April
2024
4-H Staff News
It's time to start thinking about projects for the Winona County Fair! If you only read a few sections of the newsletter these are the ones to be sure not to miss!
Highlights for New Members
Remember, most of our event registrations are taking place in 4honline.com now. If your 4-H'er is attending an event and would like to bring a friend there is an option in 4-H Online to select In-person 4-H Camp/Event for a youth not currently enrolled in the program to participate.
Winona County Fair Information
LQA&E Trainings- Required for those attending State Fair!
You should have been contacted by Kim via email if your current LQA&E Training will have expired by the 2024 County Fair or if you have not previously taken it. If you have questions about your certification please let us know.
In-person trainings can be found here.
Information to complete the YQCA online training that is good for one year can be found here.
Making Plans for your 2024 Winona County Fair Projects?
All animals desired to be exhibited as 4-H Projects at the 2024 Winona County Fair must be identified in 4-H Online by May 15th 2024. If you plan to exhibit livestock in 2024 please click HERE to view the Animal ID letter. This letter contains links and processes to ensure you meet all animal ID requirements.
Project areas that require IDs are: breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs, prospect calves (steers and heifers), dairy, dairy goats, dog, horse, llama-alpaca, meat goats, poultry (doves and pigeons), rabbits, sheep, and swine.
Information will be sent directly to families that are approved in 4-H Online and have selected one or more of the above projects. More information regarding registration for general projects will be shared in the coming weeks along with FairEntrty
Project registration (livestock and general projects) will open in FairEntry on May 1st!
Market Sheep & Goat Weigh-Ins!
Join the 4-H Sheep and Goat Projects on Saturday, May 4th from 8:30am to Noon at Lewiston Sales for Market Sheep and Goat Weigh-Ins! Weigh-ins are not required but strongly encouraged to help families ID their projects, weigh their animals (required for rate of gain eligibility) and ask questions about the upcoming fair season!
We ask you to please register for a time slot at the following link to help manage the flow of families and livestock. Click here to select a Sheep/Goat Weigh-in time slot
If you are new to the Sheep and Goat Project, weigh-ins are an opportunity for youth to bring their market sheep and goat projects to get weighed (required for participation in rate of gain contest) and tagged so they have proper ID for the 2024 Winona County Fair. If you have questions about your goat's allowed scrapie tags/tattoos and or the legibility of them, you are welcome to bring them to the Sheep/Goat Weigh-ins to be looked at (please select a time slot if possible).
If you have questions please reach out to 4-H Staff!
Scholarship Opportunities!
Please see the below scholarship opportunities available:
Christian Wolter Memorial Scholarship: Deadline to apply is May 1st.
Nathan Holtegaard Memorial 4-H Scholarship- Deadline to apply is July 1st
For additional scholarship opportunities visit the MN 4-H scholarships, grants and awards webpage by clicking HERE.
Winona County 4-H Dog Project Volunteers invite you to attend their informational meeting on Wednesday, May 1st to learn more about the 4-H Dog Project Training! Training opportunities are open to youth and their canine and take place from approximately mid May through September. Cloverbud rules apply. If you are planning to participate in 2024 you can click here to get a head start on vaccination requirements! This form should be uploaded in 4-H Online by May 15th!
Wabasha County 4-H Beef Clinic
Join Wabasha County 4-H, in association with the Chad Schmit Memorial Beef Classic, for a free beef clinic offered by representatives of the Weber Bros Cattle Company on April 19 at 6 pm at the Wabasha County Fairgrounds. Topics include daily routine and haircare, feeding practices, and clipping and fitting. More details can be found here.
Rabbit Fun Show hosted by Olmsted
You're invited to a fun show! Youth will bring their own rabbit and participate in a mock show that will help them understand how rabbits are judged, disqualifications, animal handling, and showmanship. The judge will give feedback on how to improve for the fair and present awards. Learn more here.
Meetings!
Fall Harvest
The 2024 Fall Harvest Committee will meet on Monday, April 15th at 7:30 pm at the Lewiston Altura High School Media Center. We ask for at least 1 representative from each club to attend each meeting throughout the year and would encourage a youth representative from each club as well! (The representative can be the same person or a different one each time)
Agenda items will include: Event date, meal, donation listing and 2024 Goal.
Food Stand
The Winona County 4-H Food Stand Committee will meet on Monday, April 15th at 7pm at the Lewiston Altura High School Media Center. Agenda items include: Food Stand Menu, Food Stand Hours, Club/Family sign-up (will take place at May meeting).
This committee will only meet 2-3 times prior to the Winona County Fair. We ask for a representative to attend each meeting. Youth and adults are welcome!
For Animal Science PDCs
As we head into spring and summer, it's time to start thinking about preparing for summer projects and programming. The state animal science team will host a webinar via Zoom on Thursday, April 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for local livestock project development committee (PDC) volunteers, youth and interested staff. This webinar will highlight system-wide policies and processes that strengthen our animal science program, discuss updates connected with livestock species and offer educational resources. Register here.
Summer Day Camps by Winona County 4-H
Regional 4-H Camp at Whitewater State Park!
Have fun, meet new friends and explore new things at 4-H Regional Camp at Whitewater State Park! Campers will spend three days and two nights at camp enjoying swimming, hiking, nature activities, games, the arts, music, crafts, educational programs, great food, cabin life, reflective campfires and more. Camp is open to all youth, so invite your friends to join!!!
Who: Youth currently in grades 3-5 and 6-8
What: 4-H Regional Summer camp
When: June 17-19: Grades 6-8 & June 19-21: Grades 3-5
Campers will arrive at 3pm and depart at 2:30pm on arrival and departure days.
Where: Whitewater State Park, near St. Charles, located in the beautiful bluffs of SE Minnesota, with cliffs, trout streams, prairie areas and hardwood forests.
Whitewater State Park provides a perfect background for 4-H Regional Camp!
Cost: $110.00/camper. If cost is a concern for your family, please contact your local 4-H Educator to discuss options. Registration fee includes meals and lodging for three days/two nights, supplies, water bottle, and a camp t-shirt. Registration fees are non-refundable. Thanks to our Countywide fundraising efforts, this event qualifies for half reimbursement from Winona County 4-H. Reimbursements will be sent AFTER camp takes place and attendee information is received from Regional Staff.
Register: The registration form is available online at mn.4honline.com until May 31st. Please click “events” under your child's profile and you should be able to find the event.
Public URL: https://whitewatercamp.4honline.com
MN 4-H Livestock Judging Camp
Presented by the University of Minnesota livestock judging team and coach Kyle Rozeboom, youth will learn the fundamentals of judging and evaluation, receive instruction with oral reasons, and become more confident with livestock judging. Camp will be held June 17-19 on the St. Paul campus.
Highlights - New 4-H Members
New to 4-H? Be sure to review the New Member Section of the newsletter each month!
Welcome to Winona County 4-H! In this section of the newsletter you'll find information important to first and second year 4-H members that provides additional insight/explanation about upcoming opportunities.
My 4-H'er wants to exhibit a Livestock or General Project at the Winona County Fair. What now?!
Great question! There's a few steps to take to ensure you get registered for participation at the Winona County Fair!
1.) Identify project areas you are interested in using the 4-H Premium Book (this will be emailed out to all families soon!) Some examples include rabbits, poultry, Crafts and Fine arts and Photography.
2.) If you plan to show livestock, PRIOR to May 15th view this link for information to determine the identification requirements for exhibition.
3.) Enter your livestock information into 4-H Online using this tip sheet by 11:59PM on May 15th (THIS DOES NOT APPLY IF YOUR 4-H'er is a Cloverbud K-2nd Grade).
4.) Login to FairEntry utilizing your 4-H online username and password. Using the Winona County 4-H Premium Book, select the Livestock classes and general projects your 4-H'er would like to bring to the fair. **Your registration does not obligate you to bring these projects. We encourage you to sign up for any projects you think you *might* exhibit in 2024. Registration in FairEntry is due May 31st but we encourage you to complete it when you register your livestock in 4-H Online.
5.) You will receive an email from FairEntry following your registration. If you have additional questions please contact us at 507-457-6440.
Fun Fact: Did you know that MN 4-H has virtual opportunities that you can join from the comfort of your home? Check out their Distance Learning Opportunities here!
Winona County 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife
The Winona County Shooting Sports & Wildlife archery season will start on April 7th. We will be meeting at DKR in Stockton at 21870 Bow Hunter Rd, Winona, MN 55987 every other Sunday from 5:30-7pm. Spring dates will be April 7, April 21, May 5, and May 19.
Cost is $20 per youth.
Families are welcome to try it out on April 7th free of charge to determine if they would like to participate in future practices.
All archery equipment is provided. Please be aware that there is NOT a restroom on site. Please fill out this form to sign up for the season or to indicate your desire to attend on April 7th. bit.ly/winonassw One form per youth. There MUST be a signed consent form on file in order to participate. If one has not been filled out through 4-H online, please plan to have a parent or legal guardian come in to sign one at the first practice.
The Winona County SS&W team is excited to get this program running again and hope it can continue to grow. This is just an initial session to get things going. We are hopeful that we can expand the program in the very near future and offer air rifle and air pistol as well. The best way to keep up to date with SS&W happenings is to enroll in 4-H Online and include Shooting Sports as a project area, or to keep an eye on the monthly Winona County 4-H newsletter. At the conclusion of the spring session we will survey families to determine the best plan of action for the future.
Activities for your club or organization!
Need activity ideas for your 4-H club? Check out our Youth Development Curriculum Library for fun, educational lesson and activity resources designed for youth workers, 4-H volunteers, and youth themselves! 86 resources and counting! More content is added every month. Current categories: Animals and livestock, civic engagement and leadership, Cloverbuds (K-2), environment and earth science, expressive arts and communication, family and consumer science, gardening and agriculture, healthy living, icebreakers, games, and reflection activities, including youth of all abilities, independent learning, outdoor adventures, STEM, and themed 4-H club agenda samples. Reach out to Mika if you are searching for specific activities and curriculum that she can create for you!
Leadership Event - YELLO
The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are excited to announce that the Minnesota 4-H state leadership conference, Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO), is scheduled for June 12-15. YELLO invites youth in grades 7-13 to explore college and career areas, engage in leadership learning, participate in community activities, and build new connections with peers and adults from throughout the state!
Winona County 4-H will help cover registration fees for leadership events.
Apply to be a 2024/25 State Ambassador
Apply to be one of the 2024-2025 Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors! The State Ambassadors are role models for other 4-H'ers and they serve as positive representatives of the Minnesota 4-H program. They represent a diverse group of 4-H projects, programs and areas of the state. To learn more about the State Ambassadors visit https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-civic-engagement-and-leadership/4-h-ambassadors.
The application for the 2024-2025 team is available online here, and you can learn more information about the State Ambassadors and the application in the application information packet. Applications are due April 15!
We will also be hosting State Ambassador application information sessions. Please see dates and registration links below. If you are unable to make either of these, you still register and a recording will be sent to you.
March 19 at 8:00pm- z.umn.edu/stateambieinfosession
April 9 at 8:00pm- z.umn.edu/stateambieinfosession2
Contact
Kim Stehr, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, winge109@umn.edu
Mika Miller, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, mill7335@umn.edu
Linda Mueller, Extension Support Staff, lsmuelle@umn.edu
Email: mnext.winona@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/winona
Location: 225 West 2nd Street, Winona, MN, USA
Phone: 507-457-6440
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt
Twitter: @UMNExt
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