Sherburne County 4-H Newsletter

Happy Friday!

Are you a 4-H club or group leader? Are you interested in learning more and collaborating with other leaders? If so, there are several virtual opportunities to meet over Zoom to connect and ask questions. See below for more information!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Sam Stone

Extension Educator, Sherburne County 4-H Youth Development | Sherburne County Extension | University of Minnesota | umn.edu

ston0392@umn.edu | 763-765-3077

Monday 3/9: Remote

Tuesday 3/10: Office

Wednesday 3/11: Office

Thursday 3/12: Office

Friday 3/13: Remote

Monday 3/16: Office

Tuesday 3/17: Remote

Wednesday 3/18: Remote

Thursday 3/19: Office

Friday 3/20: Office

NOTE: When working remote, I can be contacted via email at ston0392@umn.edu or text my cell at (320) 496-3374.

Calling all homeschool youth in Wright and Sherburne counties! Become a green superhero! In this hands-on workshop, youth ages 8-15, will take on exploring environmental and polymer science. Create eco-friendly materials, experiment with biodegradable plastics, and discover how science can help save the planet.

Date/Time: Tuesday April 28, 2026, 9:30am-Noon

Location: Wright County Government Center, 3650 Braddock Ave NE, Buffalo, MN 55313

https://z.umn.edu/BecomeaGS

Calling 4-Hers interested in fishing! learn how to stay safe while ice fishing and explore the history of this winter tradition! You’ll understand the essentials of ice fishing safety, and learn about fishing through the ice. Perfect for kids, this fun and educational session will teach techniques and other tricks to become a hardwater fishing angler! Learn more and register at z.umn.edu/4HHardwaterFishWebSeries

My name is Antonio Becker coming to you from the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at the University of Minnesota. We are excited to be offering a scholarship opportunity to seniors planning to attend the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus Fall of 2025. Ten scholarship recipients will be awarded with a $1,000 scholarship for their studies. To be eligible, applicants are required to have an interview at the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity House during the scholarship day on Friday, March 13th, 2025 (an alternate date can be offered if an applicant is unavailable). Applicants are also required to complete their Fall Semester at the U of M with a minimum GPA of a 3.0 to receive the scholarship. If unsure about attending the U of M, we highly encourage you to still apply! Please let me know if you have any questions. We hope to see a few FFA and 4-Her’s there!

Applications are due Friday, March 13, 2026.

Applications are now available for Minnesota 4-H scholarships! Please note that the Andrea Ruesch Regional scholarship deadline is March 1 for youth in Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock, or Watonwan Counties, while most other applications are due by April 1. Interested high school seniors and college freshmen should start early to gather the required transcripts and recommendation letters. Learn more and apply.

Hi! My name is Caiden Strosahl, a second year student at the University Minnesota and Vice President of Recruitment for the Minnesota Chapter of FarmHouse Fraternity. FarmHouse has always had strong ties to 4-H, with many FarmHouse alumni having served as state ambassadors. I am reaching out to inform you of a scholarship opportunity for male high school juniors and seniors who plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Multiple scholarships of up to $1,000 are awarded each year to University of Minnesota freshmen, regardless of their major, based on academic achievement, leadership experience, extracurricular involvement, and career motivation, not their likelihood to join a fraternity. FarmHouse is a alcohol and substance free house, which provides a safe environment for future gophers. Attached is a flyer containing more information about the scholarship, which includes the application. Please distribute this information to clubs in your area and to any male high school junior or senior you know that is interested. Thank you!

FarmHouse Scholarship Application 2026

The application deadline is April 13, 2026

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!

Get ready for three unforgettable days at 4‑H Camp at Sand Hill Lake!

This three‑day, two‑night overnight adventure invites youth in grades 3-8 to dive into summer with hands-on activities, outdoor fun, creative projects and plenty of classic camp games.

Camp will begin at 2 p.m. on June 2 and end at 11 a.m. on June 4.

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.

Be sure to reserve your spot early — camp fills quickly, and we’d love to see you there!

Interested in being a camp counselor? Review the camp counselor information packet for more information.

Registration opens on Feb. 2 and closes on May 1 in 4‑H Online.

Learn more and register here.

Please note: While the facility being rented for this program is a Bible camp, 4-H Camp at Sand Hill Lake is a non-religious program open to all youth.

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! Open to youth grades 4+. Register in 4-H Online by March 26, 2025. Medals will be awarded to the top individuals in the archery competition!

Find more details and register here:

https://extension.umn.edu/event/stevens-county-archery-invitational

We’re curious about how kids your age learn about plants, and whether you’ve used plant identification apps or not, your input matters! If you’re a 4-H member in kindergarten through one year past high school, we’d love for you to take this short survey. There are no right or wrong answers, just your honest thoughts. We’re trying to understand how youth use (or don’t use) plant ID apps, and what makes them helpful or challenging. Your feedback will help us create better resources to guide people in choosing and using these tools. This survey is led by the Invasive Species Education Community of Practice (IS CoP), a group of Extension and university professionals who collaborate to explore educational and research opportunities around invasive species, share ideas, and grow professionally together. Take the youth survey here:

Did you know that you can obtain some of your State Shoot Wildlife hours through online state offerings? Join Wildlife Wednesdays! Each week, you'll discover something new and inspiring about nature — from secret animal behaviors to incredible ecosystems — all while learning how to protect and respect the environment around us. Whether you're curious, have a love for animals, or looking for a midweek adventure, this series is your gateway to conservation knowledge and a lifelong love of nature. Sessions will be held virtually, 7-8 p.m., on the following Wednesdays: Nov. 19 and 26; Dec. 3, 10 and 17; Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28; Feb. 4, 11 and 25; March 4, 11, 18 and 25; and April 1 and 8. Go to the Wildlife Wednesdays webpage for more information and registration!

Fill out the form below or email Sam at ston0392@umn.edu

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