4-H Newsletter title
April 2023
Join Us for 4-H Camp
Join us for 4-H Camp at Camp Patterson, July 5-7, 2023, as we attend Camp Cool!! Youth in grades 3-6 will experience a traditional overnight camp. We’ll have plenty of your favorite 4-H camp activities as well as cool new ones! No 4-H experience is required for 4-H camp.
When:
Wednesday, July 5, 1:00-2:30 pm: Camp Begins/Check-In
Friday, July 7, 4:00 pm: Camp Ends/Pick-Up
Cost: $175/camper for early bird registration (early bird registration ends April 1) or $200/camper regular cost. Registration fee includes meals and lodging for three days/two nights, supplies, and a camp t-shirt. Registration fees are non-refundable, unless camp is canceled.
Registration is open. The deadline to register is June 1, 2023, and early bird prices end on April 1st. To register, log in at https://mn.4honline.com. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at z.umn.edu/4hEvent or contact the Sibley County Extension office. Not a 4-H member yet? Not wanting to enroll in the year-round 4-H program? You will still create an account (and be approved) to register for camp in 4-H Online. Select “In Person Camp/Event” club. Select any interest of your child for projects. After approval, you will be notified and can return to 4-H Online to register for this event.
Sibley County offers to pay 90% of the registration fee for camp if it is your first time going and 75% if you have attended in the past.
Deadlines
Be sure to discuss the livestock ID dates at your club meetings. New members may not be informed of the importance of these dates:
May 15 – Deadline to add/drop projects.
May 15 – ALL other livestock ID’s due (Beef Breeding Heifer, Cow/Calf, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Dog, Llama, Horse, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine)
June 1 - Meat Goat Doe Kids
July 1 – Dairy Goat – Jr. Doe Kid
June 1 - June 30– Fair Entry open to register for County Fair
*Poultry, Pigeons and Pets do not have ID forms.
**Please remember: There are consequences for missing each one of these deadlines!
IDing Cow/Calf and Calves
Reminder, if you are ID’ing a beef cow/calf project in 4-H online and want to show the calf in its separate class at the fair, please make sure that you also create an ID for the calf (either a breeding heifer or prospect calf). Please contact the extension office if you have any questions about IDing your animal projects.
Sheep Weigh-In
Central identification for market sheep will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.. The weigh-in will take place at the Sibley County Fairgrounds in Arlington. The inclimate weather date is May 13, 2023! Please bring your Sheep ID worksheet filled out to weigh in. All animal projects MUST be identified by Monday, May 15. If you can not make it this date, please call our office at 507-237-4100. Remember: The required ear tags will be available at the weigh-in.
Growing Sibley Swine
Have you ever thought showing a pig might be a lot of fun?
Sibley County 4-H in partnership with Wakefield Pork are giving individuals the opportunity to try out the swine project and exhibit at the Sibley County Fair!
What is this program all about:
Wakefield Pork is donating production market pigs for this program at no cost to the 4-Hers!
4-Hers are responsible for the feed and housing of their projects.
There are possibilities for feed donations and housing if that is needed for the projects and 4-H families.
4-Hers enrolled in Growing Sibley Swine will have the opportunities to learn about showing a pig, feeding and proper housing, as well as being paired with a swine mentor!
These pigs will be production market pigs and will have their own class at the Sibley County Fair. They will not be eligible for the MN State Fair 4-H livestock show.
These pigs are eligible to participate in the MN State Fair FFA competition for those members that have completed 8th grade.
If you have more questions, please contact the extension office or Pam Uhlenkamp, pkuhlenkamp@gmail.com or 507-351-0463.
If interested… please fill out this google form by May 1st.
Livestock Leasing
Are you interested in showing livestock but don't have any or don't live on a farm? 4-H has several families interested and willing to lease animals to 4-H’ers to have the opportunity to be involved in livestock. If you are interested in showing Beef, Goats, Poultry, Sheep or Swine, they will mentor you to help you navigate the do's and don'ts of training, exhibiting, and showmanship about your animal. Each of the leasing families would love to see more kids have the opportunity to be involved in livestock. 4-H’ers would need to work with the leasing family on a schedule, weekly commitment to the project and cost (if there is one). Please contact the extension office to get contact information for leasing any of these animals.
Upcoming Meetings
The Animal PDC Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, May 2 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Sibley County Service Center. If you have any ideas and would like to be part of the committee, please join us!
- Sheep project members will be having a vote at the PDC meeting if they want to continue in future years with the sheep weigh-in. Please make sure to attend if you want your voice to be heard.
- Please plan on attending the next Federation Meeting on Monday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. This will be the last federation meeting before the County Fair.
4-H Scholarships
Extension Development and Minnesota 4-H offer several scholarships for 4-H youth who are pursuing post-secondary studies at accredited colleges and universities. Over $20,000 is awarded annually through a competitive application process.
We encourage eligible 4-H youth to visit the scholarship website for detailed information and applications.
Sibley County also has a scholarship available.
Please take advantage of these opportunities!
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training
All youth participating as a Minnesota State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat and llama - alpaca must have completed a livestock quality assurance and ethics training, for which there are two training options 1) a three hour in-person workshop (LQA&E) or 2) a one hour online training (YQCA). Youth completing either quality assurance training option will receive a certificate of completion. Please review the full LQA policy.
Livestock Quality Assurance training is required for all state fair exhibitors (grades 6+) and is optional for all other members grades 3+. Youth must complete the training prior to the Sibley County Fair. Contact Connie or Joleen to determine if your current LQA&E training will expire by the 2023 county fair.
Sibley County will again be working with Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, and Nicollet counties and will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 5:30-8:30 (Check-in begins at 5:15 p.m.) Johnson Hall, Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 Union Street in St. Peter. There will be no cost for members from the above counties.
Registration is open and the deadline to register is Monday, June 5, 2023. To register, log in at https://mn.4honline.com. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at z.umn.edu/4hEvent or contact the Extension office. Not re-enrolled? Re-enroll today. After your re-enrollment is approved, you will be notified and can return to 4HOnline to register for this event.
Dog Project Update
Sibley County 4-H Dog project held a kick off meeting a few weeks ago. The dog project will have practices on Thursday nights starting in Mid-May at the county fairgrounds. If you are interested in participating in the Dog Project, please reach out to the extension office for more details.
Horse Project Update
Sibley County 4-H Horse project held a kick off meeting a few weeks ago. Practices will tentatively begin on June 5th and 7th. Games will be on Tuesday nights and Pleasure/Drill team will be on Thursday nights. (Please watch for updates). If you are interested in participating in the horse project, please reach out to the extension office for more details.
Shooting Sports Update
Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO)
Mark your calendars. YELLO is the annual statewide, four-day leadership conference hosted by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors. YELLO includes educational workshops, group networking experiences, inspiring messages from nationally-recognized speakers, field trips and opportunities to contribute to the local community through service projects.
This year’s YELLO will be taking place in Bemidji, MN, at the Bemidji State University campus June 13-16. Registration is open and the deadline to register is Friday, May 12, 2023. To register, log in at https://mn.4honline.com.
Sibey County offers to pay 90% of the registration fee for YELLO if it is your first time going and 75% if you have attended in the past.
County Fair Premium Books
Once again this year the County Fair Premium Books will ONLY be online. If you would like a printed copy you can request one and pick it up at the Extension Office. We will not be mailing them out due to the expense. Once again ALL FAIR REGISTRATION will be done online. Look for more information in the upcoming weeks.
Come Join Us at the Bunny Barn
Check out these upcoming rabbit workshops! The bunny barn series offers workshops for all youth interested in rabbits. Different workshops will be geared towards beginner, intermediate or advanced rabbit members looking to dive deeper into their rabbit project. Workshops are offered April through July.
Events Through 4-H Online
There are many great events coming up that you can register for through 4-H online. Just log into your family profile and click on events. Scroll through all the options, I am sure there is something that you may be interested in. Remember if there is a cost to the event, that the Sibley County Federation has scholarships available to reimburse a portion of the cost.
Important Dates
May 2, 2023 - PDC Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. at the Sibley County Service Center
May 6, 2023 - Sibley County Sheep Weigh-In @ 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Sibley County Fair Grounds
May 15, 2023 - Food Stand Committee Meeting @ 6:00 p.m. and Federation Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. at the Sibley County Service Center
May 15, 2023 - Animal ID Deadline & Project Dorp/Add Deadline by 11:59 p.m. through 4-H Online
June 1, 2023 - Fairy Entry Opens @ 12:01 a.m.
June 6, 2023 - LQA&E Training @ 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Nicollet County Fairgrounds
June 30, 2023 - Fair Entry Closes & Potential Bidder form due @ 11:59 p.m.
July 17, 2023 - Demonstration & Food Show @ 9:00 a.m. and Clothing and Fashion Revue judging @ 12:30 p.m. at the Winthrop City Hall
July 17, 2023 - Public Fashion Revue, Share the Fun and Performing Arts @ 7:00 p.m. at the Warehouse in Winthrop (next to Tanker's Bay)