Stevens County May Newsletter 🌼🐝

In this newsletter, we will review our communication handles, learn about the club feature of the month, and explore community service, leadership, and adventure opportunities. Finally, we will learn more about our animal science opportunities (and the May 15 animal identification deadline).

During this busy season, I am looking into how I can create my schedule to look more “fulfilling” instead of busy. One way that I am doing this is by reflecting on what areas of my schedule are giving me energy and what areas are taking away my energy. If you have had a recent 4-H committee meeting with me, a common question that I have been asking is “What has been giving you joy?”. My hope and goal is that we will shape and mold our mindset towards seeing the joys and fulfillment of life (if we aren’t already), instead of strictly focusing on the business of life.

Stevens County 4-H families, my challenge for us is to deeply reflect and ask ourselves “What is giving you joy?” in this season we are in as we finish school, work with our livestock, prepare for 4-H projects, start a summer job, volunteer etc!

-Savannah Aanerud (Stevens County 4-H Extension Educator)

We are using a new communication tool to communicate with our Stevens County 4-H families! Going forward you will be receiving most of your information from the Stevens County 4-H office via Spond. If you have not done so already please accept the invite that was sent out last week! If you want to be added please email Katie Kalina. Her email is kalinak@umn.edu.

This in addition to our Stevens County 4-H Facebook page is another place for us to keep everyone updated on current happenings here in Stevens County!

• Find our Stevens County 4-H Instagram Page by clicking on the link

“The origins of Swan Lake 4-H club are not entirely clear, but it appears the club began forming as early as 1918. The County Agent at the time, C.W. Nash aimed to organize clubs for young boys and girls to improve production of crops and animals as well as teaching bread baking. By 1920, a short course was available through the West Central School of Agriculture that children attended for 3 or 4 days that taught about selection of dairy cattle, baby beef and planting corn. Throughout the years, the Swan Lake 4-H Club continues to grow and evolve as the 4-H program introduces new projects and leadership opportunities. Membership continues to be strong and the club is active in my service projects. The Swan Lake 4-H Club currently has 33 members involved.”

-information provided by Joni Heins (Swan Lake 4-H Club Volunteer)

• Read more about the Swan Lake 4-H Club here.

Want to learn more about this club? Reach out to the club leaders Dawn Rohloff and/or Krystal Dohlen for more information (or connect with Savannah Aanerud).

Learn more about our Stevens County 4-H Clubs here.

We have the awesome opportunity to volunteer for a spring fundraiser event for the "If Wishes Were Horses" non-profit organization.

When: Saturday, May 4 (5:45-8:15 p.m.)

Where: Hudson Inn

What: Serve, help set up, & clean up

This organization focuses on fostering growth through horse/human connection. They utilize therapeutic horsemanship techniques through training and therapy to folks in our community. Learn more about this with the links below.

View "If Wishes Were Horses" website here.

View more about the event on Facebook here.

If you can commit to volunteering, please email me ASAP as volunteers are needed at aaner032@umn.edu

Come help the City of Morris Tree Board plant trees! This is a kid-friendly event with everyone getting the opportunity to help plant some trees. It is a lot of fun -- no experience required. Snacks are provided since this is an after-school event. Bringing a shovel is helpful, but we'll have extras. Everyone is welcome.

***A number count from those interested would be helpful to give Savannah, but not necessary.

When: May 23, 2024 (4-6 p.m.)

Where: Pomme de Terre Park Campground

Bring: Shovels, gloves, etc.

The Stevens County Food Shelf was SO appreciative of the funds that we raised through our Food Partnership Grant and money we received at the KMRS/KKOK Spring Expo. The director shared that the funds will specifically be used for personal care/essential items for our community! Thank YOU to all who helped play a role in this act of kindness/service. In addition, we are taking on the challenge of volunteering at the June 11 Food Drop that is coming up! More information on this will be sent out shortly.

Let’s learn more about one of our MN 4-H State Ambassadors Echo Schaefer!

Echo (Stevens County 4-H member) has been serving as a MN 4-H State Ambassador for the 2023-2024 year!

“Clover Connect” is a NEW Stevens County 4-H Program that will serve to match 4-H youth with an older member who will help provide guidance and mentorship throughout the 4-H year. Utilizing hands-on engagement, mentors will help provide a positive learning experience in project areas relating to both static and livestock. They can also assist you at the Stevens County Fair with 4-H livestock shows and general entry day!

Learn more about this program and sign up here.

Thank YOU Angela Albrecht for choosing to spend your mentorship day with Stevens County 4-H! Angela got to learn more about lesson planning, fundraising, community needs, and how to provide a more accommodating atmosphere to our youth, families, and supporters! Want to mentor with 4-H or see a day in the life at the “office” of a 4-H Extension Educator, let Savannah know!

Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) is a 4-H leadership conference for youth in grades 7 and up that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors.

The 2024 conference will include engaging and interactive activities. The conference will be held June 12-15, 2024.

This year YELLO will take place at the University of Minnesota Morris in southwest Minnesota!

Find more information and register here.

4-H camp is a great way to have fun outdoors and meet new friends! This multi-county 4-H camp will be held in west central Minnesota on the beautiful campus of the University of Minnesota, Morris. Educational sessions and camp activities will include water games, outdoor games, campfire and more. High school-aged camp counselors will connect with campers throughout the entire camp experience. Camp will begin on June 25 at 10 a.m. and end on June 27 at 3 p.m. Open to youth in grades 3-6.

How to sign up?

1. Registration is handled through 4-H Online. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at https://z.umn.edu/4-HOnline

EventSignUp; call the Extension Office at 320-208-6575 with any questions. Remember to rank your track choices from 1-6, put 0 if no interest. Track choices will not be confirmed until payment is received.

2. Send your half of the payment of $80, made payable to the University of Minnesota to UMN Extension Regional Office, Attn: Brian McNeill, 46352 State Hwy. 329, Morris, MN 56267. For credit card payments, see camp brochure for instructions. Stevens County 4-H will pay the other half of the $160 fee.

Learn more and register here

***View the Southwest Region 4-H Catalog of Opportunities here.

**There will be a Google Form sent out shortly for Stevens County 4-H Members to pick out focused learning opportunities for this summer/fall!

We want to thank the following groups:

• A huge thank you to our Stevens County 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife coaches for ensuring the MN 4-H Shooting Sports & Wildlife safety procedures and match policies were followed. The safety of our youth is the number 1 priority when hosting a successful educational shooting sports event.

• Thank you to the Morris Area Community Education for providing the space and their equipment for our event.

• Thank you to Superior, Community Development Bank, Heartland, and Town & Country for sponsoring the door prizes.

• Thank you to our concessions crew for working the concession stand and to the Old #1 business who helped provide food for our event.

• Thank you to Stevens County 4-H Shooting Sports Club for providing equipment.

Thank YOU Hancock School for welcoming 4-H into your space for a 4 week after school Outdoor Adventure Series! We covered topics ranging from dissecting owl pellets, making “scat”, molding animal tracks, exploring geocaching, and much more! 4-H will come again to Hancock School this fall!

Are you in grades K-2? Excited to learn more about what 4-H has to offer in a fun and engaging way? Then come right on over to the Stevens County 4-H Cloverbud Lock-In! We will be watching the movie Elemental, eating lots of snacks, playing games, and having a great time!

When: Friday, May 31 from 6pm to 9pm.

Who: Cloverbuds (Grade K-2)

*Friends are welcome to come, however they need to enroll in 4-H through 4-Honline before the event.

Where: West Central Research/ Outreach Center. The address is 46352 State Highway 329, Morris, MN 56267

What to bring: Sleeping bag, pillow/blanket

What to wear: Pajamas

Food: Supper (pizza) and snacks will be provided

Deadline: Please RSVP/ Register by May 24th

How to register: Register through 4-Honline! Select “events” and click on the Stevens County 4-H Cloverbud Lock-In event

*Let the office know if you have any questions

Looking for fun, hands-on learning experiences for your youth? Stop by the Morris Area Farmers Market to participate in 4-H lessons called “Time to Sprout” which will cover how plants grow. These lessons are open to all youth in our community! Dates/times 4-H will be at the market are:

• June 13 | 3-6 p.m.

• June 20 | 3-6 p.m.

• June 27 | 3-6 p.m.

The youth will receive a token for participating in the youth program that they can then use to “purchase” food at the market! We hope to see you there!

• Click on the Spring 4-H Animal Science Opportunities to view what we are currently offering.

• Click on Stevens County 4-H Animal Science Update to grasp an understanding of important changes to this year’s classes.

• Click on the Spring 4-H Horse Update to stay up to date on current happenings.

Please read through the 2024 Animal Science ID letter for further updates and information.

As a Cloverbud, to identify your animal science projects, you do not need to complete all of the forms that older 4-H'ers do. We have tried to simplify the process; you will just need to complete this online Google form.

Note, that this is just preliminary animal identification, you will need to register for your actual animal science classes later this summer with your FairEntry information by July 10. Although Cloverbud animals do not need a 4-H tag necessarily, they do need to meet the Minnesota Board of Animal Health Official Identification requirements. For those requirements, see https://www.bah.state.mn.us/official-id/.

Families may choose one of two acceptable ways to guide and monitor involvement in non-mounted activities:

1. The responsible person is in control of the animal with the cloverbud at their side.

2. The cloverbud is in control3 of the animal with the responsible person at their side to assist or take control of the animal when needed or as directed by staff, volunteers or show managers.

*exception* When a cloverbud is mounted on a horse, the horse must always have a lead line and be under the control of the responsible person.

More information on Cloverbuds can be found here.

Every year, Stevens County 4-H provides a Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA & E) training to 6th-13th graders who are planning to show livestock (not horses) at the county fair. This year, we are promoting a Feeding for Success program for folks to take part in. On the last day of this program, there will be an in-person LQA & E training in Morris. Youth must be at the event the full day on June 10, to receive credit for this training (6 hours). The below link will share more info about this training and provide other options to receive LQA & E training if the June 10 date will not work.

Learn more about this here.

Do you have a dog in your household? Do you want to learn more about how to care for and train your dog? Explore careers that involve working with dogs? Compete in a 4-H dog show? Then the 4-H dog project may just be for you! Krista Duncan and Hannah Liljenquist are two enthusiastic 4-H’ers who are excited to get a 4-H dog project up and running here in Stevens County! We are checking in to see if there is an interest in learning about the dog project here!

Please fill out this quick and easy google form with your interest here.

The drill team offers 4-H'ers interested in the horse project a chance to develop leadership and teamwork skills while learning more about horses. In the drill team, you'll learn coordination, timing, speed and synchronizing with other riders. Variety and creativity in dress and routine are encouraged. For grades 6 and up.

We are looking to see what the interest is so that we can start strong next spring/summer!

• Please fill out the Google Form here if interested.

• Learn more about the drill team here.

Congratulations to the Jr. Rabbit, Sr. Horse, Sr. Poultry, and Dairy Stevens County 4-H Project Bowl teams for their hard work and dedication in competing at the MN 4-H State Project Bowl Competitions!

Results:

• Senior Horse Bowl Team placed 5th at the MN 4-H State Horse Bowl Competition

• Participants include: Kallista B., Krista D., Britney W., & Hannah L.

• Senior Poultry Bowl Team placed 7th at the MN 4-H State Poultry Bowl Competition

• Participants include: Mason R., Ashley R., Alayna P., & Brinley P.

• Junior Rabbit Bowl Team placed 4th at the MN 4-H State Rabbit Bowl Competition

• Participants include: Renly Q., Olivia O., Ella J., & Isle R..

*Find full results here.

May 4 | If Wishes Were Horses Fundraiser

May 15 | Animal ID Deadline

May 15 | Ambassador Gathering @ 5:30 p.m. (WCROC)

May 16 | Livestock committee meeting @ 7 p.m. (WCROC)

May 20 | Leaders Council Meeting @ 7 p.m. (WCROC)

May 23 | Community Service Project (Planting trees)

May 31 | Cloverbud Lock-In (6-9 p.m. at the WCROC)

June 5 | Animal Discovery Adventure (9-11 a.m. at the 4-H dairy and FFA barns)

June 12-15 | Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) conference

June 13 | Time to Sprout Farmers Market Series (part 1)

June 20 | Time to Sprout Farmers Market Series (part 2)

June 20-27 | Citizen Washington Focus Conference

June 25-27 | Southwest Region 4-H Camp

June 27 | Time to Sprout Farmers Market Series (part 3)

June 29 | Conexiones Day (4-H providing the animal alley experience)

Let Savannah know if you have any questions by calling Stevens County 4-H at 320-208-6575 or email her at aaner032@umn.edu!

• Minnesota 4-H Website
  

• Stevens County 4-H Website

• Stevens County 4-H Facebook Page

• Stevens County 4-H Instagram Page

• Stevens County 4-H Calendar

• Stevens County 4-H SmugMug Pictures

• Join or re-enroll as a 4-H Member

• 4-H Volunteer Page

• Projects 4-H has to offer

Email: mnext-stevens@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/local/stevens
Location: 400 Colorado Ave., Ste. 103, Morris, MN 56267
Phone: 320-208-6575
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stevens-County-4-H-101660486563830/
Twitter: @UMNExt

© 2023 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.