

MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Market Beef ID Tags Now Available!
Deadline to register tags is February 18!
Youth interested in exhibiting Market Beef (Market Steers, Market Heifers, or Dairy Steers) need to have a 4-H RFID tag (unless animals currently an official ID RFID tag - please refer to this document for more details) that is registered within 4-H Online and tagged by February 18, 2025.
Tags and taggers are available in the Murray County 4-H Extension Office. Office is open Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Please call to make different arrangements if you are unable to make those times work.
Murray County 4-H Winter Fundraiser
Selling period ends February 14! Please have your information submitted to your club leaders on or before that date!
Delivery date is the morning of March 8!
If you have any questions, please reach out to your club leaders or the Extension Office!
Babysitting for all Abilities
Webinar series - registration is now open!
The babysitting for all abilities series provides opportunities for babysitters to learn more about caring for youth with disabilities. This online program will take youth in grades 5 and up into a deeper dive on how to be a superhero babysitter for all abilities!
Free for youth to attend
We will meet from 6 - 7:30 p.m. on February 11, 18 and 25.
2025 Southwest Minnesota 4-H Wildlife Day
Registration is now open!
Grades 3–13 will rotate through exciting educational sessions related to map reading, EcoConnections, kick sledding, team building, and campfire cooking. There will be a 4-H WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program) activity in the afternoon. Shooting sports participants are encouraged to participate to gain their wildlife hours.
The SW MN 4-H Wildlife Day 2025 will be facilitated and supported by several 4-H staff and wildlife volunteers.
Register or view more information about this event here: Southwest MN 4-H Spring Wildlife Day 2025 | UMN Extension
2025 4-H/ FFA youth crop scouting challenge dates announced
Registration opens May 1
Take on the challenge and form a 4-H/FFA crop scouting team! Teams can be made up of youth in grades 6+ from one or multiple counties. Contact your local Extension office if you want help finding a team. If you don't have a team but still want to participate, we have coaches ready to coach youth across Minnesota who don't have anyone else participating in their county (this includes both the plant science project bowl and crop scouting). If you're not sure what crop scouting is, or if you want to gather a team, we encourage you to participate in virtual 4-H plant science trivia nights, and the 4-H plant science project bowl on April 12. 4-H/FFA crop scouting registration opens on May 1 and the state event will take place on Monday, July 28 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus.
Learn more about the 4-H plant science virtual teams.
Enrollment/ Re-enrollment is now OPEN!
Complete as soon as you are able!
Please complete your re-enrollment for the 2024 -2025 year, visit 4-Honline to complete this task.
Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Extension staff!
Helping Hands Award application is OPEN!
55 projects were selected in 2024 from 36 counties!
Do you have an idea you’re passionate about but need help getting started? The Helping Hands Award is for Minnesota 4-H youth who want to turn their ideas into action! This award funds project ideas that are led by 4-H youth in partnership with supportive adults, local businesses and non-profit organizations. Average awards are between $300 and $2,000.
The project focus can be on STEM, agriscience, healthy living, outdoor adventures, equity, leadership, global connection, social inclusion, the arts, creative writing and photography. But don't hold back if you have an idea that falls outside these categories.
The 4-H Helping Hands Award is funded by generous support and donors to the 4-H General Fund, Tessman/Christiansen Endowment, Wildung Endowment, and Kern 4-H Teen Leadership and Ambassador Endowments.
Visit here for more information and to apply!
Deadline is February 14, 2025!
Scholarship Opportunities
Compeer Financial champions a strong future for agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s High School Senior Scholarship Program* awards 123 scholarships (41 per state it serves) to students based on a combination of academic achievement, agricultural and community youth organization involvement and essay response. Each scholarship is for $1,500. Deadline is March 15, 2025!
4-H Scholarships
With a new year, that means new scholarship opportunities are available for high school seniors and college students. Please take the time to check out the scholarship site, to learn about upcoming opportunities this spring.
Andrea Ruesch Scholarship
The family of Andrea Ruesch established a 4-H scholarship in memory of her dedication and contributions to the Minnesota 4-H program. Based on the family's belief in positive youth development, the focus of this scholarship is on demonstrated learning through hands-on experience and using what you have learned to help others (youth leadership).
This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship and at least eight scholarships will be awarded annually.
For 4-H members who are high school seniors or first-year college students. They must currently be enrolled in one of the counties listed: Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock and Watonwan.
The application must be submitted by March 1.
After School Adventures Registration is now OPEN
STEM the gateway to endless possibilities!
Our After School Adventures program will be held for MCC and Fulda school districts for youth in grades K - 6. This is open to all youth; they did not need to be members of 4-H to participate in these sessions. Please see the session dates and themes for both school districts:
Murray County Central
- February 11 - Same supplies STEAM basket
- March 11 - Size vs STEM
- April 1 - Using STEAM to grow
Fulda
- February 13 - Same supplies STEAM basket
- March 13 - Size vs STEM
- April 3 - Using STEAM to grow
$5/ per session or $30 for all seven sessions - per one youth
Please click HERE to register your kids for this great opportunity!
See flyer below for more details!
Murray County Central After School Adventures - Flyer
Fulda After School Adventures - Flyer
Minnesota 4-H Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP)
Minnesota 4-H outdoor education offers a variety of programs, from outdoor skills to summer camps, shooting sports, and ATV safety.
The 2025 Minnesota 4-H WHEP contest will be held at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in East Bethel, Minn. on Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals and teams will compete in wildlife identification skills and develop wildlife management plans. The top senior team (grades 9+) will earn a trip to the National WHEP contest to be held in July 2025.
Activity ideas for your Club!
Need activity ideas for your 4-H club? Check out our Youth Development Curriculum Library for fun, educational lesson and activity resources designed for youth workers, 4-H volunteers, and youth themselves! 86 resources and counting! More content is added every month. Current categories: Animals and livestock, civic engagement and leadership, Cloverbuds (K - 2), environment and earth science, expressive arts and communication, family and consumer science, gardening and agriculture, healthy living, icebreakers, games, and reflection activities, including youth of all abilities, independent learning, outdoor adventures, STEM, and themed 4-H club agenda samples. If you have specific content you’d like to see, contact Jessica Russo at pier0239@umn.edu.
Mark your Calendars!
Murray County 4-H 2024 - 2025 Schedule of Events
Please take a moment to download or print the 2024 - 2025 Murray County 4-H calendar.
Ambassador Updates
Become a Murray County 4-H Ambassador!
Join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors! We meet typically once a month for leadership opportunities, youth engagement, ambassador outings and service projects. Youth grades 8 and up are invited to join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors. Fill out the attached https://z.umn.edu/MC4HAmbassador24-25
New Volunteers
Welcome Kim & Genna!
Kim Konkol is one of our newest Murray County 4-H volunteer! Kim is a familiar face in Murray County and serves on the Murray County Fair board.
Genna Scripture is one of the club leaders for the Bondin Belfast 4-H Club, along with her husband, Todd. They have four kids that are involved in Murray County 4-H.
Thank you for your willingness to give back!
Kim Hause
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County
📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1144 ✉️hausek@umn.edu
SLAYTON, MN 56172
Kerstin Thoms
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County
📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1145
SLAYTON, MN 56172
Mallory Vos
Administrative Assistant, Murray County Extension
📍2848 Broadway Ave 📞 507-836-6927 ✉ carl5049@umn.edu
Slayton, MN 56172
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