Douglas 4-H Buzz
November, 2023 Edition
Have You Re-Enrolled in 4-H?
It is that time of year, time to re-enroll in Douglas County 4-H!
All youth and adult volunteers who have enrolled or re-enroll by October 31, are eligible for a fun prize drawing! Don’t delay enroll today!
In order to register for events, you need to be enrolled, so it is very important to do this in a timely manner! Thank you so much, we appreciate your attention to this important step.
Annual Officer Training October 30!
Our annual club officer and club leader training is Monday, October 30 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Douglas County Public Works Meeting Room (526 Willow Drive, Alexandria).
Please register in mn.4honline.com or contact the office ASAP at 320-762-3890 if you plan to attend! We need accurate registration numbers to prepare materials and provide snacks. This training is for club president, vice president, secretary and youth and adult treasurers!
Annual Volunteer Training November 27!
All 4-H youth and adult volunteers are encouraged and invited to attend our annual volunteer training on Monday, November 27 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at the Douglas County Public Works Meeting Room (526 Willow Drive, Alexandria). Leader's Council to follow.
This year’s training focuses on 4-H for All Abilities: Creating Inclusive Environments for Youth. Minnesota 4-H is committed to creating learning environments for all youth. In 2022, we explored how volunteers can help youth approach learning as an adventure and how we could develop courage to try new things by developing a growth mindset.
4-H for All Abilities: Creating Inclusive Environments for You. This is the focus for the 2023 Minnesota 4-H Annual Volunteer Training. We will focus on supporting 4-H clubs, programs, and groups to understand why working with audiences with all abilities matters, identify best practices to support the unique needs of all youth and discover tips and resources for working with audiences of all abilities.
There is no cost, and a light meal will be served. Watch for registration information to come.
Get Comfy at 4-H Pajama Party
This youth led party is a 4-H favorite for all youth grades K-3, yes your friends can come too so invite them. Cost is $5 per youth or $10 per family (cash or check payable to U of M). Play games, participate in cool activities, make crafts to bring home, experiment with science and make friends. Come in your favorite pajamas, stuffed animals and slippers optional and bring your water bottle.
Register by logging into mn.4honline.com and click events, search for Douglas County 4-H Pajama Party and click register. If you have not re-enrolled and been activated for the 2023-2024 4-H year, you will not be able to register online until that is done first. If you invite your friends to attend, they can complete this form and submit with payment to attend. Reach out if you need assistance 320-762-3890 or mnext-douglas@umn.edu. Registration deadline is Monday, November 27, space is limited!
Please submit payment prior to the event by:
- visiting us in the Douglas County Courthouse (2nd floor)
- mailing your payment to Douglas Co Extension at 305 8th Ave W, Alexandria, MN 56308
- dropping your payment in the metal courthouse drop box by south entrance (please put payment in a sealed enveloped address to Extension office).
See you soon!
Friday, Dec 1, 2023, 05:30 PM
St. Mary's Catholic School, Hawthorne Street, Alexandria, MN, USA
Do You Want to Join the General Livestock Project Bowl Team?
We have adult coaches willing to take on the exciting challenge of General Livestock project bowl. If you are interested in this fun event, please email the office ASAP at hintz010@umn.edu! This is for youth grades 3 and up interested in learning about beef, sheep, swine and meat goats and playing in quiz bowl type contests.
4-H Projects
Driven by Youth Interest
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
PERFORMING ARTS
Are you interested in the performing arts? Do you want to discover acting techniques, explore improvisation, create costumes and/or set design, learn about makeup techniques, stage lighting and more! You can perform onstage through song, dance, poetry, dramatic speech, puppetry and more.
Create an Exhibit
Once you have chosen an aspect of the performing arts to learn about and explore, you can create an exhibit for your county fair or showcase. You can select a performance-based exhibit or a non-performance based exhibit. Exhibit ideas include:
- A live performance that is evaluated for performance quality and content
- A poster or display about a previous performance in a play, a musical group, a dance competition, the possibilities are endless.
- An aspect that contributes to performing arts - lighting, costumes, electronics, set design, makeup, directing a play and or a performance, writing a skit and working with others.
- Poster or display sharing about the history of a specific performing art, or a local theater, take a field trip to a professional performance and evaluate the experience.
- Share a display about career opportunities in the performing arts including dramaturge, publicity, promotion, theatre manager, fundraising, grant writing, teaching, performing and more.
PETS
Which pets would fit into your family? How could you be an excellent caretaker? Learn about a variety of small pets, such as cats, dogs, birds, guinea pigs, iguanas, snakes or frogs. In the pet project, you can learn more about feeding, habitat, nutrition, health, things to consider when selecting your pet.
Create an Exhibit:
Once you have narrowed down your focus or choice of pet you can create an exhibit to share at your county fair or showcase: Exhibit ideas include:
- Share your live pet at a pet show
- A display or report on an aspect of raising your pet-care of, breeds, habitat, nutrition and more.
- A display or report on health needs, vaccinations, common diseases, vet care, reproduction costs.
- Build a toy or a housing unit for the pet of your choice, consider cost, safety and ability.
- Share your pets with others through service-learning activities at a nursing home, school, club meeting or other public setting.
PHOTOGRAPHY
In the photography project, you can learn about equipment basics, taking sharper pictures, lighting, and flash techniques. Explore photo composition, approaches, sequencing and evaluating photographs. Use multiple cameras and even assemble a whole production team. The possibilities are really endless. Use your imagination.
Create an Exhibit:
Once you have explored the world of photography and chosen an aspect to focus on, you can create an exhibit to share what you have learned at your county fair or showcase. Exhibit ideas include:
- A photo story of 4-7 4x6 photos around a common theme (people, landscapes, seasons, animals, events) or before and after, documenting a trip or landmarks around town.
- Exhibiting photos manipulated through photo editing programs - editing photos for clarity, color, effects and more.
- Enlarging your favorite photograph (include the original)
- A poster or display on the history of photography, cameras, film, etc.
- Creating a calendar, brochure, advertising using your photographs
- An exhibit showcasing portrait photography
- A poster or display showing knowledge of shutter speed, aperture, use of light, rule of thirds, what constitutes a good photograph.
- Research and report about careers in photography; a photojournalist, advertising, editing, event photography (weddings, senior photos), model photographer and more.
PLANT SCIENCE
In the plant science project, you can explore ag technology and how it has changed and improved farming practices, investigate how cross-pollination works or discover how plants are used other than for food. Learn the impacts certain weeds and pests can have on the farming industry.
Create an exhibit:
After exploring your area of interest in the plant science project area you can create an exhibit. Exhibit ideas include:
- A display comparing two different varieties of seed corn with research from online and farmer interviews.
- Plant a small plot comparing side by side different varieties; take photos and data to create a display or booklet with what you learned.
- A display talking about your alfalfa field from start to finish including photos (preparation, planting, cutting, bailing, sample testing, etc.)
- Take photos of the growing stages of a plant and create a display about the process.
- Create a display sharing the process of how to grade a grain sample.
- Create a book highlighting current pests in crops that crop scouts are on the lookout for.
- Bring a crop, forage or feed sample.
- Compare methods for controlling weeds in your crop-chemical versus mechanical for example.
POTATOES
Grow your own food! You might choose to grow the very useful potato. Explore the varieties of potatoes, how they differ or are the same. Research the history of the potato and how it has influenced immigration and the economy in different parts of the world.
Create an exhibit:
After you have decided on your emphasis about the potato you can create an exhibit to share your learning at the county fair or showcase.
- Display a box (fruit crate size) or clear container of potatoes that contain all the potatoes in that hill (all the potatoes one plant produced).
- Educational display illustrating diseases and control, methods of mulching and reasons or causes and effects of sun scald.
- Display a potato box, you need 6-10 potatoes of the same variety or 2-3 varieties (this year's crop) similar in size with variety identified on an information card.
- Be familiar with crop input costs and the growing process
- Research and report on the history of the potato on the economy, immigration, diet and more.
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