Clover Digest
February 3, 2023 Edition
Don't miss out on these opportunities!
There is a lot happening in 4-H and Extension! Please take some time to read this Clover Digest and let Anna or Wendy know if you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns.
In this week’s Clover Digest you can expect:
Fundraiser Update
February Cloverbuds
Ribbon Sale Committee: Volunteers & Feedback Needed
Market Beef ID Deadline: Less than 15 Days!
2023 Ear Tags AVAILABLE
Camp Counselor Applications OPEN
Fairboard Meeting
Food Stand Manager Needed
Programming for Grades 3-5
Crop Scouting Team
SAVE THE DATE: Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training
SCHEDULE: 4-H at the County Fair
Animal Science Updates for 2023
Summer Intern NEEDED for Summer 2023
Scholarship Opportunities
Re-enroll for 2023
Regional, State & National Events
Fundraiser Update
Thank you all for your continued efforts during our annual fundraiser.
As a reminder, due to a fire at one of their facilities, AMPI is no longer able to offer the 3 lb Sliced American Cheese. Please communicate to customers the situation and do not sell them this product. If you have already sold 3 lb Sliced American Cheese orders, please contact those customers and offer them a refund or alternative product.
Our fundraiser continues through Wednesday, February 8. At the end of the fundraiser, before turning in your sales sheets and money into your club leader, you must enter your fundraiser product totals and dollar amounts into the Google Form. Tight deadlines require a quick turn around when submitting our orders; your careful attention to detail when entering your family's information in the form is expected and appreciated. Please turn in your money and sales sheets no later than Friday, February 10 to your club leader. Leaders should turn in their club's sales sheets and money to the office no later than Monday, February 13 at 3:30 pm.
2023 Fundraiser Order Google Form
Finally, order pick up will take place on Saturday, March 25 at the Worthington Christian Church parking lot. Delivery and sorting of products will begin by 6:00 am and families can begin picking up their orders at 7:30 am until 9:00 am. Volunteers are needed to help with order delivery day and will be essential in a successful end to our fundraiser. Please use this volunteer sign up to help on delivery day. There are volunteer slots for both youth and adults. Each club is asked to provide 4-7 volunteers.
February Cloverbuds
Will you join us for Cloverbuds next week? Youth in grades K-2 are invited to join us for an evening of valentines and heart health fun. The event will begin at 6:00 pm on February 9 in the Farmers Room. Please note the time change from previous events. We ask that you RSVP by February 7.
Ribbon Sale Committee: Volunteers & Feedback Needed
We are still seeking members to join our Ribbon Sale Committee. Annually the Ribbon Sale raises money to support our 4-H program and individual members.
The Ribbon Sale cannot happen without 5-7 people stepping up to join our committee; we currently have 2 commitments for the committee. Adult volunteers, parents, and older youth are invited to join the committee.
The expectation is that you would attend 3-4 committee meetings from now through July and help at the Ribbon Sale on Saturday, August 5. Set up for the sale will begin at approximately 1:00 pm and the sale begins at 3:30 pm.
As we are in the early stages of planning for the Ribbon Sale, we would like to hear from you all. Please take some time to fill out this Ribbon Sale information gathering form. As you are filling out the form and have some ideas that spark excitement or improvements you would like to see changed, please consider joining the planning committee. The form will close on February 15. Please take some time to consider joining this committee and providing your feedback.
Market Beef ID Deadline: Less than 15 Days!
2023 Ear Tags Available
Ear tags are available for purchase for the 2023 show season. Market beef and dairy steers must be ID’d in 4-H Online by February 15. All other animal types must be ID’d in 4-H Online by May 15. If you have questions about the IDing process, please refer to this website. There have also been a few changes to some classes for the 2023 season, please refer to the animal science website for the most current information.
Blue and purple tags are eligible for the 2023 season. Ear tags are $2.25/tag. Please bring cash or a check to pay for your tags. Taggers are available to check out; you must have a $30 check written out to Nobles County 4-H to borrow the tagger.
Join our Camp Counselor Team at Lake Shetek Summer Camp!
Fairboard Meeting
Food Stand Manager Needed
Two or three staff people needed for 2023 Food Stand. The start date is anticipated as July 27 and will last until August 6. The food stand will be open at the fair the following times:
Tuesday for Judge’s Lunch (noon hour)
Wednesday: 11 am - 9 pm
Thursday - Saturday 7:30 am - 9:00 pm
Sunday - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Compensation is hourly and has historically ranged between $13.00 and $17.00 depending on experience; 2023 compensation rates are still being determined. Total hours range between 45 - 70 hours depending on the amount of staff hired. Staff must be able to submit proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit a completed religious/medical exemption and agree to comply with the University's testing requirement. Please reach out to Anna Rose, 4-H Educator at rose1612@umn.edu if you are interested in the position by March 27, 2023.
Opportunities for youth Grades 3-5
Calling all youth members in grades 3-5! We have some exciting programming opportunities just for you! Three new things we think you might enjoy are:
SWIM 4-H: Seeing Wellness In Motion summer movement program! Learn more about SWIM in the Regional, State, and National events section of this week’s Clover Digest.
Try something new today! If you have any questions, please reach out to Anna.
Crop Scouting Team
Crop scouting is a way to inspect crops for potential outcomes and risks. Scouts are people who make systematic observations and predict crop production while considering factors such as weather, inputs like pesticides and herbicides, and risks such as disease and pests. Youth will also learn skills like teamwork, communication, problem solving and predicting outcomes.
Doug and Katie Clarke are excited to serve as the coaches again this year and are looking for members to join. Practices could begin in early spring and will last into the summer. The state competition is Tuesday, July 25 at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus. Please fill out this interest form by March 1 if you would like to join a team. Invite your friends to join as well!
SAVE THE DATE: Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training
SCHEDULE: 4-H at the County Fair
Our schedule of 4-H events at the county fair is set! The 2023 Nobles County Fair is August 2-6. Take a look at the full 4-H schedule.
IMPORTANT: Animal Science Updates for 2023
Please review this animal science update letter from the state regarding species specific changes and updates. Some specific changes include the addition of a fall breeding ewe lamb class in the sheep project. This class falls under the Commercial Breeding Ewe Lamb and the Registered Breeding Ewe Lamb class sections. Fall born breeding ewe lambs must be born on or after September 1 of the previous year. Please reach out to Anna with questions.
HIRING: Summer Intern
The warm days of 4-H day camps, county fairs and other fun summer programming are fast approaching. We are in full planning and recruitment mode for a 4-H summer intern!
Our summer intern will be based out of the local Extension Office in Worthington, MN and will work 40 hours a week from the end of May until just after the 2023 Nobles County Fair in August. The internship is a paid position! The summer intern is crucial to the success of our summer programming and county fair operations.
The position is open until filled. Please share this opportunity widely with your networks. More information and application links can be found at this link: z.umn.edu/4hsummerintern.
Andrea Ruesch Scholarship
Visit the scholarship website for more information about the application process. Applications are due on March 1, 2023.
Enrollment & Re-enrollment OPEN
It is that time of year again, re-enrollment! All members and volunteers who wish to participate in 4-H must be enrolled in 4-H. Re-enrollment is simple and can be done on 4-H Online.
In order to remain enrolled, you will need to show your family’s intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and reviewing, updating and submitting the following information:
Your family's contact and demographic information.
Each family member's health and emergency contact information.
Project areas of interest for this coming year.
You can log in to 4-H Online here to complete the re-enrollment process. This guide has more information.
If you have any questions about re-enrolling or any other aspect of 4-H involvement, contact your local 4-H staff. Again this year, an incentive will be offered to members who are enrolled by October 31.
Regional, State & National Events
Tasty Tuesday: Foods From Around the World
Amazing Amphibians and Roaming Reptiles
Plant Science Trivia Nights
Plant science trivia nights continue in February (2/9) and March (3/9)! All youth in grades 3+ are invited to the fun event! Prizes will be awarded. Register on 4HOnline today!
State Ambassador Service Project
For the February environmental state service project challenge, the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are partnering with the Crayon Initiative to collect used crayons that will be recycled into new crayons for kids in hospitals.
Sixty tons of crayons are manufactured every day
Millions of pounds of crayons are discarded annually throughout the U.S. Wax crayons are made of petroleum, a chemical that is toxic to our environment. If we don’t recycle crayons, they eventually end up in our landfills and never biodegrade.
We hope that 4-H members, clubs, groups, ambassador teams, etc., will join in on this project by collecting crayons throughout the month of February and shipping them to the Crayon Initiative. Their website has instruction materials on conducting a drive and free downloadable resources. We'll also be collecting and recording the weight of donated crayons at BLU/TEEL events across the state -- all youth that bring crayons to BLU/TEEL will be entered into a drawing for neat Crayon Initiative prizes.
Consent and Choice in Youth Development: Creating Empowering Youth Spaces
Join Minnesota 4-H Youth Development Program (YDP) Extension Educators Bri Hall (Ramsey Co.) and Sarah Odendahl (Pine Co.) on Tues. Mar. 14th, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM to learn more about how volunteers can create learning environments that promote youth physical and emotional safety, encourage youth to exercise choice, and support young people in establishing personal limits and boundaries. This 60-minute training is open to Minnesota 4-H YDP volunteers, potential volunteers, and youth leaders as part of our 2022-23 Statewide Volunteer Development Webinar program. Attendance is optional. Registration is required.
Regional Wildlife Event
Do you need wildlife hours for the Shooting Sports and Wildlife project area? Maybe you love the outdoors and want to learn more ways to enjoy the nature around you. Learn how to fly fish, carve a duck decoy, or identify animal tracks! Maybe you want to learn more about the various areas of WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program) . Join us at 4-H’s Wildlife Program 2023 for a hands-on learning day! All 4-H wildlife enthusiasts grades K and up are invited to join us on February 11th, 2023 in Redwood Falls. To learn more and to register by February 6, 2023, go to https://z.umn.edu/WildlifeEvent
April 13 Animal Science Webinar
Mark your calendars for the spring PDC and animal science update webinar on Thursday, April 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. During the webinar, we'll highlight system-wide policies and processes to strengthen your animal science program, discuss updates connected with livestock species, and offer educational resources. More information on how to join the webinar will be announced soon.
4-H SWIM
The SW MN 4-H region is excited to offer SWIM – Seeing Wellness in Motion through 4-H. Youth will learn the fundamentals of swimming along with educational opportunities around health, wellness and staying in motion. Participants are encouraged to learn skills of a lifetime that go hand in hand with healthy living options. This program is open to all youth grades K - 12. All youth must be able to swim a minimum of 25 yards to participate for their safety. This program is not intended to replace swimming lessons and we encourage youth to continue to complete their swimming lesson programs.
Practice dates/times will vary depending on the pool. SWIM 4-H meets will be located in Redwood Falls, Olivia, Slayton, Tyler, Tracy, and Windom. The cost is $35.00/youth for the Swim team. Register today via 4H Online.
Events & Activities
Check out 4-H Events across the region: z.umn.edu/sw-catalog-of-opportunities
Anna Rose & Wendy Baumgartner
Email: rose1612@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/nobles
Location: 315 10th Street, Worthington, MN, USA
Phone: 507-295-5315
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoblesCounty4-H
Twitter: @UMNExt