Sibley County 4-H Newsletter
May 2026
The market livestock tagging procedure will be the same as last year. All tags needed for market livestock (and breeding animals) will be picked up by individual families at the Extension Office. Extension staff will monitor the ear tag inventory. A family – once assigned a series of ear tags – must either account for the used tags in 4-H online or on the ID worksheets or return all unused AND destroyed tags. Extension Staff may choose to randomly spot check ear tag compliance at any point between application and county fair. An Animal Identification Letter was emailed out to families with additional information, including links to the Species Information Sheets, Animal ID worksheets, and Lease form in March.
Remember that all Animal IDs need to be completed and entered into 4HOnline by May 15, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. Any animals that you MIGHT bring to the county fair should be ID’d. Here is a guide to help you get animals entered into 4-H Online. Or worksheets need to be turned into the Sibley County Extension Office by May 15. They may also be mailed to the Extension Office, but must carry an official postmark (no postage meters) dated May 15 or before. Any worksheets that are received after the May 15 deadline will be eligible for county competition only. This means that they can not receive a champion or reserve champion ribbon, a state fair trip or participate in the auction. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to call Connie at the Extension Office.
This May 15 state deadline is strictly enforced, and late ID’s are not eligible for state fair or premiums. In June, you will be able to create entries in Fair Entry. You will create an entry in Fair Entry for every project that you plan to bring to the fair and it will allow you to add animals that you ID’d through 4-H Online.
Be sure to discuss the livestock ID dates at your club meetings. New members may not be informed of the importance of these dates.
February 15 - Market Beef and Dairy Steer ID's due
May 15 – Deadline to add/drop projects.
May 15 – ALL other livestock ID’s due (Beef Breeding Heifer, Cow/Calf, Prospect calves, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Dog, Llama, Horse, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine)
June 1 - Fair Entry opens to register for County Fair
June 30 – Fair Entry closes to register for County Fair
July 1 – Dairy Goat – Jr. Doe Kid
*Poultry, Pigeons and Pets do not have ID forms.
**Please remember: There are consequences for missing each one of these deadlines!
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.
Livestock Premises ID''s Required for Swine, Sheep, and Goats
In the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the US, the NAIS will help animal health officials to trace potentially exposed animals quickly and efficiently in order to reduce the chance of a full-scale disease outbreak. Protect your animals, your interests and your investments! Contact the MN Board of Animal Health at 651-201-6816 or visit http://www.bah.state.mn.us/bah/nais/. Premise numbers can be assigned in minutes by phone or 1 – 2 days by the web. Information required: 1) Address or location description of where animals are housed. 2) Contact name. 3) Species kept on premises.
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+. Youth must complete the training by Friday, July 24?? to be eligible for a state fair trip. Contact the Extension staff to determine if your current LQA&E training will expire by the 2026 County Fair (or if you haven't previously taken it).
Sibley County will be working with Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, LeSueur, and Nicollet counties and will hold our training 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.
Sheep Weigh-In and ID
Central identification for sheep will take place on SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2026 from 9:00 – 12:00 a.m. at the Sibley County Fairgrounds. The inclement weather date is May 9, 2026! This Central Weigh-In and ID day is optional. If you choose to participate, please bring your completed Sheep ID worksheet with you. Ear tags will be available at weigh in. If you choose not to participate in Central Weigh-In, you will need to self ID. You will need to pick up ear tags at the Extension Office. ALL ID’s are due Friday, May 15! There will be a charge for ear tags ($2.00 a piece).
All About Lamb Lead and Fleece Workshop
Please join us on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 2:30 PM at the Sibley County Fairgrounds, 801 W Chandler St, Arlington, MN. We will be having an educational activity for any youth wanting to learn more about the Lamb Lead and fleece project areas! A member of the SDSU wool judging team will be teaching about wool judging and preparing fleeces for show. We will also be learning about Lamb Lead including choosing an outfit, showmanship in the ring, and the knowledge interview. Registration will close Wednesday, May 13. This event is FREE for any 4-H member in grades K-13.
Goat Project Workshop
Do you have questions about showing goats? Questions about basic care, preparing for the show or showmanship? We will be having a Goat Workshop to answer all your questions for both Dairy and Meat Goats on June 6 starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Sibley County Fairgrounds, show arena. This event will be FREE and all cloverbuds and 4-Hers are welcome to attend. Members are encouraged to bring your animals to practice with. Mark your calendars.
Rabbit Project Workshop
Do you have questions about showing rabbits? Questions about basic care, preparing for the show or showmanship? We will be having a Rabbit Workshop to answer all your questions on June 6 starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Sibley County Fairgrounds, show arena. This event will be FREE and all cloverbuds and 4-Hers are welcome to attend. Members are encouraged to bring your animals to practice with. Mark your calendars.
Llama/Alpaca Project Meeting
Sibley County will be hosting a Llama/Alpaca shearing event on Wednesday, June 3 at 4:30 p.m. at the Andy Cohr's farm, 47024 180th Street, Glencoe. Brent Winslow from Chatfield, MN will be coming to shear, teeth trimming and hoof trimming. He is a hands-on teacher and has the kids helping while shearing. If you are interested in attending this event, please reach out to the Sibley County Extension Office.
Beef Showmanship Clinic
Beef project members are encouraged to attend a beef showmanship clinic. It will be hosted at the Sibley County Fairgrounds Show Arena on Friday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. We will have a potluck supper then practice showmanship. Please bring your own animal to practice with.
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.
SAVE $$ - Register by March 31 to get the Early Bird Price of $300!
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!
-The 2025-2026 Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors
Dog Project Update
The dog project will have practices on Thursday nights starting on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sibley County Fairgrounds. Please arrive early to warm up your dog. Practices will be every week until the dog show which will be Saturday, July 18 at the Sibley County Fairgrounds in Arlington.
Dog ID’s are due Thursday, May 15, 2025. Make sure you include a picture of your dog on the ID Form and it is COMPLETE! This form is required before you can participate in any practices.
If you are interested in participating in the Dog Project, please reach out to Lauren at 507-327-2583 for more details. Watch for more information in your emails and newsletters.
Horse Project Update
Practices will begin in June. Games practices will start on Monday, June, please pick one session either at 6:00 or at 7:30. On Wednesday, June 3, Pleasure practice will start at 5:30 and Drill team practice will begin at 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in participating in the horse project, please reach out to the Extension Office for more details.
ID’s are due May 15, 2025. Make sure to get a current Coggin's to upload with your animal ID in 4-H online. A Coggin's is required before you can participate in any practices.
Shooting Sports Update
If you are interested in participating in Shooting Sport and Wildlife 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.
First practices will include safety, so it is important not to miss the first class.
Archery practices will start Sunday, June 7, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Trap practices will start Monday, June 8, 4:00 p.m. or as early as you can make it.
BB and Air rifle practices will start Wednesday, June 10, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
4-H Engineering Design Challenge
2026 Engineering Design Challenge
Step Right Up: The 4-H Marvelous Midway Challenge
Step right up and join the 2026 Minnesota 4-H Engineering Design Challenge (EDC)! This exciting statewide event invites youth in grades 3 and up 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.).
Teams and individuals exhibit their machine at their county fair with the opportunity to exhibit at the state fair.
How to join or form a team
Interested youth should contact Connie Rettmann, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development to find or form a team, and adults willing to help out should do the same.
Take on a challenge and form a 4-H or FFA crop scouting team! By being on a 4-H/FFA crop scouting team, you will learn skills like teamwork, communication, problem solving and predicting outcomes. All of these skills are what your future employers are looking for!
What is crop scouting? Crop scouting is a way to inspect crops for potential outcomes and risks. Scouts are people who make systematic observations and predict crop production while considering factors such as weather, inputs like pesticides and herbicides, and risks such as disease and pests.
To learn more about what a crop scouting competition looks like, view this link.
Federation Meeting
On Monday, June 1, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Sibley County Service Center we will have the final federation meeting before the fair.
County Fair Entry Day
Mark your calendars for TUESDAY, July 28, 2026! This will be the entry day for NON-LIVESTOCK projects. Please watch for upcoming correspondence and emails on how the day will run.
Showcase Day
Once again we will hold our Showcase Day on Monday, July 13 at the Warehouse in Winthrop. We will be starting in the morning with Demonstration and Food Show judging. Clothing, Quilting, and Fashion Revue judging will be starting around Noon. Share The Fun, Performing Arts and Public Fashion Revue will be held in the evening. If you club will be doing a skit, please email Connie or Joleen the title of your skit.
Premium Book
The updated County Fair Premium Book will be available on the Sibley County Extension Website today. They will not be printed out, unless requested. If you would like to request a printed premium book you may do so and stop by the office to pick it up. We will not be mailing them out. Remember -- Fair registration will once again be done ALL online through Fair Entry, which will be open 6/1 - 6/30.
Events Through 4-H Online
There are many great events coming up that you can register for through 4-H online. Just log into your family profile and click on events. Scroll through all the options, I am sure there is something that you may be interested in. Remember if there is a cost to the event, that the Sibley County Federation has scholarships available to reimburse a portion of the cost.
Sibley County 4-H Records
The Sibley County 4-H Records are available online at Sibley County Extension website, click on resources. You should be able to print these and hand write them, or if you would like to type in the document, click File, Make a Copy. You will then be able to edit and type into the copied document.