Hi, I’m Callie Taveirne and I am very excited to be the 4-H summer intern this summer for Douglas County. I just finished my second year at Concordia college as a pre-dental student. I am majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and business. In my free time I like spending time with friends and family and love being outdoors, at the lake, hiking, reading, and spending time with my pets.

This summer I will be working on summer day camps for K-2nd grade children, a mystery trip for grades 6-9 and introducing a new event for kids in grades 3-5. I will also be at Woodland Elementary School for the summer Compass program working in the school garden. This summer, I will also bring the Science Academy program to Woodland for a day focusing on interactive science education. Science Academy is a science outreach program I am a part of at my college.

If you spot me at the fair or Fashion Revue, don't hesitate to stop by and say hello—I'd love to chat about all things 4-H and beyond!

Lessons will be held on Mondays or Tuesdays. When registering, please indicate what night works best for you; we will either alternate between Mondays and Tuesdays or pick the night most can attend.

Lessons start the week of June 3 from 6-8 p.m. Anyone interested in showmanship, pleasure & horsemanship skill development, grades 3 and up, are encouraged to attend! Lessons are held at the Dan Neller Horse Arena at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. There is no cost to participate.

To register, visit mn.4honline.com, login, select events on the left and search for Douglas County 4-H Horse Riding Lessons. You may refer to this event registration guide if interested https://z.umn.edu/eventguide. If you need assistance registering, please contact the Extension office. Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 29.

We need youth 6th grade and up to serve as day camp counselors for our K-2nd graders! If you are interested, please fill out form. Camp dates are:

• July 10-Curtis A. Felt Memorial Park, Alexandria (Art Adventure)
• July 17-Lake Osagi Park, Osakis (Science Adventure)
• July 24-Brandon Lions Park, Brandon (Animal Adventure)
• July 31-Legacy of the Lakes Museum, Alexandria (Water Adventure)

Join us at iTry Studios, 518 Broadway Street, Alexandria for a fun experience of making your very own bracelet. These can be exhibited under the craft project area. So, grab a friend and join the fun! Cost is $7.00 per youth (class size is limited to ten youth per session).

Grades 3-5 make a stretch bead bracelet.

Tuesday, June 25 from 4-6 p.m.

Grades 6-8 make a macrame and bead bracelet

Wednesday, June 26 from 4-6 p.m.

To register, visit mn.4honline.com and login or create a profile, select events on the left and search for Douglas County 4-H Bead Class. There are two classes; one for grades 3-5 and one for grades 6-8, please use grade completed. You may refer to this event registration guide if interested https://z.umn.edu/eventguide. If you need assistance registering, please contact the Extension office.

Animal science interviews are another way for youth to share what they know about their animal science exhibit. There are two age divisions: junior (grades K-5) and senior (grades 6 and up.) 1st and 2nd place medals are awarded in each age division of each species; beef, dairy, goats, horse, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine. Horse interview placings are assigned points to count towards high point scores. In beef, dairy, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine senior interviews, a state fair trip is awarded through the interview process, allowing youth to participate fully in a state fair animal science experience. Interviews are held Monday, August 12 from 1-7 p.m. in the Erickson Pavilion.

You can sign up for interviews, first come first serve basis at:

Junior Interviews

Senior Interviews

All Horse interviews

Any exhibit showcased at the county fair must be pre-registered in our county fair registration system. Please note - we have moved our county fair registration deadline up to Monday, July 8, so start thinking about that deadline now! Some helpful tips to make the deadline:

• Read your premium book! This resource has all the details you need! You should have received your premium book in the mail already; these were mailed Friday, May 17.
• Share this date with your 4-H'er(s). Start conversations early with your kids and start thinking ahead to what exhibits they want to bring to the fair and start gathering information.
• Set a reminder or alarm in your phone for July 8 or maybe even the week prior. Don't wait until the last minute, get organized now!
• Put this date in your virtual calendar if you use one.
• Circle the date on your paper calendar in big bold red ink!

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.

Help wanted! 4-H'ers entering 7th grade or higher are encouraged to apply for a cashier opportunity at the 4-H Food Stand. We are in need of enthusiastic and responsible youth to run our cash registers during the course of the fair. Training on the use of our computerized cash register system is provided prior to operations. Click here to apply. Benefits of the cashier opportunity include:

• Learn and practice customer service skills
• Learn and practice how to properly handle money in a retail situation
• Provide experience for future job opportunities
• Assist in a meaningful way to raise funds for Douglas County 4-H
• Have fun

Sign up available June 1 to camp at the Douglas County Fair! Camping is organized by the Douglas County Agricultural Organization (fairboard). Visit dcmnfair.com to get your spot.

The more time I spend with young people growing up on farms and the more I learn about their plans for their futures, the more enthusiastic I am to use the tools I understand to carry their stories and experiences to a broader audience - R.J. Kern.

Artist Biography - R.J. Kern (b 1978) is an American artist whose work investigates ideas of home, ancestry, and a sense of place. His portraits focus on intimate, interdependent relationships of people, animals, and landscape as a means of exploring how ancestry shapes identity and how myth intertwines with personal history. His camera has led him from an inquiry into his lineage in the farming communities of Scandinavia and Ireland to the examination of similar communities near his home in Minnesota. Increasingly, his attention has been captured by the next generation of young people, who may or may not be the stewards of rural communities and economies in the future. Visit https://www.rjkern.com for more information.

Come, listen and learn at the Douglas County Fair (4-H Exhibit Building) brought to you by the

Douglas County Agricultural Association in partnership with Douglas County 4-H.

• Wednesday, August 14 at 12:30 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "On Being a National Geographic agricultural photographer"
• Wednesday, August 14 at 4:30 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "The Unchosen Ones: Advice for 4-H Competitions & Life Skills Learned in 4-H"
• Thursday, August 15 at 1 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "On Being a Commemorative Artist for the Minnesota State Fair"
• Thursday, August 15 at 4 p.m. - Mr. Kern presents "The Unchosen Ones: Advice for 4-H Competitions & Life Skills Learned in 4-H"

There is no cost to the presentation, other than admission to the Douglas County Fair. Come check it out!

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 (details to come).

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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