If your family is planning on exhibiting an animal at the 2023 fair, now is the time to start preparing. You will need to identify all 4-H animal projects; breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs, prospect calves (steers and heifers), dairy, dairy goats, meat goats, dog, horse, llama-alpaca, poultry (doves and pigeons), rabbits, sheep, and swine. Animals MUST be identified in 4-H Online by May 15, 2023. All market beef should have been identified by February 15, 2023.

Do you need a MN 4-H ear tag? Double check the MN 4-H Animal Science identification requirements table for information on ID requirements for each species. If you need MN 4-H ear tags, please fill out the Tag Request Form to order your ear tags no later than April 21 to allow staff time to coordinate your tag and tagger pick up. Taggers are available for you to check out and use.

If you have questions, please contact Rachel Rezac (for swine, dairy, goat & poultry) at 651-480-7754 or reza0027@umn.edu or Jessica Beissel (for beef, sheep, rabbit) at 651-210-0762 or reed0324@umn.edu or Cherie Frandrup at 651-480-7702 or frand004@umn.edu.

MN 4-H Animal Science Projects

It's time to start preparing for summer animal science programming. Join us on Thursday, April 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a two-part session at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington. Please RSVP by April 10 for food planning purposes.

Pizza will be served 5:45-6 p.m. with the county Livestock PDC meeting following from 6 to 7 p.m. Youth and adult attendees will discuss and plan workshops, guest presenters, and bonus trip applications. A webinar hosted by the state animal science team follows from 7 to 8 p.m.

Any youth (6th grade and up) and volunteers who has an interest in animal science programming should attend.

During the webinar they'll highlight system-wide policies and processes to strengthen the animal science program, discuss updates connected with livestock species, and offer educational resources. We hope you'll join us! Any questions contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu or Jessica Beissel at reed0324@umn.edu.

Saturday, April 15

9 a.m. - Noon

Youth Grades 6 and up

Free

Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W., Farmington

Do you like to shop for new clothes? Are you a bargain shopper? If you answered yes to these questions, then plan to attend the purchased clothing project workshop! The purchased clothing project focuses on identifying a need in your closet, finding that special piece, accessorizing it, and learning about care, costs, and how it fits into your wardrobe.

4-H’ers 6th grade and up are welcome to learn about the Purchased Clothing project (formerly called Clothes You Buy project) and how to put together an exhibit for the Dakota County Fair.

Register in 4HOnline under EVENTS by April 12. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide.

Contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu, with any questions.

Snakes get a bad rep for all the good things they do. Let us turn this around by looking at our Minnesota species of snakes to see what good they are doing. Understand why it is good to have snakes around and learn about their unique features. Interested in learning more or in need of wildlife hours for Shooting Sports and Wildlife? If so, don't miss this fun opportunity to learn more.

Join 4-H volunteer Sara Peters at Fort Snelling State Park on Sunday, April 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. for a lesson. Event open to youth Kindergarten and up. Cost is $7 for vehicle entry (one-day State Park vehicle pass) payable online in advance. Meet at Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center. Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul, MN.

Register in 4-H Online by April 13. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide.

Contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu if you have questions.

Join the fun in a hands-on workshop on Saturday, April 22 from 9 to 11:15 a.m. (note time) at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W. in Farmington. Youth will be engaged in a CSI Detective activity hosted by Science Made Fun, 4-H led crafts, games and more! Workshop is for youth grades K-2.

Registration is due Friday, April 14. Participants register for the cloverbud workshop in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. Contact Cherie if you have questions. 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.

May Cloverbuds workshop is May 20; location TBD; registration deadline May 12.

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

Join the fun in a hands-on workshop on Saturday, Saturday, April 22 from 9 to 11:15 a.m. (note time) at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W. in Farmington. Youth will be engaged in a CSI Detective activity hosted by Science Made Fun, 4-H led crafts, games and more!! Workshop is for youth grades 3-5.

Registration is due Friday, April 14. Participants register for the sprouts workshop in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. Contact Cherie if you have questions. 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.

May Sprouts workshop is May 20; location TBD; registration deadline May 12.

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

This program, led by youth leaders involved with the Horseless Horse and Horse projects, will allow youth to work with horses in a variety of ways while on the ground. Each session will include an education piece and hands on activities with horses.

What: Horseless Horse Project Meetings

Who: Youth 3rd grade and up; must be enrolled in 4-H Online

Where: Lucky U Stables, 11050 Manning Ave S, Hastings

When: April 18, May 2, 16, June 6 and 20, July 18

Time: 7-8 p.m.

Registration: Register in SignUp Genius to attend each session. Participants should be enrolled in 4-H Online signed up for the Horseless Horse project in 4-H Online. Refer to the 4-H Online enrollment for families guide for assistance.

Waiver: Participants complete waiver prior to attending.

Cost: $25 per participant; payable to Dakota County 4-H. Please mail or drop off to: Dakota County 4-H, 4100 220th Street West, Suite 101, Farmington, MN 55024 with 'HLH' noted in the memo line of your check.

Youth will be required to wear horse riding helmets when in proximity to the horses for in-person events (4-H does supply the helmets for youth to use during the practices). Dress appropriately for the weather, the barn can be chilly.

Contact Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu if you have questions or for more information.

The Dakota County 4-H Dog Project will kickoff with a Zoom meeting on Monday, April 24 at 7 p.m..

Dog training classes will begin on Monday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. and continue through August (except for holidays and Fair). Watch Friday Forecast for more details on registration and training classes. Join Zoom meeting.

Transplant seedlings and learn about native planting in Dakota County.

Saturday, April 29

10 a.m. - Noon

Grade 6 and up

Free

Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 1075 120th St W in Rosemount

Maximum of 15 youth; minimum of 5

Both a learning and service project, 4-H'ers will be working under the supervision of Sam Talbot, Extension Educator for Natural Resources, transplanting native plant seedlings. Sam works closely with the Dakota County parks department, growing native grasses and wildflowers for habitat restoration projects. He will share his knowledge of plant propagation, prairie seed collecting and cleaning, and his work with the new Bison Prairie. Participants should plan to get their hands dirty! This workshop may be of interest to youth enrolled in environment and earth sciences, outdoor adventures, forestry, conservation, or sustainability.

Sign up in 4HOnline, under Events by April 24. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide. Specific directions to the work site at the park will be shared with registrants.

Arts-In is a summertime performing arts program for youth grades 3 and above. All participants who audition are cast in the show and will learn a 30 minute original musical during encampment. Arts-In shows are filled with singing, acting, choreography and a whole lot of creative energy and fun! The shows are performed at the Dakota County Fair and, potentially, one day at the Minnesota State Fair.

Auditions: July 11; 6-8:30 p.m.

Arts-In Encampment: July 17, 19, 20; 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; July 21; 8 a.m. - Noon

(depending on the part in the show, times and dates may vary)

Cost: $50

If you have any questions please contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu or call 651-480-7758.

Dakota County 4-H Day Camp will feature a public safety theme with special guests from the Farmington Fire Department and Swat Team, K-9 Unit, Dakota County Sheriff and Dakota Electric Association. Camp will also include outdoor games (weather permitting), hands-on activities, and FUN! Reserve your spot now!

Cost is $25 and includes camp t-shirt and snacks. Registration is due May 24.

Who: Youth that have completed grades K-5, June, 2023.

When: June 21, 2023

Time: Check-in: 8-8:30 a.m. Check-out: 4-4:30 p.m.

Where: Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. West in Farmington

Registration: Register in 4-H Online by May 24, under Events. For assistance, refer to the 4-H Online event registration guide.

Cost: $25/camper. Send payment to Dakota County 4-H, Attn: Day Camp, 4100 220th St. West, #101, Farmington, MN 55024. Checks payable to Dakota County 4-H.

Contact Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu if you have questions.

Join the online event each month to hear from inspiring speakers, such as professionals in the outdoor industry, authors and youth in the 4-H Program!

Join us on April 10 as we hear the journey of Pam Wright, a professional wilderness guide in northern Minnesota and owner of Soka Outdoors, on her thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail. Registration required.

Youth in grades 3rd and up are invited to come join us virtually to discover and uncover the unknown world of seeds. We will be uncovering clues to identify a variety of seed from the different growing zones across Minnesota. Youth will use detective skills and tools to solve the Great Seed Mystery. Must be enrolled in MN 4-H and register for your kit by May 1st. There is a $5.00 fee for the kit. Learn more and register.

June 13 - 16 at Bemidji State University

Grades 7+

Register in 4-H Online by Friday, May 12

Cost: $275. There will also be an option for a $50 bus ticket; Farmington is a bus stop. (The Dakota County 4-H Federation will award 50% of the registration fee if the youth agrees to work an additional malt/food stand shift, above the required shift, during the Fair.)

Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) is a 4-H leadership conference that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors.

Youth will:

• Build and learn skills to reach goals and plan for the future.

• Explore careers, college and other topics of interest through interactive workshops.

• Develop positive connections to other youth and adults through small and large groups, workshops and other interactive sessions.

• Take health breaks to recharge and process learning.

Gopher Dairy Camp is a fun 3-day workshop for youth who want to improve their dairy cattle skills. Camp is open to all youth who have completed grades 6-9 but have not yet started 10th grade. Activities include dairy fitting and showmanship workshops, dairy showmanship contest, dairy foods workshop, and fun around the Twin Cities. Gopher Dairy Camp is hosted by the Gopher Dairy Club in cooperation with the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Project Committee and the Minnesota Livestock Breeders' Association. Cost is $75/camper.

Registration due May 5. Register and learn more.

Who: Youth 6th grade and above that would take a state fair livestock trip

When: Friday, June 23 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: Krueger Farm, 9819 Neal Ave. So., Hastings

Cost: $5 per 4-H'er; money collected at the event

Register: Deadline to register is Tuesday, June 20.

Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics (LQA&E) training is required of any youth 6th grade and above that would take a state fair livestock trip. It is required for youth exhibiting dairy, beef, sheep, swine, goats, llama, rabbit and poultry. Livestock Quality Assurance training helps youth provide excellent care for their food animals and ensure a high level of food safety to consumers. It is designed to enhance the educational experience of 4-H animals science projects. Training must be completed before your county fair.

Questions should be directed to Rachel Rezac, reza0027@umn.edu or Ann Church church109@umn.edu.

See the MN 4-H LQAE training page for additional training dates.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers loans for individual young people to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection to their participation in 4-H clubs, FFA, a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. Projects financed with an FSA youth loan need to provide an opportunity for the young person to acquire experience and education in agriculture-related skills. For more information on loan purposes and project requirements, visit the FSA website or contact your local FSA office.