Sibley County 4-H Newsletter
April 2026
This year we had 11 teams participate at the Regional Project Bowl competitions. 2 Poultry teams competed in Hastings and in Redwood Falls there were 2 Dairy teams, 5 General Livestock teams, and 2 Rabbit teams. 6 of the teams will be participating at the State competition on April 11th in Sauk Rapids. The teams that didn't advance onto state just missed earning a trip. Many team members were new to quiz bowl this year and have learned and accomplished so much. We are very excited and proud of how well everyone placed this year.
Dairy Intermediate Team - Caleb Klehr, Gracie Winter, Gavin St John, and Olivia Majeske, Coaches Aly Dieball and Julie Winter
Dairy Junior Team - Julia Majeski, Owen Brandt, Hariette Gunnink, and Lucas St John, Coaches Ashley St John and Stephanie Brandt
General Livestock Jolly Ranchers - Lane Olson, Kelly Willegal, Landin Rose, and Anna Mages, Coaches Julie Sievert and Jennifer Willegal
General Livestock Prime Cuts - Kendall Foster, Hailey Thoele, Ellie Weber, Lorelai Aronson and Grant Dose, Coaches Amber Schmidt and Chelsey Busse
General Livestock Brahma Buddies - Charlie Klehr, Mason Olson, Ben Prochniak, Ashley Schafer and Eli Doehling, Coaches Jami Klehr and Sophie Klehr
General Livestock Sibley Prime - Kaelin Foster, Martin Mages, Quentin Aronson, and Carson Wendinger, Coaches Jennifer Wendinger and Ben Aronson
General Livestock Carhart Kids - Kathryn Rose, Aubrey Wendinger, Brady Langemo, and Lars Lilienthal, Coaches Nichole Rose and Gena Lilienthal
Poultry Spurs - Faith Lagerwall, Cody Gilbertson, Daniel Templin, William Kroells, Matthew Eiden, and Lucy Kroells, Coaches Jordon Elbert and Katie Templin
Poultry Primaries -Kylee Jaus, Landon Lagerwall, Lewis Hahn, and Lily Jaus, Coaches Jake Elbert and Sara Hahn
Rabbit Hoppers - Chloe Eiden, Josie Johanson, Aubree Weber, and Mitchell Templin, Coaches Sara Eiden and Kylee Messner
Rabbit Jr Hoppers - Ellieanna Isaac, Lauryn Ziegler, and Mya Ramsely, Coaches Jessica Ziegler and Jennifer Isaac
IDing Cow/Calf and Calves
Reminder, if you are ID’ing a beef cow/calf project in 4-H online and want to show the calf in its separate class at the fair, please make sure that you also create an ID for the calf (either a breeding heifer or prospect calf). Please contact the Extension Office if you have any questions about IDing your animal projects.
Sheep Weigh In
Central identification for market sheep will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 9:00 AM - noon. The weigh-in will take place at the Sibley County Fairgrounds in Arlington. Please bring your Sheep ID worksheet filled out to weigh in. All animal projects MUST be identified by Monday, May 15. If you can not make it this date, please call our office at 507-237-4100. Remember: The required ear tags will be available at the weigh-in.
Livestock Leasing
Are you interested in showing livestock but don't have any or don't live on a farm? 4-H has several families interested and willing to lease animals. If you are interested in showing Beef, Goats, Poultry, Sheep or Swine, they will mentor you to help you navigate the do's and don'ts of training, exhibiting, and showmanship about your animal. 4-H’ers would need to work with the leasing family on a schedule, weekly commitment to the project and cost (if there is one). Please contact the Extension Office to get contact information for leasing any of these animals.
All youth participating as a Minnesota State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat and llama - alpaca must have completed a livestock quality assurance and ethics training, for which there are two training options 1) a three hour in-person workshop (LQA&E) or 2) a one hour online training (YQCA). Youth completing either quality assurance training option will receive a certificate of completion. Please review the full LQA policy.
Livestock Quality Assurance training is required for all state fair exhibitors (grades 6+) and is optional for all other members grades 3+. IN ORDER TO ACCEPT A STATE FAIR TRIP FROM THE SIBLEY COUNTY FAIR, YOUTH MUST COMPLETE THE TRAINING BY FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026!! If not completed by this date, you will forfeit your State Fair Trip.
Contact Connie or Joleen to determine if your current LQA&E training will expire by the 2026 County Fair.
Sibley County will again be working with Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, and Nicollet counties and will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 5:30-8:30 (Check-in begins at 5:15 p.m.) Johnson Hall, Nicollet County Fairgrounds, 400 Union Street in St. Peter. There will be no cost for members from the above counties.
Registration is open and the deadline to register is Monday, June 1, 2026 To register, log in at https://mn.4honline.com. For assistance, refer to the event registration guide at z.umn.edu/4hEvent or contact your Extension office. Not re-enrolled? Re-enroll today. After your re-enrollment is approved, you will be notified and can return to 4HOnline to register for this event.
Upcoming Meetings
The Auction Committee will be meeting to discuss final details and changes on Monday, April 6 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Sibley County Service Center.
The Animal PDC Committee (Beef, Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, Lama, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine) will be meeting to discuss these project areas on Monday, April 6 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Sibley County Service Center. If you have any ideas and would like to be part of the committee, please join us!
Please plan on attending the next Federation Meeting on Monday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. This will be the last federation meeting before the County Fair. – NOTE DATE CHANGE
Dog Project update
We will be holding a kickoff Zoom Meeting on Thursday, April 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Cloverbuds are encouraged to join too. This will be an information meeting. Practices will start sometime in June at the Sibley County Fairgrounds. Contact the extension office to receive the zoom link.
Now is the perfect time to get an appointment scheduled with your vet to update vaccinations and get your Dog ID form signed. Animal ID's are due in 4-H Online on May 15.
Shooting Sports Update
If you are interested in participating SSW this year, please fill out this form so we know what disciplines you are interested in participating in. Also, please make sure you are enrolled in 4-H online, signed up for the Shooting Sports project area and that parents have approved the Shooting Sports consent form.
Gaylord Game Protective League has requested help from 4-H to help clean up their grounds before mowing season begins. The date has been set for Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Plan on bringing rakes, shovels, etc. to help move branches and leaves.
Join us for 4-H Camp Hollywood at Camp Patterson June 29 - July 1, 2026! Youth in grades 3-6 will experience a traditional overnight camp. Get ready for penty of your favorite camp activities and some exciting new ones as we roll out the red carpet for Camp Hollywood.
No 4-H experience is required to attend camp, so bring a friend!
Find more information and register by June 1 at z.umn.edu/4HCampPatterson
Cost
Early bird (register by April 1): $225/camper
Regular: $250/camper.
Registration fee includes meals and lodging for three days/two nights, supplies, and a camp t-shirt.
Registration fees are non-refundable unless the camp is canceled. Sibley County offers to pay 90% of the registration fee for Camp Patterson if it is your first time going and 75% if you have attended in the past.
The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors are excited to invite YOU to Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities (YELLO) - an unforgettable leadership experience happening this June 9-12 at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities!
This year's theme: "Planting Seeds of Leadership"
At YELLO youth will dive into hands-on leadership activities, career exploration, service projects and inspiring workshops - all while forming lifelong friendships with peers from across Minnesota! They'll hear from nationally recognized speakers, participate in engaging field trips and through interactive activities youth will apply their leadership skills to better understand how we are all connected and have an individual impact on our communities.
Regular registration ($350) runs April 1 - May 1.
Secure your spot now in 4-HOnline! (Registration closes May 1)
Need a ride to YELLO? Optional round-trip bus tickets are available for $25 or $50 (selected at registration) - [View Bus Route Here]
Don't wait! Register by March 31 to save and secure your spot at YELLO! If this is your first 4-H experience, we'd love to welcome you! Email us at yello@umn.edu for help with registration.
We also need chaperones! If you're interested, check out the YELLO volunteer chaperone role description or email us at yello@umn.edu.
We can't wait to see YOU at YELLO 2026!