MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Fundraiser season has begun! By now, most of you or your club leaders have received packets for families. All of the vendors are the same aside from adding the Walnut Grove Mercantile!

Please see the Murray County Extension website for a folder that contains fundraiser forms!

Please coordinate with your club leaders on who/ where to turn in forms and money to!

We appreciate all that you do to support our program! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Animal ID tags have arrived and are ready to be picked up in the office for market beef animals! This includes beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers.

Letters will be sent out to families with more details shortly!

For those interested in exhibiting market beet at the county fair, please visit the 4-H Animal ID page within the Extension website.

"You Cannoli Do Your Best" was a hit! Over one hundred Murray County 4-H family members attended. Meal included a pasta bar, garlic toast and a cannoli dip for dessert! Several youth and adult were recognized. Please certain individual awards listed below:

Friend of 4-H: Brad Pagel

Ambassador(s) of the Year: Aiden & Tyler York

Ignite Your Spark Award: Clara Pagel

These awards along with fundraiser top sellers, goals achieved, record completion and so much more were recognized.

2026 high school graduates that have been a Murray County 4-H member at least four years are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded at the Murray County Fair after the Premier Showmanship Showcase Friday, August 14, 2026. Awards will start at 5:30 p.m. or after Premier Showmanship, if it runs longer than 5:30 p.m.

Apply using the Murray County 4-H Scholarship Form

Are you passionate about livestock and 4-H? Do you have ideas about the 4-H animal science experience? If you said “YES!,” apply to be on the animal science ambassador team! Applications are open January 12-February 6, 2026, to enrolled youth who are 8th grade and above. Application can be found at: https:/z.umn.edu/AniSciAmbie

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.

Applicants must be:

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

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!

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

• Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. (Central time): Webinar for Extension professionals.
• March 4 at 6 p.m. (Central time): Webinar for applicants/parents.

We're offering an opportunity for youth to get feedback on their applications if they submit them here by March 22. They will receive feedback by March 30, and then

Students entering grades 7-13 can have an adventure in science and career exploration on the prairie in SW Minnesota. University on the Prairie is a unique program that showcases hands-on activities related to animal science, food science, engineering, ag/environmental science and chemistry.

Faculty from the University of Minnesota and SDSU, along with local professionals and SWROC scientists will join teachers from the region to guide students through hands-on exploration of science in five career areas important to the life and future of southwestern Minnesota. The program is unique in the state and offers students an opportunity to open doors to many career paths and will perhaps result in a future soil scientist, pharmacist, or chemist.

The program is full of fun and hands-on activities. It will be held at the Southwest Research & Outreach Center laboratories, classrooms, and outdoor facilities near Lamberton. Check in at the SWROC will be at 10 a.m. on June 30. The program will run from 10:30 a.m. - 6:25 p.m. on June 30 and from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on July 1. An overnight lodging option is available at the SWROC (air mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows are encouraged).

Registration is now open at uotp2026.4honline.com. Total cost is $50 per student. Register by June 12. More information can be found at: https://extension.umn.edu/event/university-prairie

Questions! Please email mohrh002@umn.edu

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 State 4-H Ambassadors.

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:

• Leadership minor: Leadership lessons are led by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors throughout the event. Youth will explore leadership on a personal, group, and societal level.
• Service and education: Participants engage in hands-on service to learn about civic responsibility while also making positive contributions to the community. This years’ service focus is on disaster relief and emergency response.
• Majors: Majors are one of the main educational components of the YELLO experience. Majors are opportunities for youth to do a deep dive into the project area of their interest. There are different major categories, and each youth will choose a class where they will receive a full day of exciting hands-on experiences.
• Social events: Youth will be able to network with one another in fun ways. In the past, this has included talent shows, game nights, dances, etc.

Registration for YELLO will open in February. The cost to attend YELLO is expected to be $350, with an additional fee for opting in to ride the bus. Youth will register via 4-H Online.

This contest offers a hands-on opportunity for youth involved in general livestock projects—beef, meat goat, sheep, and swine—to put their knowledge into action! Participants will rotate through interactive stations that challenge them to apply what they have learned in real-world livestock scenarios.

Youth may compete individually or as part of a team, making this a flexible opportunity for all levels. SkillaThon is a fantastic way to showcase skills in livestock breeds, animal health, production, and more. It’s also an excellent learning and practice opportunity for Project Bowl teams looking to sharpen their knowledge.

The contest rules and procedures are available online, as well as a list of the resources used for the contest content. Here is a communication toolkit to help share about this opportunity locally. There will be two contests in February that youth can choose to participate in; one right in our region, in Redwood Falls on February 7! Registration for Livestock SkillaThon is due January 25.

Yes, it's that time of year already...Re-enrollment for Murray County 4-H opens today! It allows you to update your family information, address, email, etc. This is also the time to select your primary club with the option the enroll in a secondary club (for example Horse Club or Llama/ Alpaca Club). Staff want to make sure you are getting the information you need and answer any questions you may have!

Every year, starting September 15, each youth from Cloverbud to grade 13 need to be enrolled. Families can do that by visiting https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in. Update all the info, share any new project areas you might be interested in learning about so you can receive the appropriate emails throughout the year regarding information and deadlines for those particular project areas.

Here is a 4-H Online 'Tip Sheet' for enrolling/ re-enrolling to help with the process offering step-by-step instructions.

Volunteers need to be updated every third year. You should have received a message prior to September 15 if it's your year to renew. It will include directions as well as the link https://4-h-volunteer.extension.umn.edu/welcome-or-renew/renew. If it's not your year, 4-H staff will handle the rollover for you.

Thank you for taking the time to do this - the sooner your enrollment gets completed, the less emails and reminders you will receive.

Thank you for making Murray County 4-H the best it can be!😃

Attached are the flyers that will be sent home with MCC and Fulda youth grades K - 6. We would love to have your 4-H youth join us once a month for our After-School-Adventures program. Youth do not need to be a member of a 4-H community club, but do need to complete the 4-H online registration

(https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in) to participate. Youth do not need to attend MCC or Fulda Schools to participate.

Visit https://z.umn.edu/2025-2026afterschoo4HAdventures to get a flyer if your youth does not attend MCC or Fulda. Please note that each school location has different dates, so be sure to sign up for the location that best works for you.

Please take a moment to download or print the 2025 - 2026 Murray County 4-H calendar.

We have an app available that provides easy access to all things Murray County 4-H and Fair season!

Please take the time to download and utilize for access to show programs, stalling survey, Foodstand menu and so much more!

Available in the Apple App Store or Google Play! Search 'Minnesota 4-H' to download!

With a new year, that means new scholarship opportunities are available for high school seniors and college students. Please take the time to check out the scholarship site, to learn about upcoming opportunities this spring.

Applications for the 2026 Compeer Giving High School Senior Scholarships are officially open! The scholarship amount increased from $1,500 to $2,000 to better support rural students pursuing agricultural or community-focused careers.

If you know a student with a passion for agriculture or rural life, encourage them to apply by Feb. 15.

Please apply on the Compeer Website.

The family of Andrea Ruesch established a 4-H scholarship in memory of her dedication and contributions to the Minnesota 4-H program. Based on the family's belief in positive youth development, the focus of this scholarship is on demonstrated learning through hands-on experience and using what you have learned to help others (youth leadership).

For 4-H members who are high school seniors or first-year college students. Must currently be enrolled in one of the counties listed: Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock or Watonwan.

This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship and at least eight scholarships will be awarded annually.

Due: March 1, 2026

Apply by visiting the University of Minnesota Extension Scholarship page (this will also show you various other opportunities for you to apply for).

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. If you have specific content you’d like to see, contact Jessica Russo at pier0239@umn.edu.

Join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors! We meet typically once a month for leadership opportunities, youth engagement, ambassador outings, and service projects. Youth in grades 8 and up are invited to join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors. Fill out the attached link

https://z.umn.edu/MCAmbassador

Next meeting will be held on February 1 in the Murray County Courts Meeting Room starting at 1:00 p.m.

Please send a warm welcome to Kaylen Weidert as she has officially become a Murray County 4-H volunteer! Serving as a club leader in the Currie Poco-a-Poco club, she has started off strong and can't wait to see what she does in the future for our program!

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact the Extension staff at (507)-836-6927

We would love to see the positive impact you could make in our program!

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County

📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1144 ✉️hausek@umn.edu

SLAYTON, MN 56172

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County

📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1145

✉️thoms531@umn.edu

SLAYTON, MN 56172

Administrative Assistant, Murray County Extension

📍2848 Broadway Ave 📞 507-836-6927 ✉ carl5049@umn.edu

Slayton, MN 56172

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