MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

The Murray County 4-H Annual Awards Banquet will be held on January 11, 2026, starting at 6 p.m. in the Murray County 4-H Building (3048 Broadway Ave., Slayton, MN 56172). *This year, we are trying a new date! Currie Poco-a-Poco will be hosting with a theme of "You Cannoli do your Best," a pasta bar and desserts will be served. Please RSVP for the banquet at https://z.umn.edu/MCawardsbanquet

Animal ID tags have arrived and are ready to be picked up in the office for market beef animals! This includes beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers.

Letters will be sent out to families with more details shortly!

For those interested in exhibiting market beet at the county fair, please visit the 4-H Animal ID page within the Extension website.

Be a 2026 Lake Shetek 4-H Camp Counselor and make a difference! Lead activities, play games, and mentor 3 - 6 graders while building leadership skills. Choose your session: June 22 - 24 or June 24 - 26 (or both).

Apply by January 25, 2026: z.umn.edu/CampCounselorApp-Shetek.

Questions? Email Karen Beranek at kberanek@umn.edu

Looking for a way to help your child build confidence and leadership skills? BLU (Building Leadership and Understanding) is a hands-on workshop hosted by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors for youth in grades 6 and up. Participants will learn communication strategies, practice conflict resolution, and engage in service projects focused on Disaster Relief & Emergency Response. No prior leadership experience is required — just curiosity and a willingness to learn! Bloom into Leadership and register today: https://z.umn.edu/4-HBLU

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!😃

Attached are the flyers that will be sent home with MCC and Fulda youth grades K - 6. We would love to have your 4-H youth join us once a month for our After-School-Adventures program. Youth do not need to be a member of a 4-H community club, but do need to complete the 4-H online registration

(https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in) to participate. Youth do not need to attend MCC or Fulda Schools to participate.

Visit https://z.umn.edu/2025-2026afterschoo4HAdventures to get a flyer if your youth does not attend MCC or Fulda. Please note that each school location has different dates, so be sure to sign up for the location that best works for you.

Get ready to explore the wild side of Minnesota—right from home! Discover amazing amphibians and reptiles, learn how they survive in our lakes, forests and wetlands, and find out why they’re so important to nature. We’ll also share simple, fun ways to help protect these incredible creatures and their habitats. This exciting program is full of learning and discovery, designed to spark curiosity and a love of wildlife.

Dates:

January: 8, 15 & 22

from 7 - 8 p.m.

For grades K - 13. Registration is through 4-H online and there is no deadline to register.

Get ready to explore the amazing world of wildlife right outside your door! Join us on Wednesday evenings for Wildlife Wednesdays, a fun and interactive virtual series where we'll dive into the fascinating lives of animals and plants with the help of wildlife experts, biologists, and Master Naturalists.

Each week, you'll discover something new and inspiring about nature—from secret animal behaviors to incredible ecosystems—all while learning how to protect and respect the environment around us. Whether you're just curious, have a love for animals, or looking for a midweek adventure, this series is your gateway to conservation knowledge and a lifelong love of nature.

Discover the wonderful world of wildlife around you with Wildlife Wednesdays! Sessions will be held virtually on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28; Feb. 4, 11, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25 and April 1,8. 4-H youth can earn up to four virtual hours of wildlife for shooting sports.

Questions? Contact Stacy Johnson or Suzanne Souza.

Learn more and register.

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.

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

There will not be an ambassador meeting in January, but Ambassadors will be helping out at the awards banquet on January 11.

Looking to volunteer with Murray County 4-H?

Contact the Extension staff at (507)-836-6927

We would love to see the positive impact you could make in our program!

Murray County 4-H would like to welcome Jazilyn Buys as our newest volunteer. Jazilyn was an amazing member of our Horse project and the Chandler Hilltoppers's during her years of Murray County 4-H. She is planning on helping out with horse practices this summer. Welcome Back Jazi!

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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