Friday Forecast 1/5/2024

This weekly newsletter will provide you with the most up-to-date information and happenings in the 4-H program.

There is no Federation meeting on Jan. 8. The next Federation meeting is Monday, March 11.

Each year, 4-H families need to show your family's intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and re-enrolling. Club and projects do not carry-over from last year. You will only receive email communication for projects you have signed up for so review your project list to be sure you didn't miss a project.

Log into 4-H Online to re-enroll and to review, update and submit the following information:

• Family contact and demographic information, including club, school and grade.
• Each family member's health and emergency contact information.
• Project areas of interest for the new 4-H year.
• Parental consent required for youth participating in shooting spots/wildlife programs.

See the 4-H Online enrollment guide for step-by-step instructions.

If you have questions or would like to opt-out of 4-H, please email Cherie.

4-H county membership dues of $25/member are paid every year. Dues should be paid before participating in 4-H events including club meeting, workshops, county fair and state events. Family Member Dues Payment Form 2023-24

Dues payments can be mailed to the Extension Office or placed in the drop box between the front doors of the Extension Office. Scholarships are available to cover dues if needed and can be requested by completing the dues payment form. Some clubs also collect dues to fund community creating activities and projects. Families should pay club dues at monthly meetings.

All 4-H market animals must be tagged with an official MN 4-H ear tag. If you plan on exhibiting market beef at the 2024 Dakota County Fair you need to request official 4-H ear tags from the Extension Office by Jan. 26. A market beef animal is considered beef steer, market heifer and dairy steer born between Jan.1-Aug. 31, 2023.

Requested MN 4-H ear tags by completing the Market Beef Ear Tag Order Form. 4-H staff will contact you by email to make arrangements for tag pick up.

Review the 4-H Beef Information Sheet and Minnesota 4-H AnSci Updates for 2024 guide for important updates regarding the MN 4-H Beef project. These documents include changes, information for identification, classes, beef project rules, State Fair participation and much more.

If you have questions about the 4-H beef project, contact Jessica at reed0324@umn.edu.

The Dakota County 4-H Federation supports offering scholarships for enrolled 4-H members in their individual path through 4-H. There are scholarships available for local, regional, state and national programs and events. The guidelines have recently been updated, based on the most recent annual budget approval. Families are encouraged to use this confidential Google form to request event funds at any time. We don’t want cost to be a barrier to youth participation.

Dakota County 4-H members who are high school seniors that will be graduating in 2024 and will be attending an accredited college, university, community college, or technical college during the fall 2024 quarter/semester are eligible to apply for the following college scholarships. Review each scholarship application for specific application requirements.

Scholarships are open to ALL enrolled Dakota County 4-H members; not limited to 4-H members involved in animal science projects.

4-H Livestock Auction Scholarship applications

Jacque Devney Memorial Scholarship application

Contact Jess Beissel with any questions at reed0324@umn.edu.

Registration for most 4-H workshops and events is done in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide has step-by-step instructions to walk you through how to register. To register for an event in 4-H Online, the participant must be an active member in 4-H Online. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Dakota County Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose projects of interest. Please contact Cherie if you have questions.

**Note regarding registration. You will only be able to register for an event in 4-H Online after your 4-H Online enrollment has been approved by staff. You will receive an email when your 4-H enrollment has been approved and then you will be able to register for the event in 4-H Online. Keep in mind that 4-H enrollments are not approved after hours or on the weekend.

This workshop will help youth 6th grade and up learn how to identify various seeds and learn how important native planting is in the Dakota County Parks system. Both a learning and service project, 4-Hers will be working under the supervision of Sam Talbot, Extension Educator for Natural Resources, sorting seeds necessary for prairie restoration.

Workshop is Saturday, January 13th, from 10 a.m. - Noon at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St W, Farmington. Sign up in 4Honline, under EVENTS by January 8. There is no cost to participate.

Sam works closely with the Dakota County parks department, growing native grasses and wildflowers for habitat restoration projects. He will share his knowledge of plant propagation, as well as prairie seed collecting and cleaning. This workshop may be of interest to youth enrolled in environment and earth sciences, outdoor adventures, forestry, conservation, and sustainability.

Youth enrolled in the Shooting Sports and Wildlife project can earn one hour towards Wildlife hours.

New this year, we will be holding winter indoor practice for archery, air rifle and air pistol.

Prior to participating in Shooting Sports practices, youth must be enrolled in 4-H Online and parent/guardian must have signed all firearm consents in 4-H Online. Enrolled families will receive regular communication about upcoming events.

• Air rifle/air pistol indoor practice: Jan. 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31; 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rosemount American Legion, 14590 Burma Ave. West in Rosemount
• Archery indoor practice: Jan. 28, Feb. 11, March. 10, April 14; 2:30-4:30 p.m. at BlackHawk Middle School, 1540 Deerwood Drive in Eagan
  
• WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program) Meeting: Jan. 11; 6-7:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington

WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to youth. There may be an opportunity for a local team to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition. To learn more, contact volunteer Sara Peters at roo@charter.net.

State Wildlife Opportunity - Feb. 20:

Are you interested in the project areas of wildlife, shooting sports, and/or outdoor adventures? If so join us and our experts as we dive into Bugs Below Zero, Falconry, Jerky Making, a Wing Bee, Owl Pellets, Snow Shoeing, Outdoor Survival and learn more about WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program).This event will qualify for five (5) wildlife hours for those earning them to compete in the Minnesota 4-H State Shoot Invitational held annually in September.

SW 4-H Wildlife Event 2024 will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in Redwood Falls Participate for just $25, which includes all supplies and offsets cost of facilities. SW 4-H Wildlife Event 2024 is open to all interested youth in grades K and up. Youth grades Kindergarten - 2nd grade must be accompanied by a helper. Invite a friend and join us for this fun day of wildlife learning! Register by January 27 in 4-HOnline to attend this program.

Participants will sew a small quilt and frame it in a hoop. This workshop is perfect for youth that have sewn before. Beginners must be able to sew a straight line. Younger and inexperienced sewers need an adult/experienced helper to stay with them. Open to youth 3rd grade and older. Fabric kit provide. Fabric choice selected during registration.

Workshop is Saturday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Cost is $5 and includes kit. Registration due Jan. 15. Instructor is Mary Lemke. A limited number of sewing machines are available borrow if needed. Bring your working sewing machine, with neutral thread and bobbins ready to go. Contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu, with any questions. Space is limited.

There are two leadership workshops being offered in 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 three different locations and all are overnight experiences:

• Feb. 3-4-BLU & TEEL at Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes

• Feb. 10-11-BLU & TEEL at Camp Omega, Waterville **

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

**Transportation to and from the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington to Camp Omega in Waterville is available, at no additional charge to Dakota County participants. Sign up ASAP to secure your transportation spot.

Cost is $100. Dakota County 4-H supports youth attendance by offering 50% reimbursement of registration cost, making the final cost $50. Youth who request this event scholarship are expected to work one additional malt or food stand shift, above and beyond their required shift at the 2024 fair.

Registration deadline is Jan. 19. Sign up ASAP to secure your transportation spot.

Learn more about BLU and register.

Learn more about TEEL and register.

NOTE CHANGE IN LOCATION AND TIME FOR JANUARY WORKSHOP

Sprouts (grade 3-5) workshops are fun-filled hands-on workshops where youth will meet new friends, learn new skills, participate in engaging activities and create exciting projects!

On Jan. 27 at this rivet-themed workshop, youth will make a homemade book and participate in other hands-on activities. Workshops are fun-filled events led by the Dakota County 4-H Ambassador team. Workshops feature age-appropriate programs focusing on fun, safe, non-competitive activities meant to engage youth and create new friendships.

Workshop is Saturday, Jan. 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Galaxie Library, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley

Registration due Jan. 19 to allow staff and the ambassador team enough time to secure and prepare workshop supplies.

Register in 4-H Online by the deadline. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions.

4-H Horse & Horseless Horse Boot Camp is a fun event for new and returning members to learn about the Horse Project, the Horseless Horse Project and related static project areas. There will be food, prizes, and tables providing information about leasing, Horseless Horse, riding, and more.

This open house style event is Monday, Jan. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. No registration required, stop in anytime that works for you to learn more about what the Dakota County 4-H Horse and Horseless Horse projects are all about.

Volunteer opportunity: staff are looking for volunteers to help facilitate and promote this event. Please contact Kris at kvatter@umn.edu or Kirsten at kapeders@umnn.edu if you are able to assist.

Intro to 4-H video is an online course for beginners in grades 3+. Class meets weekly for three weeks.

This workshop is designed for beginners. If you want to learn how to make and edit videos, this program is for you! This fun online intro to filmmaking will teach you how to get the best angles for your film, focus on storytelling and introduce you to other youth filmmakers across the state. This is a great place for the curious young person to start. Youth will use the tools that they have on hand at home (phones, video cameras, ipads, etc.). Register by Jan. 17. Learn more.

Dates: Jan. 22, Jan. 29, and Feb. 5 from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Participants will sew a small quilt top featuring a tri-colored hot air balloon. This intermediate workshop is open to youth grade 5 and older that have sewn before. Helpers will be needed for anyone who cannot work on this project independently. Instructor is Mary Lemke. A limited number of sewing machines are available to borrow if needed. Bring your working sewing machine, with neutral thread and bobbins ready to go. A part two session may be added to this workshop if participants need additional time to complete their project. Space is limited. Fabric choice selected during registration.

Workshop is Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Cost is $5 and includes pre-cut fabric kit.

Registration due Feb. 9 in 4-H Online by the deadline. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions.

Join the fun at the FREE Cloverbud and Sprouts workshops! The University of Minnesota Extension 4-H Cloverbud (K-2) and Sprouts (3-5) programs are designed specifically for youth in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants must be enrolled in Kindergarten and at least 5 years of age as of September 1 of the current year to enroll as a Cloverbud. Dakota County 4-H members are welcome to bring non-4-H friends to workshops!

These events are held one Saturday a month from 9-11 a.m. at various locations. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, meet new friends, and more!

Additional workshop dates and registration deadline:

• Feb. 10; registration deadline Feb. 2
  

• March 16; registration deadline March 8

• April 13; registration deadline April 5

• May 4; registration deadline April 26

**Please note: dates, times and locations are subject to change.

Workshop registration will be through 4-H Online. Refer to the 4-H Online event registration guide for details on registering in 4-H Online.

For liability purposes, all participants must be enrolled in 4-H Online before attending.

Workshops registration is required one week before the workshop to ensure enough supplies are on-hand for participants and to allow ambassadors and staff time to order and prepare materials. Space is limited.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions regarding the K-5 programming.

Every year, we recognize a group of exceptional youth leaders that have contributed many hours of service to our program. The Key Award recognizes your contributions to your club and the community and encourages you to grow as an outstanding citizen.

In order to apply for this award, you must meet the requirements that are detailed in the application. Applications are due to the Dakota County Extension Office in Farmington by April 1. Contact Jess Beissel with any questions at reed0324@umn.edu.

The Dakota County 4-H ambassador program is open to youth in grades 6-13, who enjoy volunteering and working with younger members. The ambassador program is a great way to share your leadership skills while helping your community. The 4-H ambassador program allows youth to take part in activities to help them become leaders and good citizens. A 4-H ambassador is an enthusiastic leader who promotes the organization using the skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities acquired in 4-H. They serve to strengthen the 4-H program through public relations and serve as a positive role model for younger members. Some past activities include: participating in community service projects, planning and leading Cloverbud and Sprouts activities, and promoting 4-H at various events throughout Dakota County.

Gatherings are scheduled before Federation at 6 p.m. Here is a tentative schedule. Additional activities and dates will be added once the group meets to discuss goals for the upcoming year. Please note: dates are subject to change and are dependent on meeting the minimum participation requirements. Parents and guardians are asked to help support the program to ensure compliance with the Safety of Minors policy.

Sign-up here to participate in the 2023-24 Ambassador program.

If you have questions, contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu.

YELLO is a 4-H youth leadership opportunity hosted by the Minnesota State Ambassadors held in June for youth grade 7+. Check out the website for more details.

Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) - June 12-15, 2024.

Do you know a college student looking for work experience in the youth development field? We have 4-H summer intern positions available throughout the state of Minnesota for Summer 2024. These positions are designed to provide meaningful professional youth development work experience for the student intern working alongside an Extension educator. Positions will begin in mid-May to early June and range from 8-13 weeks.

Candidates must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate college student, may not have completed their undergraduate program, and may not have graduated in the spring of 2024. The completion of at least two years of college is preferred. The online application process, job description, and list of locations is available at z.umn.edu/4hsummerintern. Application deadline is January 17.

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 Dec. 15-Jan. 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. Learn more and register.

4-H photography project resources provide information and tips on how to take better photos.

The Minnesota 4-H livestock in a box series is back! The 4-H animal science team is excited to roll out the second collection of learning kits for youth to explore animal science. This year's 4-H livestock in a box series will focus on the animal science project areas of pets (dog and cat), beef, sheep and swine. Each box will include all of the supplies necessary to complete lessons on breed identification, nutrition, health, care and associated careers. The lessons and hands-on learning activities are designed for youth in grades 4-7 to explore with little to no adult assistance. This is a fun and exciting way to explore these 4-H animal science projects.

Cost: Boxes are $25 each, which includes shipping directly to homes. Families may select individual boxes or order the entire series.

Ordered boxes will be prepared and delivered to families in the following schedule:

• January - Beef; February - Sheep; March - Swine

Registration: Supplies are limited, so we encourage families to order the kits in 4-H Online as soon as possible. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide. Youth must be enrolled in 4-H to participate. Not enrolled? Learn more or join 4-H.

4-H is searching for adults in the community to serve as judges at county fairs this summer. Adults in these roles conduct conference judging with youth in K-12th grade in a variety of 4-H project areas. This judging experience is the culmination of their project learning experience and is an opportunity for them to showcase their knowledge as well as their completed exhibit.

Judges make county fairs and other competitive events possible. To be a judge, you don't need to be a content expert, but you do need to know how to evaluate the learning that a 4-H'er has done. We will train you to do that!

The training for new judges will be on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Stearns County Service Center in Waite Park from 9:30 a.m. to noon. To register for the training, visit z.umn.edu/2024JudgesTraining by Jan. 26. This training is not for livestock evaluation.

This event is sponsored and hosted by Meeker, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright County 4-H programs.

Additional fair related dates will be announced as dates are confirmed.

We have a new Instagram account! Please follow us at Dakota.County4H or connect via Facebook at DakotaCounty4H.

dakota.county4h

If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please email Cherie to unsubscribe.

• Jessica Beissel: reed0324@umn.edu, 651-480-7752

• Kirsten Pederson: kapeders@umn.edu, 651-480-7722

• Rachel Rezac: reza0027@umn.edu, 651-480-7754

• Kris Vatter: kvatter@umn.edu, 651-480-7758
  

• Cherie Frandrup: frand004@umn.edu, 651-480-7702
  

Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/dakota
Location: 4100 220th Street West, Suite 101, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakota.county4h