MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Thank you to all who participated in our annual Murray County 4-H Winter Fundraiser. Each year, the amount of sales is amazing, and the time and effort our families put into this fundraiser is outstanding. These funds will help our program support our youth in so many different ways.

We appreciate all that you do to support our program! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Looking for an unforgettable summer experience? Youth who have completed grades 3–6 are invited to attend 4-H Camp at Shetek Lutheran Ministries, located on the beautiful shores of Lake Shetek in southwest Minnesota.

Campers can choose between two encampments:

• Encampment 1: June 22–24, 2026

• Encampment 2: June 24–26, 2026

Each session includes two nights and three days filled with outdoor adventure, educational workshops, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, team-building activities, and classic campfire fun.

High school-aged 4-H camp counselors provide leadership and guidance throughout camp. Campers stay in age-based cabins, and all meals and snacks are included.

More information can be found at z.umn.edu/4HCampShetek26. Registration will be open March 2-29, 2026 on camplakeshetek.4honline.com.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for youth to unplug, build confidence, and make lasting friendships!

Sharpen your skills before county fair by attending the Murray County 4-H Horse Pleasure Clinic!

Clinician: Kathy Johnson

- Kathy’s focus is on developing youth, not just riders. By teaching horsemanship through the lens of developing the rider’s ability to identify a problem, break it down and find a solution for solving it is the key to being a good horseman, not just a good rider.

Topics Covered:

• Showmanship
• Horsemanship
• Western Pleasure
• Ranch Riding
• Ranch Pleasure
• Trail
• English Equitation
• English Pleasure

Deadline to Register: May 1, 2026

For more information, please view the brochure linked in the Murray County 4-H Horse Clinic Folder

Contact Jody Jackels if you have questions or would like to register! Spots are limited!

📲(507)-626-1591

💻 jjackels@outlook.com

A new and exciting opportunity is available to youth who are interested in learning more about the games portion of the horse project area, we encourage you to attend the Murray County 4-H Horse Gaming Clinic!

Clinician: Trinity Beauvais

Topics Covered:

• How to help your horse develop proper frame
• Rate, timing and position in the pattern
• Drills to improve consistency and speed
• Rider position to support your horse

Please contact Cassandra Kleinjan at (507)-920-0157 for more details or to register! Spots are limited; we encourage youth to sign-up if they are interested in attending.

2026 high school graduates that have been a Murray County 4-H member at least four years are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded at the Murray County Fair after the Premier Showmanship Showcase Friday, August 14, 2026. Awards will start at 5:30 p.m. or after Premier Showmanship, if it runs longer than 5:30 p.m.

Apply using the Murray County 4-H Scholarship Form

If your 4-H youth would be interested in the Adopt a Lamb or Lottery Lamb program, please contact the Extension office at (507)-836-6927 to get your name on the list for the Herrig Family to line up sheep for this year. Market Lambs are estimated at $350 per head.

What is Adopt-a-Lamb or Lottery Lamb? The Herrig family lines up all of the sheep and will help families learn about care, feeding, and shearing.

Adopt - a - Lamb Program

The adopt-a-lamb project was started for 1st and 2nd year sheep project members. The lambs all come from the same producer and cost the same amount to buy. When the members get their lambs, they draw a number, and that is the lamb they get. Help is available to them during the summer to help the youth and lambs get a good start.

Lottery Lamb Program

In the Lottery Lamb class, each member can request one lamb. The lambs all come from one producer and are very even in size. The members draw a number to see which lamb they get. Then they take them home and see how good they can make them. The winner of this class will receive a $100.00 cash award. This award is sponsored by the Steve Schreier Family and the Herrig Family Hampshires.

New Vision Co-op is pleased to announce that it will be offering its 4-H Sponsorship program again this year. The program will be the same as last year, where participants will receive the full value that they apply for, and the County Extension will receive an additional 20% on top of that total. The deadline to sign up is June 12th, 2026. Below is the link where applicants can apply for the sponsorship and get more information. https://newvision.coop/4-h/

Are you a new poultry exhibitor or looking to brush up on your poultry showing skills? Join Lincoln County 4-H and our poultry experts for a free, fun, hands-on workshop all about exhibiting poultry!

Youth will learn poultry showmanship, how to prepare birds for the fair, proper daily care, and tips to feel confident in the show ring. Whether it’s your first year or you want to sharpen your skills, this workshop will help you and your bird shine at the fair!

When: April 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Where: Ivanhoe Community Center – Ivanhoe, MN

Learn more and register by April 3: https://z.umn.edu/LivestockClinic-Lincoln

Contact the Lincoln County Extension Office at 507-694-1421 or email gnemitz@umn.edu for questions.

The Grow a Monster program is going back to its roots with the first monster we grew in 2020! Get ready to carve out some excitement with our "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Turn your backyard patch into a giant pumpkin paradise and grow the biggest, most jaw-dropping pumpkin your county has ever seen. This isn’t just gardening, it’s a thrilling, family-friendly adventure open to everyone from Cloverbuds and up!

Sign up by March 19 to receive your free giant pumpkin seeds and a comprehensive planting guide packed with expert tips. All summer long, we’ll keep you pumped with fun updates, growing advice, troubleshooting help, and engaging content to help your pumpkin reach monster status. Share your progress photos, milestones, and watch your pumpkin transform from tiny seed to colossal masterpiece!

Show off your supersized creation at your local county fair or enter it in our statewide fall contest for a chance to claim the title of Minnesota’s biggest pumpkin. This is your shot to become a legendary pumpkin grower and inspire your community.

Don’t let this gourd-geous opportunity pass you by join "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Registration opens March 1 on 4HOnline. z.umn.edu/Growamonstersupersizemypumpkin

Sign up early, grab your seeds, and let’s grow some Minnesota monsters together!

• Guidance on which foods you can safely and legally prepare and sell
• Practical tips for maintaining a clean and sanitized kitchen for safe food production
• Interactive, hands-on activities
• A free coupon for the online tier 2 course
• A printed certificate of completion, qualifying you to register as a tier 2 cottage food producer (allowing you to sell up to $78,000 per year)
• Lunch and light refreshments included

Who can attend: Anyone can attend; however, registration is required

When: April 16, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Minnesota West Community and Technical College - Pipestone Campus

1314 N Hiawatha Ave.

Pipestone, MN 56164

Cost: $85

Registration: https://z.umn.edu/aumz

Please contact our ANR Educator, Matti Boomgaarden at boomg022@umn.edu if you have questions!

Join our youth chefs for a fun, hands-on cooking experience where participants will cook tasty, colorful meals and snacks on the spot, take on fun challenges that promote healthy eating on a budget, show off their creations, and learn smart cooking skills for life—all from their own kitchen. Best of all, the program is completely free!

Sessions will be held March 17, 24, 31, and April 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Register through 4-H Online.

Slayton American Legion invites all community members to attend an information event focused on the signs of suicide. Together, Murray County supports mental health, crisis care, and community well-being.

Location: Murray County 4-H Building

(3048 Broadway Ave., Slayton, MN 56172)

Time: 7 p.m.

First 200 attendees will receive a prize giveaway.

Event is free of charge to attend.

Are you interested in learning more about your beef animal? We have an opportunity for you!

Join other 4-H’ers interested in the beef project and have a fun afternoon learning about daily animal care at home and at the fair. In addition, learn more about show ring etiquette as you prepare to ready your animal for showing. All K - 13 youth are welcome; K - 2 youth must be accompanied by an adult.

When: Sunday, April 12, from 4 - 5:30 p.m.

Where: Beef Barn at Jackson County Fairgrounds, 78748 550th Ave, Jackson, MN 56143

Registration deadline: April 6 Register at z.umn.edu/BeefBreakdown today!

Want to take your leadership to the next? Apply to be a Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador! Applications are due April 15. Learn more about the State Ambassadors and apply at https://z.umn.edu/stateambieappinfo.

The application period is open for the 2027 4-H Youth in Action program, hosted by the National 4-H Council!

The 4‑H Youth in Action program amplifies the diverse stories and leadership of 4‑H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4‑H'ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4‑H has changed their lives and equipped them to change the lives of others.

Applicants must be:

• A 4-H member/recent alum of any type of 4-H program in the U.S.
• At least 14 by April 13, 2026, and should not have turned 20 before Jan. 5, 2026.

The Youth in Action program is based on the story that a young person can articulate the impact 4-H has made on their lives and how 4-H has inspired them to take positive actions to improve the lives of others. The application has some great guiding questions for youth to consider when applying, and applicants can check out the Youth in Action website to read about past applicants, including 2026 winner Antonio Becker from Morrison County, and finalists Laura Mohapatra from Blue Earth County and Seamus Schwaba from Winona County!

We're offering an opportunity for youth to get feedback on their applications if they submit them here by March 22. They will receive feedback by March 30, and then

Students entering grades 7-13 can have an adventure in science and career exploration on the prairie in SW Minnesota. University on the Prairie is a unique program that showcases hands-on activities related to animal science, food science, engineering, ag/environmental science and chemistry.

Faculty from the University of Minnesota and SDSU, along with local professionals and SWROC scientists will join teachers from the region to guide students through hands-on exploration of science in five career areas important to the life and future of southwestern Minnesota. The program is unique in the state and offers students an opportunity to open doors to many career paths and will perhaps result in a future soil scientist, pharmacist, or chemist.

The program is full of fun and hands-on activities. It will be held at the Southwest Research & Outreach Center laboratories, classrooms, and outdoor facilities near Lamberton. Check in at the SWROC will be at 10 a.m. on June 30. The program will run from 10:30 a.m. - 6:25 p.m. on June 30 and from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on July 1. An overnight lodging option is available at the SWROC (air mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows are encouraged).

Registration is now open at uotp2026.4honline.com. Total cost is $50 per student. Register by June 12. More information can be found at: https://extension.umn.edu/event/university-prairie

Questions! Please email mohrh002@umn.edu

YELLO is a 4-H leadership conference for youth in grades 7+ that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota State 4-H Ambassadors.

This annual event aims to engage youth in building leadership skills, developing positive relationships with peers and adults, and planning out how to take future action.

Activities include:

• Leadership minor: Leadership lessons are led by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors throughout the event. Youth will explore leadership on a personal, group, and societal level.
• Service and education: Participants engage in hands-on service to learn about civic responsibility while also making positive contributions to the community. This years’ service focus is on disaster relief and emergency response.
• Majors: Majors are one of the main educational components of the YELLO experience. Majors are opportunities for youth to do a deep dive into the project area of their interest. There are different major categories, and each youth will choose a class where they will receive a full day of exciting hands-on experiences.
• Social events: Youth will be able to network with one another in fun ways. In the past, this has included talent shows, game nights, dances, etc.

Registration for YELLO is open. The cost to attend YELLO is expected to be $350, with an additional fee for opting in to ride the bus. Youth will register via 4-H Online.

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.

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

Our next meeting will be on April 12 (a week later than we normally meet due to Easter Weekend). This will be our last scheduled meeting for the school year of 2025 - 2026. Youth will be discussing our leadership kits and the expectations for sharing them with their clubs. Looking into summer, please remember that Ambassadors have a meeting in July prior to the Federation meeting for Fair Assignments and to be present to select next year's officers. Please mark July 27 at 6:00 p.m. on your calendars.

Please send a warm welcome to Hiedi Stoel as she has officially become a Murray County 4-H volunteer! She has expressed interest in sharing her skills with our After School Adventures and Summer Programming.

Ryan is a well-known voice in Murray County and will be guiding youth as a mentor in Murray County 4-H's beef project. Ryan enjoys sharing his knowledge of livestock and is excited to work with the livestock youth of Murray County 4-H.

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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