The Fourcast

Responses received by Friday, April 3, 2026 will be considered when planning for summer programming.

Based off of scheduling feedback, the next 4-H County Fair Planning Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:00 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). Remember, even if you missed the first few committee meetings, all 4-H members are invited to join to share their voice! This committee was formed to provide youth from all aspects of the 4-H program to have a voice in the planning of 4-H happenings at the fair - whether that be from the general project areas, livestock or horse, or even those just participating in the other 4-H opportunities being provided like MN Meats, Shooting Sports or Dog Demonstrations, and more!

At this meeting, we will be selecting awards to be purchased by the Leaders Council, create a definition for the "Outstanding" awards, discuss exhibitor shirt designs, and identify volunteer opportunities to support the 4-H showcases!

As youth begin work with their 2026 project animals, please remember to identify project animals in 4-H Online! While we have passed the February 17 market beef and dairy steer ID deadline, we still have the 'All Other Animals' ID deadline coming up on May 15, 2026!

All other animals, including 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 must be owned or leased, tagged or tattooed and identified in 4-H Online by May 15, 2026. While there is plenty of time to get these additional animal IDs completed, please remember that you can always get started now if you already have your animals and are ready to complete the ID process. This letter has more information and guides on the ID process for all other animals.

Please note that Cloverbuds in grades K-2 do not need to ID animals in 4-H Online, but their animals attending the fair need to meet all Board of Animal Health exhibition requirements.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - Explore the slimy, stinky, stomach-turning world of the human body as we take a deep dive with hands-on projects that make science disgustingly tangible with topics like tooth decay, saliva, boogers, burps and farts, body odor, the digestive system, and more! Gross Science sessions are open to youth in grades 1-5 and will meet from 3:30-4:30 PM at Nevis Public School on Thursdays from February 26-March 19. Registration for Gross Science can be found through Nevis Community Education.

The next Ambassador Program gathering will be this Saturday, March 14, from 9:00-10:30 AM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN). At this gatherings, we'll be continuing to brainstorm how we will complete our Food Partner Challenge Project, plan for summer activities and events that will be done with the 4-H Intern and Interim Educator, and complete a communication-based activity to grow our skills in communicating with others about 4-H!

Get ready for adventures with Cloverbud Project Explorers! Each month, Cloverbuds in grades K–2 will dive into a brand-new 4-H project area—exploring topics like science, health and wellness, horticulture, and more! Every session includes hands-on, exciting lessons and activities designed especially for our youngest 4-H’ers, and will be co-led by our 4-H Ambassador youth leaders. The Cloverbud Project Explorers sessions will be held on the second Saturday of each month, October through April, from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (noon) at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). This program is a great opportunity for our youngest 4-H’ers to discover what 4-H is all about while learning new skills—you won’t want to miss it! Pre-registration is required in 4-H Online and is open to all enrolled 4-H youth in grades K–2. There is no cost to attend, and youth may register for one session or join us for all! Even if your 4-H'er missed the first few sessions, there is still room for more registrations, and we'd love to welcome them to the group of explorers!

If your 4-H'er loves building, creating and using their imagination with LEGOs? Then the LEGO Lab: Mega Makers with 4-H program is for them! At each monthly program session, youth will tackle exciting building challenges, explore STEM in a fun way as they design their own creations, and learn new skills - brick by brick. Whether they are a master builder or just starting out, all 4-H youth in grades 3-7 are welcome to register to attend! We will see what amazing things we can create together on the third Tuesday of the month from October through April from 6:00-7:00 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). Pre-registration for LEGO Lab: Mega Makers with 4-H is required in 4-H Online and will be open to all enrolled 4-H youth in grades 3-7.There will be no cost to attend these project days, and youth can opt to register for one or all program sessions! Even if your 4-H'er missed the first few sessions, there is still room for more registrations, and we'd love to welcome them to the group of Mega Makers!

Calling all 4-H youth interested in the Dog Project!

The Hubbard County 4-H Dog Project will be having their kick-off informational meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Park Rapids Library! If you may be interested in joining in the project’s training sessions, or would be interested in simply getting more information about what you can all do in the 4-H dog project, please attend!

At this meeting, youth will be able to meet the project leaders and dog trainers that they will be working alongside this spring and summer as well as review key dog project topics like who is eligible to participate, what’s required to participate, and get a preview of the 2026 weekly training schedule.

Explore the buzz about pollinators, the dirt on soil, minibeasts in the garden and how to create insect homes to support pollinators in our own gardens! Garden DsicoverBEE sessions are open to youth in grades 1-5 and will meet from 3:30-4:30 PM at Nevis Public School on March 24, April 2, April 9, April 16. Registration for Garden DiscoverBEE can be found through Nevis Community Education.

Join the Hubbard County 4-H Livestock Project Development Committee (PDC) as they host monthly trivia events the hour prior to PDC meetings! Trivia nights will be held from 5:00-6:00 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN 56470) on January 5, February 2, March 30, and June 1, 2026, and will cover a variety of animal science trivia knowledge at each session. There is no cost to attend, and all 4-H youth members in grades 3-13 are welcome to register to attend one or all sessions throughout the year! There will be pizza and water available for those who pre-register in 4-H Online.

Be sure to join the Livestock Project Development Committee (PDC) on Monday, March 30, at 6:00 PM to discuss happenings for the livestock project area in Hubbard County 4-H! The meeting will be at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids), but, if you aren't able to be at the meeting in-person, members are welcome to join virtually via Zoom (joining instructions will be emailed to 4-H households the day of the meeting). Be sure to come prepared for discussions with fresh ideas and feedback to continue to improve the Livestock Project for our 4-H members!

Note: This March 30 meeting is in place of the regular first Monday of the month meeting, as the first Monday of April is Easter Monday.

Registration is now open for all three NW MN 4-H overnight camps! Whether you’re a returning camper, or trying overnight camp for the first time, you’ll be surrounded by friendly counselors, enthusiastic staff and a community of peers excited to make new memories together. Learn more about each by clicking the links below.

z.umn.edu/CampAtSandHillLake

z.umn.edu/JuniorCamp

z.umn.edu/4HOutdoorAdventuresCamp

Want to take your leadership to the next? Apply to be a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador! Applications for the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are now open! Applications are due April 15. Learn more about the State Ambassadors and apply at https://z.umn.edu/stateambieappinfo.

Want to learn more about what it means to be a State Ambassador? Join the State Ambassador advisors and some of the ambassadors for an informational session on March 19 at 8:00 p.m. to learn more about the State Ambassador team and the application!

Register for this session at https://z.umn.edu/stateambieinfosession.

The Minnesota State Fair is committed to showcasing our state’s finest agriculture, and they recognize the importance of cultivating youth experiences in the livestock industry. They also understand that exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair can stretch the family budget. Thanks to support from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, they are proud to provide the Minnesota State Fair Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant! This grant program will gift $500 each to large-animal exhibitors (beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, horse, llama, sheep or swine) and $250 each to small-animal exhibitors (poultry and rabbits) who commit to participating in the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in 2026. To learn more and apply, visit the Minnesota State Fair Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant webpage!

Get ready to carve out some excitement with our "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Turn your backyard patch into a giant pumpkin paradise and grow the biggest, most jaw-dropping pumpkin your county has ever seen. This isn’t just gardening, it’s a thrilling, family-friendly adventure open to everyone from Cloverbuds and up!

Sign up by March 19 to receive your free giant pumpkin seeds and a comprehensive planting guide packed with expert tips. All summer long, we’ll keep you pumped with fun updates, growing advice, troubleshooting help, and engaging content to help your pumpkin reach monster status. Share your progress photos, milestones, and watch your pumpkin transform from tiny seed to colossal masterpiece!

Show off your supersized creation at your local county fair or enter it in our statewide fall contest for a chance to claim the title of Minnesota’s biggest pumpkin. This is your shot to become a legendary pumpkin grower and inspire your community.

Don’t let this gourd-geous opportunity pass you by join "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Registration opens March 1 on 4HOnline. z.umn.edu/Growamonstersupersizemypumpkin Sign up early, grab your seeds, and let’s grow some Minnesota monsters together!

The application period is open for the 2027 4-H Youth in Action program, hosted by the National 4-H Council!

The 4‑H Youth in Action program amplifies the diverse stories and leadership of 4‑H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4‑H'ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4‑H has changed their lives and equipped them to change the lives of others.

The Youth in Action program is based on the story that a young person can articulate the impact 4-H has made on their lives and how 4-H has inspired them to take positive actions to improve the lives of others. The application has some great guiding questions for youth to consider when applying, and applicants can check out the Youth in Action website to read about past applicants, including 2026 winner Antonio Becker from Morrison County, and finalists Laura Mohapatra from Blue Earth County and Seamus Schwaba from Winona County!

Applicants must be:

• A 4-H member/recent alum of any type of 4-H program in the US.
• At least 14 by April 13, 2026, and should not have turned 20 before Jan. 5, 2026.

National 4-H Council is offering the following webinars to learn more:

• March 4 at 6 p.m. (Central time): Webinar for applicants/parents.

4-H is offering an opportunity for youth to get feedback on their applications if they submit them here by March 22. Youth will receive feedback by March 30, and then have time to submit their applications by April 13.

Come test your skills with archery where you will have the opportunity to showcase your archery and wildlife skills and learn from peers, coaches, and volunteers in a positive environment! This invitational will take place on April 11, 2026, at the Morris Area Elementary School. Registration is open to youth grades 4+ in 4-H Online and is due by April 1, 2026. The cost to register is $20 ($25 for walk-ins or late registrations). Medals will be awarded to the top individuals in the archery competition!

Find more details and to register, visit extension.umn.edu/event/stevens-county-archery-invitational. For questions, please connect with Stevens County 4-H Extension Staff at next-stevens@umn.edu or call the Stevens County Extension Office at (320) 208-6575

Are you looking for a rabbit judging experience before your county fair? Build your rabbit judging skills, get your rabbit(s) tattooed, and pick up the supplies you need all in one spot! Join 4-H on Sunday, April 26, for this annual event sponsored by Douglas County 4-H and the Moses & Aaron 4-H Club. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., and judging at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $3 per rabbit entered (cash or check).

Learn more about this opportunity by visiting extension.umn.edu/event/douglas-county-4-h-rabbit-fun-show. Or, for more information, contact Douglas County Extension at 320-762-3890 or mnext-douglas@umn.edu. This show offers a little bit of everything - we hope to see you there!

Are you new, or newer, to the 4-H Livestock Project or want to explore a new species this year in 4-H? Check out the 'Barn Buddy' Mentor Program with Hubbard County 4-H!

The Barn Buddy Mentor Program allows 4-H youth who are new(er) to the Livestock Project to jumpstart their 4-H Livestock Project journey in any species and to dive into knowledge and skill development in order to have a positive experience from selecting an animal to work with all the way to showing at the fair! 4-H youth in the Barn Buddy Mentor Program will be paired with an experienced 4-H youth or alumni member to receive one-on-one support and guidance in their species of interest. Youth participating in the Barn Buddy Mentor Program can expect to get hands-on experiences as they learn about animal care, showmanship skills, and project management. To request a barn buddy, please complete this short survey!

If your family is looking for more opportunities with 4-H, be sure to check out the February 4-H Clover Update Newsletter! It’s filled with additional regional and state-wide program opportunities open to 4-H’ers. As you think about registering for regional or state-wide programs, don’t forget to apply for scholarships to cover 50% or more of the registration fee as well as to reimburse mileage for families carpooling!

The decision to cancel a planned 4-H activity or meeting is no simple matter. The safety and well-being of 4-H members, volunteers and Extension employees is always our top priority!

In general, 4-H programs, activities, meetings and outings will be cancelled if

• The outdoor wind chill is -20 Fahrenheit or lower,
• Travel advisories are in place due to ice, snow or visibility,
• Local area schools are cancelled or released early

In the event that there is a cancellation with 4-H, it will be communicated to all enrolled families through an e-blast message via 4-H Online and the Hubbard County Extension Facebook Page.