MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Harvest season is upon us, and we are happy to bring back our Feed our Farmer meal event! Our Murray County 4-H Ambassadors prep a meal for our farming families with our community to show appreciation for the long days and hard work they do!

This year, the meal is walking tacos (taco in a bag).

Families that are interested, please sign-up on the 2026 Feed our Farmer Google Form to reserve your meals.

Ambassadors need to be at the 4-H Building by 3:30 p.m. to help prep meals and organize containers.

Pick-up time for families who registered for meals is from 5 - 6 p.m. Please pick-up inside the Murray County 4-H Building on the Fairgrounds.

Click the link below to complete the survey!

2026 Murray County Fair Survey

We have one remaining project left from the Murray County Fair that has not been claimed.

If this is yours, please contact the Murray County Extension Office to pick-up.

We have 59 youth participating at the Minnesota State Fair between livestock, general and arts-in!

Some highlights include:

• Royalle S. - Grand Champion Breeding Gilt
• Jorja H. - 4th Overall Market Beef & Reserve Champion Market Beef Int. Showperson
• Haylee J. - 5th Overall Cow/Calf Pair
• Tori R. - Champion Market Gilt Showperson - Advanced Division
• Taylor L. - Interview Finalist, Market Barrow Showperson - Advanced Division - 3rd place
• Riley E. - Champion Market Barrow Showperson - Intermediate Division
• Henry P. - Reserve Champion Intermediate Dairy Market Wether Showmanship
• Miles P. - Reserve Champion Market Heifer

To view full results, please visit the FairEntry results webpage.

With the MN State Fair wrapped up, we want to highlight the Murray County 4-H youth who exhibited their general projects as well as Llama - Alpaca! Check out the results below:

Kalli S. - Fashion Revue Upcycled Clothing - Grades 6-8 - Green

Kalli S. - Upcycled Clothing - Grades 6-8 - Purple

August G. - Consumer Education and Money Management - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Brecken L. - Crafts - Grades 9+ - Blue

Grace N. - Fine Arts - Grades 9+ - Blue

Amarah G. - Creative Writing - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Kendra G. - Creative Writing - Grades 9+ - Blue

Kendra G. - Creative Writing - Grades 9+ - Purple

Deacon P. - Exploring Animals - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Renee R. - Health and Wellness - Grades 6-8 - Purple

Jensen G. - Woodworking - Grades 6-8 - Red

Henry P. - Mechanical Science - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Ainsley P. - Environmental Science - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Blaire T. - Environmental Science - Grades 9+ - Blue

Morgan H. - Performance Based - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Caroline S. - Performance Based - Grades 6-8 - Purple

Tyler R. - Elements of Photography - Grades 9+ - Purple

Ethan N. - Quilting - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Paige W. - Vegetable Gardening Box - Grades 6-8 - Blue

Garret R. - Biology - Grades 6-8 - Red

Halana G. - Llama - Alpaca Costume - Blue

Halana G. - Llama-Alpaca Fleece - Blue

Halana G. - Llama-Alpaca Poster - Educational - Blue

Kendra G. - Llama-Alpaca Poster - Promotional - Blue

Colton G. - Llama-Alpaca Poster - Promotional - Blue

Easton G. - Llama-Alpaca Poster - Promotional - Blue

Kendra G. - Llama - Alpaca Showmanship - Red

Halana G. - Llama - Alpaca Showmanship - Blue

Kendra G. - Llama - Alpaca Public Relations - Red

Halana G. - Llama - Alpaca Public Relations - White

Kendra G. - Llama - Alpaca Obstacle Course - Red

Halana G. - Llama - Alpaca Obstacle Course - Blue

Sophia W. - Individual Presentations and Speeches - Blue

Addison W. - Individual Presentations and Speeches - Purple

Please visit our 2026 'Photos and Fair Placings' google drive for placings, all of the county fair photos and more that took place the week of the best county fair around. Please feel free to download any photos that you would like. Thank you to all our families, 4-H members, volunteers and fair board for an amazing county fair.

🔗https://z.umn.edu/MurrayCountyfair2026

Premium and Auction checks are available to be picked up for youth who participated with projects during the 2026 Murray County Fair 4-H Showcases.

If you would prefer your check to be mailed, please contact the Murray County Extension Staff and we would be happy to drop them in the mail for you.

4-H members in grades 8+ eligible to apply. If you are a current Ambassador you do not need to apply again. Ambassadors work throughout the year on service projects, program improvements, learning opportunities, youth leadership and making Murray County 4-H the best program around. Interested in joining, we would love to have you join us. Need to know more about the ambassador program - reach out to Kim. https://z.umn.edu/MC4HAmbassador26-27

Look in the September 15 issue for upcoming ambassador events and more information on 'Feed our Farmers' community event.

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!😃

Each year, 4-H asks you to reflect as a member, adult, or volunteer about your time in Murray County 4-H and the year that we just completed. How about your plans for the upcoming year? Share your goals with county staff and be recognized at our annual awards banquet for being a goal setter.

https://z.umn.edu/2026-2027Membergoals

https://z.umn.edu/2026-2027VolunteerAdultGoals

Records for 4-H are a great way to reflect and see your growth from year to year as you grown in project areas. While records are not required anymore, they are highly encouraged and rewarded in Murray County 4-H. Visit the https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-and-youth/minnesota-4-h/4-h-member-resources/4-h-projects/4-h-record-keeping page to learn more about records, access documents and start planning for next year. Records are due to the extension office by October 1, 2026. Please feel free to reach out to staff if you have questions about completing records.

Please take a moment to download or print the 2026 - 2027 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.

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

Feed our Farmer event will be happening on October 4, we would like all of your help! Plan to be at the Murray County 4-H Building by 3:30 p.m. to prep meals. Pick-up for meals will be from 5 - 6 p.m. also in the Murray County 4-H Building.

Thank you, Ambassadors, for meeting this month to help delegate fair tasks, we appreciate all that you do!

Please send a warm welcome Carl Nyquist as an official 4-H volunteer within Murray County 4-H. Carl's family participate with the Currie poco-a-poco 4-h club and Carl was brave enough to chaperone at the state fair for livestock encampment.

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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