March Lyon County 4-H

Delivery will be March 8, 2025 at the Extension Office. Check with your club leaders for when your club will be picking up the order. We need volunteers to help sort fruit. Watch for an email regarding delivery a couple of days before March 8, 2025.

Spring is just around the corner, bringing with it a burst of fresh, vibrant green. Say goodbye to the dullness of cold snow and dirt and start imagining the bright, lively days of spring. These projects are packed with exciting, GREEN activities that will energize your springtime adventures and help you embrace your creativity. Let the fun and freshness of spring come alive with each project.

Audience: All ages are welcome to participate.

Deadline: The deadline to register for your project kit is Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Get ready to dig into a world of fun with our "Grow a Monster: Potato Power." Make your potato hill the center of attention with the largest amount of potatoes you've ever seen. This isn't just gardening; it's an adventure for everyone from Cloverbuds and up.

Sign up by March 20, 2025 to snag your free seed potato comprehensive planting guide. We'll keep you spud-tacularly entertained with tips, engaging content, and potato-growing learning all summer long. Imagine the excitement as you share your potato-growing journey.

Showcase your giant spuds at your local fair or enter them in our fall contest. This is your golden opportunity to become a potato-growing legend. Don't let this unique chance go to waste—join the "Grow a Monster: Potato Power." Registration kicks off on March 1, 2025 in 4-H Online, so don't delay.

Mark your calendars and RSVP. We can’t wait to see you there.

Join us for an engaging 3-part virtual series exploring the wonders of plant science. From March 31 to April 2, 7:30-8:00 p.m. each evening, youth in grades 6-8 can dive into hands-on activities like building mini greenhouses, experimenting with light, and learning about plant water conservation. Register by March 13 to receive all supplies and join one, two, or all three sessions—don’t miss this chance to grow your knowledge. Learn more and register for 4-H plant explorers

The next Lyon County Federation meeting will be held Monday, April 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. There is no Federation meeting in March.

Get outdoors and immerse yourself in hands-on wildlife and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re a beginner or already involved in 4-H projects, this event is packed with exciting activities like map reading, kick sledding, campfire cooking, and more.

Date: March 22, 2025, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center, Spicer, MN

Grades 3–13 + Cloverbuds K–2 with adult helpers
Early Bird Registration: $25 (Until March 12)

Note: Limited to 40 spots

Stevens County 4-H is super excited to share that they are hosting their second Stevens County 4-H Archery Invitational state-wide event. Mark your calendars for April 5, 2025. There will also be an opportunity to test your knowledge with a wildlife skillathon. Funds raised through this event will go towards helping the Stevens County 4-H Shooting Sports Club update its equipment. Note: The deadline to register is March 26, 2025 . This event can count for archery and wildlife hours for those interested in competing at the state shoot this fall.

When: April 5, 2025

*Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., and competition begins at 10:00 a.m.

*Youth are able to select what time works best for them to compete (there are time slot options)

Where: Morris Area Elementary School

Who: Youth in grades 4-13

Cost: $20 ($25 for walk-ins/late payment)

Find more details and register here: https://extension.umn.edu/event/stevens-county-4-h-archery-invitational-0

For questions, please connect with Stevens County 4-H Extension Staff at next-stevens@umn.edu or call the Stevens County Extension Office at (320) 208-6575.

Take on the challenge and form a 4-H/FFA crop scouting team. Teams can be made up of youth in grades 6+ from one or multiple counties. Contact your local Extension office if you want help finding a team. If you don't have a team but still want to participate, we have coaches ready to coach youth across Minnesota who don't have anyone else participating in their county (this includes both the plant science project bowl and crop scouting). If you're not sure what crop scouting is, or if you want to gather a team, we encourage you to participate in virtual 4-H plant science trivia nights, and the 4-H plant science project bowl on April 12, 2025. 4-H/FFA crop scouting registration opens on May 1, 2025 and the state event will take place on Monday, July 28, 2025 at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus. Learn more and sign up for crop scouting.

Games, crafts, friends, and more are found at summer camp. All youth in grades 3-6 (completed in May 2025) are invited to 4-H Camp at Lake Shetek in June 2025. No prior 4-H experience is required for 4-H summer camp. Register today in 4-H Online. Lyon County pays 75% of registration fees after you attend or contact the office for scholarship opportunities.

Can you see yourself as a judge at local county fairs? Here's your chance to shine. Join our 4-H Virtual Judge Training on April 28, 2025, and get ready to evaluate general projects like a pro.

• When: April 28, 2025

• What: Learn, grow, and prep for judging adventures ahead.

• Why: Your skills can inspire and educate the next generation.

Don't miss out. Register by April 21. 2025

Let's make judging not just fun but incredibly rewarding.

Minnesota 4-H scholarship applications are open to college-bound 4-H youth. Applications can be found on the 4-H scholarships, grants and awards web page. Note that application deadlines vary by scholarship. Visit the website for more specific information on scholarship requirements, application deadlines, award timelines, and links to the online applications. Questions? Email mnextdev@umn.edu or call 612-624-7971. Learn more and apply for scholarships here.

Become a more skilled video creator in this three session virtual filmmaking class. Youth in grades 3+ with basic knowledge of filmmaking – join this intermediate level class to build your skills and meet professional filmmakers and 4-H youth video creators from across the state.Three 1-hour sessions will take place: March 17, 24, 31. Make your content professional with your new skills.

Registration deadline: March 11, 2025

4-H volunteers are on the front lines of delivering positive youth development experiences to young people across the Minnesota 4-H program. Minnesota 4-H staff want to support volunteers with relevant and accessible training that can positively impact youth. The newly released online core volunteer skills training series will equip you with fundamental skills for your role as a 4-H volunteer. This on-demand series consists of four short videos ranging from 4-14 minutes, handouts, and a learning guide to reflect on how you will apply content to your 4-H group. Check out one, two or all four of the videos to strengthen your ability to create positive experiences for youth. Find Cores Skills training here.

We have project resource books available at the Extension Office. These resources will guide you through beginning a new project and can help you further develop and elevate current projects. We have created a "library" for our resources: https://z.umn.edu/projectresources Please browse the library and contact the office to borrow a resource, or we will scan and email it to you. If you are interested in additional resources, please check out the 4-H Mall at z.umn.edu/shop4hresources.

Local Staff:

Sam Jens, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

jens0593@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 2

Renae Jenniges, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Lyon County

johnsorj@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 ext 3

Aimee Powers, Support Staff, Lyon County

power684@umn.edu or 507-532-8219 Ext. 1

Email: mnext-lyon@umn.edu
Website: extension.umn.edu
Location: 500 Fairgrounds Road, Marshall, MN, USA
Phone: 507-532-8219
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UofMNExt
Twitter: @UMNExt

© 2023 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.