National 4-H Week: October 6 - 12

October 7: Fall Afterschool Programming begins!

October 7: Annual Volunteer Training (6:00 PM) - Virtual

October 22: Annual Volunteer Training (7:00 PM) - Virtual

October 26: Blankets for Santa's Closet

October 31: Charter Deadline - Please have your charter, Secretary and Treasurer books to the office for review. 4-H Records are also due

November 15: Volunteer Renewal - if you completed your Safety of Minors training on or before September 15, 2022, you will need to renew by November 15.

November 25: Livestock PDC Meeting - Virtual

November 28: Extension Office Closed - Thanksgiving

December 22: Tentative Cloverbud County Meeting

December 25: Extension Office Closed - Christmas Day

October 7 at 6:00 PM

October 22 at 7:00 PM

Register below!

November 25, 6:00 PM

Items discussed:

Decisions on show schedule, showmanship awards, update on sponsorships, start to plan any workshops, Blue Ribbon Auction discussion

Zoom link: https://umn.zoom.us/j/92578738500?pwd=i2HGdgmpn7mTFBY8lEP5xoX6T5So96.1

Tell your story using photography!

There are two different areas in photography, elements of photography and photo manipulation.

Elements of photography: focuses on what makes a good photograph (composition, light, shutter speed, color depth of field, leading lines, etc.)

Photo manipulation: focuses on using photography to show creatively edited photos and how photography is used in everyday life.

In the photography project you can:

• Learn about equipment basics, taking sharper pictures, lighting and flash techniques
• Explore photo composition, approaches, sequencing and evaluation photographs.
• Use multiple cameras and even assemble a whole production team!

Minnesota 4-H is hosting a 3 part series on photo manipulation. This series is virtual and is free to all 4-H members! Click on the link below!

National 4-H Week is the second week in October, and we are so excited about it!

During the week, we will be doing a few different activities on Facebook! Each day will have a different theme to help us think about our experiences, reminisce the learning and leading that happened and help others to join 4-H! Check out the Spirit Week themes below! Be sure to comment, like and share pictures!

Along with Spirit Week, we will also be doing a photo challenge! This is an awesome opportunity to share things about 4-H through pictures! Check out the photo challenge themes below! Be sure to like and share pictures each day!

Below is a form attached for a "Wearables Challenge" This is a fun competition that you can do to help celebrate 4-H week!

Renville County 4-H has also partnered with a few local businesses for National 4-H Week!

Please be sure to stop in at these businesses and order their 4-H Specials!

212 Hub Nutrition - Renville

Catch Nutrition - Buffalo Lake

Discover Nutrition - Olivia

Sweet Spot Bake Shop - Fairfax

We will be offering 4-H Afterschool Programming at BLHS, BOLD & RCW this fall! There are two different programs:

Clover Adventures: youth in grades K-2

• Explore plant & animal science, culture diversity & traditions through pumpkins, turkeys and Christmas!
• Create take home materials (crafts), science experiments, food and much more!
• Thrive in Renville County 4-H

DATES: 3:00 - 4:30

• BLHS: 10/7, 11/4, 12/2
• BOLD/St. Mary's: 10/14, 11/11, 12/9
• RCW: 10/21, 11/18, 12/16

Clover Explorers: youth in grades 3-5

• Explore Edison robots, programming and much more!
• Create programs to operate your robots & compete in challenges with other groups
• Thrive in Renville County 4-H

DATES: 3:00-5:30

• BLHS: Tuesdays starting 11/19 through 12/10
• BOLD/St. Mary's: Thursdays starting 10/31 through 11/21
• RCW: Tuesdays starting 10/8 through 10/29

Click the link below for program dates, registration and more!

October 7 (6:00 PM) and October 22 (7:00 PM)

As adults we are supporting the growth of our youth into strong leaders. It is important for us to recognize where we are empowering youth to be leaders now, not just in the future. We are responsible for making space for their voice in all of our programs so they can learn, grow and flourish. During this training we are going to reflect on our personal beliefs about youth voice, our behaviors in how we show up in youth adult partnerships and learn about the essential ingredients in strengthening youth voice and youth adult partnerships in our program.

The goals of this session are to:

• CENTER the vision of 4-H where “Youth & Adults Learn, Grow, & Work Together as Catalysts for Positive Change”

• DEFINE youth voice, youth-adult partnership, and understand research behind youth participation

• REFLECT on our beliefs, behaviors and ways of being in order to TAKE ACTION towards the 4-H vision

Each club must have a minimum of 2 volunteers from each club, project, activity or event attend this event on behalf of their group.

The below dates are the only two dates for this training. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ashle.

Statewide Webinar Information

The Minnesota 4-H Volunteer Systems team is offering two statewide webinars. The same content is being offered on both dates. You need to attend only one.

• October 7 at 6:00 pm

• October 22 at 7:00 pm

Each webinar is scheduled for 90 minutes. The registration link is the same for each date.

October is club chartering month! what and exciting and busy time of year! The excitement of planning out different events, fundraisers and meetings coupled with the excitement and business of harvest.

Club charters are an important part of the 4-H program and serve a s a wonderful tool to help make sure every club has a successful year!

Below are some helpful links and attachments for planning and leading a club!

Secretary & Treasurer books: due October 31 as well

These committees are open to adults and youth! Below is a list of standing committees that we have, with a brief explanation of them.

• Livestock Committee: is responsible for organizing the livestock shows and volunteers during the fair as well as organizing educational workshops throughout the year. Membership is open to any 4-H members and adult volunteers.

• Food Stand Committee: is responsible for the food stand planning and operation during the Renville County Fair.

We also have an additional committee to begin doing some research for a Blue Ribbon Auction. This committee will start with doing some research and possible development on an auction and see what the future could look like for Renville County 4-H.

If you, or anyone in your family is interested in serving on any of these committees, please fill out the form below, or email Ashle (benson18@umn.edu).

Check out all of the awards that you can nominate 4-H'ers, businesses and volunteers for!

These award applications are due to the Extension office by November 15!

The 4-H year ended Sept. 30 however, you can reenroll for the 2024-2025 Program year starting on September 15!

Login to 4HOnline and review, update and submit the following information:

• Your family's contact and demographic information, including club, school and grade.

• Each family member's health and emergency contact information.

• Project areas of interest for this coming year.

• Parental consent is required for youth participating in shooting sports/wildlife programs.

You can login to 4-H Online to complete the re-enrollment process after Sept. 15. This guide has more information.

If you have any questions about re-enrolling or any other aspect of 4-H involvement, call the office at 320-523-3713.

Thank you for volunteering with Minnesota 4-H in program year 2023 - 2024. We hope you will join us to continue offering learning and leadership opportunities for Minnesota youth in your community!

Each year on Sept. 15, Minnesota 4-H marks the beginning of the volunteer renewal period (in preparation for the new program year on Oct. 1). On Sept. 15, all volunteers who were ‘Approved’ in program year 2022 - 2023 will be moved to a ‘Not-Enrolled’ status in 4-H Online. If you completed the volunteer application and screening process or volunteer renewal process prior to Sept. 15, 2021, additional action will be needed.

• If you need to renew as a volunteer, you will receive an email communication from 4-H staff with instructions for completing renewal. Please complete the renewal steps by Nov. 15 to restore your ‘Approved’ status.

• If you do not need to renew as a volunteer, you will receive an email communication from 4-H staff with a notice that 4-H staff will manually update your status to ‘Approved’ in 4-H Online. You will receive an automated notification from 4-H Online once this status is restored. Remember, eligibility to volunteer does not mean a commitment to volunteer! Contact your local 4-H Extension educator if you wish to discontinue your volunteer service.

Additional information about volunteer renewal is available from the 4-H Volunteer Resource Center.

The end of the 4-H year is fast approaching, which means 4-H records are due!

The best time to start on your records is at the beginning of the year, or as soon as you know what project areas you are taking to the fair!

We understand that project records are not the fun part about 4-H. However, record keeping is something that you will do your entire life. Maybe this is in the form of taxes, feed records, breeding/genetic records, or even invoice records that you have to keep because you own your own business. Regardless of where you turn as you get older, record keeping will always be there. 4-H Project Records are a great way to start practicing now!

Below is a link for the project records. Cloverbuds will just have the one record to fill out. All other youth will need to fill out a participation summary and a project record for each project area. There are 2 level of records for youth, basic and experienced. It is up to the youth and their parents/guardians to select which one suites them best. We would suggest the basic is for those who are in grades 3-5 or are only 1 or 2 years into a project area. Youth who have been in a project area for 3+ years should fill out the experienced record.

Records are due to your club leaders.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Extension office!

Over the Renville County Fair, Nicole Brenny Creative was able to snap lots of great pictures of our 4-H youth!

The pictures that are linked below are free to all 4-H families. However, if you would like a higher resolution, water marks removed, or any editing done, please see the image below for her price and contact her to order yours today!

A letter from the photographer:

"Hello families of 4H,

It's your photographer Nicole Brenny. Thank you so much for having me come to take photos of you. I had such a wonderful time and I am very grateful!

Where to purchase photos: You are welcome to have a low resolution, watermarked version of your photos free of charge. If you would like to order a non-watermarked version you may do so at my website. I have created 3 galleries for the 3 different days I was at the fair. They are linked below. A watermark appears on the photos when you are viewing them in the shop, but WILL NOT be on any purchased download or print :)!

Aug 7: https://nicolebrenny.pic-time.com/uEVi0lvhHdJ3q

Aug 8: https://nicolebrenny.pic-time.com/RHNB64W4BP0ON

Aug 9: https://nicolebrenny.pic-time.com/YMx7UWDYvua0X

Printing Options: You have many different options for digital downloads and prints. You are welcome to buy the high resolution digital download to make the print yourself, but I highly recommend the professional lab I have chosen within my shop. You can order your prints from my website and get them shipped directly to you.

If for whatever reason you are searching for a professional lab that is nearby, the closest one to you that I have tested and can recommend is Photoworks in Marshall, MN.

How you can use the photos: All of the photos shared to the families including the free watermarked ones as well as the unwatermarked images available for purchase are meant for personal use only and cannot be used commercially, like to promote a business. If for whatever reason you would like to purchase a commercial license to promote your farm or business you are welcome to email me and we can chat: hi@nicolebrenny.com

Touch-ups: I am able to do touch ups if you would like. These include simple touch-ups like blemishes, flying hair, etc. They will cost between $5-$10. If you would like anything touched up, email me first with a screenshot of the image and your request. You will submit the small fee and once your retouched image is ready I will email you a link to a new gallery where you can purchase it.

Final thoughts: It was a great time taking photos of you all! I found the Renville County community to be awesome. I really hope you enjoyed the fair and that you have fun looking through the photos. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have: hi@nicolebrenny.com

I am also looking to take more photos! If you would like a photographer for an event, wedding or special occasion please keep me in mind. I also do portraits and am currently booking for senior portraits. Please let me know if you'd like a spot on the list! Just email or call to book 6122199192 or hi@nicolebrenny.com

I will also be keeping clients and future clients up to date via my newsletter. Please be sure to sign up for it! I will send out newsletters about special sales and promotions there: https://nicolebrenny.com/newsletter-sign-up

Thank you again and be sure to go to my Facebook page to tag all of your friends, there are some great moments in those photos: https://www.facebook.com/nicolebrennycreative

Also, please tag my page if you post any of my photos up :)!

Welcome October! The leaves are changing, harvest is beginning and the excitement of one season coming to an end, and another right around the corner is among us!

This is a very busy month for many of you, I encourage you all to attend your club meetings and help to plan out your 4-H year!

I encourage you all to work with the youth to set your club charter. This is a great opportunity to amplify youth voice when setting your goals, monthly meetings and fundraising.

If you plan to do any fundraising throughout the 2024-2025 program year, please let me know. There are specific guidelines that we have to follow with fundraising.

When you are planning different events for the year, please refer to the different activities that 4-H is allowed to host and participate in. (linked below)

Club charters, Secretary & Treasurer books are due the the Extension office by October 31.

I would also like to encourage all of you to participate in a committee! Most of the committees meet about 4-5 times per year. These are a great way to get to know other Renville County 4-H families, amplify youth voice, and have a hand in change! Please check out the section above if you are interested in helping with any committees!

Again, thank you for all of your help over this past year as I continue to learn about Renville County 4-H and what makes it so great! I look forward to seeing all of your goals, plans and exciting opportunities for this next year!

Have a safe October and safe Harvest!

Good luck to all of you who participate in athletics!