Murray County 4-H Messenger

Don't forget the Market Beef ID deadline of February 15, 2023 for beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers. With questions visit https://extension.umn.edu/projects-and-more/4-h-animal-id or contact the Murray County Extension office at 507-836-6927.

Ear tags need to be picked up prior to February 15th!!

https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in.

The Herrig family has decided to continue to offer the Adopt a Lamb and Lottery Lamb classes for 2023!

The Adopt a Lamb project is for 1st and 2nd year sheep project members. All the lambs come from the same producer and cost the same amount to buy. When the members get their lambs, they draw a number and that is the lamb they get. Help will be available to them during the summer.

The Lottery Lamb class, each member can request one lamb. The lambs all come from one producer and are very even in size. The members draw a number to see which lamb they get.

Please contact Jake or Dave Herrig if you have any questions or are interested in either class.

Trail cameras are a great way to explore wildlife habits and learn about the environment outdoors. This unique series will give youth the opportunity to use a trail camera while meeting weekly over Zoom to share their captured footage and hear from guest speakers. Participants have the opportunity to purchase an affordable trail camera if they do not currently have one.

(Participation in Zooming into Wildlife DOES count for wildlife hours towards State Shoot eligibility)

Sessions will begin on Monday, Feb. 13 and will be held weekly with the last session on March 21.

Registration deadline: Feb. 6.

Learn more at z.umn.edu/2023ZoomingIntoWildlife

Register at z.umn.edu/4-HZoomingIntoWildlife2023Reg

This virtual, hands-on and engaging experience allows participants to experiment with both science and plants. Youth in grades 3+ who are interested in diving deeper into exploring plants are invited to attend these fun science experiments with an agronomy feel.

We're currently in the middle of our winter series which will run through March. During the final few months, we'll explore how rootbeer is made and create our own edible sunflower seed gardens. We'll also explore how water moves through plants, using food coloring to see the water movement.

Youth can join at any time. Supply lists will be sent to you a week prior to the monthly virtual learning series in case you want to grab the supplies and do the activities along with the presenters - this means you should register by Feb. 13 for the February activity.

The winter series still has two months left and sessions will be held Feb. 20 and March 20 from 5 to 5:30 p.m.

Register in 4-H Online one week before the session to receive your supply list to experiment along with us. Registrations will be accepted throughout the series.

What do frogs, snakes and turtles have in common? Join us and learn more about Herpetology, the study of amphibians and reptiles.We will go undercover and discover the mysteries of our cold blooded friends as we learn how they can become one of your new 4-H projects! Hop and slither to the sessions on the following dates: February 2, 16; March 2,16,30; and April 6, 20 from 7pm - 8pm via Zoom. Registration is open and there is no deadline. For grades K -13

https://z.umn.edu/AmazingAmphibiansandRoamingReptiles

Registration is currently open and there is no registration deadline. To register, log in, or if new to 4-H, enroll, at https://mn.4honline.com. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at z.umn.edu/4hEvent

Get your food passports ready as we travel to a different country, learn about their culture and create some of their favorite meals or desserts! Our destination will be a mystery until you get your ingredient list! You don't want to miss out on this exciting food adventure! Our arrival dates for our mystery destinations are: February 14, 28; March 14, 28; April 4 and 11 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Registration is currently open and there is no deadline.

https://z.umn.edu/TastyTuesdaysPassport

Registration is currently open and there is no registration deadline. To register, log in, or if Registration is new to 4-H, enroll, at https://mn.4honline.com. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at z.umn.edu/4hEvent

Join 4-H and the Ridgewater College Veterinary Technology department on Saturday, February 11, as they give you a free in-depth, hands-on introduction into the world of animal science. The day will begin with instruction and an opportunity to perform parts of a physical examination, followed by the basics of dog grooming, anatomy and the functions of the digestive tracts, equine preventive care and an immersive campus tour! To learn more and to register by February 1st, go to z.umn.edu/JrVetKidsCamp. All youth in grades 6 and up are welcome to attend. There is a limit of 50 youth able to attend so sign up soon!

Join us on February 25th at 9am to test your agriculture knowledge in a fun game show format! Bring your own team of 4-6 youth or come as an individual (and we will form teams for you!). Come for fun and/or as a practice for the Regional Project Bowl competition in March.

Contest topics include Dairy (goat and cattle), Dog, General Livestock (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Meat Goat), Horse, Llama/Alpaca, Plant Sciences, Poultry or Rabbit. Contests may be combined depending on team numbers. Youth in grades 3 and up are welcome to attend. Location is to be determined and will be announced at a later date. Cost is $10 per person. Go to z.umn.edu/SWInvitational to register by February 15.

Project Bowl is a long-standing program in Minnesota 4-H and is the second most attended event of the year. In Project Bowl, teams of 3-6 youth build skills working and thinking together while testing their knowledge in these 4-H areas: dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, llama/alpaca, poultry, and rabbit. In 2023, Plant Science Bowl will also be available at the state contest.

There are four regional bowls, which lead to the state competition. Each has two divisions: Junior (grades 3-8) and Senior (grades 4 through 4-H graduation). Regional winners advance to the 4-H State Project Bowl. Winners at the state level in dairy, general livestock, horse and poultry go on to national contests!

Get your friends together, recruit a coach, study hard, and most of all have fun during the project bowl season!

Murray County currently has a General Livestock and a Poultry Team, we have youth interested in a rabbit team. We are also looking for coaches who would be willing to work with youth weekly to learn about the species and attend the regional project bowl March 18 in Redwood Falls. - contact Kim Hause if you would be interested.

Murray County 4-H received a very generous grant from Monogram Foods to help sponsor Murray County Community Nights. Join us February 10th from 6 - 8 pm for Family Valentines Date Night. Spaghetti & Meatball supper will be served.

The goal of Monogram Foods Loves Kids and Murray County 4-H is to teach our youth that Murray County is a great place to be a part of. Our community has a lot to offer. Families attending the community nights do not have to be enrolled in 4-H, however we hope that once they learn more about our program, they will find a home with Murray County 4-H. More information will be sent out to registered 4-H families prior to each event. If you would like to help with any of these events, please contact Kim Hause.

Save the dates for more community events sponsored by Monogram Foods and hosted by Murray County 4-H along with other community partners.

March 3, 6 - 8 pm Game and Trivia Night with walking tacos at the Murray County 4-H Building

We hope the annual fundraiser is going well for families. If you need extra sales forms you can find them on the Murray County Extension website under the annual fundraiser tab, on the Murray County 4-H app, or feel free to stop into the Extension Office and we can get you extra copies.

Fundraiser packets are due to your clubs by February 17 or when your club leader has requested it due by. Clubs must have them turned into the Extension Office by February 21.

Fundraiser Pick Up date is Scheduled for March 11, 2023! Save the date!

The family of Andrea Ruesch established a 4-H scholarship in memory of her dedication and contributions to the Minnesota 4-H program. Based on the family's belief in positive youth development, the focus of this scholarship is on demonstrated learning through hands-on experience and using what you have learned to help others (youth leadership).

This is a one time $1,000 scholarship form 4-H members who are high school seniors or first-year college students. They must currently be enrolled in one of the counties listed: Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock and Watonwan.

Application is due March 1, 2023

To apply for the scholarship or for more information please follow the link. https://extension.umn.edu/4-h/4-h-scholarships-grants-and-awards#andrea-ruesch-regional-4-h-scholarship-2042663

What adventure will you choose?

Learn more about 4-H outdoor adventures by exploring these four project areas on your own time. Each of these topics will guide you through fun activities you can do outside. Open to all, but geared towards youth in grades 5-9

Into the outdoors

Birding

ATV safety

Exploring the forest (coming soon)

to learn more visit https://extension.umn.edu/projects-and-more/4-h-choose-your-outdoor-adventure

Due to our prolonged sentence in Facebook Jail we recommend downloading the Murray County 4-H App and/or checking out our website to stay up to date on everything. This is where you will find the most up to date information. We may start sending out newsletters twice a month as well to keep our families up to date with information. A link to both the Murray County 4-H app and Murray County Extension website are listed below!

Murray County Extension Website

Murray County 4-H App

This winter and spring, Extension's family-focused webinars support greater health, resilience and well-being for all.

Join one or more of these free webinars to learn more about shopping and cooking, wellness and recovery, making your home healthier and much more.

Webinars on how to save money, manage debt and stay on a budget will be available in Spanish.

Share these opportunities with friends, family, co-workers, providers, networks and program participants. Visit Extension courses and events to find additional offerings from all Extension program areas.

Extension webinars are offered via Zoom. Here’s a resource on how to use Zoom.

The UMN Wellbeing Program, through the Office of Human Resources, is offering 200 well-being points per webinar for employees and spouses covered by the University's medical insurance.

The Murray County Extension Office will be closed on Monday February 20th for President's Day.

Murray County 4-H Ambassador Meeting February 5 from 1:00 - 3:00 in the Courts Building Meeting Room. Making Valentines gift bags for Senior Residents.

Murray County 4-H Community Event Spaghetti and Meatballs date night - no date needed. February 10 6 - 8 pm

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County

Email: hausek@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/murray
Location: 2848 Broadway Avenue, Slayton MN USA
Phone: 507-836-1144
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murraycounty4h

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