Douglas 4-H Buzz

Review your premium book for important information regarding judging schedules, tips and tricks for judging and all things county fair. The inside front cover has a schedule for when judging happens throughout the fair. Our office is closed beginning August 12 as we are out at the fairgrounds that week.

Elections for youth officers are held at our August 5 leaders council meeting at the fairgrounds. Youth in grades 7 and up are eligible along with youth with one more year in 4-H (those that graduated from high school this year) can be nominated. Positions include president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and reporter. There are six council meetings throughout the year, an advisory board budget meeting in the fall, other advisory board meetings as needed and officers emcee Awards Night in November. The adults on the advisory board are elected to two-year terms, again with the same meeting schedule as the youth officers. We also elect an adult treasurer. This advisory board also serves as our grievance committee. Enrolled youth sixth grade and up and screened volunteers can vote in the election.

County fair cleanup is scheduled for Monday, August 5 at 6 p.m. We'll clean the 4-H Exhibit Building, 4-H Food Stand, 4-H Crow’s Nest and other fair buildings. In addition, the horse stalls are set up in the horse barn. Clubs are assigned spaces to clean. Treats are served and all ages are welcome.

If you are exhibiting animals that stay overnight at the fair: beef, dairy, dairy goats, meat goats, horse, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine, we are hosting an all county pre-fair webinar Sunday, August 4 at 7 pm. Youth and adults are welcome. The link for the meeting is here. The meeting will be recorded and a link to view will be sent after the meeting for those who couldn't join us live. Lots of useful information will be covered to prepare you for the week of fair so join us so you are prepared and ready!

Check out the 4-H Food stand schedule here. If you are not able to work your assigned shift, a few families are needed for Thursday morning breakfast shift, contact Kris Massmann if you are interested. Items needed include tomatoes, cucumbers for salads, eggs for breakfast, and repairs to the back door, fan on roof needs a cover, and the wash sink needs attention. If your club is interested, please contact the office.

Poultry must be banded with leg bands to be eligible to show with the exception of doves and pigeons that were entered in mn.4honline.com for the May 15 deadline. Bands are to be picked up at the Extension office prior to Wednesday, August 7.

County fair t-shirts, generously sponsored by ProAg/Alex Country Store and Form A Feed, are to be picked up in the 4-H Exhibit Building during the county fair.

If you are 11 years and older exhibiting at the county fair, you need to pick up a pass at the 4-H Exhibit Building for admittance into the fair. Pick these up Monday or Tuesday as admission is charged starting Wednesday, August 14.

Passes for adults can be purchased at the fairboard office under the grandstand.

There are limited spots available for livestock interviews Monday, August 12.

Junior Interviews

Senior Interviews

All Horse interviews

Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) is required for youth wanting to exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. There are two training options in person which is good for three years-this training was held on July 18. Or online through YQCA which is good for one fair season and costs $12.00. If you did not attend our in person training this year or the past two years you need to take the online version by August 12 at the absolute latest. If you are not current you are not considered for state fair lineup. Here is the information for the online version. PLEASE DO THIS ASAP!!!

It is all hands on deck to have a great 4-H experience at the county fair. Please check out our signup genius for opportunities to help in the exhibit building, at different animal science shows and more! It is a fabulous way to learn more about events, projects and what goes on at the county fair. There are opportunities for youth grades 3 and up all the way up to adults! To sign up or find out more about opportunities visit signup.

The building supervision schedule is out, check out when you club is covering the 4-H Exhibit Building desk during the Douglas County Fair.

We are in need of state fair chaperones for youth attending the livestock encampment and the general encampment. Male and female chaperones are needed. All chaperones need to complete their volunteer screening prior to chaperoning and that takes up to two weeks, so please be proactive if you are considering chaperoning.

The Liberty Livewires 4-H Club are hosting the exhibit silent auction at the fair this year, with the Douglas County Food Shelf as the recipient of the funds. Start thinking ahead to exhibits you might consider making and donating, ribbon and prizes awarded in both the alumni and youth categories.

New - costume contest for animals housed at the fair and their exhibitor!

As you know, costumes cannot pose any harm to animals and remember that cultures are not costumes. Be respectful of diverse cultures and avoid dressing in ways that depict entire groups of people/cultures/ethnicities as "costumes."

Categories:

• Best Overall Costume
• Most Creative Costume
• Funniest Costume
• Most Detailed Costume

This contest takes place after Round Robin Showmanship in the Erickson Pavilion!

Come on out and have some fun! Friday night of fair is deadline to signup.

Minnesota State Fair

100% of program fee is paid, half of lodging at state fair dorm housing costs paid and 100% transportation on county truck and bus covered. Youth cover cost of their meals and half of their dorm housing costs. Livestock encampment is August 21-25 and general encampment is August 25-27.

State Shoot - September 6-8

100% of program fee is paid and half of total class registration is covered.

State Horse Show - September 12-15

100% of program fee is paid and first three classes are covered. Any additional classes are paid by family.

State Dog Show - September 21-22

100% of program fee is paid and half of total registration for classes are covered.

Jodi Hintzen, Extension Educator, hintz010@umn.edu

Jackie Kokett, Extension Educator, jkokett@umn.edu

Douglas County Extension

Email: mnext-douglas@umn.edu

Website: extension.umn.edu/douglas

Address: 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308 (Courthouse, 2nd floor)

Phone: 320-762-3890

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNDouglasCounty4H/

Twitter: @UMNExt

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