May
Family Newsletter - May 5, 2022
LAST NEWSLETTER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RE-ENROLLED FOR 2022
TASKS TO COMPLETE
Remember you must re-enroll yearly!
Please pay your membership fee
As you may have noticed, shortly after you enrolled online you were approved. Monthly email reminders will be sent to families who have not paid their county fees. We continue to accept checks/cash at any time. Please pay your membership fee, county fees are used not only for programming but also towards salaries for county personnel.
Washington County has a yearly enrollment fee of $25.00 per member (youth only) or $100 max per family for 4 or more children. We ask that you please send payment to our office address listed below.
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 by completing the scholarship form.
IMPORTANT re-enrollment and Animal Identification deadline
Monday, May 16 is a very important state deadline!
All youth must be re-enrolled in 4-H by May 16 to fully participate in the county fair and earn championships, state trips, premium money, and an auction trip.
All 4-H animals that will be exhibited at the county fair must be ‘Identified’ by May 16. This is also a state deadline with the same consequences as above. All project animals for this year must be entered into 4honline by midnight on May 16. Poultry is the only species that does not need to be entered unless you are leasing birds. Market animals need to be tagged. All information on tagging animals, and entering data was emailed to families enrolled in the animal projects! If you did not receive this email, contact our office asap to get the information.
2022 High School Graduates
Washington County 4-H would like to honor the class of 2022. 4-H wants to celebrate your accomplishments by highlighting you on our Facebook page in the coming weeks.
To participate please email the following to Kathy Erf - eber0002@umn.edu no later than May 31st. Thank you!
- A photo of yourself
- Include your plans after graduation
- Favorite 4-H memory
4-H Scholarships
It is that time of year that 4-H members going on to postsecondary education can apply for the Washington County 4-H Federation and/or Memorial Scholarship. Farm Bureau also offers a scholarship for youth whose parents are Farm Bureau members. You will find the scholarships posted at: Washington County Deadline to submit scholarships is Wednesday, June 1. Scholarship winners will be announced Sunday night at the County Fair during the Awards Ceremony.
4-H Graduates at the Fair!
We are looking forward to acknowledging you at the County Fair!
There are a few tasks we need from you IF you choose to be recognized:
We would appreciate having a poster board of you displaying pics of your 4-H memories/experiences. These posters will be displayed in the 4-H building during the county fair. (See pic attached of previous posters.) Please bring your poster with you to General Judging Day on Saturday, July 30 between 10-4.
Please complete and return your ‘grad application’ to be recognized Sunday night at our Awards night.
Livestock & Horse Exhibitors are encouraged to fill out the attached ‘Livestock Graduation Questioner’ that will be read during your specific specie livestock/horse show. The completed Livestock Questionnaire needs to be emailed back to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu no later than Monday, July 25th. Please do not wait until the last minute.
May upcoming events and activities
Performing Arts Night - LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER
Deadline has been extended to this Friday, May 6th for our Performing Arts Night Talent Acts! Performing Arts Night will take place at the Washington County Fairgrounds on May 13th beginning at 7 PM. This is an event to showcase the many talents of individuals or groups showcasing Talent Acts, such as, singing, dancing, musical instruments, monologue, etc. Don’t miss out on getting your Performing Arts projects judged - there will be no judging opportunity for Performing Arts at the County Fair. See registration form for more details!
New Family County Fair Orientation - May 13
Join us at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds on May 13th, beginning at 6:30 pm for County Fair Orientation! We will provide information on what is involved in exhibiting at the fair. We will answer your questions on how to prepare projects for the fair, what to do during the fair, and what could come after. There will be examples of projects that have been done in past years. 4-H staff will be present to answer any questions that you might have. Sign up for the event at https://z.umn.edu/countyfairorientation2022.
Contact Caitlin with any questions at crademac@umn.edu.
Also, if you are a member with a project that could easily be displayed at the event to help our new members learn about different project areas, please let Caitlin know! We would love to have past projects present to help inspire ideas for our new members.
Our Performing Arts Festival will be at the Park Pavilion on the same night, so please feel free to stay and enjoy a night of entertainment!
Shooting Sports Registration Due May 16
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Shooting Sports training season! Training will begin on Monday, June 6, at the Washington County Fairgrounds for the disciplines of Archery, and BB/Pellet. Training for .22 Rifle, Blackpowder, and Trap will begin on Tuesday, June 7, at Oakdale Gun Club. Youth attending the disciplines at the Gun Club must have their FAS. All youth participating in the Shooting Sports Program MUST be enrolled in 4-H and have completed the registration form prior to the start of the season. Fees will be collected at the first training or can be sent to office.
Etiquette Dinner Social - May 20th
Do you know what each fork, knife, and spoon are for in a place setting? How to eat messy food gracefully? Our Washington County 4-H Ambassadors have the answers for you!
Join us for this semi-formal event on Friday, May 20th from 5:30-8 PM at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds. Guest speaker, MaryAnn Bannerman will be teaching proper etiquette over a spaghetti dinner. Dinner will be followed by swing dancing, socializing and fun! There is no cost for this event, however, Ambassadors are collecting food items for Valley Outreach and ask that you bring two canned food items for donation.
Have you ever asked yourself, “What are Ambassadors? What do they do? Why should I join?” The Ambassador program is for all 7th-12th graders who wish to be a leader in Washington County 4-H! Youth in 6th grade are welcome to attend this event to learn more about the upcoming year.
Summer is right around the corner!
Arts-In registration is open!
County Arts-In is a performing arts and leadership experience for youth that have completed grades 7-13. Back by popular demand in 2022 - an overnight encampment! Participants will work together with talented Directors and Student Directors to put together a 30-minute musical that will be performed at the Washington County Fair and Minnesota State Fair. Those who register will choose which major they would like to participate in: performing, band, or technical. See registration form for specific dates and times of auditions, encampment, and performances. Deadline to register is July 1 with a registration fee of $70. After July 1, a $25 late fee will be applied. Please reach out to Avis Peters at avisapeters@hotmail.com or Megan Slater at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.
2022 Washington County Fair Information Book
Everything you need to know about all the excitement around the county fair can be found in the 2022 Washington County Fair 4-H Information Book! The Washington County Fair is where 4-H members showcase their projects. You will find schedules, entry information, project exhibit ideas, etc. Note many of the project areas have been updated from previous years! You will find the 2022 Fair Information Book posted on our website.
4-H Archery Camp
Ramsey County is hosting a summer Archery Camp. Youth in 3rd-9th grade are invited to join 4-H Archery Camp and Nature Exploration, a three-day camp experience designed to get youth engaged in Archery and exploring the natural world around them. Come enjoy fun, hands-on activities including outdoor exploration, arts & crafts, nature play and more! Youth will spend time learning the ins and outs of archery, including lots of target practice with the support of certified instructors. We’ll journey through Keller Regional Park to discover the wonders of the natural world around us.
4-H Archery Camp and Nature Exploration is limited to 40 participants, so we would encourage you to sign up early and reserve your spot today! Learn more about the 4-H Archery and Nature Exploration Camp (z.umn.edu/4HArcheryNatureCamp).
Animal Science News
Don't wait, start entering your animal ID's now!
No more putting it off, please get those animal ID's completed. All breeding beef, dairy, dairy goat, dog, horse, llama, meat goat, poultry (pigeons/doves), rabbit, sheep, swine ID's need to be entered by May 16. 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 16th (because May 15 falls on a Sunday). 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 on the state website. County ID letters can be found on our website.
Horse Camp Registration still open!
Horse camp is right around the corner and we are excited to offer 4-H youth this opportunity to learn and grow in the 4-H Horse Project and their horsemanship. We are equally excited to return to an overnight camp, and can’t wait for you to join in the fun!
New Ranch Pleasure Horse Class
Horse Project members have received information from MN 4-H regarding the newly added Ranch Pleasure Class.
The Minnesota 4-H Horse Rulebook has been updated and Ranch Pleasure guidelines and rules have been added under the western performance section.
A Ranch Pleasure fact sheet has been developed to help answer questions. It includes links to videos to learn from and clarify the difference between Ranch Pleasure and Western Pleasure. As resources are developed they will be shared with Horse Project Members.
Those attending state fair with an animal need LQA Training
LQA & E Training (Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training)
Washington County 4-H will offer an in-person 3 hour LQA & E Training at the U of M (St. Paul Campus) on Tuesday, June 28 from 12:30-3:30 pm. See important information below to see who needs to attend this training! Training must be completed prior to the county fair to confirm trips to the MN State Fair.
If you plan to attend this training ($5. Will be collected at the door for supplies and snacks), you must pre-register at: Washington County LQA 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. In the next few weeks, you will be able to check the Washington County 4-H website for the list of 4-H’ers who are up to date with their LQA & E training for the 2022 fair season.
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 must be certified in Level 1. 4-Hers completing grades 9-13 must be certified 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.
Option 2 - YQCA on-line Training
4-H members have the option of completing the 1-hour online course offered via distance learning. This certification is valid for one fair season. 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 registration fee is utilized to upkeep the system and update the training The YQCA Board of Directors will be moving YQCA content to a new website soon! Watch for more details to come.
LQA & E Trainings promote 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.
County Youth Leadership Opportunities
June Federation Meeting
On Monday, June 27 we will have a Federation Meeting (location TBD) beginning at 7:00 pm. At this June meeting we will elect Executive Board members for the coming year. The Exec Board is a group of youth (7th grade and older) and adults who serve as a county officer versus a club officer. If you would like to take the next step in growing in leadership and are available on the 4th Monday of the month, consider applying! Federation Application
Teen Teachers needed for Youth Teaching Youth! Stillwater & Forest Lake areas
Are you in grades 9-12 and interested in teaching your younger peers? Youth Teaching Youth is for you! Teen Teachers teach in elementary school classrooms and library settings. Training and guided curriculum options are provided. We are looking for teens in the South Washington County, Stillwater, and Forest Lake Area Schools. Don't miss this opportunity to build your resume and improve your public speaking skills in a supportive environment. Contact Megan Slater if you are interested in learning more at slate187@umn.edu.
Upcoming Events/Activities and Deadlines
Animal Science
- June 12-15 - Washington County Horse Camp. Must be enrolled in 4-H and provide your own horse. Registration opens April 1 and will be emailed to those enrolled in the Horse project.
June 13-15 - Minnesota 4-H Livestock Judging Camp: St. Paul Campus
Do you have youth in your 4-H program that would like to learn more about livestock evaluation? Do you have young members on a general livestock judging team who need help with structuring, completing and presenting a set of oral reasons? Are you interested in starting a livestock judging team in your county? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Minnesota 4-H Livestock Judging Camp is the event they should participate in! Presented by the University of Minnesota livestock judging team and Coach Kyle Rozeboom, youth will learn the fundamentals of judging and evaluation.
June 23 - 25 - Gopher Dairy Camp: St Paul Campus
Gopher Dairy Camp is open to youth who have completed grades six through nine but haven’t yet started grade ten. It is hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Gopher Dairy Club in cooperation with the Minnesota 4-H Dairy Project Committee and Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association. This camp offers unique workshops, which will allow attendees of all skill levels to improve their skills in cattle grooming, showmanship and industry knowledge. Attendance is limited to the first 100 youth who register for the event.
June 28 - LQA (Livestock Quality Assurance) Washington County 4-H will offer an in-person 3 hour LQA & E Training at the U of M (St. Paul Campus) on
Tuesday, June 28 from 12:30-3:30 pm.
- July 30-31 - County Dog Show
- Aug. 3-7 - Washington County Fair (All animal shows except Dog)
Summer Camps
- June 12-15 - Washington County Horse Camp at Hooley Hall (Age 10 and up as of Jan. 1, 2022) Must have your own horse.
- June 13-15 - Resident Camp - Grades 3-8 at Baker Outdoor Learning Center in Maple Plain, MN CAMP IS FULL
- June 13-17 - YELLO (Youth Exploring Leadership & Learning Opportunities) Grades 7-13 at Bemidji State University.
- June 22-24 - Archery Camp in Ramsey County
- July 11-14 - Washington County Day Camps at Hooley Hall - Grades K-6
Performing Arts
- May 13 - Performing Arts Night - Our Performing Arts Night is scheduled for Friday, May 13th at the Park Pavilion on the Washington County Fairgrounds. This will be a night for Share the Fun skits, One Act plays, and Performing Arts judging.
- NEW THIS YEAR - Performing Arts will be judged on this day rather than during the General Project Judging day before the County Fair. This is to give participants a chance to showcase their talents and perform in front of an audience. Conference judging will still take place after the performances.
- July 10 - County Arts-In Auditions
- July 17-20 - County Arts-In Encampment
Fashion Revue Date Set
- July 21 - Fashion Revue - NEW this year! Judging and show will take place on the same day. More details in the next newsletter.
Youth enrollment and animal ID deadline
- May 16, 2022
Washington County Fair
- July 1 - County fair registration deadline. All projects/animals need to be entered in FairEntry by this date.
- July 30 - 4-H General/Static project judging (Saturday)
- July 30-31 - County 4-H Dog Show
- Aug. 3-7 - Washington County Fair
Promotion Committee
Do you want to help share 4-H with families in our county? Well, we are starting a Promotion Committee for Washington County 4-H to do just that! This committee aims to bring together individuals who are passionate about 4-H and want to help spread the word about the program to others within our community. Some of the things this group COULD do include:
~Find and attend events that we could promote our program
~Create and distribute information about the 4-H to families in our communities
~Help organize and promote already existing promotional events and materials
~Find new ways to connect with new families
We want to see who has interest before setting a meeting date. If you have any interest in learning more about this brand new group, whether or not you choose to join, please fill out the survey at https://z.umn.edu/WashingtonCountyPromotionCommittee. If you know someone else who may be interested, we encourage you to share the survey with them or let Caitlin Rademacher know, and she can reach out. If you have any questions, please send them to Caitlin at crademac@umn.edu.
Volunteer & Club Leader Helpful Resouces
Check out this state page for helpful resources!
https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/4-h-volunteer/
Apply to be a 4-H screened volunteer
WCMG Plant Sale and Garden Expo
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Building B, Washington County Fairgrounds
Plant Sale: 11 am to 3 pm
Diagnostic Clinic & Garden Expo: 10 am to 3 pm
After a 2-year hiatus, the Washington County Master Gardeners Plant Sale is back! This is the perfect opportunity to pick up annuals and perennials grown by local Master Gardener Volunteers. The Plant Sale will have MN Seed Trial winners, native and prairie plants, monarch and pollinator plants, grasses, shade plants, heirloom tomatoes, herbs and vegetables, and community-favorite flowers.
Get advice from Master Gardener Volunteers. Bring your family and bring your wagons!
Cash, Checks, and Credit Cards Accepted.
Happy Hornets 4-H Club
The Happy Hornets 4-H Club have been busy bees! The helped at Feed My Starving Children in April and started May off with a park clean up! They also made shirts to wear to the fair! Way to go Hornets!
Washington County Extension website - the place to find information!
- Current and past Family Newsletters
- County Animal ID letters
- News articles about our larger ongoing project areas
- Events calendar
- County club map with contacts
- County Fair information as it becomes available
- Much more
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
Caitlin Rademacher
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
(651) 430-6807
Kathy Erf
Principal Office & Administrative Specialist
(651) 430-6800
eber0002@umn.edu
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd Street North
Stillwater, MN 55082
(We are located in the Stillwater Government Center)
Office hours - Please call ahead as staff hours do vary.
8:00am-4:30pm (Monday-Thursday)
Friday by appointment
651-430-6800 or mnext-washington@umn.edu