January 2024 4-H Newsletter
Blue Earth County
Welcome to the Blue Earth County 4-H Newsletter!
Have something to change or that you'd like to see added to the newsletter? Let Blue Earth County 4-H staff know! Please send all newsletter additions in by the 25th of each month.
Be sure to check your inbox for the 4-H Clover Update from Minnesota 4-H, which features state 4-H news, events, and opportunities.
Calendar
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day- County Office Closed
Feb. 1 - Project Bowl Registrations due to the Extension Office
Feb. 10 to 11 - BLU/TEEL, Camp Omega
February 14 - Blue Earth County Fairboard Meeting
Feb. 15 - Market Steer, Market Heifer, Dairy Steer ID DEADLINE!!
Feb. 19 - Presidents Day- County Office Closed
BLU & TEEL Registration Closes Jan. 19
February 27 @ 5:00 p.m.- Food Stand Meeting (we are looking to form a committee, email mnext-blueearth@umn.edu if you are interested in helping out)
July 23-28- 2024 Blue Earth County Fair Week
Cancelled/ Postponed Meetings
January 23 - Federation/Club/ Livestock Meetings (Cancelled, watch for new date)
February 6 - Ambassadors Meeting (Cancelled)
This Month's News
Farewell from Lizz
I want to thank everyone for the amazing opportunity to work with all of you. You are an incredible group of people and I have learned so much from you. Thank you to all of you for your wonderfulness that you bring to this organization. I’m so glad to have made relationships with all of you and partnered with you in so many different ways. While this decision was a difficult one for me, this is the best decision for my family, myself, and my career moving forward. My calling and passion for working with kids and being creative is ultimately where I find joy and peace within myself.
Best Wishes- Lizz Kendall
ANIMAL ID DEADLINE FOR MARKET STEER, MARKET HEIFERS, and DAIRY STEERS ON FEBRUARY 15TH!!
If you are planning to show a Market Steer, Market Heifer, or Dairy Steer at this year's county fair, you will need to ID that animal in 4-HOnline by Thursday, February 15th. You can read over the Beef information sheet here. Also, here is a document for ID'ing your animal in 4-HOnline. If you have any questions, please reach out to mnext-blueearth@umn.edu or call 507-304-4325.
Animal ID Links:
The Blue Earth County Food Stand needs your help!
We are looking to hire a food stand manager in Blue Earth County. If you know anyone that would be interested in this position here is a job description. This is a 100 hour summer opportunity.
We are also looking to form a foodstand committee- any and all voices are used to help form this committee, this is a big task for the county fair and we need volunteers to lead this to make it happen.
If you are interested in joining the committee please email me at mnext-blueearth@umn.edu.
The Riverbend 4-H Club - Pizza Ranch Fundraiser
The Riverbend 4-H Club will be having their Pizza Ranch Fundraiser on Wednesday January 31st from 4:30-8:30.
February Meeting Monday February 5th at 6:00 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
March Meeting Monday March 4th at 6:00 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Thank You!
Michel Haugh :)
Please promote! 4-H Summer Intern Position
Project Bowl Registration
Project Bowl season is upon us. If you are planning to coach or would like to coach a project bowl team, please reach out to the extension at mnext-blueearth@umn.edu or call 507-304-4325
for more information and how to create a team. More information about MN 4-H Project Bowl can be found here. Registrations for any upcoming competitions are due to the Extension Office by Thursday, February 1st at 2:30 pm.
Are you ready to Glow as you Grow at 2024 4-H Camp Disco?
4-H Camp at Camp Patterson will take place July 1-3, 2024.
Youth in grades 3-6 will have a groovy good time with traditional camp activities and some fun new ones!
-No 4-H experience is required to attend camp, so bring a friend!
Cost: Early bird (register by April 1): $200/camper
Regular: $215/camper.
Registration fee includes meals and lodging for three days/two nights, supplies, and a camp t-shirt.
Find more information and register at z.umn.edu/4HCampPatterson. Register by June 3rd!
BLU & TEEL Registration Closes Jan. 19
Save the Dates for Leadership Workshops in February
Save the dates for the Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) and Teens Engaged in Emerging Leadership (TEEL) workshops this February!
BLU is a leadership workshop for youth in grades 6-9 to participate in hands-on activities where they build leadership skills, form relationships with other youth, and develop understanding of themselves, their peers, and their communities. BLU is facilitated by youth leaders from the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador program and supported by a team of adult chaperones and 4-H staff.
TEEL is a leadership workshop for youth in grades 10+ to gain valuable leadership skills while connecting with peers from across the area. This workshop builds on the leadership skills older youth have developed at BLU and through their lived experience both within and outside of 4-H. Teens will engage in large and small group discussions. It is designed and facilitated by a team of older youth and young adult leaders selected as TEEL leaders.
• BLU & TEEL at Castaway Club, Detroit Lakes: Feb. 3-4
• BLU & TEEL at Camp Omega, Waterville: Feb. 10-11
• BLU & TEEL at Camp Friendship, Annandale: Feb. 17-18
BLU and TEEL are held at the same location, at the same time, with some activities including both groups of youth. Sign up now!
Wildlife Wednesdays Starts Soon
Have you ever looked out your window and wondered about the animals that share the same environment as you do? How do they stay warm in the winter? Why do some of our winged friends fly south when the weather changes and some hang around? Discover the wonderful world of wildlife around you with Wildlife Wednesdays! Join us, virtually, as we explore and uncover the fascinating lives of the wildlife.
Sessions are held virtually on Wednesdays from 7 pm - 8pm on the following dates: January 31; February 7, 21, 28 ; March 6, 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 17 and 24.
For more information: https://z.umn.edu/WildlifeWednesdaysWinter2024
Update your information in 4-H Online to re-enroll
Minnesota 4-H previously announced that 4-H members would be continuously enrolled in the program until they aged or opted out. Minnesota 4-H is adding a step to ensure we have current information for all 4-H’ers.
In order to enroll for this upcoming year, you will need to show your family’s intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and reviewing, updating and submitting the following information:
- Your family's contact and demographic information, including club, school and grade.
- Each family member's health and emergency contact information.
- Project areas of interest for this coming year.
You can log in to 4-H Online here to complete the re-enrollment process. This guide has more information. If you have any questions about re-enrolling or any other aspect of 4-H involvement, contact your local 4-H staff.
Do you know anyone qualified to be the New 4-H Educator?
As you know we currently have openings in Blue Earth and Nicollet counties.
If you know of someone interested in an interim role in either county please encourage them to reach out to Kate Holland (kharring@umn.edu). The full-time positions are currently posted on the careers website if you know of someone who might be interested. The application deadline is January 23rd.
Local Summer Intern Opportunities
Great River Greening has 3 internship positions open for Spring/ Summer 2024. The description is attached. Please pass this along to your networks. We also have three conservation project manager jobs open. See https://www.greatrivergreening.org/employment for descriptions. Thanks for passing this along.
Looking for workshop leaders
Do you have a special interest or skill to share like cake/cookie decorating, cooking, art, shop/mechanical sciences, photography, or sewing? Have an idea for a workshop or a connection for a workshop that you feel the 4-H’ers would enjoy? Let us know!!! 4-H staff are looking for volunteers to help lead new workshops. If you have an interest in leading a workshop or have a suggestion of a great new idea please contact the Extension office at mnext-blueearth@umn.edu
Contact Info
Email: mnext-blueearth@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/blue-earth
Location: 204 South 5th Street, Mankato, MN, USA
Phone: 507-304-4326
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEC4H