Welcome Jess Beissel to the team
Jess Beissel will join the Dakota County 4-H team as the new full-time local 4-H Extension Educator! Please congratulate Jess on her new role. Jess can be reached at 651-480-7752 or reed0324@umn.edu
YELLO-June 13-16; register by May 12
Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) is a 4-H leadership conference that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors. Learn more and register.
Cost: $275. Transportation available from Dakota County Extension Office, for a fee. The Dakota County 4-H Federation supports participation and will award 50% of the registration fee if the youth agrees to work an additional malt/food stand shift, above the required shift, during the Fair.
WHEP: Outdoor learning - May 12 & 19
Upcoming WHEP activities:
May 12, 6-7 p.m. at Apple Valley East Park, 15335 Dunbar Ave. in Apple Valley. Meet at trailhead across from Dunbar Blvd. The group will be IDing plants and insects using pocket microscopes. We will discuss dragonflies and damselflies more in detail, and may walk to the next park down cobblestone.
May 19, 6-7 p.m. at Jensen Lake Trailhead of Lebanon Hills Park. The group will focus on the lake ecosystem including waterfowl and fish.
At these meetings there will be a little something to take home to remember your time learning about wildlife!
Animal Identification deadline is May 15
The statewide ID deadline is May 15. This is a firm deadline with consequences if missed.
4-H ear tags order – if you still need MN 4-H ear tags, order them TODAY! Watch your email for communication from 4-H staff to arrange tag pick-up. Remember – tags/tattoos MUST BE IN EARS by May 15.
MN 4-H Animal Science identification requirements – detailed chart by species of ID requirements
4-H animal science projects – has species specific details
MN 4-H Animal Sciences updates – includes class changes and additions
Beef breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs, prospect calves (steers and heifers), dairy, dairy goats, meat goats, dog, horse, llama-alpaca, poultry (doves and pigeons), rabbits, sheep, and swine MUST be identified in 4-H Online by May 15, 2023. All market beef should have been identified by February 15, 2023.
As a reminder, by May 15 you must:
- Own your animal
- Apply the appropriate ID (ear tags, tattoos, etc.)
- Enter the animal information into 4-H Online. Animal ID’ing in 4-H Online user guide
Contact Rachel Rezac (for swine, dairy, goat & poultry) at 651-480-7754 or reza0027@umn.edu or Jessica Beissel (for beef, sheep, rabbit) at 651-210-0762 or reed0324@umn.edu or Cherie Frandrup at 651-480-7702 or frand004@umn.edu, if you have questions.
Agriculture Education Reps - applications being accepted now!
The Ag Ed Reps are a group of youth interested in learning and sharing about agriculture education. We partner with Rice County and plan events that include things like tours, day camp visits for teaching opportunities, and learning about careers. In the last few months the Ag Ed Reps have toured Cannonbelles Creamery, Braun Turf Farm, and 2nd Harvest Heartland. Upcoming events include teaching out at camps, and tentative plans to visit Canterbury and Syngenta. Join the Ag Ed Reps today! Ag Ed Rep Application
Questions? Contact Kirsten Pederson at kapeders@umn.edu.
Dog training classes continue on Monday nights
Weekly in-person dog training have started. Practice continues every Monday with set-up beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington.
2023 Dakota County 4-H Dog Training Schedule has more details.
Before attending any dog training:
All dog vaccinations must be up-to-date before attending training classes.
Complete and bring dog training registration form to training class with payment.
$40/youth; $60/family max training fee. Please do not let cost be a barrier to participation. Scholarships are available for all 4H’ers. Contact Kris for more information.
Remember to keep all dogs at least six feet away from other dogs and keep them home if they are sick.
Grade K-2: "Parachutes and Planting" Cloverbud Workshop - May 20; register by May 12
Join the fun in a hands-on workshop on Saturday, May 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington. Youth will be engaged in parachute games, planting, crafts and more!
Registration due in 4-H Online by May 12. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register. Contact Cherie if you have questions. If you are new to 4-H, please select the “Virtual 4-H” or “In Person Camp/Event” club for your county. In the projects field, choose the project your primary focus is on and any other project areas you have an interest in.
Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have any questions about the workshop.
MN State Fair Scavenger Hunt - May 21; register by May 18
4EverGreen 4-H Club invites all Dakota County 4-H’ers to the MN State Fairgrounds for a fun exploring activity.
When: Sunday, May 21; 2-4 p.m.
Where: MN State Fairgrounds
Who: 4-H Youth grade K-13
This is a great opportunity for possible 1st time state fair exhibitors as this scavenger hunt will take youth to all corners of the fair, both known and unknown, that every youth should know about.
Find answers to: What can a 4Her do for free on the grounds? What’s the oldest building? Where is the First Aid station? What’s the fastest route to the 4-H building? Plus – meet MN State 4-H Director Jennifer Skuza!
Additional details will be emailed to those that register by the deadline.
Horseless Horse Meetings CHANGE OF LOCATION for ALL future meetings
This program, led by youth leaders involved with the Horseless Horse and Horse projects, will allow youth to work with horses in a variety of ways while on the ground. Each session will include an education piece and hands on activities with horses.
What: Horseless Horse Project Meetings
Who: Youth 3rd grade and up; must be enrolled in 4-H Online prior to attending
Where: Behrendt's Barn, 7861 272nd St. West, Farmington
When: May 16, June 6 and 20, July 18
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Registration: Register in SignUp Genius to attend each session. Participants should be enrolled in 4-H Online, signed up for the Horseless Horse project in 4-H Online. Refer to the 4-H Online enrollment for families guide for assistance.
Cost: $25 per participant; payable to Dakota County 4-H. Please mail or drop off to: Dakota County 4-H, 4100 220th Street West, Suite 101, Farmington, MN 55024 with 'HLH' noted in the memo line of your check.
Youth will be required to wear horse riding helmets when in proximity to the horses for in-person events (4-H does supply the helmets for youth to use during the practices). Dress appropriately for the weather, the barn can be chilly.
Contact Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu if you have questions or for more information.
Dairy Workshop - May 21; register by May 18
Youth 3rd grade and up, who is interested in learning more about dairy showmanship, daily care, fitting for show, and animal selection should attend. Hands-on activities and giveaways will keep the attendees engaged and learning more about this project area.
Pizza and beverages will be served.
Registration in 4-H Online required and is due Thursday, May 18. Participants register for the dairy workshop in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide will walk you through how to register.
Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu if you have questions.
Shooting Sports project practices begin soon; kick-off meeting - May 18
Anyone interested in participating in range events for the Shooting Sports project should plan to attend the kick-off meeting on Thursday, May 18, 6-8 p.m. at the Dakota County Gun Club, 17501 Station Trail, Rosemount. After that, practices will be held on Thursdays until early September. The kick-off meeting will include a safety briefing, meet the coaches, turn in required forms, get timecards made and learn what to expect when you come to practice.
Practices for trap will be held on Saturday mornings at Hampton Sportsmen Club until mid-June, when we will switch to Wednesday evening practices for the rest of the season. First range practice for trap will be Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hampton Sportsmen Club.
Participants must attend safety training before being able to participate in range activities.
4-H members interested in participating in the Shooting Sports project must to be enrolled in the Shooting Sports project before participating in any range activities. If you aren't signed up for the Shooting Sports project, log into your 4-H Online account and add the project to your profile. Being enrolled in the project will also ensure that you receive communication about upcoming opportunities including practice sessions on the range and wildlife events.
At weekly range practice, Shooting Sports members will learn how to use air rifle, .22 rifles, archery and other equipment, as well as learn more about the environment and the wildlife in it. Shooting Sports project is for 4-H youth in grades 3 and up.
For more information, contact Peter Vogel at vogel4h@gmail.com or Kris Vatter at kvatter@umn.edu.
Public Safety Day Camp for Grades K-5 - June 21; register by May 24
Dakota County 4-H Day Camp will feature a public safety theme with special guests from the Farmington Fire Department and Swat Team, K-9 Unit, Dakota County Sheriff and Dakota Electric Association. Camp will also include outdoor games (weather permitting), hands-on activities, and FUN! Reserve your spot now!
Cost is $25 and includes camp t-shirt and snacks. Registration is due May 24.
Who: Youth that have completed grades K-5, June, 2023.
When: June 21, 2023
Time: Check-in: 8-8:30 a.m. Check-out: 4-4:30 p.m.
Where: Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 220th St. West in Farmington
Registration: Register in 4-H Online by May 24, under Events. For assistance, refer to the 4-H Online event registration guide.
Cost: $25/camper. Send payment to Dakota County 4-H, Attn: Day Camp, 4100 220th St. West, #101, Farmington, MN 55024. Checks payable to Dakota County 4-H.
Contact Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu if you have questions.
General Livestock Judging Team Interest Survey and Kick-off meeting - June 12
If you are interested in participating on the general livestock judging team this summer, please fill out the interest survey.
We will kick-off the season with an informational meeting on Monday, June 12 at 6 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. West in Farmington. Come enjoy pizza and learn more about the topics below. Please fill out the Pizza RSVP Form.
Have you ever wondered what judges are looking for in evaluating your animals during a show? Do you know how to pick out your animals for a show? Have you ever wondered what criteria a judge has to judge the show?
Effectively evaluating breeding and market animals is highly important in the animal industry. Judging is an art developed through patient study and long practice. 4-H'ers interested in dairy, general livestock (beef, meat goat, sheep and swine).
Parts of the animal and their locations
Which parts are most important for meat and breeding stock production
Making keen observations
Comparing the animal to the ideal
Weighing the good and bad points of each animal
This program is geared toward youth sixth grade and above however youth in grades 3-5 are welcome to participate!
Contact Jessica Beissel at reed0324@umn.edu for more information.
Registration open for Arts-In!
Arts-In is a summertime performing arts program for youth grades 3 and above. All participants who audition are cast in the show and will learn a 30 minute original musical during encampment. Arts-In shows are filled with singing, acting, choreography and a whole lot of creative energy and fun! The shows are performed at the Dakota County Fair and, potentially, one day at the Minnesota State Fair.
Auditions: July 11; 6-8:30 p.m.
Arts-In Encampment: July 17, 19, 20; 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.; July 21; 8 a.m. - Noon
(depending on the part in the show, times and dates may vary)
Cost: $50
Register: Register in 4-H Online under Events by June 28
If you have any questions please contact Kris Vatter, kvatter@umn.edu or call 651-480-7758.
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training - June 23; register by June 20
Who: Youth 6th grade and above that would take a state fair livestock trip
When: Friday, June 23 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Krueger Farm, 9819 Neal Ave. So., Hastings
Cost: $5 per 4-H'er; money collected at the event
Register: Deadline to register is Tuesday, June 20.
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics (LQA&E) training is required of any youth 6th grade and above that would take a state fair livestock trip. It is required for youth exhibiting dairy, beef, sheep, swine, goats, llama, rabbit and poultry. Livestock Quality Assurance training helps youth provide excellent care for their food animals and ensure a high level of food safety to consumers. It is designed to enhance the educational experience of 4-H animals science projects. Training must be completed before your county fair.
Questions should be directed to Rachel Rezac, reza0027@umn.edu or Ann Church church109@umn.edu.
See the MN 4-H LQAE training page for additional training dates.
MN 4-H Photography Challenge; photos due by June 5
Minnesota 4-H Photography is excited to offer another statewide photography challenge open to youth in grades K-13.
Select your best close-up photo (with no or minimal editing) from the 2022-2023 4-H year and submit it with up to two (2) sentences that explain the photo! Learn more.
Submit one (1) jpg or jpeg image and up to two (2) sentences that explain the photo to fourhphoto@umn.edu by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on June 5, 2023. Volunteer 4-H photography judges will provide feedback via a slideshow. Top photos will be recognized with a prize and random prize drawing winners will also receive a gift.
Questions? Email fourhphoto@umn.edu.
The Great 4-H Tomato Challenge - June 10
Calling all youth grades 3-8! Head to Hutchinson, MN on June 10 for The Great 4-H Tomato Challenge. We will learn about and plant a tomato that you will care for throughout the growing season. Track your produce grown for a chance to win a prize! Learn more.
4-H video production workshop
Join the Minnesota 4-H video project team for an awesome summer workshop! Youth members who have experience in video creation will come together to learn from experts in the field about story development, lighting, sound, video angles and so much more.
This workshop will include four one-hour virtual sessions, a three-day in-person immersion event and a one-day film festival. Learn more and register.
4-H choose your outdoor adventure self guided series
MN State Fair Encampment Dates
Livestock Encampment - August 23-27
Static Exhibits (general) and Public Presentations Encampment - August 27-29
First year in the 4-H program? Check out this resource to learn more!
Questions? Email Kirsten at kapeders@umn.edu.
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We have a new Instagram account! Please follow us at Dakota.County4H or connect via Facebook at DakotaCounty4H.
Dakota County 4-H Contacts
Kirsten Pederson: kapeders@umn.edu, 651-480-7722
Rachel Rezac: reza0027@umn.edu, 651-480-7754
Kris Vatter: kvatter@umn.edu; 651-480-7758
Jessica Beissel: reed0324@umn.edu; 651-480-7752
Cherie Frandrup: frand004@umn.edu, 651-480-7702