As we enter this season of competition, we want to remind everyone that parents, volunteers, members and guests need to abide by the Minnesota 4-H Code of Conduct while at the county fair. The Minnesota 4-H Code of Conduct applies to both face-to-face and online environments and will be enforced with 4-H members, 4-H parents and 4-H volunteers as follows:

• While participating in or attending a 4-H sponsored program (e.g. club meeting, project meeting, activity, event, learning opportunity).

• At the county fair while participating in or attending a 4-H event or while on premises used for 4-H purposes (e.g. show ring, exhibit building, 4-H tie outs, livestock barns, food stand).
• At the state fair, during their (or their child’s) assigned encampment or assigned volunteer responsibility.

Check out the full code of conduct here and contact us with questions.

Elections for youth officers are held at our August 5 leaders council meeting at the fairgrounds. Youth in grades 7 and up are eligible along with youth with one more year in 4-H (those that graduated from high school this year) can be nominated. Positions include president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and reporter. There are six council meetings throughout the year, an advisory board budget meeting in the fall, other advisory board meetings as needed and officers emcee Awards Night in November. The adults on the advisory board are elected to two-year terms, again with the same meeting schedule as the youth officers. We also elect an adult treasurer. This advisory board also serves as our grievance committee. Enrolled youth sixth grade and up and screened volunteers can vote in the election.

County fair cleanup is scheduled for Monday, August 5 at 6 p.m. We'll clean the 4-H Exhibit Building, 4-H Food Stand, 4-H Crow’s Nest and other fair buildings. In addition, the horse stalls are set up in the horse barn and goat pens set up in the goat barn. Clubs are assigned spaces to clean. Treats are served and all ages are welcome.

Any exhibit showcased at the county fair must be pre-registered in our county fair registration system. Please note - we have moved our county fair registration deadline up to Monday, July 8, so start thinking about that deadline now! Some helpful tips to make the deadline:

• Read your premium book! This resource has all the details you need! You should have received your premium book in the mail already; these were mailed Friday, May 17.
• Share this date with your 4-H'er(s). Start conversations early with your kids and start thinking ahead to what exhibits they want to bring to the fair and start gathering information.
• Set a reminder or alarm in your phone for July 8 or maybe even the week prior. Don't wait until the last minute, get organized now!
• Put this date in your virtual calendar if you use one.
• Circle the date on your paper calendar in big bold red ink!

• For more information about transforming project learning into exhibits, check out this project guide resource.

Check out the 4-H Food stand schedule here. If you are not able to work your assigned shift, a few families are needed for Thursday morning breakfast shift, contact Kris Massmann if you are interested. Items needed include tomatoes, cucumbers for salads, eggs for breakfast, and repairs to the back door, fan on roof needs a cover, and the wash sink needs attention. If your club is interested, please contact the office.

Poultry must be banded with leg bands to be eligible to show with the exception of doves and pigeons that were entered in mn.4honline.com for the May 15 deadline. Bands are to be picked up at the Extension office prior to Wednesday, August 7.

Research any physical health, mental health and/or health-related impacts of:

• Vaping
• Adolescent use of THC/cannabis products
• Underage drinking

Health impacts could include, but are not limited to:

• Substance use disorder
• Anxiety/depression
• Psychosis
• Lung damage
• Cancer and other chronic diseases

Exhibit should include how these issues impact Douglas County/West Central MN and at least one possible evidence-based prevention method. If addressing a use disorder, presenters are encouraged to highlight best-practices related to treatment for their substance use disorder (not required).

Prizes awarded by Horizon Public Health/DFC grant. Exhibitors to receive a t-shirt and cool prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Swine t-shirts are available for youth and adults who want to show their support for the swine project. Cost for each t-shirt is $15. Available youth sizes include small, medium and large. Available adult sizes include small, medium, large, extra-large, or XXL. All orders need to be recorded on this form by July 30. T-shirts can be picked up Monday, August 12 at the fair. Please bring payment at time of pickup (cash or check payable to Douglas County 4-H.)

Goat t-shirts are available for youth and adults who want to show their support for the goat project. Cost for each t-shirt is $17. Available youth sizes include small, medium or large. Available adult sizes include small, medium, large and extra-large. All orders need to be recorded on this form by July 30. T-shirts can be picked up Monday, August 12 at the fair. Please bring payment at time of pickup (cash or check payable to Douglas County 4-H.)

Are you in the horse project and aren't sure how to sign up for the county fair? We are hosting a "how to register your horse for classes at the county fair" webinar Sunday, June 30 at 7 p.m. Here's the link to the meeting. We hope to clear up questions about ranch pleasure and western pleasure and what it means to ride in a novice class. What is a walk/trot class and why would I ride in that class. We'll also cover any other questions you have about registering for the county fair.

We hope you can join us. The meeting is being recorded, but would love to hear your questions live.

Have you checked out page 48 of your 4-H Premium Book? If not, make sure you do to learn about the new plastic sculpture challenge and new community impact award at the Douglas County Fair. If you've never participated in the Go Green Challenge, you should give it a try this year! If you have questions, contact the Extension office.

Animal science interviews are another way for youth to share what they know about their animal science exhibit. There are two age divisions: junior (grades K-5) and senior (grades 6 and up.) 1st and 2nd place medals are awarded in each age division of each species; beef, dairy, goats, horse, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine. Horse interview placings are assigned points to count towards high point scores. In beef, dairy, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine senior interviews, a state fair trip is awarded through the interview process, allowing youth to participate fully in a state fair animal science experience. Interviews are held Monday, August 12 from 1-7 p.m. in the Erickson Pavilion.

You can sign up for interviews, first come first serve basis at:

Junior Interviews

Senior Interviews

All Horse interviews

It is all hands on deck to have a great 4-H experience at the county fair. Please check out our signup genius for opportunities to help in the exhibit building, at different animal science shows and more! It is a fabulous way to learn more about events, projects and what goes on at the county fair. There are opportunities for youth grades 3 and up all the way up to adults! To sign up or find out more about opportunities visit signup.

The building supervision schedule is out, check out when you club is covering the 4-H Exhibit Building desk during the Douglas County Fair.

Help wanted! 4-H'ers entering 7th grade or higher are encouraged to apply for a cashier opportunity at the 4-H Food Stand. We need of enthusiastic and responsible youth to run our cash registers during the fair. Training on the use of our computerized cash register system is provided prior to operations. Click here to apply. Benefits of the cashier opportunity include:

• Learn and practice customer service skills
• Learn and practice how to properly handle money in a retail situation
• Provide experience for future job opportunities
• Assist in a meaningful way to raise funds for Douglas County 4-H
• Have fun

The more time I spend with young people growing up on farms and the more I learn about their plans for their futures, the more enthusiastic I am to use the tools I understand to carry their stories and experiences to a broader audience - R.J. Kern.

Artist Biography - R.J. Kern (b 1978) is an American artist whose work investigates ideas of home, ancestry, and a sense of place. His portraits focus on intimate, interdependent relationships of people, animals, and landscape as a means of exploring how ancestry shapes identity and how myth intertwines with personal history. His camera has led him from an inquiry into his lineage in the farming communities of Scandinavia and Ireland to the examination of similar communities near his home in Minnesota. Increasingly, his attention has been captured by the next generation of young people, who may or may not be the stewards of rural communities and economies in the future. Visit https://www.rjkern.com for more information.

Come, listen and learn at the Douglas County Fair (4-H Exhibit Building) brought to you by the

Douglas County Agricultural Association in partnership with Douglas County 4-H.

• Wednesday, August 14 at 12:30 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "On Being a National Geographic agricultural photographer"
• Wednesday, August 14 at 4:30 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "The Unchosen Ones: Advice for 4-H Competitions & Life Skills Learned in 4-H"
• Thursday, August 15 at 1 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "On Being a Commemorative Artist for the Minnesota State Fair"
• Thursday, August 15 at 4 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "The Unchosen Ones: Advice for 4-H Competitions & Life Skills Learned in 4-H"

There is no cost to the presentation, other than admission to the Douglas County Fair. Come check it out!

The Liberty Livewires 4-H Club are hosting the exhibit silent auction at the fair this year, with the Douglas County Food Shelf as the recipient of the funds. Start thinking ahead to exhibits you might consider making and donating, ribbon and prizes awarded in both the alumni and youth categories.

New - costume contest for animals housed at the fair and their exhibitor!

As you know, costumes cannot pose any harm to animals and remember that cultures are not costumes. Be respectful of diverse cultures and avoid dressing in ways that depict entire groups of people/cultures/ethnicities as "costumes."

Categories:

• Best Overall Costume
• Most Creative Costume
• Funniest Costume
• Most Detailed Costume

This contest takes place after Round Robin Showmanship in the Erickson Pavilion!

Come on out and have some fun! Friday night of fair is deadline to signup.

Minnesota State Fair

100% of program fee is paid, half of lodging at state fair dorm housing costs paid and 100% transportation on county truck and bus covered. Youth cover cost of their meals and half of their dorm housing costs. Livestock encampment is August 21-25 and general encampment is August 25-27.

State Shoot - September 6-8

100% of program fee is paid and half of total class registration is covered.

State Horse Show - September 12-15

100% of program fee is paid and first three classes are covered. Any additional classes are paid by family.

State Dog Show - September 21-22

100% of program fee is paid and half of total registration for classes are covered.

Jodi Hintzen, Extension Educator, hintz010@umn.edu

Jackie Kokett, Extension Educator, jkokett@umn.edu

Douglas County Extension

Email: mnext-douglas@umn.edu

Website: extension.umn.edu/douglas

Address: 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308 (Courthouse, 2nd floor)

Phone: 320-762-3890

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNDouglasCounty4H/

Twitter: @UMNExt

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