Clover Digest
July 21, 2023 Edition
Don't miss out on these opportunities!
In This Week’s Clover Digest you can expect:
4-H Office Moving to Fairgrounds
Nobles County 4-H App
Public Performance
Day Camps Conclude
Federation Meeting Minutes
Food Stand Shift Sign Ups
State Fair Reminders + Updates
Foods, Demonstrations, Clothing & Performing Arts Judging & Public Performance
General Project Entry Day
County Fair Volunteer Shifts
Sample Interview Questions
Complete LQA or YQCA by July 26
Ribbon Sale Promotion Materials
Nominate youth for the Spirit of Molly Clarke Award
Summer Photo Contest & Premium Book Available
Regional, State & National Events
4-H Office Moving to Fairgrounds
The office is moving to the fairgrounds on Wednesday, July 26. The downtown office will be closed from July 26 - August 7. We will reopen the downtown office on August 8. Please call Anna at 507-295-5314 or Wendy at 507-295-5315. Email is the best way to contact us while we are at our fairgrounds office.
Nobles County 4-H App is LIVE!
Performing Arts & Fashion Revue Public Performance
Day Camps Conclude
Federation Meeting Minutes
Food Stand + Fair Helper Sign Up
The food stand shift sign up is available to all clubs and members. All youth members in grades 3+ are expected to work at least four hours in the food stand. Parents and adult volunteers are also expected to work in the food stand. Members who do not work their food stand shift will not receive financial assistance for fall state events (State Fair, State Horse, State Dog Show). We understand that there are limited youth shifts remaining. Please find at least four hours on the fair helpers sign up to earn your state event scholarship.
Youth who are already signed up for food stand shifts should keep their shift. They are welcome to do a fair helper role in addition to their food stand role.
Pen Set Up
State Fair Updates
The Minnesota State Fair is fast approaching!
Dates
Livestock encampment is Wednesday, August 23 - Sunday, August 27. Llama/alpaca encampment is Wednesday, August 30 - Friday, September 1. General encampment is Thursday, August 31 - Saturday, September 2.
Mandatory State Fair Meeting
All youth participating in the State Fair must attend the State Fair meeting on Saturday, August 5 at 9:00 am in the Hockey Arena. We will go over expectations and paperwork for a successful state fair.
State Fair Chaperones Needed
We are still looking for chaperones for the livestock and general encampment. Adult chaperones (21+ years old) are required for this experience. All chaperones must be screened 4-H volunteers. Please reach out to Anna with any questions and if you are interested in chaperoning. All housing, food, and other expenses are covered by Nobles County 4-H.
General Project Drop Off
All general projects being transported to the State Fair by staff must be dropped off at the Extension Office in Worthington by August 9 at noon.
Housing
4-H housing is provided to all youth who wish to stay at the State Fair. During livestock encampment, youth stay on the fairgrounds or in U of M Campus Housing. During general encampment, youth stay in the housing on the upper floors of the 4-H Building. Nobles County 4-H is not reserving a hotel block.
Foods, Demonstrations, Clothing & Performing Arts Judging & Public Performance
Foods, Demonstrations, Clothing & Performing Arts Judging will take place on Friday, July 28 at the Worthington Christian Church. Foods judging (food, nutrition, food preservation, food revue, and cake, cookie, cupcake decorating will take place from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. Clothing, fashion revue, and performing arts judging will take place from 12:30 - 2:00 pm. Please sign up for a judging slot. Cloverbuds participating in these categories should plan to attend this judging day.
The public performance featuring fashion revue and performing arts will start at 5:30 pm at the Worthington Christian Church. Participants: please use this invitation flyer to invite 4-6 people to attend the performance. Everyone is invited to the public performance.
General Project Entry Day
General project entry day is Tuesday, August 2 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the Nobles County Fairgrounds. Please sign up for a judging slot. Club projects will be judged from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Volunteer at the County Fair
Sample Livestock Interview Questions
Livestock Assurance & Ethics Training: Deadline July 26
Chaperones for State Fair Needed
Promote the 2023 Ribbon Sale
Nominate Youth Members for the Spirit of Molly Clarke Award
Premium Book Feature: Summer Photo Contest
This year’s premium book is now available at z.umn.edu/NoblesPremiumBook. Please read through the book and reach out with any questions. If you would like a printed copy of the premium book, please reach out to the office.
In this week’s Clover Digest, we are featuring our brand new summer photo contest! Throughout the summer and county fair, snap photos documenting your 4-H experience as you work on projects and partake in 4-H events. Our contest will have three categories:
Hard at Work: Photos of youth working on projects before and during the fair. This could also include groups working in the food stand or helping with other fair related events.
Fun with Friends: Photos of groups of current 4-Hers enjoying 4-H activities throughout the summer.
4-H Spirit: Youth and volunteers sporting their annual Nobles County show shirts. Could also include youth participating in community service events.
Photos will be reviewed by staff following the county fair. A collection of 10-12 photos will be shared on the Nobles County 4-H Facebook page for a public vote. The photo with the most public votes will be featured on the cover of the 2024 Nobles County 4-H Premium Book.
All photos submitted must be taken during the 2022-2023 4-H year and must be submitted by Tuesday, August 8, 2023 to the upload link (z.umn.edu/NoblesSummerPhotoContest). Photos must follow all MN 4-H Guidelines including the Livestock Cloverbud rule.
Regional, State & National Events
Jackson County Livestock Judging Contest
Come join us for the Jackson County 4-H Livestock Judging Contest being held on Monday, July 31. Registration starts at 8:30 AM. Lunch is provided. Cost is $10 per individual. Helps cover lunch. Contest starts at 9:30AM. 10 classes with 3 sets of reasons and 3 questions. Register for the event here: https://z.umn.edu/JacksonCountyJudgingContest. Questions? Contact the Jackson County Extension Office at mnext-Jackson@umn.edu
State Fair Lamb Lead
All 4-H'ers who participate in lamb lead at the state fair will receive a cash award from MLBA. In addition, the top five exhibitors in each division (senior and intermediate) will receive an additional cash prize:
1st - $100
2nd - $50
3rd-5th - $25
Exhibitors don't need to participate in lamb lead at county fair to participate at the state fair -- they simply need to register for lamb lead on their state fair paperwork. Lamb lead resources can be found on the website.
Growing Local: Boards and Commissions Workshop Series
Have you been looking for ways to boost community engagement and attract new people to serve on local boards and committees? In partnership with the Southwest Initiative Foundation, Extension is offering the Growing Local: Boards and Commissions Workshop Series! This is your opportunity to build more inclusive boards and committees that make a difference in your community.
Workshop Topics
Understanding our own expectations around boards and commission and how people show up in that space
Practices to support greater equity, inclusivity and belonging
Strategies to welcome and value new voices, perspectives and ideas
Work with 4-H at the MN State Fair
Offal Wildlife Watching
University on the Prairie
Join us July 26-27, 2023, for an exciting day of exploring science-based careers. Students entering grades 7-13 will be immersed in hands-on activities that show you what you can do with a science education. Students will conduct experiments, participate in hands-on labs and learn new skills from professionals in science fields.
All University on the Prairie activities take place in the classrooms, labs and the great outdoors at the Southwest Research & Outreach Center facilities by Lamberton.
This year we are pleased to have Mike Lynch, a retired meteorologist and broadcaster who worked for WCCO and a 51-year host of astronomy-stargazing programs in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, join us along with university faculty and area professionals leading tracks in different sciences. For more information visit: https://extension.umn.edu/event/2023-university-prairie.
Free family-focused webinars May through August 2023
University of Minnesota Extension will present a series of webinars from May through August to support families and those who serve families in making informed decisions that lead to greater health, resilience and well-being. All webinars are virtual and free. Learn more and register today!
Events & Activities
Check out 4-H Events across the region: z.umn.edu/sw-catalog-of-opportunities
Anna Rose & Wendy Baumgartner
Email: mnext-nobles@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/nobles
Location: 315 10th Street, Worthington, MN, USA
Phone: 507-295-5315
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoblesCounty4-H
Twitter: @UMNExt