October Lyon County 4-H

Thank you to Casey’s for partnering once again with National 4-H to support local 4-H programs. Participate at your local Casey’s throughout the whole month of October.

• October 1–10: Round up your in-store purchase to donate to 4-H.

• October 1–November 4: Add a donation to any order made online or in the Casey’s app.

Every donation benefits local 4-H programs.

Celebrate National 4-H week with us October 5-11, 2025

Students show your 4-H pride with these locker signs: Locker signs

Join us on our social media platforms and participate in the themed days.

Monday: Go Green- Wear green from head to toe to show your 4-H pride

Tuesday: How it Started to How It's Going: Parents and youth share how you started in 4-H and where you are at now- this could be in your 4-H career or in your professional life.

Wednesday: Wear it Wednesday. Wear your favorite 4-H shirt.

Thursday: 4-H for Good- share your service to others through community service or volunteering.

Friday: Dreaming of your Future: Share your goals and how 4-H is helping you get there.

Saturday: Share with others on how to get involved. Volunteers, youth, local businesses and more.

Thank you to all our 4-H clubs that participated in the display contest. Be sure to get out in your communities and look at the others. It is so great to see how you showcase 4-H to others.

We’re excited to launch the Food Partner Challenge 2.0, and we need your help to spread the word. This program empowers youth to tackle food insecurity in their communities in new and impactful ways.

This year, youth teams will partner with local food shelves to meet specific needs through volunteering, resource development, and promoting healthy eating—going well beyond traditional food drives. Each group will also create a digital story to document their journey and highlight their community impact. Winning groups will receive $500 awards to support their projects.

The Food Partner Challenge offers youth the chance to build leadership skills, make a tangible difference, and deepen their understanding of community needs. Please share this flyer widely with your 4-H clubs, youth members, and families.

Funding is limited this year, and all submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee, with awards granted based on their recommendations.

Contact balta026@umn.edu with any questions. Thank you for your help in promoting this opportunity.

Application deadline: Oct. 25.

This fall, invite youth in your county to join 4-H Science Sprouts: Pick your own adventure. This fun, hands-on virtual learning opportunity is geared towards youth in grades 3-5 (but open to K-13 youth interested in participating).

Youth will explore plant science through the fall harvest with three 30-minute virtual sessions held on the fourth Monday of October, November, and December. Each session will feature exciting, hands-on experiments with apples, pumpkins or squash, and potatoes—plus the chance to connect with youth from across Minnesota.

Sessions will be held on the following dates from 5:30 to 6 p.m.:

• Oct. 27 - Apple oxidation Monday

• Nov. 24 - Pumpkin and squash Monday

• Dec. 22 - Potato circuit Monday

Youth who register by Oct. 9 will receive a special kit with supplies for the activities.

Learn more and register.

4-H emphasizes more than merely doing to learn. It involves learning by doing, sharing, comprehending, connecting, and applying. Maintaining a record of your experiences helps you think back on them so you can share and learn from them. Youth can receive up to three record awards at the year-end Round Up Banquet in November. The 3 should be noted on their records. Record book covers are available at the Extension Office. Call or visit us during the hours of M-W 8:00–4:30 p.m. and Th 8:00–2:30 p.m. The Extension Office must receive all records by October 22, 2025. Record judging is scheduled for October 28 from 3 to 7 p.m. Cloverbud records do not get judged at the County level

Record judges are also necessary. The work would be simplified if each club could provide at least one judge, ideally two. At your September meeting, please talk about who from your club might be willing to go.

Records can be found on our website under Resources. Click here.

Join a virtual session this fall for the Minnesota 4-H Annual Volunteer Training, "Thriving by Design," designed to strengthen clubs through reflection, input gathering, and goal setting. Participants will explore their motivations for 4-H involvement, analyze club data to set goals for the upcoming year, and delve into the 4-H Thriving Model's youth indicators. Open to current and prospective volunteers and youth leaders, this 90-minute statewide webinar offers flexible attendance: join solo or host a group watch party. Sessions are scheduled for October 8 (7:30-9:00 pm) and November 10 (6:30-8:00 pm). Register and learn more at z.umn.edu/4HVolunteerTraining.

We will also go through key points of the training during the November and January Federation meetings.

Would you like to show your 4-H pride? We will have 4-H family signs and “Join 4-H” signs available soon. Please reach out to Renae or Aimee to get signed up for one. Signs are limited so get on the list quick.

Also if you have a high school senior in your household, we have a 4-H senior sign for you. Stop by the office to pick up your sign up today.

Through year-end awards, we honor the incredible achievements of Lyon County 4-H'ers every year. These honors are given out during Round-Up on November 16, 2025. The Extension Office must receive all award applications by October 28. Check out the following sections to find out more about the awards and to apply:

All applicants are encouraged to attend the Round Up Banquet to receive their award.

Lyon County 4-H Scholarship

Each year, two $200 scholarships are given to young people who have excelled in the Lyon County 4-H Program and have served in county or club youth leadership roles. The young person must be a junior or senior in high school to apply.

Application: z.umn.edu/Lyon4hscholarship

“I Dare You” Award

Each year the American Youth Foundation recognizes outstanding 4-Hers (one boy and one girl) from each county who have demonstrated constructive leadership and excellence in character and personal development. This award is for high school juniors. Please complete the Special Award Nomination form and the “I Dare You” application form for your outstanding boy or girl nomination from Lyon County.

Application: z.umn.edu/Lyon4hIdareyou

Incentive Award

Each year, Lyon County 4-H offers the Incentive Plaque to one outstanding Lyon County 4-Her who has attained a well-rounded 4-H record with progress in three or four projects. The 4-Hers record should accompany the nomination form. Please complete the appropriate form for the person you are nominating.

Application: z.umn.edu/Lyon4hyearendawards

Start-Up Award

The Start-Up Award is replacing the Bond Award. Two applicants will be awarded a $25 award in the form of a check from the Lyon County Federation to put towards a current 4-H project, the start-up of a new project, a college fund, a 4-H trip, a leadership conference, etc.

Application: z.umn.edu/Lyon4hyearendawards

Outstanding Project Award

This award recognizes 4-Hers who have done an outstanding job in a general project area. This could be in one or many projects. The awards usually relate to the project records the 4-H'er is nominated for. Be sure the 4-H’ers records accompany this form.

Application: z.umn.edu/Lyon4hyearendawards

Friend of 4-H and 4-H Alumni Awards

Friend of 4-H and the Alumni Award are presented to recognize adult volunteers who “go above and beyond” with their service to Lyon County 4-H. Anyone involved with Lyon County 4-H is eligible to submit a nomination. Nomination forms are available from club leaders or the Extension office.

Application: z.umn.edu/lyonfriendof4h

Local Staff:

Sam Jens, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

jens0593@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 2

Renae Jenniges, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

johnsorj@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 3

Aimee Powers, Support Staff, Lyon County

power684@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 Ext. 1

Email: mnext-lyon@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu
Location: 500 Fairgrounds Road, Marshall, MN, USA
Phone: 507-532-8219
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt
Twitter: @UMNExt

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