Email: mnext-isanti@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/isanti
Location: 555 18th Avenue Southwest, Cambridge, MN, USA. We are in the Isanti County Government Center in the Extension/ Parks office. Office hours M-F 8am-4:30pm.
Phone: 763-689-1810
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isanticounty4h
Twitter: @IsantiCounty4H

Give to Isanti County 4-H: z.umn.edu/DonateToIsanti4H

I hope you all get to spend some time relaxing and socializing with friends and family.

We are sending this week's newsletter early since our office is closed (Tuesday & Wednesday) and several staff are taking vacation later this week. Our office will be open Thursday and Friday this week, but Jennifer and Cora are taking vacation so 4-H services will be limited. Our office is also closed January 1st.

If you haven't stopped by the office recently, you may not know that we have moved offices. We are still in the Isanti Government Center, one door down from where we used to be. We are very excited to be in our new space which is larger. We are also sorting through over 20 years of documents and program materials. Stay tuned for some giveaways!

Our free seed library will be returning in January, I am excited to share all of the new seed varieties with you soon. In 2024, we gave away over 1,500 seed packets at our office and at the Cambridge Library.

Have a great week!

- Cora

This week's feature is Kinsley M.! Read her feature here.

Do you know an undergrad college student looking for work experience in the youth development field? We have 4-H summer intern positions available throughout the state of Minnesota for summer, 2025. These positions are designed to provide meaningful professional youth development work experience for the student intern working alongside an Extension educator. Positions will begin in mid-May to early June and range from 8-13 weeks. Visit the Extension careers page to learn more about the summer intern positions and apply.

The Isanti position is posted as of 12/16/24. Applications are due January 15, 2025.

4-H programs, activities and outings should be prepared to modify programming as needed in extreme cold weather.

• Outdoor wind chill of 20 degrees below 0 Fahrenheit or lower.

Consider these factors when deciding whether to cancel:

• The ability to safely operate vehicles (ice, snow, visibility)
• Total predicted snowfall
• Predicted temperature and wind chill factor
• Schools are cancelled

Work with the local Extension educator to develop a cancellation plan, including how to notify 4-H members and volunteers.

Read our extreme weather conditions policy here

Do you have an idea you’re passionate about, but can’t find funding? This award funds project ideas that are led by 4-H youth in partnership with supportive adults, local businesses, and non-profit organizations. Projects can focus on STEM, agriscience, healthy living, outdoor adventures, equity, and leadership. Past awards have ranged from $300 to $2000.

Start thinking about your ideas and consider applying! The Helping Hands Award online application opens on Dec. 13 at 7 a.m. and closes on Feb. 14

Join us on Thursday, January 30th 6pm-8pm at the Isanti Community Center, 208 1/2 1st Avenue Northwest, Isanti, MN 55040.

All are welcome! Stop by and learn about our K-13 programs in the county. Free pizza (while supplies last).

This event is great for families interested in joining 4-H, as well as those already enrolled who are looking to explore a new project area or find a club.

Save the dates for the following events. Registration info and details coming soon.

• B-BOP Overnight 2/21-2/22 at Braham Event Center. Livestock learning overnight for youth in grades 3-6.
• Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics (LQA&E) Training 2/21 5:30pm-9pm at Braham Event Center. All youth 6th grade & up must take LQA&E prior to the County Fair show in order to qualify for the State Fair & NE Livestock Show. It is valid for three fair seasons. If you are unable to attend LQA&E you can also take Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) online. YQCA is valid for one fair season. NEW in 2025: LQA&E/YQCA is no longer required to participate in the Isanti County 4-H Premium Auction.
• Project Workshop Day 3/15 8:30am-noon at Cambridge Christian School. Explore a variety of project areas with hands-on activities and crafts.

• Agenda and minutes: Auction (click here) and Animal Science (click here)
• Check out the minutes from our September meetings. There have been several rule changes and additions to the budget.
• Join us for the next meeting 1/13/25 6:30pm at the Isanti Government Center
• OR Register for the Zoom Meeting (click here)

• Agenda and minutes (click here)
• Join us for the next meeting 1/27/25 6:30pm at the Isanti Government Center
• OR Register for the Zoom Meeting (click here)

BBOP Overnight Chaperones

• Looking for 2 female and 2 male screened volunteers (21+)
• 2/21-2/22/25
• Historically 5:00pm on Friday, - noon on Saturday after all 4-H'ers have safely checked out of B-BOP. Chaperones are required to stay at the B-BOP facilities for the entire time.
  
• Read the full role description here.

Two LQA&E Lesson Teachers

• 3.5 hour commitment (includes 30 minute break)
• Friday evening 2/21 5:30pm-9pm
• No prior experience is necessary, all materials are provided, and you will have detailed lesson plans to follow.

Workshop Instructors:

• Is there a topic, game, or lesson you're interested in sharing with youth? Let us know! We are planning several workshop days this year.
• Sessions are typically 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• We have a workshop day coming up 3/15/25.

Ambassador Program Leaders

• 7-10 meetings throughout the year or as determined with 4-H staff.
• Time to assist youth leaders in planning and coordinating county events, fundraisers, and community service opportunities.
• Read the full role description here.

Shooting Sports and Wildlife Coach

• Coach weekly practices mid May - August, attend the state shoot in Alexandria in September, and provide input for project budgeting in the fall.
• Time to assist youth in selecting and preparing their equipment, honing their skills and following safety rules.
• Coaches must be fully screened volunteers and must become certified coaches (and re-certify every 7 years). All training costs are covered by Isanti County 4-H.
• Certification trainings in spring 2025

Contact Cora if you are interested in volunteering.

Let’s Talk About Disability is a five-session series designed to provide a safe place for youth in grades 6-12 to have important conversations about disability. This series demonstrates to youth with disabilities that they are valued and welcomed by 4-H and gives all youth the tools to be supportive and effective allies. It also serves to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and ideas related to disability inclusion and access in the 4-H program.

Online sessions will be held via Zoom from 6:30-8:00 PM on:

• January 9

• January 16

• January 23

• January 30

• February 6

Learn more and register here: https://z.umn.edu/Letstalkaboutdisability

Intro to 4-H video is an online course for beginners in grades 3+. Sessions will take place weekly for three weeks. This is a great place for the curious young person to start, or to improve basic skills! The workshop will focus on storytelling, how to film, shots and camera angles, editing, and incorporating music and sounds when editing. It's also a great opportunity for youth to connect with other young video creators from across the state. Youth will use tools that they have on hand at home like phones, tablets, etc.

Dates: Jan. 27, Feb. 3, and Feb. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Learn more and register.

Are you part of a livestock or animal science PDC in your county? Do you want to learn and gather ideas from others from across the state? If so, join us on Jan. 23, 7-8 p.m., for a livestock PDC kickoff webinar to get your county animal science committees off to a great start.

Members of the state 4-H animal science team will cover the basics of a PDC, its purpose, policies and rules, finances and ideas for educational experiences.

We will discuss all 4-H livestock project areas.

Learn more and register to attend the webinar!

The 4-H virtual cake decorating series is back! Join us from 6pm to 7:30pm on Mondays, Jan. 27 through Feb. 17, for project learning in cake decorating.

Four virtual sessions will be led by a professional cake decorator. Participants will learn a variety of cake decorating techniques through hands-on learning.

Session topics

• Session 1 on Jan. 27 - Buttercream basics
• Session 2 on Feb. 3 - Icing a cake and adding rosettes
• Session 3 on Feb. 10 - Valentine cookies
• Session 4 on Feb. 17 - Animal cupcakes

Audience: Minnesota 4-H youth in grades 3 and above who are interested in learning about basic cake decorating techniques

Cost: $10 per family

Register in 4-H Online by Jan. 29. Click here to learn more here.

The Central Region 4-H Catalog of Opportunities includes in-person and virtual events. Topics include outdoor adventures, photography, food, art, reptiles, writing club, and more!

Save this link, the catalog is updated throughout the year.

The 4-H Clover Update newsletter features news about Minnesota 4-H. Read the December update by clicking the link below.

Email Cora or Jennifer to reserve a kit or stop by the Extension Office in the Isanti County Government Center M-F 8am-4:30pm.

Accommodations Kit:

• This kit has been created to help strengthen our commitment to welcoming all youth – we cherish and value the diversity of humanity and believe in the power of ALL young people. 4-H strongly encourages you to utilize this kit to help foster inclusive spaces and provide simple accommodations for those engaged in our programs.
• The kit was made possible through the generous support of the Leonard and Maxine Harkness Endowment Fund at the UMN Foundation.
  
• Click here to learn more and see what's in the kit.

Calm Kit:

• This kit focuses on mental health and tools to actively build resilience in youth.
• The kit was made possible by the Bend, Don't Break Grant.
• Items include: conversation starters, a program guide, sensory fidgets, grounding activities, and more.

The Amanda Johnson Memorial Fund was established in 2023. This fund is used to provide financial assistance to Isanti County families who are being impacted by medical emergencies, house fires, and other situations.

If you or someone you know would like to apply for financial assistance, please contact the Isanti Extension Office (mnext-isanti@umn.edu) or a member of the Amanda Johnson Memorial Fund Committee (Kristi Hass & Robin Gemmill).

4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for people age 5-19. Youth choose a project that’s interesting to them and explore it with peers and caring adults. 4-H clubs are groups of youth who want to learn together and meet in every part of Minnesota.

Email: mnext-isanti@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/isanti
Location: 555 18th Avenue Southwest, Cambridge, MN, USA. We are in the Isanti County Government Center in the Extension/ Parks office. Office hours M-F 8am-4:30pm.
Phone: 763-689-1810
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isanticounty4h
Twitter: @IsantiCounty4H

Give to Isanti County 4-H: z.umn.edu/DonateToIsanti4H

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