Friday Forecast 12/9/2022

This weekly newsletter will provide you with the most up-to-date information and happenings in the 4-H program.

In the event of inclement weather, an email will be sent to registered participants informing them of the status of a 4-H event. It is important to pre-registered by the set deadline so you can be informed of any cancellations. 4-H staff will post cancellations on our Facebook page and on the Dakota County 4-H webpage.

If the weather event is in the morning, please check your email messages before heading out to be sure the event hasn’t been canceled. If schools are canceled due to the weather, 4-H events, including club meetings need to be canceled.

When there is threatening weather, please use your best judgement when determining if it is safe to travel.

Lindsay T. from Greenvale Cloverites 4-H club was chosen from the 320 youth that were re-enrolled by Nov. 15. A $50 gift card to Target is headed your way - congratulations!

4-H Online is open for the 2022-23 4-H year! All 4-H members and volunteers must re-enroll each 4-H year. Re-enrollment should be completed before participating in any 4-H event including club meetings, workshops and county and state events.

When re-enrolling you will:

• Select your 4-H club
• Sign-up for projects; you will only receive email communication for projects you have signed up for so review your project list to be sure you didn't miss a project

Review and update:

• Family's contact and demographic information
• Each family member's health and emergency contact information

Log in to 4-H Online here to complete the re-enrollment process. See the 4-H Online enrollment guide for step-by-step instructions.

If you have questions or would like to opt-out of 4-H, please email frand004@umn.edu

4-H county membership dues of $25/member are paid every year. Dues should be paid before participating in 4-H events including club meeting, workshops, county fair and state event. Family Member Dues Payment Form 2022-2023

Dues payments can be mailed to the Extension Office or placed in the drop box between the front doors of the Extension Office. Scholarships are available to cover dues if needed and can be requested by completing the dues payment form.

If you are brand new to the 4-H program this resource that will help walk you through some of the questions you may have about the program. Questions? Email Abby at torg0016@umn.edu

4-H New Member Resource Guide

Are you looking for work experience in the youth development field? Apply now for county and regional-based 4-H summer intern positions throughout the state of Minnesota. Each internship will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about University of Minnesota Extension and explore job opportunities in 4-H Youth Development.

Check out the University of Minnesota Extension Careers page for more details. Preference given to candidates who apply by Dec. 20.

The Executive Board meeting scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12 has been canceled. The next Federation meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W. in Farmington.

Registration for 4-H workshops and events will take place in 4-H Online. The 4-H Online event registration guide has step-by-step instructions to walk you through how to register. To register for an event in 4-H Online, the participant must be an active member in 4-H Online. 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. Please contact Cherie if you have questions.

Shooting Sports and Wildlife project members are invited to a holiday gathering on Tuesday, Dec. 13 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W. in Farmington.

Questions about the event can be directed to Peter Vogel vogel4h@gmail.com.

Youth grade 3 and up are invited to join the 4-H Science Sprouts in an adventure series to explore seasonal agronomy and horticulture topics. December's topic is all about evergreen tress. This virtual, hands-on and engaging experience allows participants to experiment with both science and plants. During the series, we'll explore topics related to agronomy and horticulture that correspond with the season. Youth can join at any time. Online Zoom course is 5 to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.

Supply lists will be sent to members that pre-register one week prior to the monthly virtual learning series, to allow time to gather the supplies so you can do the activities along with the presenters.

Register in 4-H Online by Dec. 12 to receive your supply list to experiment along with us. See the 4-H Online event registration guide for assistance registering.

The next Choose Your 4-H Outdoor Adventure Speaker event is Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. Sign up to receive link to join. Registration required.

Additional speaker dates include: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, Mar. 13, Apr. 10, May 8.

Registration is now open for Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF). CWF involves youth from across the country in gaining skills to make a positive change in their communities, country, and world. Participants will engage in virtual educational meetings, attend an educational conference in Washington, DC, visit important landmarks, meet with decision-makers, plan and implement a post-trip application project, and build relationships with youth and adults from across Minnesota and throughout the US! Learn more.

• Who: Youth currently in grades 9+ can register to attend; space is limited to 45 youth; chaperones will be needed, but will not be recruited until January.
• How: Register in 4-H Online no later than Jan. 13. First come, first serve basis. If the first 45 spaces are claimed, there is a waitlist option.We'll do our best to accommodate as many on the waitlist as possible. Deposits must be received to hold each space by Jan. 25. If you have a group to register, please contact me to discuss options.
• Fee: Estimated at $2500 - $2800. The final fee will be based on how many youth register, and airfare/transportation costs.

Minnesota 4-H will participate in week four, June 25 - 30 (not including travel dates). If there is significant interest, we may send a second delegation June 18 - 23. Those interested in this option can indicate so here.

Join the fun in a hands-on workshop on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington (4100 220th St. W., Farmington). Youth will be engaged in a wind-themed STEM activity, crafts, games and more! Workshops feature age-appropriate programs focusing on fun, safe, non-competitive activities meant to engage youth and create new friendships.

The University of Minnesota Extension 4-H Cloverbud Program is designed specifically for youth in grades Kindergarten through second grade (K-2). Participants must be enrolled in Kindergarten and at least 5 years of age as of Sept. 1 of the current year to enroll as a Cloverbud. Dakota County 4-H Cloverbud members are welcome to bring non-4-H friends (grade K-2) to workshops too!

Participants register for the cloverbud workshop in 4-H Online. Registration is due Friday, Jan. 20. 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.

Additional Cloverbud workshop: Feb. 11, March 4, April 22, May 20

Join the fun in a hands-on workshop on Saturday, Saturday, Jan. 28 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington (4100 220th St. W., Farmington). Youth will be engaged in a wind-themed STEM activity, crafts, games and more! Sprouts is a group designed as a continuation of the cloverbud program, and is geared toward 4-H youth currently in grades 3-5. New and returning members are welcome to join in on the fun! At the Sprouts workshops, youth will meet new friends, participate in activities, and create exciting projects! Participants register for the sprouts workshop in 4-H Online.

Registration is due Friday, Jan. 20. 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.

Additional Sprouts workshops: Feb. 11, March 4, April 22, May 20

Minnesota 4-H Photography is excited to offer another statewide photography challenge open to youth in grades K-13.!

Select your best winter wonderland 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! More information and rules for the challenge can be found at: Minnesota 4-H Snowscapes Photo Challenge | UMN Extension with rules available here. Photos due to fourhphoto@umn.edu by 11:59 p.m. (CST) on January 31, 2023. Top photos will be recognized with a prize and random prize drawing winners will also receive a gift.

Register at: https://z.umn.edu/Snowscapes-Photo-Challenge

Questions? Email fourhphoto@umn.edu.

Dakota County 4-H members who are high school seniors that will be graduating in 2023 and will be attending an accredited college, university, community college, or technical college during the fall 2023 quarter/semester are eligible to apply for the following scholarships.

• Dakota County 4-H Auction Scholarship application (pdf)

• Jacque Devney Memorial Scholarship application (pdf)

Review each scholarship application for specific application requirements. Please note these scholarships are open to all enrolled Dakota County 4-H members. Contact torg0016@umn.edu with questions.

Join the fun at the Cloverbud and Sprouts workshops! The University of Minnesota Extension 4-H Cloverbud (K-2) and Sprouts (3-5) programs are designed specifically for youth in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants must be enrolled in Kindergarten and at least 5 years of age as of September 1 of the current year to enroll as a Cloverbud. Dakota County 4-H members are welcome to bring non-4-H friends to workshops. All participants must be enrolled in 4-H Online before attending, for liability purposes.

Participants will engage in hands-on activities, meet new friends, and more!

Workshops are held one Saturday a month, typically from 9-11 a.m. at various locations on the following dates:

• Feb. 11 - location TBD; registration deadline - Feb. 3
  

• March 4 - location TBD; registration deadline - Feb. 24

• April 22 - location TBD; registration deadline - April 14

• May 20 - location TBD; registration deadline May 12

***Please note: dates, times and locations are subject to change.

The workshops are FREE but registration is required one week before the workshop to ensure enough supplies are on-hand for participants and to allow ambassadors and staff time to order and prepare materials. Spots are limited and registration will be through 4-H Online. Directions for how to complete a 4-H Online event registration can be found here.

Any questions regarding the K-5 programming, contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu.

The Dakota County 4-H ambassador program is open to youth in grades 6-13, who enjoy volunteering and working with younger members. The ambassador program is a great way to share your leadership skills while helping your community. The 4-H ambassador program allows youth to take part in activities to help them become leaders and good citizens. A 4-H ambassador is a self-motivated, enthusiastic leader who promotes the organization using the skills, knowledge, and leadership abilities acquired in 4-H. They serve to strengthen the 4-H program through public relations and serve as a positive role model for younger members. Some past activities include: participating in community service projects, planning and leading Cloverbud activities, and promoting 4-H at various events throughout Dakota County.

Meetings are scheduled before Federation at 6 p.m. Additional activities will be held on the off months. Here is a tentative schedule. Please note: dates are subject to change. Parents and guardians are asked to help support the program to ensure compliance with the Safety of Minors policy.

Sign-up here to participate in the 2022-23 Ambassador program.

Contact Rachel at reza0027@umn.edu for more information.

Youth in grades 3+ with an interest in animal science are invited to join 4-H Animal Discovery, an exploratory learning series highlighting two animal species: dog and poultry. This 5-session virtual series kicks off on Feb. 6 and continue every other week on Mondays from 7-8 p.m. through April 3. Youth can expect fun, interactive lessons, at-home challenges and group reflection supported by 4-H members, volunteers and staff. Mark your calendars – registration opens Jan. 3. Learn more and register.

Learn more about 4-H outdoor adventures by exploring project areas on your own time. Each of the topics will guide you through fun activities you can do outside. Open to all, but geared towards youth in grades 5 - 9. Access the series to start your adventures in hiking, birding, and ATV safety. More modules in camping, forestry, and nature connection will be available soon!

WHEP is a hands-on environmental education program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to youth. It provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition in teams of 3 - 4 similarly aged individuals. The winning senior WHEP team (14 - 19 years old) will have the opportunity to attend the annual national WHEP contest, typically held the last full week of July. 4-H WHEP will replace Wildlife Project Bowl.

The state 4-H WHEP contest will be held April 22, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More details to follow!

Learn more about WHEP.

Registration is now open for youth leadership workshops BLU (for youth in grades 6 - 9) and TEEL (for youth in grades 10+). Both workshops will take place in February and this year's theme is "Seasons of Growth."

Learn more and register.

The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are excited to announce that the 2023 YELLO leadership conference will beheld June 13-16 at Bemidji State University.

Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) is a 4-H leadership conference for youth in grades 7+ that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors.

What happens at YELLO?

This annual event aims to engage youth in building leadership skills, developing positive relationships with peers and adults, and planning out how to take future action. Activities include youth-led leadership learning, service and education, deep dives and workshop, exploring Bemidji and fun social events.

Registration for YELLO will open in April. More details to come!

Do you have a special interest or skill to share? 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 this upcoming 4-H year. If you are interested in leading a workshop or have a suggestion for a great new idea please contact Abby.

Resources for club leaders and volunteers leading a 4-H club have been reorganized. Explore these categories: Beginning the 4-H year, leading a 4-H club meeting (organized around a sample agenda), managing 4-H club operations, and ways to support club members. Suggest improvements to the site by using the gray “feedback” button on the right side of the screen.

Explore the new site.

Volunteer & Club Leader Helpful Resources

Apply to be a 4-H screened volunteer

We have a new Instagram account! Please follow us at Dakota.County4H or connect via Facebook at DakotaCounty4H.

dakota.county4h

• Abby Wagner: torg0016@umn.edu, 651-480-7752

• Kris Vatter: kvatter@umn.edu; 651-480-7758
  

• Rachel Rezac: reza0027@umn.edu, 651-480-7754

• Kirsten Pederson: kapeders@umn.edu, 651-480-7722

• Cherie Frandrup: frand004@umn.edu, 651-480-7702
  

Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/dakota
Location: 4100 220th Street West, Suite 101, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakota.county4h