Friday Forecast 7/12/2024

Bookmark this page for all things 4-H at the Fair including the premium book, schedules, forms, links to sign up for judging time slots, exhibit guidelines and more. This page will be continually updated as new information pertaining to fair is made available. Be sure to check back often as updates are made almost daily.

State Fair General Exhibit line-ups will be posted on this page on Monday, August 5 and 4-H livestock show programs will be posted here throughout the fair.

4-H staff are thankful for our volunteers year-round, but when it comes to the Dakota County Fair, our volunteers are AMAZING! We count on both adult and youth volunteers every day. You can be a part of this crew by signing-up for these opportunities:

• 4-H Building Set-Up, Monday July 15 *counts toward State Fair Scholarships
• General Exhibit Judging Day, Saturday, August 3
• Arts-In at the Fair, Friday-Sunday, August 9 - 11

Dakota County 4-H Dining Hall and Malt Stand sign-up

1. Click below to go to our invitation page on SignUp Genius:

• 4-H Dining Hall
• 4-H Outside Malt Stand

2. Sign up! Choose your spots and SignUp Genius will send you an automated confirmation and reminders.

Volunteering at the 4-H Dining Hall and Malt Stand at the Dakota County Fair

All 4-H families are expected to participate in the only annual fundraiser for Dakota County 4-H by volunteering for shifts in the Dining Hall in the 4-H Building, or Malt Stand, on the fairgrounds. This includes covering 1 youth shift for each 4-H member and 1 adult shift, per family.

What are the 4-H dining hall and malt stand?

The Dining Hall and Malt Stand are the biggest fundraiser of the year and we need your help to make them a success! The monies raised help support positive youth programming throughout the year. We have reinvested some of these funds in things like new malt machines, program supplies for outreach programming and supporting amazing experiences like overnight camp.

Working in the stands is easy with streamlined menus and food that is fast to assemble and serve. This is a great customer service experience for 4-H'ers as they learn to serve others, take orders, and keep the stands clean. You do not need any food service background.

There are 2 Malt Managers and 2 Dining Hall Managers on duty during the fair. If you aren't sure what to do when you get to the stands, ask the outgoing volunteers what their job was and utilize the managers for help. Due to MN Department of Health guidelines, you must wear close-toed shoes, pull your hair back, and wash your hands when you start your shift and throughout your shift to keep fairgoers safe.

Screened adult volunteers needed as cashiers

If you are signing up as a SCREENED ADULT CASHIER, you will need to complete the volunteer screening process by Aug. 1. Click here for more details on Adult volunteer screening. Please complete the screening process as soon as possible to allow state staff time to process your application. Contact 4-H staff if you have questions.

Photography, Video/Filmmaking, Computer and Public Presentation (demonstrations and presentations and speeches) judging takes place on Wednesday, July 24 at the Dakota County Conservation and Extension Center, 4100 220th Street West in Farmington.

SIgn-up for a judging time by July 19:

Photography and Public Presentations (demonstrations, presentations and speeches) judging

Video/Filmmaking and Computer judging

For photography, 4-H'ers may enter two exhibits in each time slot. If you have more than two exhibits you will have to sign up for a second time slot.

Questions can be directed to Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu, 507-210-7730 or Rachel Rezac, reza0027@umn.edu.

Dakota County 4-H Premium book is posted on the Dakota County 4-H webpage under the Fair information tab.

What is the premium book?

The Dakota County 4-H Premium Book is a guide for 4-H members, parents and volunteers used for planning, registering and exhibiting at the Dakota County Fair. The premium book is where you will find information on projects, class details for your projects, rules, requirements, and schedules pertaining to fair and judging other important information needed to exhibit at the county fair. It is your responsibility to follow the rules in the premium book.

Review the book to be sure your exhibit meets the necessary requirements. Exhibit entry and release times vary by project area so review the book to become familiar with these details.

4-H has a variety of volunteer opportunities available including chaperoning various 4-H events, working in the food and malt stands, helping with workshops, and more.

If you are interested in chaperoning at the state fair encampments, volunteer screening must be completed by August 1 to be considered as a state fair chaperone.

Complete the 4-H volunteer screening process so you can make an impact on our youth.

Contact 4-H staff if you have questions.

Clothing exhibit (constructed, purchased, and upcycled) and Fashion Revue judging for all members, including Cloverbuds is before the county fair on Wednesday, July 31 at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington.

4-H members exhibiting in the Clothing and Textiles project should review the clothing judging letter for more information on judging. The clothing judging letter includes a schedule and other need-to-know information. Review the schedule to be sure you are on-time for your judging.

• 8:15-8:45 a.m. - Registration for Cloverbud and grades 3 - 5
• 8:30 a.m. - Judging begins
• 9:30-10 a.m. - Registration for grades 6 and up

If youth are unable to attend judging on July 31, Constructed and Purchased exhibits can be brought to General Judging on August 3 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the 4-H Building on the Dakota County Fairgrounds and receive either a blue, red or white placing.

The public Fashion Revue Show is during the Dakota County Fair on Tuesday, August 6 at 6 p.m. on the stage in the 4-H Building. Court of Honor and State Fair trip winners will be announced at this time.

Questions can be directed to Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu, or 507-210-7730.

4-H county membership dues should be paid before participating in 4-H events including county and state fairs, club meeting, camps, workshops, and state events.

Membership dues are $25/member and are paid every year. If you haven't paid dues for the 2023-24 4-H year, please submit dues now. 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.

Contact Cherie if you are unsure if you have already paid dues for the 2023-24 4-H year.

The date for the Animal Science (beef, dairy, goat, horse, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine) PDC county fair planning meeting has been set for Tuesday, July 16 beginning at 6 p.m. with supper at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. All adult volunteers and youth who have completed the 6th grade are encouraged to attend.

Please RSVP for food planning purposes by July 12.

This is a very important meeting for the above species. We will be sharing fair entry numbers and discussing any County Fair updates. Each species committee will be able break into groups to discuss fair planning.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Be sure to send back or bring your completed fair volunteer/helper form that you received at the April meeting.

We are looking for 4-H members and adult volunteers who share a common passion for 4-H livestock education including all of the good things that happen in the fair setting. On this night we will discuss the many details and assign tasks that need to happen to help make County Fair livestock shows run smoothly. If this fits you, please plan to attend. This group will be convened again in the fall to evaluate the 2024 County Fair and begin planning educational opportunities for 4-Hers.

4-H Dairy Showmanship and Fitting Clinic on Thursday, July 18, 6-8 p.m. at the Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. West in Farmington, by the beef barn wash rack and southwest corner grass parking lot.

Workshop is free to all 4-H members, grades K-13. **Please note: An adult or guardian must accompany their K-2 youth at the workshop.

Please join us for a Dairy showmanship and fitting clinic featuring Chandler and Rachel Kurth. Chandler and Rachel live in New Germany, MN, and have presented fitting and showmanship clinics together across the Midwest. Alongside Chandler’s family at KurthHaven Farms, they breed, raise, and show Registered Holsteins at local, state, and national levels. Rachel and Chandler have worked for various show herds across the country, Chandler as a fitter and Rachel showing and caring for the show strings. They both attended the University of Minnesota and studied Animal Science and were members of 4-H and the Junior Holstein Association in their youth. Off the farm, Chandler works as a Dairy Specialist for Vita Plus and Rachel is a Key Account Manager for Milc Group. This will be hands-on and interactive with fun prizes and giveaways!

Registration in 4-H Online is required and is due Friday, July 12. The 4-H online event registration guide will walk you through how to register.

Contact Jess Beissel at reed0324@umn.edu if you have questions.

Pullorum testing on Sunday, July 28 from 4-6 p.m. in the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center office parking lot, 4100 220th Street West in Farmington. Weather permitting, we will be set up outside. There is no charge to 4-H families but RSVP’s are required.

Please fill out this Google form by 4 p.m., Friday, July 19 if you have birds that need to be tested.

Because the serum for testing needs to be pre-ordered, you need to disclose how many birds will need Pullorum testing. Limited serum available. Pre-registration required (exact numbers are crucial), we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins.

If you are exhibiting birds that were hatched at home (birds that were not purchased from a hatchery) they need to be pullorum-typhoid tested per Minnesota Board of Animal Health rules and regulations.

At exhibitions, all chickens, turkeys, game birds, and hatching eggs from these birds must be accompanied by a certificate or test chart approved by the board to show compliance with the following requirement:

• Pullorum-typhoid – originate from a hatchery or breeding flock that is classified U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid Clean under the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP); or be negative to a pullorum-typhoid test within 90 days prior to the opening date of exhibition.

Most of you will have birds that originated from a hatchery and will have a *Statement of Origin verifying this. If this is the case, you are good to go and do not need to have your birds tested.

If you do not have a Statement of Origin, you will need to have your birds tested at pullorum testing on Sunday, July 28 from 4-6 p.m. Statement of Origin must be brought to poultry check-in/ID verification at the county fair.

Reach out to Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu with any questions.

What is Rabbit Agility? Rabbit Agility is like dog agility where animals maneuver through a course of equipment: over, under, around and through in a timed event/race. Rabbit Agility is fun and exciting for the animals, handlers and spectators and is a great way for 4-H’ers to spend a little extra time with their rabbits and learn some fun training tools. Rabbit agility is for 4-H members in grade 3 and older.

Upcoming practice: July 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Rabbit Barn on the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington.

4-H members must have attended at least four Dakota County 4-H sponsored rabbit agility practices during the summer to participate in the county fair rabbit agility contest.

Complete the participation form and bring with to your first practice.

Weekly in-person dog training classes continue on Monday nights at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington. Review the dog training schedule as times vary each week depending upon which discipline you are participating in.

Dakota County 4-H Dog Show is Sunday, August 18. Be sure to register in FairEntry.com by the July 8 fair registration deadline.

Review the Dakota County 4-H Dog Project Handbook to learn more.

An additional Horseless Horse Training Session has been added for families to take advantage of. This new session takes place on Tuesday, July 16, 7-8 p.m. Please sign up in the link so the youth leaders know how many participants to expect. Horseless Horse SignUp

Additionally, if you haven't had a chance to send in your payment for the Horseless Horse program you can drop off or mail it in to our offices or hand over to one of the Behrendt family members.

Lesson Dates: *July 23, 30; 7-8 p.m. Session added: July 16

Location: Behrendt’s Barn, 7861 272nd St. West in Farmington.

Register: Register in 4-H Online AND for weekly sessions.

Cost: $25 to participate in the program and attend as many sessions as you wish. Please make checks payable to Dakota County 4-H. Mail or drop off to: Dakota County 4-H, 4100 220th Street West, Suite 101, Farmington, MN 55024 with 'HLH' noted in the memo line of your check.

Weekly sign-up: After you've registered in 4-H Online, participants sign-up for individual sessions so youth leaders can plan accordingly. Deadline to sign up for each session is the Sunday prior to the Tuesday session. For example, the deadline to sign up for Tuesday, July 16 is Sunday, July 14.

Horseless Horse Session Sign Ups 2024

If you have questions about the program or would like to talk through what the sessions look like please reach out to Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu or 952-240-7947.

4-H is partnering with the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild on their fall expo, and you are invited to save the date and attend this family-friendly event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds! The day includes kid's workshops, demonstrations, prizes, and over 70 local and national woodworking retailers, tool manufacturers, lumber sellers, schools, organizations, and makers! 4-H youth and adults are needed as volunteers to assist with the maker projects. This event is free and open to the public. The Woodworkers Expo will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Eco Experience Building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Indicate your interest in volunteering at this event and learn more on the event website.

4-H youth and adults interested in woodworking are invited to become members of the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild—youth under age 22 will receive free membership! Benefits include access to classes and information, deals and discounts, contests and expertise! 4-H is partnering with the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild to support woodworking project learning opportunities! Learn more about membership.

Extension development and Minnesota 4-H offer several scholarships for college-bound 4-H youth, as well as a workforce training scholarship for an adult 4-H alumni or volunteer. Over $20,000 is awarded annually through a competitive application process. Minnesota 4-H scholarship online applications are now available. Applications require two letters of recommendation, with one being from an Extension educator. Review each application for specific details on eligibility and application deadlines.

Minnesota 4-H scholarships, grants and awards

If your family would like to accept up to $155 in State Event (State Fair, State Dog Show, State Horse Show, State Shoot Invitational) registration fee reimbursement per eligible youth, please read on as this WILL IMPACT YOU.

To be eligible to receive up to $155/youth state event participant, your family needs to work at least one extra shift (over and above the required shifts) in the malt stand or dining hall, per youth, to receive a reimbursement for paid state event fees. By working at least one ADDITIONAL shift (per eligible youth) in the malt stand or dining hall, families can receive a reimbursement for paid state event fees, up to $155. Dakota County 4-H membership dues must be paid to be eligible for state event reimbursement.

See page 14 of the Dakota County 4-H Premium Book for more details on reimbursement requirements.

For 4-H'ers, local and state showcase events (like the Minnesota State Fair) are not just fun events. They provide youth opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year– and to continue their learning.

The MN 4-H State Photography Committee has put together many resources for 4-H members to use to enhance their learning including information on how to prepare your photo exhibit for judging.

MN 4-H Photography resources

Dakota County 4-H photography judging is Wednesday, July 24; 1:30-7 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. 4-H members that register to exhibit in the photography area will be sent an email to sign-up for a judging time slot on July 24.

If a 4-H member is unable to participate in the conference judging process by himself/herself due to a disability or injury, the 4-H member and/or the member’s immediate family must request permission for a conference judging assistant to be with the 4-H member during the conference judging of the member’s general exhibits. Arrangements and approval for a conference judging assistant must be made with 4-H staff prior to the beginning of the judging process. For more information, review 4-H Competitive Events: Judging Experiences for Youth with Disabilities or Injuries.

If you have a youth with special needs or disabilities, please complete the 4-H Judging Accommodations Request form and return it to the Dakota County Extension Office no later than July 8.

Please contact 4-H staff at kvatter@umn.edu for more information.

New for 2024:

MN 4-H introduces recognition for youth making a difference in their community and sharing their story through project(s) and exhibit(s).

Judges at local and state showcases will place a recognition sticker on each exhibit where the 4-H’er clearly articulates how their efforts made a positive community impact. Exhibitors will be asked, “Has your project made a positive difference in your community? And if so, how?”

Exhibits and presentations may demonstrate the youth’s community impact efforts through:

• Direct Service: Involves face-to-face interactions with the people, animals, or environment being served - such as distributing meals or cleaning up a park.
• Indirect Service: Involves benefiting a cause or group, but there isn’t direct contact with those that benefit - such as fundraising or knitting blankets.
• Advocacy: Involves researching issues of public interest and then encouraging action or promoting awareness - such as promoting mindfulness practices to a school curriculum committee, collecting water quality data for a community organization.

More info can be found at: z.umn.edu/4HCommunityImpact

Mark your calendars for an evening of fun for members in grades K-13. Bring your pet or cat to Trinity Care Center, 905 Elm St, Farmington, on Monday, July 22 for the Pet and Cat Show! Show starts at 6 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to answer questions from a judge and share information on their animal’s care and behaviors. Some of the animals we have seen in the past include chickens, bearded dragons, dogs, hamsters, and guinea pigs.

This is our 4th year hosting the event at Trinity Care Center. Residents enjoy this experience and come out to support our members.

Registration will be available in FairEntry this summer. Deadline to register is July 8.

Specific details and requirements will be found in the 2024 Dakota County 4-H Premium Book.

Monday, July 22 - Pet & Cat Show, Trinity Care Center in Farmington

Wednesday, July 24 - Photography, Computer/Robotics, Video, Public Presentation judging

Monday, July 29 - Animal Science night: Livestock interviews, barn clean-up and set-up

Monday, July 29 - Oversized exhibit drop-off in the 4-H Building

Wednesday, July 31 - Clothing (constructed and purchased) and Fashion Revue judging

Saturday, Aug. 3 - General Exhibit judging in the 4-H Building

Sunday, Aug. 18 - 4-H Dog Show Judging

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

Minnesota State Fair - August 22-September 2

4-H Livestock Encampment at the MN State Fair - August 21-25

4-H General exhibit/Public Presentation Encampment at the MN State Fair - August 29-31

MN 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational - September 6-8

MN 4-H State Horse Show - September 13-16

MN 4-H State Dog Show - September 21-22

Are you ready to show your horse at the next level? The NW district horse show is a great opportunity to test your skills and compete with 4-H members from other counties! The show will take place on August 31 in Wilkin County. Open to 4-H members who have completed grades 3 and up. Register in 4-H Online by August 12. Learn more.

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

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