MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Registration for the 2026 Murray County Fair is officially open on FairEntry!

This is for ALL 4-H projects (not just livestock). Please refer to the 2026 Murray County 4-H Premium List for details on where certain projects fall under.

Click here to access the Murray County page within FairEntry.

Deadline to get projects entered is July 15, 2026, by 11:59 p.m.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Murray County Extension staff!

Please see the Link to the Murray County 4-H Fair schedule. Families need to know that they are expected to arrive at the fair at or before the arrival time and the vet check time. New this year, livestock need to be checked by a vet prior to being stalled. We understand this may take a bit longer than in the past. What's the difference between arrival time with vet check and livestock check-in? Arrival Time and Vet Check are when your animal is required to be on site at the county fair. The vet will check each animal and verify that they are safe to be around other livestock. You will then work with your livestock superintendents to find and set up your stalls.

Animal Check-in Time is when Superintendents or 4-H Staff verify that the livestock that arrived are the correct animals as previously ID'd in 4-H online.

Please make sure you are bringing your livestock for Arrival time and Vet check - most times have changed, and some species are even on a different day to help accommodate the influx of livestock to hopefully reduce wait times.

We need your help to make sure your livestock are properly accounted for at the county fair. Each family needs to fill out the attached form to share what your family intends to bring to the fair. (Including Cloverbud youth and livestock). One form per family, and please include all species that your family will show at the county fair. If you have any questions, please reach out to 4-H staff. This form is due by July 31 to allow Superintendents to have ample time to ensure another great year at the Murray County fair. https://z.umn.edu/Murraycountystalling2026

The Murray County 4-H Premium List is available for the 2026 fair year! If you would like a paper copy, please stop by the Murray County Extension Office.

This year, there will be one combined state fair meeting on Friday, August 14, at 7:00 p.m. in Olson Arena. Please make sure that you bring a checkbook, as that will be the only accepted form of payment this year. It is required that youth planning on attending the state fair be in attendance, or a parent be present if the youth cannot make the meeting.

Animal ID letters were mailed out earlier this week, please make sure to watch for those in your mailbox! You should've also received an email that includes all species letter, animal science updates and more!

NEW IN 2026

This year, at the Murray County fair it will be required that livestock, other than poultry and

rabbits, need to be checked by the veterinarian before entering the barns for stalling,

weigh-ins, etc. To view all the information pertaining to this topic, please visit the Murray County 4-H Animal Science Folder. Poultry will need to have bands on prior to their arrival at the Murray County Fairgrounds.

To view all the species letters, animal science updates, ID information, etc., please visit the Murray County 4-H Animal Science Folder

We are looking for volunteers to sit in the 4-H building or Heritage Hall for a 3-hour shift to greet fair goers, answer questions regarding the county fair and 4-H and ensure projects are safely viewed by fair goers. We would love your help. Please find the attached sign up genius link or QR code and sign up today. We will send you a reminder the day prior to your shift.

https://z.umn.edu/2026fairbuildings

The University of Minnesota Extension has come out with a new and very helpful guide regarding the vegetable project area! Information includes how to prepare a vegetable box, judging criteria, labeling, data/ record keeping and so much more! For those families who are interested in exhibiting vegetables, we highly recommend the guide below as a reference!

Preparing Vegetables for Exhibit

If you or know of a business/ organization that is interested in donating towards awards at the Minnesota State Fair, please visit the Minnesota 4-H trophies and awards webpage to inquire!

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!😃

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.

Please check out the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Website for more details regarding the scholarships they are offering! Check out the scholarship page for more information!

Deadline to get this application turned in is August 1, 2026! Please visit the website linked below:

📎Scholarships — MLBA 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction

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

Looking into summer, please remember that Ambassadors have a meeting in July prior to the Federation meeting for Fair Assignments and to be present to select next year's officers. Please mark July 27 at 6:00 p.m. on your calendars.

Get ready to build, design, and dazzle at the 2026 Minnesota 4-H Engineering Design Challenge (EDC)! Youth in grades 3 and up will team up to create a Rube Goldberg™–style machine that wins a carnival game and puts on a show-stopping celebration of victory for the crowd.

Want in? Connect with your local Extension educator to form a team, and if you’d like extra support and updates, fill out the optional Intent to Join a Team form by June 30—no requirement, just helpful connections and resources to get you started strong!

https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-minnesota-state-fair/4-h-engineering-design-challenge

Please send a warm welcome Kylee Brands as she is an official 4-H volunteer within Murray County 4-H. She's looking to continue her involvement in the Murray County 4-H Horse Project area!

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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