $100 max per family for the 2022-2023 membership year, your family will be entered in our weekly drawing for a $50.00 dollar gift card just in time for the Holidays! We will start drawing on Monday November 14 and pick a new winner each week through December 19. So take a moment and go to your family account and re-enroll today! Your online enrollment along with paying your enrollment fee must be completed by December 16 to qualify. The earlier this is done the more chances to win! Gift cards will either be mailed out or be available for pick up from the office at the winner's discretion.
4-H Family Tips
Things to do to get off to a good start
Enroll/Re-enroll youth for the 2022-2023 4-H year through 4honline. (4-H year runs from Oct. 1 - Sept. 30) To participate fully in county fair you must be enrolled by May 15.
- Enroll/Re-enroll as an adult volunteer. Complete the process now so you are ready to step in when you want to or are needed.
- Pay County membership fee $25/youth or $100 max/family (youth only).
- Once your enrollment is complete you can start registering for events and activities. Save time and complete the enrollment process now.
- All links and information about enrollment/fees can be found at the end of this newsletter.
Still looking for a club to join?? Contact the club to confirm their meeting place and time. Feel free to attend multiple club meetings to find the right fit for your family. Once you have decided what club to join, please contact the club to make sure you are on their email list.
Washington 4-H County Fair Food Stand Feedback Request
The 2022 Food Stand Committee is requesting feedback on their stand from this past count fair. Please take a few minutes to complete the anonymous survey so that the committee can take your feedback to help next year's food stand be the best yet!
Go to https://z.umn.edu/2022WashcoFoodStandFeedback to complete the survey. Contact Caitlin if you have any questions at crademac@umn.edu. Also the committee would love to welcome new members to their group for the 2023 Fair. If you are interested in joining the committee, reach out to Caitlin as well.
Upcoming events and activities
Club Leader Meeting - Nov. 17
All Club Leaders are invited to attend our Fall Club Leader Meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 17th beginning at 7:00 pm at the Stillwater Gov’t Center. This will be a great opportunity to introduce and welcome our new club leaders, provide you with updates, allow time to ask questions and share your club experiences with other leaders. Please RSVP to let Ann (churc109@umn.edu) know if you can make it. Delicious treats will be provided!
Inclusive 4-H Retreat - Nov. 19
Are you interested in creating safe and welcoming spaces in your 4-H clubs or project events? Are you excited about helping make 4-H an inclusive space for youth of all abilities? This is an exciting opportunity for you!
The Inclusive 4-H Retreat is a half-day training for 4-H volunteers and youth in the central region area. This retreat is designed for volunteers, 4-H’ers, and their family members. Content is best for youth 6th grade and older. The purpose of the retreat is to provide an overview of ways to include youth with disabilities from diverse communities in your 4-H clubs. You will learn about creating welcoming environments, engaging youth in activities, and developing relationships. You do not need to have any prior knowledge or experience to attend this workshop. Workshop will be hands on participants will walk away with activities and ideas you can use right away in your 4-H spaces.
Date: November 19, 2022
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Location: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318
Continental breakfast, buffet lunch, snacks and entrance to the Arboretum will be provided.
Each participant who attends will receive a $25 gift card.
Register at https://z.umn.edu/InclusiveRetreat
November Ambassador Meeting - Nov. 28
The Washington County Ambassadors are up and running for the new 4-H year! With our first Cloverbud event under our belts, it will be time to plan some social service and fun! Join us for our next meeting on Monday, November 28 from 6-7 PM at the Stillwater Government Center. If you have not yet registered to be a County Ambassador, fill out the registration form here.
Looking Ahead
December Project Pursuit - Dec. 3
Join us on Saturday, December 3rd from 9 AM - NOON at Baytown Community Center for an exciting project pursuit about floral design! The Language of Flowers has a long history of fact and folklore. In this workshop, you will learn some of this history, learn about specific flowers, and walk away with your own floral design just in time for the holidays!
Project Pursuit is open to youth in grades 3+ and will cost $10 if registered by November 21, after November 21, the price increases to $20. Contact Megan with any questions at slate187@umn.edu. Register here!
December STEM Workshop: Explore the Deep At Sea Quest - Dec. 9
Are you interested in exploring animals under the sea? Join us at Sea Quest at the Rosedale Center on December 9th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. We will be taking part in the Aquariums Science Lab and Tour. Activities will include an ocean expedition game, learning about water filtration, and preparing and feeding the animals. Registration is open in 4HOnline for youth grades 3 to 8 now! There are limited spots available, so register today. Registration closes on Dec 2. Contact Caitlin with any questions at crademac@umn.edu.
County Youth Leadership Opportunities
Become a County Ambassador
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 every fourth Monday of the month for food & fun! We will get to know one another and brainstorm activities for the new 4-H year.
Register to be a County Ambassador here!
Contact Megan Slater with any questions at slate187@umn.edu
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.
Upcoming Events/Activities and Deadlines
Performing Arts
- January 7 - County Arts-In Reunion, from 5-8 PM at Hooley Hall. Back by popular demand, the County Arts-In Reunion evening will include dinner, debuting the video of Cruisin’ on the Key of Sea, brainstorming for the 2023 show, four square, IMPROV, and so much more! Contact Megan Slater at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.
- April 14 - Performing Arts Night - Performing Arts Night will be held on Friday, April 14 at the Stillwater Middle School Auditorium from 6-9 PM. Now is the time to start brainstorming your One Act Plays and Share the Fun skits with your clubs! All Performing Arts performance and non-performance acts will once again be judged on this night. Reach out to Megan Slater at slate187@umn.edu or Avis Peters at avisapeters@hotmail.com with any questions.
Food Revue
- January 28 - County wide Food Revue @ Hooley Hall (More details coming!)
Creative Arts Night
- February 24 - County wide Creative Arts Night @ Hooley Hall (More details coming!)
Dog Project Seminar
- February 25 - More details coming!
Youth enrollment and animal ID deadline
- May 15, 2023
Washington County Fair
- July 1 - County fair registration deadline. All projects/animals need to be entered in FairEntry by this date.
- July 29 - 4-H General/Static project judging (Saturday)
- July 29-30 - County 4-H Dog Show
- Aug. 2-6 - Washington County Fair
**Volunteers NEEDED**
Looking for volunteers to share their knowledge with youth. Maybe facilitate a tour of your place of employment or business related to a 4-H project area or better yet show youth how to make or build something. We are searching for winter project workshop ideas and need your help in determining what we should explore. Think about where your passion fits best.
What projects can I choose from?
- Cloverbuds – an exploratory workshop for youth in K-2nd grade
- Animal Science - Beef, Cat, Dairy, Goat, Dog, Horse, Lama, Pets, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine, Veterinary Science, Exploring Animals
- Expressive & Communication Arts - Crafts & Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Photography, Video, Demonstrations
- Family Consumer Science - Child & Family Development, Clothing & Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Food Review
- Mechanical Science - Aerospace, Bicycle, Computer, Electric, Robotics, Wood Shop or Metal Shop, Small Engines, Tractor, Aquatics Robotics, Engineering Design, Rube Goldberg Machines
- Natural Resources - Entomology, Exploring the Environment, Fishing Sports, Forest Resources, Geology, Shooting Sports/Wildlife Management, Water/Wetlands, Wildlife/Biology
- Personal Growth & Development - Citizenship, Consumer Education, Global Connections, Health, Safety, Youth Leadership
- Plant Sciences - Crop Sciences, Flower Gardening, Fruit, Indoor Gardening, Lawn & Landscape Design, Plant & Soil Science, Potatoes, Vegetable Gardening
Let's chat and see what adventure we can go on together! mnext-washington@umn.edu or call 651-430-6800.
Volunteer & Club Leader Helpful Resources
Check out this state page for helpful resources!
https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/4-h-volunteer/
Apply to be a 4-H screened volunteer
Check out the new curriculum 4-H has to offer.
Country Cousins
October started out for the Country Cousins 4-H club by cleaning up the woods and trails at Woodridge Park. Our 4-H meeting, on October 7th, was started by our new president Roxie! During the meeting we discussed the Monster Bash parade and the 4-H food shelf grant. We decided to apply for the grant to build a container for the Friends in Need Food shelf. For our activity we played Jeopardy to learn about pumpkins and then decorated pumpkins with felt to look like animals. I think everyone really enjoyed our activity.
Respectfully submitted, Calissa Newton
Looking for a Rabbit?
We have two female Holland Lops we are looking to rehome. We would love to see them go to a 4-H family if possible. If interested please contact Nicole at ndfiller@hotmail.com
STEM Scholarship
Open to Grades 10-11 and Due December 4
The College of Science and Engineering Student Services is excited to announce that applications are open for our Rooted in STEM mentorship program for 10-11th graders.
One Saturday a month during the academic year, Rooted in STEM youth participants will network with peers and their undergraduate mentors, learn about current topics in research and academic programs, and explore potential careers. There will be presentations, laboratory tours, science and technology demonstrations, and Q&A sessions. Presenters will include CSE faculty and graduate researchers, recent alumni in industry, and current undergraduate students.
NO COST | $40k SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY!
There is no cost to participate, and participants who attend continuously through the fall of their 12th grade year and are admitted into the College of Science and Engineering will receive a $40,000 ($10,000 for four years) 3M scholarship!
APPLICATION AND RECOMMENDATION DEADLINE: DECEMBER 4
Please visit the program webpage for details, including the online application and recommendation form. Applications and recommendations are due Sunday, December 4, 2022, so interested 10-11th grade students are encouraged to begin their applications right away.
Enrollment Information
Time to enroll!
Families are encouraged to enroll/re-enroll early in the fall 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 changing health information. All of this and more can be done though your family account in 4honline. https://v2.4honline.com/
Enrollment is required annually 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.
Still looking for a club to join?? Please contact the club to make sure you are on their email list.
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