Friday Forecast 12/8/2023

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

Just in time for holiday shopping! We still have some 4-H branded clothing items available.

Clothing styles listed below; sizes are limited so order early. Sizes listed on the order form is what is available for purchase. If you don’t see the size on the form, for a particular item, we don’t have it.

Youth & Adult short sleeve tee: $12

Youth crew-neck sweatshirt: $16

Adult crew-neck sweatshirt: $20

Adult hoodie: $25

Adult gray quarter zip: $25

Submit an order and 4-H staff will confirm your order availability and amount due. Arrangements for pick-up of items will be made after payment is received.

Mail checks to Dakota County 4-H, Attn: Shirts, 4100 220th St. W., Suite 101, Farmington, MN 55024

Questions? Contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu.

Congratulations to Samuel L.! Samuel's family completed their 4-H enrollment by Dec. 1 and their name was randomly drawn as the winner of a $50 Target gift card.

All youth that re-enroll in 4-H Online by Dec. 15 will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card.

Log in to 4-H Online here to complete the re-enrollment process. See the 4-H Online enrollment guide for step-by-step instructions.

The Dakota County 4-H Federation supports all enrolled 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.

Each year, 4-H families need to show your family's intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and re-enrolling by reviewing, updating and submitting 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.

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 in to 4-H Online here to complete the re-enrollment process. 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.

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.

Workshop full. Email Kris at kvatter@umn.edu to be added to the waiting list.

Youth 3rd grade and older are invited to attend a bat house building workshop on Thursday, Dec. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center in Farmington. Cost is $5. Space is limited.

The bat houses will need to be painted or stained once complete. Youth have the option to take the bat houses home or donate them for local parks. The Shooting Sports and Wildlife project members will identify locations.

Youth enrolled in the Shooting Sports and Wildlife project will earn one hour towards the annual wildlife expectation. All of Minnesota’s eight native bat species are insectivores, supplying a critical form of natural pest control. Minnesotans can support bats by ensuring that they have food, water and shelter.

Contact Kris at kvatter@umn.edu with questions.

Let’s Talk about Mental Health is a five-session series designed to provide a safe place for youth to have important conversations about mental health and wellbeing. 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. The curriculum was created by Minnesota 4-H youth alongside regional and local Extension educators.

Audience: 4-H members grades 6 and up

Timing: Sessions will take place Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom.

Registration will take place through 4-H Online. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register.

Registration deadline is Jan. 2, 2024.

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.

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, registration deadline and location:

• Jan. 27; registration deadline Jan. 19
  

• Feb. 10; registration deadline Feb. 2

• March 9; registration deadline March 1

• 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.

Youth and adults interested in taking on a leadership role with the Horse and Horseless Horse project areas are encouraged to apply to be a part of the Horse/HLH Project Development Committee (PDC).

The goal of the PDC is to understand, support, and work to create a program and county fair experience that supports the positive growth and development of each 4-H participant. The PDC is responsible for setting goals, planning educational workshops and activities, organizing events like clinics and fun shows, while ensuring youth have a positive learning experience. In addition to the PDC, there is a sub-committee for coordinating the 2024 Dakota County Fair 4-H Showcase event.

Application deadline is Dec. 16. Applicants must have completed 6th grade, completed one year of active participation in Dakota County 4-H, be enrolled in 4-H Online and be signed up for the Horse or Horseless Horse project.

Upcoming Horse/HLH PDC meetings: Monday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., via Zoom; Monday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.

If you have questions, contact Kris at kvatter@umn.edu or Kirsten at kapeders.umn.edu.

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.

Bussing will be available for youth attending BLU & TEEL Feb. 10-11 at Camp Omega in Waterville from the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington.

BLU & TEEL will be hosted in three different locations and all are overnight experiences:

• Feb. 3-4-BLU & TEEL at Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes - no bussing

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

• Feb. 17-18-BLU & TEEL at Camp Friendship, Annandale - no bussing

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

Learn more about BLU and register.

Learn more about TEEL and register.

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.

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.

Explore the wonderful world of animal science through hands-on activities and guest speakers in this virtual series. Together, we'll learn about beef cattle, swine, horses and chickens from industry professionals as we tour their facilities. Sessions will be held virtually every Saturday in January from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Each session will include interactive activities and learning about a new farm animal. Youth have the opportunity to sign up for individual sessions or all four sessions.

Audience: All youth in grades K-3 are invited to attend these sessions.

Cost: Free

Registration: Register in 4-H Online by Jan. 2 to receive the Zoom link for our first session. You only need to register once and can attend any or all sessions. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide. Learn more and register.

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:

• December - Pets (dog and cat); 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.

Our 2023 Minnesota 4-H Annual Volunteer Training “4-H for All Abilities” focuses on creating supportive 4-H environments for youth with disabilities. This training will support 4-H clubs, programs, and groups to understand why working with audiences with disabilities matters, identify best practices to support the unique needs of all youth and discover tips and resources for working with audiences of all abilities. Two to three volunteers from each club should attend this annual volunteer training on behalf of their 4-H group. Learn more and register.

Final online Zoom training: Dec. 13, 7-8:30 p.m.

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