October 2025 4-H Newsletter
Lac qui Parle County 4-H
We are Moving Office Locations
Office hours that week before the opening day are by appointment only and to contact office staff before coming to the office, as we will be moving between offices. The best way to contact the Extension office the week of October 20 will be through email.
The first day of operations at the new office location will be Monday October 27th.
New address: 930 1st Ave Madison, MN (The old Family Services Building).
County Fair
Thank you to everyone that exhibited, volunteered, and went to the Lac qui Parle County Fair! It was a fantastic fair thanks to all of you!
State Fair Results Recap
Livestock Encampment (Aug. 20 - Aug. 24)
Andrew Bach - Registered Charolais Market Steer Blue, Sr. Showmanship Green
Cole Bjornson - Registered Simmental Market Steer Blue
Kenslie Ochsendorf - Crossbred Market Steer Blue
Treason Ochsendorf - Prospect Steer Calf Blue
Lily Streich - Meat Goat Breeding Doe Blue, Sr. Showmanship Green
General Encampment (Aug. 24 - Aug. 26)
Evan Schlieman - Crafts
Zane Ehrenberg-Zacharias - Exploring Animals
Reagan Tasto - Fishing Sports
Audrey Delmonico - Health and Wellness
Rhett Ehrenberg-Zacharias - Woodworking
Caroline Schlieman - Needle Arts
Oscar Harwick - Self-determined
Natalie Harwick - Self-determined
North Stars 4-H Club - Community Pride Blue, Club Banner Red
State Horse Showcase (Sept. 5 - Sept. 9)
Isabelle Milbrandt - Grade 11 Classes: Hunt Seat Pleasure 5th, Showmanship at Halter 4th, Western Horsemanship 7th. Grade 10+ Class: Ranch Pleasure 2nd
State Horse Showcase (Sept 13 &14)
Isabelle Milbrandt - Hippology 4th Sr Overall Individual, Hippology Team 1st (Chippewa, Meeker, Lac qui Parle), Horse Judging 1st Place Team
Natalie Harwick - Hippology 21st Sr Overall Individual, Hippology Team 11th (Clay/Lac qui Parle), Horse Judging Participant
Club Charter
Make sure to complete your club charter and bring it to the Extension Office by October 30!
4H Website has helpful information for club chartering
County Leadership Opportunities
We are looking for 4-H'ers who want to lead and develop personal leadership skills! Check out the options below:
For members in grades 7+
Livestock Committee
Leader's Council Officer (includes President, Vice President, Secretary, Youth Treasurer, Adult Treasurer and Reporter)
For members in grades 9+ (and completed 2 years of 4-H membership)
Executive Committee
For more information please look at the attached Leadership Roles document
Please fill out this form!
Remember to Re-enroll 4H Online
Here is a helpful guide to re enroll into 4H Online!
Note: make sure that you enroll in the interested project areas and update any changes to your profile when re-enrolling!
County Wide Meeting for all 4H members and Volunteers
October 26 at 5 p.m. in the media room
National 4H Week October 5-11
4H Week is October 5-11
New Facebook Page!
Please follow the "University of Minnesota - Lac qui Parle County 4-H" page for further posts and social media updates!
Spond App Notifications
Spond App Notifications
Please download the spond app and use the link below to register for the Lac qui Parle County 4-H notification system. Once we get more people enrolled we will be sharing updates, deadlines, and reminders through this app!
Upcoming Events..
Livestock Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m.
This meeting will be held at the new office location!
Other Events
Join us for a virtual statewide Minnesota 4-H treasurer training
Youth treasurers, parents of youth treasurers, and adults on 4-H bank accounts are invited to join this virtual treasurer training on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 7 to 8 p.m. We'll cover financial best practices and policies, roles of the financial team, the importance of youth treasurers, how to make everyone’s roles meaningful, and how to help treasurers develop financial management life skills. Register.
Volunteer with 4-H at the Minnesota Woodworkers Expo on Oct. 11
Minnesota 4-H is excited to partner with the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild at the Annual Woodworkers Expo, and we invite you to join us at this family-friendly event on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Eco Experience Building at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds! The day includes kids workshops, demonstrations, prizes, and over 80 local and national woodworking retailers, tool manufacturers, lumber sellers, schools, organizations, and makers! The youth woodworking activity will take place 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or while supplies last. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more.
We’re also looking for adults and youth in grades 6+ to help guide younger youth in a woodworking activity during the event. Those who volunteer will assist youth participants in building tea light candle holders, candy dispensers and plinko games out of pre-made wooden kits provided by the Minnesota Woodworkers Guild. During this activity, youth will be developing their skills in hammering nails, using wood glue and sandpaper. This is a great opportunity to share your woodworking knowledge and passion with the next generation. Learn more and sign up.
4-H meat science exploration day!
Interested in learning more about meat science? Youth in grades 6+ are invited to join us to explore the world of meat science at Central Lakes College in Staples on Nov. 1. We’ll explore the anatomy of meat, carcass grading, food safety, the science of meat, potential careers and more! Learn more and register.
4-H Outdoor Wilderness Leadership & Service (OWLS) program
Apply now for the 2025-2026 cohort and new model of the 4-H OWLS program! This is a 1-year adventure-based leadership program designed to provide youth in grades 6+ with intensive hands-on exploration in an area of interest associated with the outdoors, a Boundary Waters Canoe Area trip, and support to lead a conservation project. The cohort follows the 4-H program year from October, 2025 through September, 2026. Cost is $400, which includes two retreats and the canoe trip. Registration deadline: Oct. 4. Learn more and apply.
4-H plant science: Ready, set, grow for 2026!
With fall in the air, it’s time to start dreaming and planning your next big plant science project for 2026! Bringing a sample for your exhibit next year? Plan ahead! Some projects need to be chosen in the fall or spring at harvest time. Don’t live on a farm? No worries! You can still dive into plant science by partnering with a local farmer. Build a connection, ask questions, and learn about how crops are grown straight from the source. Need inspiration? Check out the Minnesota 4-H plant science handbook and the plant science project resource guide to help your project take root and grow into something amazing for next year’s fair. Don't forget to use the 4-H plant science web page for more ideas and opportunities. Start your 2026 Minnesota 4-H plant science project journey today!
4-H Science Sprouts: Pick your own adventure
Calling all curious youth in grades 3-5 - get ready to dig into plant science this fall! Join us for three fun 30-minute virtual sessions on the 4th Mondays of October, November, and December. This season, we’ll experiment with the fall harvest of apples, pumpkins or squash, and potatoes. Meet new friends across the state while exploring hands-on plant science right from your home. Don’t forget to invite a friend to join the adventure! Sign up by Oct. 9 to get a special supply kit mailed to you. Learn more and register.
Beyond the Fair Project Interests
There are many ways to continue learning in 4-H beyond County Fair! If you have any interest in participating in Livestock Judging, Horse Bowl, Crop Scouting or anything else please let me know! I am happy to look into it for you!
Volunteer:
Volunteers Make The World Go Around!
To learn more about becoming an official 4-H Volunteer please follow this link! Volunteers are needed in so many aspects of 4-H! Completing the Volunteer application is easy! https://extension.umn.edu/volunteer-4-h/apply-become-4-h-volunteer
Leah Thompson, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
Email: thom8004@umn.edu
Website: https://extension.umn.edu/local/lac-qui-parle
Location: 422 5th Avenue, Suite 305, Madison, MN, USA
Phone: 320-598-3325
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/University-of-Minnesota-Lac-qui-Parle-County-4-H/61576096021802/
Twitter: @UMNExt
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