Friday Forecast 2/2/2024

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

Dakota County 4-H staff are looking forward to offering camps, workshops, and events in the coming months. There is no better time to re-enroll and submit your dues than right now as staff are offering a FREE limited-edition Dakota County 4-H t-shirt to 4-H members. To be eligible, members must have completed their 4-H Online re-enrollment and submitted dues to the Dakota County Extension office by February 15. 4-H county membership dues of $25/member are paid every year.

Complete the Family Member Dues Payment Form 2023-24 with t-shirt sizes and send with payment by Feb. 15 to order your FREE t-shirt. Shirts will be available mid to late April. Contact Cherie if you are unsure if you paid your dues for the 2023-24 4-H year.

If you already paid member dues, you were sent an email with a link to order the free t-shirt.

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.

Explore the UMN website celebrating Black History month at Where it starts. This site features individuals and communities who continue to make Black history at the University of Minnesota and beyond, change starts wherever the powers of creativity, vision, and joy meet.

Each year, 4-H families need to show your family's intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and re-enrolling. 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 into 4-H Online to re-enroll and to review, update and submit 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.

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.

All 4-H market animals must be tagged with an official MN 4-H ear tag by the statewide market beef ID deadline of Feb. 15. This is a firm deadline with consequences if missed. A market beef animal is considered beef steer, market heifer and dairy steer born between Jan.1-Aug. 31, 2023.

To show in a registered class at the county and state fairs, your animal must have registration papers from that breed association. Registration papers are to be uploaded in 4-H Online when identifying your animals.

To do list:

1. Request and pick-up official MN 4-H ear tags from the Dakota County Extension office.

2. Tag market beef with official MN 4-H ear tag no later than Feb. 15. ALL market beef must have an official MN 4-H ear tag, even registered animals. Registered animals are also required to have a permanent tattoo.

3. Enter animal ID information in 4-H Online including uploading registration papers for animals showing in registered classes. Animal information must be entered by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 15. 4-H Online locks down after that and you will not be able to enter animal ID information. Animals not entered by Feb. 15 will be considered a late ID and will not be eligible for awards higher than a blue ribbon, the livestock auction or the MN State Fair.

Animal ID'ing in 4-H Online user guide

Market Beef Ear Tag Order Form.

4-H Beef Information Sheet

Minnesota 4-H AnSci Updates for 2024

If you have questions about the 4-H beef project, contact Jessica at reed0324@umn.edu.

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics training (LQA&E). Training will be held on Friday, June 21 from 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Dee Brother LLC in Farmington, MN. More information to come.

LQA&E training is required for any youth 6th grade and above that would take a state fair trip. It is required for youth exhibiting dairy, beef, sheep, swine, goats, llama, rabbit and poultry to complete this course every three years.

If you are unable to attend the in-person training on June 21 you have the option of completing the YQCA online training, good for one year, or attending a training hosted by another county.

All LQA&E training needs to be completed by July 26 to be eligible to accept a MN 4-H state fair livestock trip, if given the opportunity.

Contact Jessica Beissel if you have questions at reed0324@umn.edu.

The Dakota County 4-H Federation supports offering scholarships for enrolled 4-H 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.

Dakota County 4-H members who are high school seniors that will be graduating in 2024 and will be attending an accredited college, university, community college, or technical college during the fall 2024 quarter/semester are eligible to apply for the following college scholarships. Review each scholarship application for specific application requirements.

Scholarships are open to ALL enrolled Dakota County 4-H members; not limited to 4-H members involved in animal science projects.

4-H Livestock Auction Scholarship applications

Jacque Devney Memorial Scholarship application

Contact Jess Beissel with any questions at reed0324@umn.edu.

Extension development and Minnesota 4-H offer several scholarships for college-bound 4-H youth, as well as a workforce training scholarship for an adult 4-H alumni or volunteer. Over $20,000 is awarded annually through a competitive application process. Minnesota 4-H scholarship online applications are now available. Applications require two letters of recommendation, with one being from an Extension educator. Review each application for specific details on eligibility and application deadlines.

Minnesota 4-H scholarships, grants and awards

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.

Join the Science Crew in a hands-on exploration of the forces in motion. Youth will explore theme park forces, work together to complete rollercoaster engineering activities and create other exciting projects. Workshops are fun-filled events led by the Dakota County 4-H Ambassador team that feature age-appropriate programs focusing on fun, safe, non-competitive activities meant to engage youth and create new friendships. Open to Cloverbud (grade K-2) and Sprout (grade 3-5).

Workshop is Sat., Feb. 10, 9-11 a.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Registration due Feb. 8 to allow staff and the ambassador team enough time to secure and prepare workshop supplies.

Registration due Thurs., Feb. 8 in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions.

Participants will sew a small quilt top featuring a tri-colored hot air balloon. This intermediate workshop is open to youth grade 5 and older that have sewn before. Helpers will be needed for anyone who cannot work on this project independently. Instructor is Mary Lemke. A limited number of sewing machines are available to borrow if needed. Bring your working sewing machine, with neutral thread and bobbins ready to go. A part two session may be added to this workshop if participants need additional time to complete their project. Space is limited. Fabric choice selected during registration.

Workshop is Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Cost is $5 and includes a pre-cut fabric kit.

Registration due Friday, Feb. 9 in 4-H Online by the deadline. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions.

Back by popular demand! If you missed our January event, join us on Thursday, February 22. Workshop activities will be repeated from the January 27 event. Cloverbud (grade K-2) and Sprout (grade 3-5) workshops are fun-filled hands-on workshops where youth will meet new friends, learn new skills, participate in engaging activities and create exciting projects!

On Feb. 22 at this rivet-themed workshop, youth will make a homemade book and participate in other hands-on activities. Workshops are fun-filled events led by the Dakota County 4-H Ambassador team. Workshops feature age-appropriate programs focusing on fun, safe, non-competitive activities meant to engage youth and create new friendships.

Workshop is Thursday, Feb. 22, 6:00-7:15 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Registration due Feb. 16 to allow staff and the ambassador team enough time to secure and prepare workshop supplies.

Registration due Friday, Feb. 16 in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions.

Who doesn’t love pizza? Join the ambassador team in a yummy, hands-on pizza-themed workshop. Cloverbud (grade K-2) and Sprout (grade 3-5) workshops are fun-filled workshops where youth will meet new friends, learn new skills, participate in engaging activities and create exciting projects! Youth will make a homemade take and bake mini pizza and participate in other hands-on activities. Workshops are fun-filled events led by the Dakota County 4-H Ambassador team. Workshops feature age-appropriate programs focusing on fun, safe, non-competitive activities meant to engage youth and create new friendships.

Workshop is Sat., March 16, 9-11 a.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Registration due March 8 to allow staff and the ambassador team enough time to secure and prepare workshop supplies.

Registration due Friday, March 8 in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in. Contact Cherie if you have questions on 4-H Online.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions regarding the workshop.

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 and registration deadline:

• March 16; registration deadline March 8
  

• 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.

New this year, we will be holding winter indoor practice for archery, air rifle and air pistol.

Prior to participating in Shooting Sports practices, youth must be enrolled in 4-H Online and parent/guardian must have signed all firearm consents in 4-H Online. Enrolled families will receive regular communication about upcoming events.

• Air rifle/air pistol indoor practice: Feb. 5 (shortened time of 5:30-7 p.m.), Feb. 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28; 5:30-8 p.m. at the Rosemount American Legion, 14590 Burma Ave. West in Rosemount
• Archery indoor practice: Feb. 11, March 10, April 14; 2:30-4:30 p.m. at BlackHawk Middle School, 1540 Deerwood Drive in Eagan

Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) is a fun hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to youth. There may be an opportunity for a local team to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition. To learn more, contact volunteer Sara Peters at roo@charter.net.

• WHEP Meetings: Feb. 8, 20, March 7, April 4, 16; 6-7:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington

Every year, we recognize a group of exceptional youth leaders that have contributed many hours of service to our program. The Key Award recognizes your contributions to your club and the community and encourages you to grow as an outstanding citizen.

In order to apply for this award, you must meet the requirements that are detailed in the application. Applications are due to the Dakota County Extension Office in Farmington by April 1. Contact Jess Beissel with any questions at reed0324@umn.edu.

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.

The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are excited to announce that the Minnesota 4-H state leadership conference, Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO), is scheduled for June 12-15. Location to be announced as soon as confirmed.

YELLO invites youth in grades 7-13 to explore college and career areas, engage in leadership learning, participate in community activities, and build new connections with peers and adults from throughout the state! The multi-day experience involves keynote speakers, interactive workshops, community service projects, social experiences, and youth-led engagement activities.

The anticipated registration fee is $300 and transportation options are also in the works. Dakota County 4-H Federation supports youth registration costs by paying a portion of the registration fees. See the Dakota County 4-H Scholarship Details for more details.

Do you love plants and want to have some fun? Join us for virtual plant science trivia nights! Our next session is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Test your plant knowledge and learn new facts while playing interactive games. No experience is necessary, just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm! Learn more and register.

Have you ever looked out your window and wondered about the animals that share the same environment as you do? How do they stay warm in the winter? Why do some of our winged friends fly south when the weather changes and some hang around? Discover the wonderful world of wildlife around you with Wildlife Wednesdays! Series open to youth grades K-13. Workshop series is free.

Join us as we explore and uncover the fascinating lives of wildlife with wildlife experts, biologists and Master Naturalists. This series of wonder and wander will bring to youth conservation knowledge and the start of lifelong respect for the environment around us.

Sessions will be held virtually, 7-8 p.m., on Wednesdays from Jan. 31 to April 24, except Feb. 14.

Registration: Register in 4-H Online.

Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to explore agriculture around the world as we travel virtually to three countries in this self-guided program with opportunities to connect with people in other countries. A kick-off event will be held via Zoom on Monday, Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. From there, you’ll be given access to a Google site to explore a country each week. A guide will be provided to help you explore a farming practice within each country. 4-H Ag Ambassadors will check in weekly to discuss what you’re learning along the way. This year guest speakers will share more about agriculture in the countries participants are exploring. More info will be sent out upon registration. All guest speakers will be recorded for later viewing. Registration deadline: Feb. 12. Learn more and register.

Bowling 101 (project bowl that is!) is a non-competitive opportunity for younger, inexperienced members to try Project Bowl. This event will be held virtually with 4-H'ers joining a Zoom meeting and using the Kahoot! App to participate. Sessions will be offered on Feb. 29 and March 12. Learn more about Bowling 101.

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:

• 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.

Do you have some basic knowledge of video creation and editing, but want to bring your videos to the next level? Then you need to join this Zoom video class!! Designed for youth in 8th grade & older who already have a baseline knowledge of video creation and editing, this online program will dive deep into creating the videos that you always dreamed you could make! In this class, you will create a video on a theme with the guidance of a professional instructor! Cost is $15.

• Class meets March 19, March 26 and April 2 from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom.
• Registration deadline: March 13.

Register in 4-H Online.

Questions? Email Alicia at aawebb@umn.edu

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