The Fourcast

We are excited to welcome Educator Brooke back to our 4-H team! We are happy to have her back and look forward to all the wonderful opportunities, learning experiences, and adventures ahead for Hubbard County 4-H. Please join us in giving Brooke a warm welcome back!

We would like to invite all of our Hubbard County 4-H members (youth and adult) to attend our annual Leaders Council meeting TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 27, at 6:30 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN). For this meeting, there will also be a Zoom option available, and joining instructions will be sent prior to the meeting to your enrolled household's 4-H Online email for those unable to attend in-person.

Don’t know what happens at a Leaders Council meeting? At Leaders Council meetings, our 4-H youth and adult members help provide guidance and feedback for events and programming happening in 4-H. When you attend, you are able to help drive the direction of the 4-H program in Hubbard County by sharing your input and ideas!

The Annual Meeting of the Hubbard County 4-H Livestock Project Development Committee (PDC) will be on Monday, November 2, at 6:00 PM, in the conference room at the Extension Office (201 Fair Ave Park Rapids). For this meeting, there will also be a Zoom option available, and joining instructions will be sent prior to the meeting to your enrolled household's 4-H Online email for those unable to attend in-person.

Don't know what the Livestock PDC does? The purpose of the Livestock PDC is to assist in planning, promotion, and implementation of educational programs and events in the area of animal science, specifically livestock species. The PDC also promotes communication of livestock project-related happenings at all levels of the 4-H program in Hubbard County, including Leaders Council, clubs and the general community.

The November 2, Livestock PDC meeting will include:

• Election of youth member species representatives, chairpersons and adult advisor

• Developing the calendar of educational plans for the upcoming 4-H year

4-H club treasurers are invited to register for the virtual state-wide Minnesota 4-H Treasurer Training! This training is for youth treasurers, parents of youth treasurers, and any adults on 4-H bank accounts. The 1-hour training will cover best practices and policies, roles of the financial team, the importance of youth treasurers, how to make everyone’s roles meaningful, and how to help treasurers develop financial management skills. The trainings will take place on:

• November 5 from 6:30-7:30 PM
• November 19 from 6:30-7:30 PM, with a bonus session for adult treasures from 7:30-8:00 PM

The meetings will take place via zoom and registration is required to receive the zoom link.

On Tuesdays, November 17 to December 8, youth can join a 4-week adventure exploring agriculture in Turkey, Ghana, and Mexico. Participants will discover crops, foods, farming practices, and traditions from around the world through guest speakers, hands-on activities, and connections with Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors.

This free virtual series is designed for youth in grades 6-8, but older youth are welcome to participate. It’s a great opportunity for young people to explore global agriculture, learn about different cultures, and discover how food and farming connect us around the world. The program will also incorporate Raspberry Pi to add computer programming and coding.

If you are curious about agriculture, food, travel, and exploring the world, register now!

• Dates: Tuesdays, November 17 - December 8
• Cost: Free
• Registration deadline: November 5

Thank you for helping us share this opportunity and connect more Minnesota 4-H youth with agriculture around the world!

Learn more and register.

4-H youth-get ready to lead real change in your communities! Applications for both the Helping Hands Challenge and the Food Partner Challenge are live.

These two distinct funding opportunities give 4-H members the resources to turn ideas into action and address pressing community needs. The Helping Hands Challenge offers $300 to $2,000 for broad, youth-led service projects across focus areas like STEM, environmental stewardship, arts, and mental health. The Food Partner Challenge provides $500 for youth-led groups to partner with local food shelves, food assistance programs, or community organizations to tackle food insecurity, with a focus on going beyond simple donations to create deeper, sustainable local impact. Both initiatives emphasize youth leadership, hands-on community engagement, and storytelling.

• Applications for both challenges close November 6.
• Volunteer teams will review submissions through November.
• Award decisions will be announced in December.
• Funding checks will reach local clubs in January.

Helping Hands Challenge application

Food Partner Challenge application

Calling all aspiring babysitters! Do you know what it takes to be a Superhero in babysitting? Join us and find out.

We will cover the basics of child care, ages and stages of development, basic first aid, and how to promote you new upcoming babysitting business. This training will be coming to you virtually on November 16, 17, 23 and 24, from 6:30p-8:00p. This program is open to youth in grades 4 and up.

Register in 4-H Online - deadline to register is November 16.

The new Minnesota 4-H STEM and Agriscience website is now live! The site is designed for the public—youth, families, educators, and community partners.

The site brings together STEM and agriscience programs, resources, and opportunities from across Minnesota 4-H. It's a handy place for families, volunteers, schools, and community partners who are looking for ways to get involved. And, there’s more to come! Watch for program highlights, curriculum features, and new opportunities as items are added to the site.

The new 2026-2027 4-H program year officially began on October 1 and 4-HOnline is open for enrollment. By re-enrolling, your family will remain on our mailing list to stay in the loop of all things happening in Hubbard County 4-H and be able to participate in 4-H programs offered at the local, regional and/or state level!

If you need help, check the 4-H Online enrollment tip sheet or you can contact the office at 218-732-3391 and we will review the information with you and assist you in completing the enrollment.

Re-Enrolling Adult Volunteers: Rather than having to re-enroll every single year, your enrollment as a 4-H volunteer will extend for a full three years. If your 3-year term is up, you will be contacted by the Regional 4-H office that you need to complete the Safety of Minors training ad complete your re-enrollment in 4-H Online.

Want to be more self-reliant, but don't have hours of free time or acres of land? The Modern Homesteading Conference is designed for everyday people who want practical skills they can actually use, whether you live on a small acreage, in the country, or in town.
Join us November 21, 2026, at Park Rapids High School for a full day of learning, with breakout sessions covering: growing your own food, vegetable fermentation, saving garden seeds, small engine maintenance, pasture and livestock management, small flock care, sourdough, family dairy cows and goats, elderberry processing, energy-efficient homes, buying land, and livestock health.
Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to build on skills you already have, you'll leave with practical ideas you can put to work at home. Learn more and register: z.umn.edu/homestead

The Hubbard County Extension office will be open from 8:30 am-2:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. You can contact the Hubbard County Extension office at 218-732-3391 or mnext-hubbard@umn.edu.

A great one-stop resource that our Extension Office has developed over the last year is the Hubbard County 4-H Family Resource Folder, which is filled with key information on our local 4-H program.

The 2027 Hubbard County Fair will be July 13 - 17, 2027!

Mark your calendars now-start exploring project areas that interest you and plan how you'll share what you learn!