April
Family Newsletter - April 21, 2022
Remember you must re-enroll yearly!
April/May upcoming events, activities & deadlines
Dog Training
Thank you to everyone who attended the Dog Orientation. The much anticipated training starts NEXT WEEK! If you have not already, complete the Dog Training Google registration form and upload your completed Dog ID into 4HOnline. ID’s must be uploaded prior to attending training. Look for a class schedule to be sent out by the dog trainers in the upcoming days (only sent to those who have signed up on the google registration).
Questions can be directed to Megan at slate187@umn.edu
Print the Dog ID form and bring it with you to your veterinarian appointment.
Ambassador Meeting - April 25th
Join us on Monday, April 25th from 6-7 PM at the Washington County Government Center for our next Ambassador meeting! We have a packed night, including guest speakers from Picnic with a Pup, assembling May Day baskets, and planning upcoming events. If you are in 7th grade or above and interested in taking on a leadership role, our Ambassador program is for you!
Contact Megan with any questions at slate187@umn.edu
Federation Meeting - April 25
All are invited to attend the April Federation meeting scheduled for Monday, April 25 beginning at 7:00 pm at the Stillwater Gov’t Center. In addition to the regular business meeting, we will have a short program titled, ‘How to prepare for an Interview’.
Club Leader Meeting - April 26
Washington County 4-H Club Leaders are invited to attend our Spring Club Leader Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, beginning at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be held over zoom. A link will be sent to all Club Leaders as the time gets closer. Megan and Ann will provide updates, along with upcoming programs and events. As always, there will be time for questions and sharing!
April STEM Workshop - April 30
Tomorrow, April 22, is the LAST DAY to register for the April STEM Workshop. Kindergarteners through 6th graders are invited on April 30th for a morning all about plant science hosted by our very own Master Gardeners! This workshop will be a fun day with a lot of learning opportunities and activities that will be able to be brought home and possibly be a start for a fantastic 4-H project for this year. Registration is due April 22 at https://z.umn.edu/April2022stemworkshop.
If you have any questions, contact Caitlin at crademac@umn.edu.
STEM Kit is still Live
Want some fun plant-based activities that you can do at home? Well, if you haven’t checked out our Exploring Botany STEM Kit from March, it is still available at https://z.umn.edu/stemkitmarch. This kit is a perfect activity for any kid to learn more and spark an interest in plant science. Please share any photos of your family completing your kit with Caitlin at crademac@umn.edu. Also, if you have any questions about the kit, send them her way. We hope you enjoy it!
Performing Arts Night - Registration Deadline April 25
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER - Mark your calendars for 7 PM Friday, May 13th at the Washington County Fairgrounds for Performing Arts Night. This is an event to showcase the many talents of individuals or groups showcasing Talent Acts, such as, singing, dancing, musical instruments, monologue, etc. In addition to Talent Acts, Clubs can present a Share the Fun skit and/or One Act Play. We know there are many talented 4-Hers in our county so don’t hesitate to register.
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 hope to see many One Act Plays and Share the Fun skits to fill our evening of entertainment. Club leaders; please consider a talented adult or youth volunteer to lead your members in a fun-filled play.
NEW THIS YEAR - Performing Arts will NOT be judged during general project entry day (July 30), they will be the talent portion of the evening. If you are planning to enter a Performing Arts project for the 2022 County Fair, your judging will take place on May 13th, 2022.
Register for Talent Acts here.
Reach out to Megan with any questions at slate187@umn.edu.
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!
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!
Before the weather gets nice 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 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 now 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!
Hop to it with the 4-H Rabbit Project series starting April 11
Interested in learning more about the 4-H rabbit project, but not sure where to start? Or are you looking for a few tips about raising different types of rabbits for show? Join us to learn about 4-H rabbits and how this project can be for you.
This 4-week virtual learning series is open to all youth interested in learning more about the MN 4-H Rabbit Project.
Webinar is 6:30-7:30 p.m. on the following nights:
April 11: Grow with your project: Large rabbit breed exploration
April 18: Small but mighty: Let's learn about small breed rabbits
April 25: A fryer?? What you need to know about market rabbits
May 2: Happy & Healthy: Rabbit health
Registration required by April 10 in 4-H Online.
Cost is free.
Fillmore County 4-H Rabbit Fun Show and Education Clinic
Fillmore County wanted to extend an invitation to all 4-H families in the Minnesota 4-H community, inviting them to attend the Fillmore County Rabbit Fun Show.
For those who would like to participate, registration for this event is on 4-H Online. We hope to see you in Fillmore!
County Youth Leadership Opportunities
Sign up to be a Washington County Ambassador!
Are you in 7th grade or above? Do you want to build your leadership skills and meet new friends? The Washington County 4-H Ambassadors meet once a month to plan workshops and camps for younger members, service projects, and fun social events! This is a great opportunity to expand your leadership to the next level while meeting friends from around the county. All skill levels and experience are welcome!
Fill out this quick google form to show your interest in the Washington County 4-H Ambassador program
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
- February 15 - All Market Beef and Dairy Steers needed to be identified by the Feb. 15th ID deadline. Information was emailed directly to those enrolled in the beef project in mid January and again February 7th.
- April 12 - Dog Orientation. Time to get your Dog ID completed and uploaded to 4honline. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aZnG9UoAdit_z7ElBHiHM8b10XaIbVHHdE6lyonEZlU/edit
- April 19 - Dog Demo Night
- April 24 - Weekly Dog training starts!
- May 16 - Animal identification deadline - All animals coming to the fair need to be identified by this date in your 4honline family account. This is a state deadline and consequences apply (no state trips, no premium, no auction, etc.) if you miss this deadline. Only exceptions are as follows; market beef (due Feb. 15), poultry (leased birds and doves/pigeons need to be ID'ed) & pet show animals.
- May 16 - Additional ID Info. If you are activating a previously ID'ed animal. You must overwrite the past years Coggins or Dog Vaccination form with current 2022 paperwork in order to comply. All animals should be activated for the current year. This includes animals that you do not intend to show this year but may show in future years.
- 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
STEM - Upcoming Workshops
- April 30 - STEM Workshop with Master Gardeners
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
Food Stand planning meeting this week!
Join a fun, dedicated group of volunteers who truly love 4-H. Planning meetings start this week! Contact our office for more details at mnext-washington@umn.edu or 651-430-6800.
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.
2022 SS&W Leader Certification Trainings
Minnesota 4-H requires that adult volunteers be certified to train the various disciplines of the Shooting Sports Program. If you are interested in becoming a Certified Trainer, you must become a screened 4-H volunteer prior to completing the Shooting Sports Leader Training. To become a screened volunteer, go to; https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/4-h-volunteer/apply-or-renew/apply
Shooting Sports Instructor Trainings - Upcoming Certified Leader Trainings:
• April 9th (Rifle/Pistol with a focus on .22 and Shotgun) - Spring Valley
• April 30th (Archery, R/P, Wildlife, Shotgun and Muzzleloader) - Alexandria Shooting Park
• May 7th (Archery, R/P, Wildlife, Shotgun and Muzzleloader) - Redwood Falls
Registration for these events is now available. Registration information can be found here; .https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-events/4-h-shooting-sports-and-wildlife-leader-certification
Volunteers must recertify every 7 years.
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.
Riverside Routers 4-H Club
The Riverside Routers 4-H club met on Sunday, April 10th at the Denmark Township town hall. During the business portion of our meeting, we discussed ditch cleanup and potential volunteer projects to help prepare the fairgrounds for this summer's county fair. All members contributed to making flower cards to share with residents at the local nursing home. Medals were distributed to Champion winners from the 2021 County Fair. The meeting concluded with members playing kickball.
-Blake Krueger
Thank you!
Creative Arts
Many thanks to Andrea Wollak and Cynthia Hammel for coordinating the Creative Arts Workshop held April 8! Andrea, Cynthia along with instructors Emily Bishman, Beth Hinzman, Jenn DeRung and helper Janna Collyard did a great job sharing skills and techniques for various projects.
Horseless Horse Project Workshop
Many thanks to Lisa Kalka, Kassidy Kalka and Paige Newcomb for sharing their passion and interest in the horse project with 4-H members who do not own or lease a horse. Kassidy and Paige taught an enthusiastic group of 4-H’ers about horse health and grooming. A special thanks for St. Croix Knoll Stables for letting us use their facility for this event!
Congratulations
Congratulations to the Washington County Llama and Horse teams who competed in the Regional and State Project Bowl Contests!
The Llama Team were the Reserve Champion Team at the state contest! Team members include: Shannon Pothen, Cora Mahli, Sophia Eide, Elena Derosier, Paige Sahr, Carolyn Wohlers. Way to go TEAM LLAMA! Many thanks to coaches Barbara and Samantha Mehta!
The Washington/Chisago County Horse Project Bowl Sr Team earned a National Trip to Quarter Horse Congress which will be held later in October! Team members include; Allison Belter and Lizzie Collette from Washington County, and Kasey Frantzick and Isabella Johnson from Chisago County. The Sr. Team was coached by Carrie Frantzick.
It was exciting to see so many new faces join our Washington County Jr Horse Project Bowl Team! Members include; Kylie Montgomery, Shealy Murphy, Addison Strohfus, Peyton Smith, Kaira White. Many thanks to Liberty and Allison Belter for coaching the team!
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
County membership fee update!
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 if you need a scholarship for enrollment. You will find the scholarship link below. Also, if you would like to donate to the scholarship fund, this can be done at any time. Scholarship requests have increased dramatically in the past few years.
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