Washington County 4-H Newsletter

Welcome to our Family Newsletter! The most up-to-date information about events and activities going on in or near Washington County. Please pass along to friends and family that might be interested in attending a 4-H event. Once you have enrolled, you will also receive the monthly Clover Update at the beginning of each month highlighting regional and state events.

Is your newsletter getting cut off? The best way to view our newsletter is to open it in a new browser on a computer.

Does anyone recognize these? Left from Cloverbud Workshop on April 18. Please contact Kathy at our office if these are yours. Email: eber0002@umn.edu to schedule a time for pick up.

Washington County 4-H would like to honor the class of 2026. 4-H wants to celebrate your accomplishments by highlighting you on our Facebook/Instagram accounts in the coming weeks. To participate please email the following to Kathy at; eber0002@umn.edu no later than May 31st.

• A photo of yourself
• Brief description of plans after graduation
• Favorite 4-H memory

Only a few more weeks before the newsletter will no longer be sent to those who have not re-enrolled. May 15 is the deadline.

This is a reminder that you need to re-enroll each year in the 4-H program. Please go into your family account in 4honline and update all those enrolling for the 2025-2026 4-H year. If you are not currently enrolled please go to: https://v2.4honline.com/

Animal ID's can also be entered for the coming fair season. Market Beef ID's were due Feb. 17. Other animals need to be ID'ed by May 15. Please check your specific species requirement on the state website at https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-projects/4-h-animal-id

We want to welcome our new families, we know it can be challenging to navigate the 4-H year the first time but please don't hesitate to reach out to your club leaders, established 4-H families or staff with any questions you might have along the way.

4-H families are invited to attend the April Federation Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 27th beginning at 6:30 pm at the Stillwater Gov’t Center. The agenda for the evening will include a 15-20 minute presentation from a State Ambassador on the upcoming YELLO ((Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities) Conference. After a short business meeting, we will have some fun decorating cupcakes!

Join us for an upcycling workshop with the staff at Basic Needs Thrift Shop! Youth and their adult will learn about upcycling principles and why recycling old items is so important. Participants will have approximately 30 minutes to shop in the store and find items that could be upcycled into a new outfit or home décor item. We will share upcycling plans with each other and learn how to bring a finished upcycling project to the county fair.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

5:30pm-7pm

Basic Needs Thrift Shop

6990 80th St S #200, Cottage Grove, MN 55016

A $20 participation fee will be due to Basic Needs at the beginning of the workshop. Upon payment, you will receive a $10 gift certificate towards a purchase that evening. Registration is limited to enrolled 4-H members grades 3+. Registration will close Friday, May 8th or after 20 participants have registered. Registration: https://Upcycling.4honline.com

With questions or concerns, please contact Hani Abukar - habukar@umn.edu (Ramsey County EE)

Are you a new family to Washington County 4-H that has never experienced the excitement around the county fair? Come find out what all the fuss is about on Thursday, May 28th beginning at 6:30 pm at the fairgrounds in Hooley Hall. We will discuss Fair Entry (entering your projects), project judging, animal shows, and the Food Stand just to name a few. We will end the evening with a tour of the fairgrounds (weather permitting). Pre-register at https://z.umn.edu/WCNewFamilyFair

The Food Stand Committee oversees one of our largest fundraisers of the year! The Committee is already working on plans for the 2026 County Fair! Foodie Challenge winners are invited to participate in these meetings to learn about the processes, planning, pricing, ordering, & scheduling necessary to pull off this fundraiser! The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 1st. It will be held over Zoom to go over pricing! If you would like to be a part of this fun committee, contact Ann at churc109@umn.edu for details!

**Currently accepting water donations, if you would like to donate or have a business willing to donate please let us know! **

Alongside Mounds View Community Education, Ramsey County 4-H will be offering three summer day camp options for youth in grades 6-8. Consider joining us for one, or all! All camps will take place at Chippewa Middle School in North Oaks, MN.

• July - 6th-9th, 9am - Noon: Snackable Day Camp; a hands-on cooking and snacking experience!
• July - 6th-9th, 1pm - 4pm: Outdoor Adventures Day Camp; nature exploration and an appreciation for the outdoors!
• July 13th-16th, 9am - Noon: Brainwaves Day Camp; a deep-dive into understanding the brain and exploring the world of neuroscience!

Youth and adults are always welcome to join the Livestock Project Development Committee! This committee helps plans educational events, supports and coordinates county fair livestock shows and the auction. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29th beginning at 6:30 pm at the fairgrounds, (Hooley Hall). Any questions, ask Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

The 2026 Dog training season has started! If you still wish to join please follow these steps.

1. Are you enrolled in 4-H? If not go to https://v2.4honline.com/
2. Complete the registration form
3. Complete the Dog ID, and upload to 4honline BEFORE May 15. (Proof of vaccinations must be on file before attending trainings).
4. Pay the $40/youth registration fee. Online payment at, https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/PsdSFr
5. Join Band Messaging Service (QR Code on page 24 of Dog Orientation Overview).
6. Attending trainings!

Contact Megan Slater at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.

Animal ID letters have been emailed to families enrolled in the animal science projects as of March 1. Families interested in exhibiting animals at the county fair need to be enrolled in 4-H.

Livestock - https://z.umn.edu/Animal-ID-Letter

Horse - https://z.umn.edu/Horse-ID

Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics (LQA&E) training prepares youth to provide responsible, high-quality care for food animals while promoting a strong commitment to food safety for consumers. Training is designed to enhance the educational value of 4-H animal science projects. Youth grade 6+ are required to complete LQA&E training to be eligible to exhibit beef, dairy, sheep, swine, goats, llama-alpaca, rabbits, and poultry at the State Fair. Training is good for three fair seasons. Dakota County 4-H is hosting an in-person training on June 12; 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Schaffer Family (Elmegca Farm) in Cannon Falls. Cost: $5. This training includes Washington County 4-H members.

Horse camp is right around the corner and there are some updates you will want to be aware of this year. Registration is through 4hOnline, meaning you must be enrolled to participate. This is also a great time to get your Horse ID's completed, upload photo, leases and Coggins papers.

Registration link - https://WashingtonHorseCamp26.4honline.com.

***Please note, you will need to upload a signed code of conduct/waiver form and have payment received before approval is given.***

Payment link - Online payment available

Youth and adults are welcome to attend the May Horse PDC Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 11, beginning at 6:30 pm at the Gov’t Center. Horse Camp and County Fair Show information will be on the agenda. Any questions, contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

Don’t miss the early bird registration for County Arts-In! Arts-In is a performing arts and leadership experience for youth that have completed grades 7-13. Participants will work together with a team of talented Directors and Student Directors to put together a 30-minute musical that will be performed at the Washington County Fair and Minnesota State Fair. Participants will choose which major they would like to participate in: performing, band, or technical. Auditions will take place on July 5, with the encampment starting the following week, July 12-15. See registration form for specific dates and times of auditions, encampment, and performances.

Once again, we will offer early-bird registration for $80 if you register by April 27. After April 27, the price increases to $90. Deadline to register is July 1! Late fees of an additional $25 will apply after July 1. Online payment option - https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInPayment

Volunteer requirement: 2+ hours of adult volunteer time is required for each child participating in Arts-In. A separate $100.00 check per family must be included with registration. This deposit will be shredded if the volunteer commitment is completed.

You will need to complete all three forms:

Registration Form: https://z.umn.edu/CountyArtsIn

Volunteer Form: https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInVolunteer

Conflict Form: https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInConflict

Fees need to be paid by first practice, online payment available at https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/rCqKDb

In order to be eligible for state shoot, you must be enrolled in 4-H by May 15. Besides the 15 hours of instruction you will need 8 hours of wildlife training. Now, is a great time to get these hours in before the busy summer schedule begins. Any questions about the Shooting Sports Program can be directed to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

4-H youth attending the State Shoot are required to have completed 8 hours of wildlife training in the prior year. PLEASE do not wait until the summer months to complete your required hours.

Examples of activities that can count for full or partial hours:

• Attend a club service project for habitat restoration at a local park (full hours)

• Do a demonstration on deer anatomy at your 4-H club (full hours)

• Go hunting (partial hours)

• Plan out your pollinator garden and do a fair project on it (full hours)

• Start a phenology journal and keep notes when you go hiking (partial hours unless you teach the skill to others, then you can get full hours)

• The list goes on and on!

If you are taking a course that counts toward wildlife hours, be sure to bring your Wildlife Hours Tracking Form to collect an instructor signature!

Step right up and join the 2026 Minnesota 4-H Engineering Design Challenge (EDC)! This exciting statewide event invites youth in grades 3+ to work in teams to design and build a Rube Goldberg™–type machine that completes a two-part task: Win a carnival game every time and show the crowd you've won (e.g. make a sound, ring a bell, play a recording of a crowd cheering, raise a banner, lift up your prize stuffed animal in victory, etc). The goal of the EDC is to inspire creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking through hands-on engineering. This year’s theme is Step Right Up: The 4-H Marvelous Midway Challenge! Teams will bring the fun and excitement of a carnival midway to life by designing a machine inspired by classic fair games, attractions, and over-the-top chain reactions. Teams are made of 3-8 youth and can compete as a Rookie (5-step machine for a team brand new to the EDC), Level 1 (10-step machines, grades 3-12), and Level 2 (10-step machines, experienced teams or grades 9-12). More details about the specific challenge task and important dates will be coming soon to the EDC website. Start talking to your friends, let your 4-H educator know you are interested, and get ready to engineer something marvelous!

The county fair is less than 100 days away! The county fair is the highlight for the majority of 4-H’ers and their families! You won’t want to miss the fun, friendships and learning that the fair experience offers! Everything you need to know about the fair can be found in the 2026 Washington County Fair Information/Premium Book found here; https://z.umn.edu/WashCoPremiumBook

If you have questions, please plan to attend the New Family Orientation scheduled for Thursday, May 28 (see article in this newsletter), or contact our office at ext-washington@umn.edu

Washington County has a wonderful Food Stand Committee that is already planning for the 2026 County Fair! This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! All families are expected to volunteer time in the Food Stand during the fair. Shifts are available on all 5 days of the fair, vary in length, and type of work. Please read the instructions on the SignUp Genius so you understand the expectations. Cloverbuds must be accompanied by an adult! !Clubs and designated project areas will receive financial incentives based on the number of youth and adults that sign up from each club! Sign-up here: 2026 Food Stand sign up genius! Extended family and friends can sign up too and designate their time to your club/project area!

Have any of your projects made a positive difference in your community? Earn recognition at the county fair for your Community Impact by showing it in your exhibit and telling the judge about it.z.umn.edu/4HCommunityImpact

Washington County 4-H youth who plan to graduate out of 4-H this year (your last year of 4-H, typically one year post high school) are encouraged to complete the 2026 Graduation Application Youth who complete the Graduation Application will be recognized during the Sunday Night Awards (August 2) at County Fair. Graduation Applications are due by July 1st. Please email them to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

YELLO, Minnesota’s statewide 4‑H leadership conference, will be held June 9-12 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, bringing youth together for hands-on learning, teamwork and personal growth. Participants in grades 7+ will explore the theme Planting Seeds of Leadership through workshops, service projects, and opportunities to connect with peers. Registration is now open for this energizing and transformative experience for youth of all 4‑H backgrounds. Learn more and register. Washington County members attending YELLO will receive a county scholarship that will pay half of their registration. The member is responsible for paying the other half of the registration.

If you're in grades 7-13, we want you to join the Washington County 4-H Ambassador Team. The Ambassadors meet once a month at the Washington County Government Center and plan Cloverbud Workshops, Service Projects, Social events - all while building their leadership skills and having fun! Reach out to Megan at slate187@umn.edu with any questions!

Sign up to be an Ambassador here!

County 4-H scholarships open to Washington County youth can be found on our website and are due July 1, 2026. All scholarships will be awarded at the County Fair Awards Program, Sunday, Aug. 2

• Farm Bureau Scholarship (Due July 1, 2026)
• Washington County Federation & Memorial Scholarships (Due July 1, 2026)
• Adele Clemens Memorial Scholarship (Due July 1, 2026)

4-H is proud of its youth leaders! The Key Award recognizes the contributions youth have made in their clubs, county and community! Winners of the Key Award will be announced at the Sunday Night Awards at the county fair! To be eligible;

• 4-H member must have completed their sophomore year in high school

• Be a 4-H member for at least five years

• Have at least 3 years of active 4-H youth leadership

• Must meet seven of nine leadership requirements (see attached application)

Minnesota 4-H Key Award Application Applications are due by July 1. Please email to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

The Riversides Routers had a weekend full of learning and fun. On Saturday April 11, 2026 the club went to Triple “O” Dairy Farm. They got to see how cows got milked, see the cows eating their feed, and saw baby cows. On Sunday they had their monthly meeting at the Denmark Township Townhall. The Cloverbud craft was pipe- cleaner flowers. Grant and Luke did the pledge,and roll call was answered with “what did you do for Easter?". The Treasurer gave the Treasurer’s report. Some people played BINGO, and some played outside. The next event is Roadside clean up is on : April 27-May 4 .

Respectfully Submitted.

Emilia H, Club Reporter

Special thanks to Ashley Schwartz for coordinating the Pheasants Forever Raffle! Washington County Shooting Sports sold $1300 worth of tickets! This money comes back to our Shooting Sports Program! Thank you to the super sellers! The following youth will get their complimentary Shooting Sports t-shirt later this summer:

• Hank Schwartz
• P.D. Schwartz
• Bash Martell
• Mason McGruder
• Jacob Rose-Stoltz
• Hunter Carson
• Adam Fritsche

Northern Lights volunteers are individual volunteers and/or volunteer teams who help bridge the Cloverbud and 4-H experience, creating empowering learning environments. They create the conditions for youth to be ready for work and ready for life. This year there were a record 35 volunteers who were nominated for Northern Lights Awards. Please join Minnesota Extension in celebrating the following shining volunteers from Washington County who have given exemplary service in their communities.

• Andrea Kent, Washington County
• Kristina Jarosch, Washington County

Congratulations to these deserving volunteers. If you have been impacted by their service, please reach out to them and express your gratitude.

Minnesota 4-H is hiring an Interim 4-H Program Associate for Washington County. An Interim 4-H Program Associate manages the day to day coordination and delivery of local 4-H programming during a vacancy. This temporary position starts as soon as possible and runs through July 2, 2026. View the job description (z.umn.edu/interimapp). To be considered for the position, applicants must complete the application (z.umn.edu/interimapp) and an intake survey (z.umn.edu/interimscreening). Please send questions to Kate Holland, 4-H Interim Hires and Onboarding Coordinator, at kharring@umn.edu. Applications will be reviewed April 24.

Activities and Events (Registration links with articles above)

• Apr. 24 - Performing Arts Festival - Oak-Land Middle School 6-9 PM
• May 20 - Upcycling Workshop with Basic Needs (register through 4honline)
• June 12 - LQA & E in-person training. Cannon Falls, MN.(register through 4honline)
• July 16 - Fashion Revue - Oakdale Discovery Center 12-8pm (Save the date)

Dog

• Apr. 21 - Dog Training began (Dog ID must be submitted before attending training)
• May 15 - Dog ID submitted online deadline
• July 25-26 - County 4-H Dog Show
• Sept. 20-21- State 4-H Dog Show - MN State Fair

Horse

• June 7-10 - Washington County 4-H Horse Camp. Registration closes May 1.
• Sept. 17-21 - State Horse Show - MN State Fair

Livestock Reminders - 2026

• Feb. 17 - Market Beef and Dairy Steer Animal ID deadline. (Info emailed to members 1/5/26)
• May 15 - Animal ID deadline (Dog, Horse, Llama, Rabbit, Dairy, Breeding Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat (market & dairy) and leased poultry).
• July 1 - County Fair registration due
• LQA Training - Livestock Quality Assurance training needs to be completed BEFORE County Fair to be eligible for a State Fair trip with an animal (Must have completed 6th grade to attend State Fair with an animal). In-person training lasts 3 fair seasons versus online training which is good for 1 year and has a fee. In-person training will take place June 12, 2026 in Cannon Falls, MN. Please register through 4HOnline.
• July 29 - Aug. 2 - Washington County Fair
• Aug. 26-30 - MN State Fair 4-H Livestock Encampment (Interested in being an adult chaperone? Complete your adult volunteer screening before County Fair)

Performing Arts

• Apr. 24 - Performing Arts Festival-Oak-Land Middle School 6-9 PM
• Apr. 27 - Early Bird Arts-In registration due
• July 5 - Arts-In Auditions (evening)
• July 12-15 - Arts-In Encampment
• July 28 - Dress Rehearsal (evening)
• July 29-Aug 2 - Performances at the Washington County Fair
• Aug. 22 OR 23 - State Fair Rehearsal

• State Fair Performances: TBD

Rabbit

• July 12 - Agility & Knowledge practices (meet by the rabbit barn at fairgrounds) from 3-5 PM

• July 19 - Agility & Knowledge practices (meet by the rabbit barn at fairgrounds) from 3-5 PM

• July 26: 1:30 PM Rabbit Barn Setup; 3–5 PM Practice & Cage Assembly

Shooting Sports

• May 15 - Must be enrolled in 4-H and Shooting Sports project. Fees paid by first training date.
• June 8 - Aug. 24 - Summer Session - Mondays (Archery, BB, Pellet Gun)
• June 9 - Sept. 8 - Summer Session - Tuesdays (Trap, .22 Rifle, Black Powder)
• Sept. 11-13 - State Shoot in Alexandra, MN

Summer Camps

• June 7-11 - Washington County 4-H Horse Camp. Registration closes May 1.
• June 9-12 - YELLO (Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities) Open to grades 7+ and will take place at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. (Registration closes May 1)
• June 15-17 - Washington/Dakota 4-H Overnight Camp - Grades 3-8 - Baker Outdoor Learning Center. Maple Plain, MN. (Camp is full)
• July 6-9 - 4-H Summer Day Camps will be held at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Day Camps are open to grades K-6. (Registration not yet open)

Washington County Fair 2026

• July 1 - County fair registration deadline. Final selection of projects and animals need to be entered in FairEntry by this date. Late entries accepted for ribbon only.
• July 25 - 4-H General project judging (Saturday) Includes Pet Show!
• July 29- Aug. 2 - Washington County Fair

Youth enrollment and animal ID deadline

• May 15, 2026 - Enrollment deadline for full County Fair participation and eligibility for State Fair, State Shoot, State Horse Show and State Dog Show.
• Participation is limited after May 15 (Not eligible for champions, auction, state trips) Blue, red and white ribbons only.

YELLO, Minnesota’s statewide 4‑H leadership conference, will be held June 9-12 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, bringing youth together for hands-on learning, teamwork and personal growth. Participants in grades 7+ will explore the theme Planting Seeds of Leadership through workshops, service projects, and opportunities to connect with peers. Registration is now open for this energizing and transformative experience for youth of all 4‑H backgrounds. Learn more and register. Washington County members attending YELLO will receive a county scholarship that will pay half of their registration. The member is responsible for paying the other half of the registration.

Minnesota 4-H Photography is excited to offer a statewide floral and foliage photo workshop to youth in grades K-13.

The Zoom workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. Learn from MN 4‑H Photography Committee members Cora, Michele and MaryAnn as they guide you through creative, hands-on techniques to elevate your flower and foliage photography. Participants will explore ways to capture striking textures, vibrant colors, dramatic lighting, and unique perspectives that transform ordinary plants into captivating, eye‑catching images.

Find more information here: https://extension.umn.edu/event/buds-and-blooms-4-h-photography-workshop

Register at: https://budsandbloomsworkshop.4honline.com

Questions? Email fourhphoto@umn.edu.

Do you have youth in your 4-H program that would like to learn more about livestock evaluation? Do you have young members on a general livestock judging team who need help with structuring, completing, and presenting a set of oral reasons? Are you interested in starting a livestock judging team in your county? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Minnesota 4-H livestock judging camp is an event they should participate in!

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 15 - 17 on the St. Paul campus.

Learn more and register.

Check out our free, searchable online Youth Development Curriculum Library for fun, educational lesson and activity resources designed for youth workers, volunteers, and youth themselves!

190 resources and counting! More content is added every month.

A few highlights:

• Independent learning guides to support youth project learning, such as this Microgreen Growing Guide

• Resources on project areas from Animals and Livestock, to Social-Emotional Learning, to Environment and Earth Science, to STEM, and much more!

4-H volunteers contribute to youth thriving. They make their communities stronger and develop skills they can use in other settings. These are all great reasons to take a step to becoming a volunteer—If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but aren’t sure where to start there are steps you can take to learn more:

1. Complete our volunteer interest form. The info you share will be given to 4-H staff so they can work with you to find or create a volunteer role that meets your skills, interests, and availability.
2. Reach out directly to your local 4-H staff to inquire about specific volunteer opportunities in your community.

Whether you join us for one day or for multiple events, we value the impact we make together for our youth and our communities! For more information contact MN4-HVol@umn.edu.

University of Minnesota Extension works across the lifespan. We create and support positive non-formal learning opportunities for youth. We foster resilient, healthy and secure futures for families and seniors. Extension works with Minnesotans to make informed decisions leading to better health and well-being. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/working-youth/contacts-families-and-youth

University of Minnesota Extension improves food literacy, physical activity, food safety and healthy food access for Minnesotans and the food service industry. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/food-health-and-nutrition

The best plants and gardening practices for Minnesota gardeners, homeowners and hobbyists to grow healthy lawns, landscapes and gardens. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden

Ann Church - Livestock (Beef, Dairy, Llama, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, Rabbit), Horse, Shooting Sports, Federation, Community Clubs, Fair, Charters and Finance, Foods & Creative Arts projects and Food Stand.

Megan Slater - Youth Teaching Youth, Ambassadors, Performing Arts, Overnight/Day Camps, Dog, Goat, Cloverbud workshops.

Currently open - STEM, New Families, Promotion, Outreach, and Project Workshops.

Contact information is listed below.