January Lyon County 4-H

There will be a livestock PDC meeting on Jan.6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Office. We will be discussing educational opportunities for 2025, animal ID updates, and showcase logistics. If you would like something discussed, please reach out to your livestock superintendent.

Mark your calendar for January’s Ambassador meeting. January 13, 2025, 5:30 p.m. We will be decorating windows and planning 2025 programs and events.

Mark your calendar for January’s Federation meeting. Jan.13, 2025, 7:00 p.m. We will be kicking off our annual fruit and frozen food fundraiser at the meeting.

Looking for a fun and educational activity for your little ones? Join us for 4-H Cloverbud Connections on January 25, 2025 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. This event is perfect for children grades k-2 to explore, learn, and make new friends through hands-on activities. Don’t miss out on this exciting morning of creativity, games, and discovery.

Mark your calendars and RSVP. We can’t wait to see you there.

Market Beef and Dairy Steer ID deadline is February 18, 2025. Don't forget to ID on time. As a reminder, the first 10 ID tags are free for each Lyon County 4-H'er. If you are planning to participate in the rate of gain contest but do not have access to a scale for the initial weigh-in, contact Grant Wichmann.

The statewide livestock PDC kickoff webinar on Jan. 23, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

This is an opportunity for committee members to review their roles on committees, explore resources available to them, and learn from others across the state.

Individuals will need to register to attend the webinar.

How do we ensure we are developing and offering inclusive programs for all young people? Let’s Talk About Disability is a five-session series designed to provide a safe place for youth to have important conversations about disability. This series demonstrates to youth that they are valued and welcomed by 4-H and gives all youth the tools to be supportive and effective allies.

4-H Camp Counseling is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a leader and have fun outdoors. 4-H Camp is held at Shetek Lutheran Ministries on the shores of Lake Shetek; youth who are current 9-12 graders can choose to counsel at one camp session (two nights/three days) or both sessions (four nights/five days).

Training would take place:

Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Murray County 4-H Building in Slayton

Planning Meeting:

Wednesday, June 4, 2025, from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at Shetek Lutheran Ministries, Lake Shetek

Camp:

Monday, June 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. - Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 10:45 a.m.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. - Friday, June 27, 2025, at 10:45 a.m.

This multi-county 4-H Camp located in southwest Minnesota will include four one-hour educational tracks. In addition, camp activities include swimming, canoeing, kayaking, outdoor games, campfire, and more. Camp counselors are expected to connect with campers throughout the entire camp experience.

Registration:

Application Deadline is January 31, 2025.

Selected camp counselors will be notified by February 21, 2025.

All training, including meals and materials and the full camp experience, including meals and lodging, are provided at no cost to the counselors. Stipends for travel expenses are available.

Encourage a friend to apply. No previous 4-H camp experience is required to be a 4-H camp counselor. A new 4-H member? No previous 4-H experience is required to apply. Questions about applying? Contact Karen Beranek at kberanek@umn.edu.

Looking for a fun way to meet new people and learn leadership skills? Check out the Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) leadership workshops hosted by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors. BLU is for youth in grades 6 and up.

• Feb. 1-2, BLU at Camp Friendship, Annandale

• Feb. 8-9 BLU at Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls

• Feb. 15-16 BLU at Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls

• Feb. 22-23 BLU at Deep Portage, Hackensack

Do you have an idea you are passionate about or would like to get started? The helping hands award is for Minnesota 4-H youth and volunteers who want to turn their ideas into action. This award funds project ideas that are led by 4-H youth with supportive volunteers. The average award is between $300 and $2,000. Project ideas can focus on STEM, Agri science, healthy living, outdoor activities, equity, leadership, or any of the 70+ project areas 4-H offers. The 4-H Helping Hands Award is funded by generous support and donors to the Minnesota 4-H General Fund, Tessman/Christiansen Endowment, Wildung Endowment, Kern 4-H Teen Leadership, and Ambassador Endowments.

The deadline to apply is February 14, 2025

During National Volunteer Week (April 20-26, 2025), the Minnesota 4-H Youth Development program honors its 7,500 incredible volunteers and celebrates their contributions to Minnesota communities. Throughout the week (and the program year), we will feature stories of special volunteers who share their time and expertise to improve the lives of youth across the state.

Northern Lights is a volunteer recognition program designed to celebrate volunteer impact in key priority areas for our department. Unlike other volunteer recognition efforts, this nomination process does not distinguish volunteer tenure and can be completed in about 15 minutes.

In 2025, we encourage nominations of volunteers who:

• Welcome our youngest 4-H members and families through designing and delivering Cloverbud and/or public programming.

• Create learning environments for older youth (aged 12–18) that improve their self-concept, personal agency, resilience, and community connectivity.

• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) by creating spaces of belonging and empowerment for Minnesota youth of all identities.

Please consider nominating volunteers who bring light to their local program and community regardless of tenure with the 4-H program. Stories of first-year volunteers and/or volunteers who did not participate in 4-H as youth members are warmly welcomed. Selected nominees will be featured on our website and social media channels.

Please fill out this form to nominate a volunteer you feel has gone above and beyond.

Do you have an old iPhone or Android phone that still works but isn’t being used? Lyon County 4-H is seeking 10–15 phones that can turn on and connect to Wi-Fi for STEM programming. Chargers are not needed. If you’d like to donate, please contact our office.

Do you have an interest in videography?

We would love to have you join the 4-H Video program’s ‘Intro to Video’ class for grades 3-13. It’s on zoom.

Dates: Jan. 27, Feb 3, & Feb. 10

We start with organizing your storytelling, practicing camera set-up to get the best shots and lighting, learning basic editing skills, and connecting like-minded youth across the state who want to start improving their videos.

Time: 5-6 p.m.

Location: Zoom link will be sent

Audience: New-to-filmmaking-youth grades 3 and older

Registration deadline: January 22, 2025

No cost to attend.

Questions? Email Anne at Anne Stevenson Registration questions to Lauren at backes@umn.edu

Please keep in mind the Extension Office will be closed on January 1 and 20, 2025 for observation of holidays.

Local Staff: Lyon County 4-H events

Sam Jens, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

jens0593@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 2

Renae Jenniges, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

johnsorj@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 3

Aimee Powers, Support Staff, Lyon County

power684@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 Ext. 1

Email: mnext-lyon@umn.edu
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