Douglas 4-H Buzz
August, 2023 Edition
Fair Season is Soon Upon Us!
The Douglas County fair is just around the corner. For 4-H'ers, county fairs are not just fun annual events. Every summer, tens of thousands of 4-H'ers take part in Minnesota county fairs. When they show their exhibits, they are demonstrating the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year. Getting ready and participating in fairs teaches life skills such as problem solving, decision making, project management, communications and public speaking. County fairs not only make great memories, they help 4-H youth grow into successful adults.
It's Not Summer Without 4-H Daycamps!
Looking for fun learning experiences for your K-3rd graders this summer (grade completed), Douglas County 4-H has you covered with a variety of activities and learning opportunities. Open to 4-H members and friends, capping each camp at 20 participants.
Friday, August 18 - Discover County Fair at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
Camp run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., transportation is on your own. Youth bring their own sack lunch for noon meal. Cost is $ 5 per camp (cash or check to U of M) paid to Extension office the Monday prior to camp.
Visit mn.4honline.com, login to your profile, select events and search for daycamp of interest; you will need to register for each camp separately. For questions or assistance registering, please contact the Extension office at 320-762-3890. We hope to see you there!
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training Required for State Fair Animal Science Participation!
All youth participating as a State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat, and llama - alpaca must complete a livestock quality assurance training. All in-person trainings have taken place so the only option now available is to complete a 1 hour on-line training (YQCA). Youth completing the training will receive a certificate of completion.
· Certification is required for state fair grade/age eligible youth prior to their home county fair, the deadline for Douglas County is Monday, August 14.
· The training accommodates multi-levels of learning for all ages. The level of training required is determined by the grade/age of the youth at the time the training takes place.
Minnesota 4-H youth are required to participate in this training to be eligible for participation in the Minnesota 4-H State Fair shows. Participation in the training will promote responsible care of animals, help youth make informed decisions in animal care, and ensure that 4-H members understand the commitment to providing safe food products to consumers. Douglas County is not hosting an in person training this year.
Douglas County 4-H at the Fair & Premium Books
County Fair Cleanup - Monday, August 7 from 6-7:30 PM
All families are invited to help clean up the fairgrounds prior to the county fair. There is something for everyone to do; we assist the fairboard by cleaning buildings. Clubs are assigned to buildings, please bring rags and buckets; cleaning solutions provided.
- Erickson Pavilion-Carlos Happy Helpers & Independents
- 4-H Food Stand-Chippewans & Moses and Aaron
- Horse Barn and Crows Nest-Christina Lakers, Hoofbeats and horse project families
- Echo Press Building (open class)-Liberty Livewires & Fancy Farmers
- DIY Building(open class)-Working Wonders & Spruce Hill Rangers
- 4-H Exhibit Building-Lake Mary Troopers, Moe and Go Bees
Task lists and staff are available to guide you.
Cool treats are served after cleanup, come and join the fun!
4-H Leader's Council - Monday, August 7 at 7:30 p.m.
County Fair Camping and Admission Tickets!
There are opportunities to purchase admission tickets and secure a camping spot for 4-H exhibitors. These are through the Douglas County Agricultural Association and available at https://www.dcmnfair.com/p/tickets . 4-H members who exhibit at the fair and are age 11 and up receive an admission pass at the 4-H Exhibit Building Monday, or Tuesday of fair week. If you choose not to exhibit, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A PASS!
County Fair Goat T-Shirts Are Back!
Goat t-shirts are available for youth and adults who want to show their support for the goat project. Cost for each shirt is $ 17. Youth sizes available in small, medium and large. Adult sizes available are small, medium large and extra-large. All orders need to be made on this form by July 30. T-shirts will be available for pickup on Monday, August 14 at the fair, please bring cash or check (payable to Douglas County 4-H) payment when you get your shirt.
Silent Auction at County Fair for Alzheimer's Research
The Working Wonders 4-H Club is sponsoring a silent auction to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Research. Please consider making an exhibit to donate. Auction items can be made by 4-H members, clubs and/or alumni! Sample auction items: fine arts and crafts, quilts, jewelry, plants, fishing lures, bench, shelf, or clothing items. Live rabbit or processed animals can be up for auction as well! For more information refer to the back of your premium book!
4-H Club Food Stand & 4-H Building Shift Schedules
Animal Science Interviews
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. For more information, please refer to page 42 of your premium book. Interviews are held Monday, August 14 from 1-7 p.m. in the Erickson Pavilion.
You can sign up for interviews, first come first serve basis at:
You Can Help at the County Fair!
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.
Food Stand Discount Cards & Cashiers
Each club is asked to provide a youth leader or adult to serve as an extra cashier if you are scheduled during the afternoon or evening shifts. They should be able to attend training on Monday, August 7, during fair cleanup.
Family discount cards are sold Monday, August 14 and Tuesday, August 15 until 7:00 p.m. in the food stand.
$50 card for $42.50
$100 card for $84.00
$150 card for $124.50
$200 card for $164.00
We are partnering with Pope Douglas Solid Waste to provide traditional and organic recycling at the food stand. Please assist customers in recycling properly!
Hiring Now for Youth Food Stand Cashiers
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:
- 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!
Details of the cashier opportunity:
- Each cashier is required to come to computer cashier training on Monday, August 7 during pre-fair cleanup and/or Saturday, August 12 TBD.
- Cashiers are required to cashier a minimum of four 4-hour shifts over the course of the fair week.
- A minimum of six cashiers are selected (maybe more.)
- A promotional t-shirt and/or cap are provided to wear during shifts and for you to keep.
- Award for the position is a flat rate of $100.
4-H Camp at Smokey Timbers this Fall
Youth will participate in fun activities and games, discover the outdoors and explore the many opportunities 4-H has to offer. Stay tuned for details including how to register coming soon.
4-H Projects
4-H believes that youth learn best by doing. That's why all 4-H'ers are encouraged to participate in hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture, and civic engagement. Youth can concentrate on one project area, or they can try as many as they like.
Driven by Youth Interest
Youth drive their own choices. As in the 4-H pledge, they use their:
Head to engage actively in learning.
Heart to demonstrate caring for others and their own learning.
Hands to share their experiences with others.
Health to experience success and learn to support their family, community, and world.
Project work can be overwhelming-where to begin, how to get started, what should I do are FAQ’s surrounding project work. Some project areas are easier to figure out than others. Watch this space in future newsletters for project information and ideas.
4-H Exhibits
A 4-H exhibit is something that 4-H'ers can make and show at the fair or other showcase event to demonstrate what they have learned in the project area.
Learn all about home environment, from decorating a room and arranging furniture to landscaping, interior design, housing, architecture, furnishings, repurposing furniture, and more.
Create an Exhibit
As you explore all of the facets of home environment, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- Paint or refinish a piece of furniture, reupholster, or cover furniture with before and after pictures
- Repair, restore, repurpose an item for the home
- Description, diagrams/photos, samples and cost of redecorating or remodeling plan
- Home organization or functionality
- Explore careers such as interior design, construction, architecture, and real estate.
- Showcase how what you created enhances the home
HORSE RELATED/HORSELESS HORSE
This project expands on owning a horse and allows youth to explore other aspects of owning a horse in a static/general exhibit form. Horse related is for youth who own a horse and are in the horse project. Horseless horse is for youth who do not own a horse but want to learn more about owning a horse. The exhibits might be similar.
Create and exhibit:
After researching all things horse, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- Exhibits may be a model, poster, scrapbook, essay or display about something you learned about horses.
- Breeds of horses, differences, similarities, characteristics
- How to take care of a horse
- Make or refurbish a piece of horse equipment such as restoring a saddle
- Researching the different pieces of tack and their purpose
- History of horses in our country or throughout the world
INDOOR GARDENING
Houseplants have many uses in the home, investigate what plants grow best indoors, and how to take care of them to keep them looking healthy!
Create an exhibit
After studying the topic of indoor plants, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- All living indoor plants are to be exhibited in this project area including indoor fairy gardens
- Potted plant, or flowering plant with common and botanical name
- Foliage, terrariums, and/or hanging plants that are healthy and vigorous
- Explore the health benefits of having house plants in your home
- Investigate common pests and how to control them for house plants
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
Do you like to create items out of wood or metal, use various power tools to make furniture, explore welding and working with different metals, then this is the project area for you.
Create an Exhibit
After discovering and practicing working with wood and metal, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- Display on properties, uses or processing metals
- Create a metal structure by cutting, bending, and assembling metals
- Research different tools used in metal work
- Explore safety guidelines and practices for metal and woodworking
- Display on properties, uses or processing wood or wood alternatives
- Create items from wood using techniques of wood carving, joinery, carpentry, wood burning or other wood manipulation techniques
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
In this project area you explore using plants to beautify the world around you in a purposeful and well-planned way. Learn about plants that work well in different landscapes and the space and place you are landscaping. Once you have explored the many facets of landscape design, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase.
Exhibit ideas include:
- Design a community landscape plan. Report on the process you took, who you worked with and how it turned out.
- Make a homeowner’s landscape plan. Explain the choices you made.
- Make a diagram of your plantings and explain why.
- Landscape a nature trail
- Plant and grow a lawn from scratch
- Explore a lawn care business
- Plan and build a playground
NEEDLE ARTS
If you enjoy working with your hands to create items by knitting, crocheting, embroidery, crewel, counted cross stitch to name just a few techniques of needlework. Explore tools and materials used to create works of art or useful items.
Create an Exhibit
Once you have mastered or learned about a needlework technique, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- Any item made using a needle arts technique-knitting, crocheting, cross stitch, embroidery, hardanger, weaving, latch hook, felting and more
- Comparison and evaluation of materials, supplies or accessories used for a needle arts technique
- Poster or display comparing different techniques of a particular needle art or showing how to care for your project supplies.
- Story, poster or display about a needle arts heirloom from your family or local history museum.
Jodi Hintzen at hintz010@umn.edu or Jackie Kokett at jkokett@umn.edu
Email: mnext-douglas@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu/douglas
Location: 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN, USA
Phone: 320-762-3890
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNDouglasCounty4H/
Twitter: @UMNExt