Jackson Journal

To stay up to date about deadlines, events and reminders please subscribe to the Jackson County 4-H google calendar: z.umn.edu/JacksonCo4HGoogleCal

• August 27 - Sept. 7, 2026 - Minnesota State Fair

• September 2026 - Fair Recap meetings with Superintendents and Committees

• September 14- 4-H Advisory and Federation Officer Applications - Due

• Sept 28, 2026- Federation and Advisory Meeting

• Oct 4-10, 2026 - National 4-H Week

• Oct 5- Go GREEN day! Wear your 4-H green to show support.

Upcoming closures:

September 2 - open 12:00-4:30 p.m.

September 7 - Labor Day

September 8 - Closed

Office closures will be communicated to families and volunteers via email or Facebook.

Weather closures and cancellations can be found on KKOJ radio.

If you need to pick up or drop off anything please plan to do so outside of these dates, or utilize the drop box now in FRONT of the office to the right of the front door!

Thank you all for showcasing your projects at the Jackson County Fair. If you did not participate in the County Fair, that is A-Okay because your voice still matters as we move into a new 4-H year starting in October!

Please complete this survey with feedback your family has about this year’s county fair, 4-H programming, and improvements for the 4-H program in 2026-2027.

As a reminder, constructive feedback includes identifying a problem and then offering tangible solutions to solve that problem. Excessively harsh feedback with no solutions is not actionable and will not be tolerated.

Post fair / 4-H programming survey results will be used by staff, committees, and the fair board for planning future Jackson County Fairs, Jackson County 4-H Programs, and opportunities to encourage youth voice and leadership opportunities.

Responses will be accepted until September 12, 2026.

https://z.umn.edu/JacksonCo4HSurvey

Our office now has texting capabilities. This is a very basic service so most communication will come from email or Jackson Journals, but we encourage you to save the following numbers:

Debra's text number 507-849-7279

Justine's text number is 507-849-7280

Great job to all the Jackson County youth. You did an exceptional job not only representing yourself, but Jackson County 4-H as well. We are so proud of all you accomplished.

The 2026-2027 will start on October 1, 2026 which means 4-H re-enrollment, new member enrollment, volunteer training/renewal, and club chartering will be here before we know it! Time to celebrate and reflect on all that your 4-H clubs and programs have done this past year and plan for the upcoming year.

The new 4-H year begins Oct. 1. In order to remain enrolled, you will need to show your family’s intent to participate by logging in to 4-H Online and reviewing, updating and submitting the following information:

• Your family's contact and demographic information, including club, school and grade.

• Each family member's health and emergency contact information.

• Project areas of interest for this coming year. (this is SUPER important as it helps us know which youth are interested in what to better inform them about upcoming events related to that specific project area!!)

• Parental consent required for youth participating in shooting sports/wildlife programs.

You can login to 4-H Online to complete the re-enrollment process AFTER Sept. 15. This guide (z.umn.edu/Enrollin4HOnlineGuide) has more information.

Thank you for volunteering with Minnesota 4-H in program year 2025 - 2026. We hope you will join us to continue offering learning and leadership opportunities for Minnesota youth in your community!

It is mandatory that committee members are 4-H screened volunteers as this meets the requirements of the U of M Extension for adult volunteer leadership. See here for more information: z.umn.edu/4Hscreenedvolinfo

Each year on Sept. 15, Minnesota 4-H marks the beginning of the volunteer renewal period (in preparation for the new program year on Oct. 1). On Sept. 15, all volunteers who were ‘Approved’ in program year 2025 - 2026 will be moved to a ‘Not-Enrolled’ status in 4-H Online. Then Regional support staff in volunteer systems will then manually move all volunteers who have current Safety of Minors training (they've taken the Safety of Minors training within the last three years) back to ‘approved’ status.

NOTE - If you completed the volunteer application and screening process or volunteer renewal process prior to Sept. 15, 2023, additional action will be needed.

• If you need to renew as a volunteer, you will receive an email communication from 4-H staff with instructions for completing renewal. Please complete the renewal steps by Nov. 15 to restore your ‘Approved’ status.

• If you do not need to renew as a volunteer, you will receive an email communication from 4-H staff with a notice that 4-H staff will manually update your status to ‘Approved’ in 4-H Online. You will receive an automated notification from 4-H Online once this status is restored. Remember, eligibility to volunteer does not mean a commitment to volunteer!

Contact the Jackson County Extension Office if you wish to discontinue your volunteer service. Additional information about volunteer renewal is available from the 4-H Volunteer Resource Center.

Are you new to 4-H or just want to refresh your knowledge on what 4-H has to offer? Check out the New Member Resources Folder, (z.umn.edu/JacksonNewMemberResources) where you can find a great outline of the program, requirements, important dates, and much more!

A new member packet should be in your mailbox a couple weeks after you have enrolled. If you have not received one, let the Extension Office know so we can provide you with the necessary info to get you started in Jackson County 4-H!

In order to be in compliance with MN Board of Animal Health and USDA official tag tracking, all unused 4-H ear tags need to be returned to the 4-H Extension Office as soon as possible.

• 4-H Ear tags from this year that are unused must be returned to the Extension Office within 2 weeks of the Animal ID deadline

• If you have older 4-H tags that have been unused, please return them immediately to the 4-H office.

Beef and Dairy families, we are in process of sending you electronic invoices for your portion of the beef shavings. Please be on the lookout for it! Questions contact the office mnext-jackson@umn.edu.

October 4-10th National 4-H week

Theme: Beyond Ready

Oct 5- Go Green! Wear green to show support.

November- Fall Banquet hosted by Delafield Diggers and LaCrosse Loyal Workers

Who: Any Jackson County 4-H Youth Grade K-13

Criteria: The goals of the Jackson County 4-H Legacy Fund is to advance the work of Jackson County 4-H youth by providing funds to make a CAPITAL INVESTMENT in a 4-H project area where they would not otherwise be able to fund the purchase – a camera for photography; a miter saw for a shop project, a garden tiller for a gardening project, breeding livestock count too!!!

• Youth fill out an application answering the following questions in each category:

• 4-H activities

• Project Budget

• Legacy Grant Project Description

• Potential Impact

Item given: Certificate and monetary check for funds requested

Apply here: z.umn.edu/JacksonLegacyGrantApp

Once the application is filled out, the committee will determine if funds will be awarded.

Looking for funding to assist with registration or participation costs for 4-H camps, workshops, education events, or other 4-H sponsored events? Submit a Bring it Back Form to request assistance!

Learn more and apply here: z.umn.edu/JacksonBringitBackgoogleform

A PDF form is available here: z.umn.edu/Bringitbackapplication

How does it work?

• The Jackson County 4-H Federation has allocated funds in our yearly budget to help offset some if not all costs for 4–H events, workshops, camps, etc.

• The funds awarded will be up to 75% of the amount requested (no more than $300) or as determined by the Jackson County 4-H Federation Budget overseen by the Jackson County Extension Educator, Youth Treasurer, and Adult Treasurer.

• Those receiving funds are expected to give a short presentation to the 4-H Federation at the next available date or the January 4-H Federation Meeting, whatever comes sooner. If members can’t attend, a written report shall be submitted.

• Funds will be paid after the member attends the event and reports back their experience to the Jackson County 4-H Federation.

• The Jackson County Extension Office will notify those applying if funds are available and their request is approved.

• If funds are not available in the Federation Budget, the Extension Educator will propose to the Federation a change in budget allocations. The Jackson County 4-H Federation will then determine where the funds will be taken out to fulfill the request or deny the request.

Stay up to date with 4-H in Jackson County by reading the past agendas and the past meetings minutes.

Please encourage one adult and one youth to represent your club at the next Federation meeting happening Monday, September 21, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC Middle School in Lakefield.

Agenda can be found in the event date description on the Jackson County 4-H Google calendar (z.umn.edu/JacksonCo4HGoogleCal) when ready.

Advisory Board meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Federation meeting.

Screened Adult Volunteers and 4-H Youth in grades 6-13 are invited to apply for a 2026-2027 Advisory Board or Federation Officer position! The Jackson County 4-H Federation is the governing body of the Jackson County 4-H Program. Decisions made at these meetings impact all Jackson County 4-H members.

For Youth Federation Officers: Youth voice MATTERS as they are the center of the 4-H Youth Development program. As an officer you work with Advisory Board member and also lead the Federation meeting for the best interest of all Jackson County 4-H youth.

• Please considering applying by filling out this form: z.umn.edu/JacksonFedOfficerApp
• If you would like a paper copy of the form, please contact the Extension Office.
• On the form, please indicate which officer position (z.umn.edu/4HFedOfficerRoles) you would like to serve.

For Screened Adult Volunteers: Adults servings as Advisory Board members are to work alongside the Federation Officers and make recommendations to the Jackson County 4-H Federation. Advisory Board members are to help ensure all 4-H youth voices are heard and that decisions made at Federation meetings are in the best interest of all Jackson County 4-H youth.

• For a complete role description see: z.umn.edu/JacksonAdvisoryRoleDesc
• Please considering applying by filling out this form: z.umn.edu/JacksonAdvisoryNomination
• If you would like a paper copy of the form, please contact the Extension Office.

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 14. Both Advisory Board and Federation Offices require a submitted application. Nominations from the floor will not be accepted.

Jackson County 4-H

607 S Highway 86, Lakefield, MN

Email: mnext-jackson@umn.edu

Phone: 507-662-5293

Website: extension.umn.edu/jackson

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Jackson County 4-H Google Calendar: z.umn.edu/JacksonCo4HGoogleCal

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