April
Family Newsletter - April 8, 2021
Remember you must be enrolled in 4-H to participate! There are links at the end of this newsletter with more information about enrollment. If you have any problems with registrations or printing forms or need more information on enrollment please contact our office at 430-6800 or email mnext-washington@umn.edu
Please pay your membership fee
Thank you for enrolling in Washington County 4-H, now let's get you active!
Some of you enrolled a long time ago while others may be just today. Either way, your current status says "awaiting approval". The reason it says that is because Washington County has a yearly enrollment fee of $25.00 per member (including Cloverbuds) or $100 max per family for 4 or more children. We ask that you please send payment to our office address listed below or make an appointment.
Checks should be made out to Washington County 4-H and sent to the following address:
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
**For those using online banking, please be sure to include Washington County 4-H as checks made out to just Washington County go directly to the property tax office**
We don't want anyone to miss out so please just let us know if you need a scholarship for enrollment. You will find the scholarship link at the end of this newsletter. If you are looking for additional information or are no longer interested in 4-H, please let us know so we can take you off our email list.
Washington County Extension has a new website!
Adult Volunteers Needed!
Looking for a Club Leader!
We are in search of a new Club Leader or Co-leaders for the Valley Shamrocks 4-H Club! Valley Shamrocks has been part of the Washington County 4-H program for many years. Our office has resources and would assist anyone or a group of adults willing to step up to take on the leadership role of this club. If you are interested, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
Shooting Sports Leader Certification - April 10
Washington County 4-H Shooting Sports program is in need of Certified Trainers to work with our 4-H youth. Minnesota 4-H requires all Trainers to be ‘certified’ through the MN 4-H Program. There are various roles that we could use extra help with; Trainer, Coordinator, and/or Wildlife Lead.
MN 4-H is offering another one-day training April 10th from 9 am - 5 p.m. in Redwood Falls, MN. Here's the link for registration: https://z.umn.edu/SSW-ATVLeaderTrainingRedwoodFalls Disciplines offered are Archery, Muzzleloading, Shotgun, Rifle/Pistol, and ATV. DEADLINE to register is April 1. A confirmation letter will be sent to all participants with additional details. There is a limit of 13 participants in each discipline, so register early!
In order to attend this training, you must be:
1. Screened active adult volunteer. To become a screened volunteer, complete the following steps at; https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/4-h-volunteer/apply-or-renew/apply
2. Youth members - 9th grade and above - active - re-enrolled in 4Honline
3. Approval by local county extension educator (emailed to chri1420@umn.edu)
4. Adults - New discipline need to have completed step 1 & step 2 of online videos prior to training (Step 1 approximately 5 hours, step 2 approximately 50 minutes). Information and registration is at this website.
5. Adults - Re-certification in discipline - complete step 2 of online video prior to training (approximately 50 minutes).
6. Payment for in person training - $45 payable to University of Minnesota mailed to University of Minnesota, 1527 Prairie Drive, Worthington, MN 56187 (Washington County 4-H will pay the registration fee for volunteers attending this training.)
Adults - If you have questions about volunteer screening, steps 1 & 2, please contact Judy Christians at chri1420@umn.edu or Nicole Pokorney at pokorney@umn.edu.
For full information, please visit the 4-H SS&W Leader Certification website
Youth Opportunities
4-H Arts-In Student Director Application - Due April 9
Calling all returning participants in grades 10-13! Do you want to take on a leadership role in this year’s production? If so, the Arts-In Student Director role is right for you! After selection, the Student Director team begins working with the Co-Directors in April to plan all aspects of the camp, including planning the show, choosing songs, leading small group activities, and so much more!
Arts-In encampment 2021 will occur on July 18-21. The 2021 Washington County Fair is August 4 - 8. There will be a brush-up rehearsal before the state fair. As a student director, it is required you set a good example by being on time for all performances and rehearsals.
Cooperative Care for Dogs Workshop - April 10
How does your dog react to nail trims? Does he let you brush his teeth without complaint? Can the groomer handle him with ease? Are vet visits enjoyable?
Husbandry is a term that covers all types of necessary physical care. Grooming and veterinary procedures fall into this category. In this seminar, we will begin teaching our dogs to cooperate with us for a variety of required behaviors. We will do a quick review of operant and classical conditioning training methods. The ultimate goal is to have dogs who are relaxed and calm for procedures that will benefit their health and well-being.
This class is appropriate for dogs of all ages and at all levels of training. If you want to bring your dog, you will need to have current 2021 Dog ID's on file.
Join us from 10:00 am to Noon on April 10th at The Greater Dog located at 1815 Greeley St. S., Stillwater, MN 55082. Pre-register by April 8th, the workshop is free!
Dog Training Demonstration Night - April 13
We will have a dog training demonstration day on Tuesday, April 13th at Hooley Hall at 6:00 PM. Trainers will be onsite demonstrating what each class will look like, so you can get a feel for what to expect. Get your last-minute questions answered before training begins the following week!
If you missed orientation, please come to demo night to get your questions answered. The training schedule will be agility and rally on Sunday evenings (starting April 18), with obedience and showmanship on Tuesday evenings (starting April 20). The training dates will be posted on the Washington County 4-H Dog website in April.
Contact Megan Slater with any questions at slate187@umn.edu.
Livestock Project Development Committee
On Wednesday, April 14th there will be a Livestock PDC Meeting which will be held at the fairgrounds beginning at 7:00 pm. The plan is to finalize details on the sheep/swine wash rack project. If you are interested in joining this group and would like more information, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
Sheep/lamb tour
Are you interested in the sheep project? There will be a virtual sheep/ lamb tour along with a demonstration from a volunteer and a member of the Chisago County Farm Bureau. Topics covered will be how to feed and prepare your sheep for the fair. This will be held on April 22 at 6:00 via zoom. Pre-register below. Questions can be directed to Annamarie at alzack@umn.edu
The May Project Pursuit will be one event you will not want to miss! The Ambassadors have been planning this event to get participants excited for summer. Some of the fun will include: A gardening workshop, learning about animal science with LIVE animals, and exploring STEM with a guest speaker.
This event will be open for youth grades K-5th. Registration is $10 and due by April 23rd. After April 23rd, the price increases to $20. Don’t delay registering!
Federation Meeting - April 26
Four Federation Meetings are held each year in Washington County that are open to all 4-H members and volunteers. A Federation meeting is similar to a club meeting, with agenda items being more focused on county-level events and business. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 26th, beginning at 7:00 pm. We hope many of you will join us! Our Program for the evening will be focused on careers. The Adult Reps on the board will share the paths they took that led them to their current career. This meeting will be held over zoom. To obtain the link, email Ann at; churc109@umn.edu
Horse Camp Registration
It's nearly Horse Camp time again and we are excited about a great in-person camp. The committee strives every year to make this year's camp one to remember. We have had to make changes this year due to Covid. The biggest change is that horses will be allowed to stay overnight at the fairgrounds, but NO camp participants will be allowed to stay overnight in Hooley Hall. We encourage all those who love their horses and want to grow their knowledge in the Horse project to join the fun. Camp is currently open to Washington County enrolled members 10 years old by January 1, 2021 only. You must provide your own horse for this camp.
Reading Buddies Needed for May - Tuesdays & Thursdays at 4 PM
Are you looking for a new leadership opportunity, without even leaving your house? 4-H is partnering with Washington County Libraries to provide reading buddies! Young readers will be paired with a 4-H mentor and staff facilitator for interactive reading practice over zoom. Each child will have a 15-minute time slot with their reading buddy, between 4-5:15 PM.
Mark your calendars - May 21, 2021
Friday, May 21 at the Washington County Fairgrounds Park Pavillion.
Once again, we have merged all our incredible performing arts groups into one night. The
audience will enjoy the talents of individuals or groups showcasing their abilities with singing, dancing, musical instruments, monologue, AS WELL as our Share the Fun skits and One Act Plays. We know there are many talented 4-Hers in our county so please help us make this an awesome event!
The Performing Arts winners will be invited to perform on-stage at the County Fair. Our top two Share the Fun acts will be invited to perform at the Minnesota State Fair! We want many One Act Plays and Share the Fun skits to fill out our evening of entertainment. Club leaders; please consider finding a talented adult to lead your members in a fun-filled play.
Also, keep in mind that participation in this festival can be submitted in your Performing Arts Project record and as part of your county fair exhibit. There is no fee to participate in or attend this event!! For more information contact Megan Slater - slate187@umn.edu or 651-430-6805.
Talent Show Guidelines
- Performances should be no longer than 5 minutes.
A “talent” includes singing, dancing, musical instruments, monologue, clowning, etc.
No piano is available at the fairgrounds but you may provide your own keyboard.
Open to all 4-H and Cloverbud members.
One form should be submitted per group or individual talent act.
Talent Awards
Each performer receives a participation ribbon.
First, second, and third place pins and certificates will be awarded.
Winners will be offered the opportunity of performing the same act at the Park Pavilion stage at the Washington County fair on the Sunday of the fair at 2 pm.
Share the Fun Guidelines
“Share the Fun” consists of skits performed by 4-H members and Cloverbuds. Most acts are created by the participants and can be anything from acting out fairy tales to song and dance routines, to whatever your creative mind can dream up! The guidelines are as follows:
Clubs may have one act for every 15 club members: 1-15 club members = one act, 16-30 club members = two acts, 31-45 club members = three acts, 46-60 club members = four acts.
A participant can perform in only one act but can assist off-stage with other acts.
The number of club participants in an act is not limited.
Different clubs may not combine to present one Share the Fun act.
Each performance may last up to six minutes, not including set-up and take-down time. Acts over 6 minutes are not eligible for the State Fair.
You are responsible for supplying your own keyboard if one is needed for your act.
Share the Fun Awards
Award of Distinction certificates will be presented to each Share the Fun act
Participation Ribbons will be given to all participants.
First, Second, and Third place winners will receive certificates.
The 1st and 2nd place acts have the opportunity to perform at the Minnesota State Fair during the general encampment. There is a cost for participating and staying at the State Fair.
One Act Play Guidelines
Plays should be no longer than 30 minutes.
Plays do not have to be a 4-H related theme.
Clubs can enter more than one play, and clubs may team up to present a play, but a 4-H member can be cast in only one play.
Every cast member must be a 4-H member in 3rd grade or older. No Cloverbuds.
Limited lighting and sound requests can be accommodated the evening of the event.
If there is only one OAP registered, the play will be presented as a performance and not for competition.
One Act Play Awards
Each performer receives a participation ribbon.
Each play will receive a club Recognition Award.
Certificates will be given to Outstanding Performers.
ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION DEADLINE May 17th!
It is time to Identify your 4-H project animals for the upcoming show season! All 4-H animals (except Market Beef that were Id’d in Feb.) need to be identified by May 17th. This is a state deadline and consequences apply (no state trips, no premium, no auction, etc) if you miss this deadline. Please read the county ID letter below for more details.
Don't wait, start entering your animal ID's now!
Due to the fact we are using a newer 4hOnline system, all previous animal IDs did not carry over meaning you will need to enter all your animal information for this year. Some dairy and rabbit was entered by staff due to the volume of ID's for those species. If there are animals already entered for your family, please check that all information is correct, you should be able to edit before the deadline of May 17th.
Before the weather gets any nicer it might be a good time to get your beef, dairy, dairy goat, dog, horse, llama, meat goat, poultry (pigeons/doves), rabbit, sheep, swine ID's entered. You must be enrolled in 4-H to do this. Please be sure to include photographs of your horse, dog and llama. A current Coggins for horse can be added by the family before May 17th (because May 15 falls on a Saturday). After that date, a current Coggins must be emailed to the office staff to upload. Same for registration papers on cattle.
All animals except pets for pet show and poultry (excluding pigeons/doves) need to have an ID in 4hOnline. Directions for families can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1trACACuPmaqfkxOz8krTbe8R7-hWg8wsLbc7mzaxO4w/edit
Shooting Sports Registration is now open!
Welcome to the Washington County Shooting Sports Registration.
2021 Important Updates -
You must be enrolled in 4-H and in the Shooting Sports & Wildlife project area in 4honline. Log into your family account and make sure you are enrolled in the project area and that a consent has been signed. The consent form will automatically pop up when adding the project.
• Spring
DNR Firearm Safety class will be NOT be held through 4-H this year. 4-H’ers registering for
22 Rifle, Trap, and/or Black Powder must have completed a Fire Arms Safety course prior
to participating in these 4-H disciples.
• Summer
Summer sessions for Archery, BB and Pellet will take place on Monday nights at the
Washington County Fairgrounds for grades 3 and up starting June 7.
June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26, Aug 9, 16, 23
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Black powder, .22, and Trap will be Tuesday nights starting June 8 at Oakdale Gun Club for 4-Hers who have their DNR gun safety certificate and have completed 7th grade. Training will take place on the following Tuesday’s-
June 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, August 10, 17, 24
Training: 6 pm – 8:00 pm
State Shoot
State Shoot will take place Sept. 10-12 at the Alexandria Shooting Park. We are unsure of the details at this time but in a typical year, youth must have logged 15 hours/discipline with certified trainers and must attend 8 hours of wildlife training.
We also charge an additional fee of $30.00/participant or $60.00 max per family to help cover expenses of the program. Payment must be received before attending training. Checks should be made out to Washington County 4-H sent to the following address. Those who paid and did not request a refund for the 2020 season will have fees waived for 2021 unless additional family members are added.
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
We are also in need of additional volunteers to help with Archery, Rifle as well as other tasks related to coordinating things. Volunteers must be 4-H screened and trainers must also be certified.
If you have questions, please contact Ann Church at churc109@umn.edu.
New Family Open House/Picnic
- May 21, 2021 - Washington County Fairgrounds from 5:30-7:00 pm. Come and learn about what 4-H has to offer. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs!
- 5:30 pm - Come for a summer picnic of hot dogs, chips and dessert. Check out different project areas and ask questions about the 4-H program.
- 6:00 pm - Extension educators will give an overview of summer programming followed by a tour of the fairgrounds.
- Stay for the Performing Arts Festive starting at 7:00 pm.
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training (Please read-mandatory training!)
LQA&E Training Requirements:
All youth participating as a State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat, and llama must have completed livestock quality assurance training. Certification is good for 3 fair seasons. If you are due to be certified, there are two training options available;
Option 1 - LQA&E face to face Training
Participation in a face-to-face 3-hour Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) training offered in various locations around the state. This certification is valid for three fair seasons. 4-Hers completing grades 3-5 complete Level 1. 4-Hers completing grades 9-13 typically certify in Level 2. 4-Hers completing grades 6-8 may be certified in either Level I or Level II. The determination of which Level to certify at for grades 6-8 should be based on the livestock project experience the 4-Her possesses.
Washington and Dakota County 4-H plan to offer a ‘face to face’ 3-hour training on Friday, June 18 at the U of M Rosemount Beef Facility. (Please watch for updates in the newsletter as time gets closer for more details).
If you are not available to attend training offered by our county, you can attend another county's training. It will be your responsibility to send our office a copy of your completed certificate prior to the Washington County Fair. For additional face to face training dates and locations around the state, visit the state website page at; https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-events/4-h-livestock-quality-assurance-training-lqa
Option 2 - YQCA on-line Training
4-H members have the option of completing the 1-hour online offered via distance learning. This certification is valid for one fair season. The cost of this training is $12/child and is paid at the time of online registration with a credit card. Since training is good for one fair season, it will need to be completed annually. This is a nationally offered program and a registration fee is utilized to upkeep the system and update the training modules. To learn more about the online option, go to; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1baiyUOgWMIC2QKvdT3I7auCB5fCJjmD0/view
Training promotes responsible care of animals, making informed decisions in animal care, and providing safe consumer food products. Youth will receive a certificate of completion. Additional information concerning any Livestock Quality Assurance training in our county will be listed in upcoming 4-H newsletters.
If a 4-H member took the online training in 2020, it will be good for the 2021 fair season as well since there was not an in-person state fair last year.
Minnesota 4-H Beef Bootcamp
We are very excited to share this opportunity to attend Minnesota 4-H Beef Bootcamp with beef project members statewide. Minnesota 4-H Beef Bootcamp will feature nationally known fitting clinician Kirk Stierwalt.
Camp will take place June 19 - 20 at the Murray County Fairgrounds in Slayton, Minnesota. For details and registration info, go to: https://extension.umn.edu/event/beef-boot-camp-kirk-stierwalt
Llama Project
Those interested in llamas have been gathering since February, if you are interested in joining the group please contact Dan Whittaker at llamadan@aol.com to get updated information.
Livestock in a Box Series
Minnesota 4-H is excited to offer a collection of monthly learning kits mailed directly to youth who are interested in exploring animal science! The Minnesota 4-H Livestock in a Box series will explore four livestock species: goats, rabbits, poultry and dairy.
- March: Goats
- April: Rabbits
- May: Poultry
- June: Dairy
Each box comes complete with four-five learning activities designed especially for the featured animal. All of the supplies needed for the activities are included in the box along with an extra item or two that connects to the featured species.
150th County Fair Planning Update
The Ag Society is hard at work and planning continues for the 150th anniversary. Committee members are looking for your favorite fair memory. Send your favorite memory to the Secretary at washingtoncofair@gmail.com
To recognize the contributions of the animal exhibitors, the committee is also asking for photos of you with your animal(s) for a special pictorial display in each barn. Ask your friends, your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles for their photos too! We would like to feature as many exhibitors as possible. Please forward a copy of your photo(s) or digital photo(s) to the Secretary at washingtoncofair@gmail.com or 19237 Meadowridge Ln N, Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047. Include the name of the exhibitor and the year the photo was taken (or approximate year). Only send copies of photos, originals will not be returned.
Apply today for the Minnesota State Fair Scholarship!
The Minnesota State Fair is proud to announce that up to 21 scholarships of $1,000 each are available to young adults from greater Minnesota or those enrolled in an agriculture program in 2020-2021! Twenty of these scholarships are funded by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation while an additional scholarship is being provided by Christensen Family Farms.
Read through the rules and instructions or apply now via the online application. Applications and supporting documents must be received on or before Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, at 4:30 p.m.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by phone of their award by Monday, Aug. 16. An announcement of the recipients will be made Friday, Aug. 27 at the 4-H Beef Championship held in the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum and Monday, Sept. 6 at the FFA Awards Program held in Compeer Arena.
Requirements for Consideration
- Application must indicate anticipated participation in the current year’s Minnesota State Fair.
- Rural residency or enrollment in an agriculture program required.
- Must be a resident of Minnesota.
- Applicant must be a high school graduate as of the current year’s fair.
- Applicant must be attending or planning to attend a post-secondary school in the current year. No restrictions as to the course of study or choice of school.
- Incomplete applications or applications without a transcript will not be considered.
- Completed applications and transcripts must be received on or before Aug. 2, 2021, at 4:30 p.m.
- Previous Minnesota State Fair Scholarship recipients are ineligible to enter.
- Christensen Family Scholarship recipients must be willing to travel to the Christensen Family headquarters in Sleepy Eye, Minn., at the expense of Christensen Farms.
APPLY NOW at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUfl1EQO4jyG-kLYFbf1mrpXO2eonzpLZktrZw47uT7IWLzw/viewform
Resident Camp Update
Washington & Dakota County 4-H will be returning to Baker Outdoor Learning Center in Maple Plain this summer for Day Camps! There will be limited spots available, so you will want to reserve your spot ASAP when registration comes out! Camp Counselor information coming soon.
Hold the following dates for Resident Day Camps:
- Sunday, June 13 - Counselor Day
- Monday, June 14 & Tuesday, June 15 - Grades 6-8
- Wednesday, June 16 & Thursday, June 17 - Grades 3-5
Horse
- Horse Camp - June 13-16, 2021 - Washington County Fairgrounds (Registration in this newsletter)
- County Horse Show - TBD - Washington County Fairgrounds
Performing Arts
- May 21, 2021 - Performing Arts Festival - Includes: Talent Show, One Act Play and Share the Fun skits. Registrations in this newsletter.
- Arts-In Auditions - Sunday, July 11, 2021 (4:00-10:00 p.m.)
- Arts-In Encampment - July 18-21, 2021 - Washington County Fairgrounds
Washington County Fair & County Show Dates
- Washington County Fair - Aug. 4 - Aug. 8, 2021
Don't miss out! Newsletters will only be sent to enrolled members starting May 15th
Are you enrolled in 4-H yet? Are you an active member?
You must be enrolled to participate. County fees remain at $25.00 per member/$100 max per family. Checks may be made out and sent to Washington County 4-H. 14949 62nd Street N., Stillwater, MN 55082
Washington County 4-H
Ann Church
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6809
churc109@umn.edu
Megan Slater
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6805
slate187@umn.edu
Annamarie Zack
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6807
Kathy Erf
Principal Office & Administrative Specialist
(651) 430-6800
eber0002@umn.edu
Email: mnext-washington@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/washington
Location: 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN, USA
Phone: 651-430-6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonCounty4HMinnesota/?eid=ARD3CbY40ZXk23UD59FlaMaXZPKXCGDBzsQS7-RO0gKl7wFyNEUm8dWZoBgNFIOlA6YV2fuq5GLnRX-s