Renville County Clover Update

March 3: Food Stand & Livestock Committee Meeting

March 5: Last day to register for the Adopt-A-Pig Program

March 6: Estimated Fruit & Butter Braids delivery day

March 12: Adopt-a-Pig Program first meeting

March 28: Livestock Level-Up Educational Event

April 18: Tentative Food Revue

May 15: Animal ID Deadline & Reenrollment Deadline

May 25: FairEntry opens

Food Stand Committee Meeting will take place on Tuesday, March, 3 at 6:00 PM. It will be located at the Renville County Government Center, Room 116. It is also available via Zoom. Please see the link below for Zoom and the agenda.

Livestock Committee Meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 PM. It will be located at the Renville County Government Center, Room 116. It is also available via Zoom. Please see the link below for Zoom and the agenda.

The initial Adopt-A-Pig Program Meeting will be held on March 12 at the Renville County Government Center at 6:00 PM. This meeting is mandatory and will only be offered in person.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ashle, benson18@umn.edu.

Please join the Renville County 4-H Ambassadors for our Livestock Level-Up event on March 28. This year, the focus livestock species are beef, swine and poultry.

Please see further down in the newsletter for more information.

Quilts have a strong heritage in this country. Make one of your own in the 4-H quilting project!

What can you do?

In the quilting project, you can:

• Learn basic quilting skills, techniques, and tools.
• Study quilt conservation and exhibiting.
• Express your culture, aesthetics, and ideas through quilting.

These are just some of the many ways you can participate in this project.

Wow, what a successful fundraiser this was for us! In total this year, we sold over $24,000 worth of fruit and butter braids, which should give Renville County 4-H a profit of just over $8,000!

Congratulations to the Top 3 grossing families:

1. Schneiders
2. Bruns/Liebl
3. Lambs

Families that will be receiving additional items are:

Carmel Rolls- sold at least 15 or more Butter Braids:

• Baumanns
• Nora Kopel
• Schneiders
• Daughertys
• Jakels
• Leaches
• Lambs
• Mathiowetzes
• Linnemans
• Grace, Connor & Luke Sullivan
• Bruns/Liebl

Fruit Sale Goals:

Sold at least $200: receives a sharp cheddar cheese spread

• Ambergs
• Avery, Reed, Sawyer Kopel
• Schmolls
• Jakels
• Hazens
• Addison Sullivan
• Lees
• VanOverbekes

Sold at least $275: receives a 3lb container of grapes

• Voelzes
• Daughertys
• Mathiowetzes
• O'Neills

Sold at least $350: receives milk chocolate sea salt carmels

• Jack, Levi & Sawyer Haubrich
• Strandbergs
• Gilberts
• Bensons
• Enestvedts

Sold at least $425: receives premium cut beef jerky

• Franks
• Nora Kopel
• Schneiders
• Bartsches
• Dylan & Stella Haubrich
• Leaches
• Lambs
• Schweiss/Tersteeg
• Athmanns
• Marcuses
• Linnemans
• Grace, Connor, Luke Sullivan
• Macks
• Bruns/Liebl
• Nora, Ryan, Nathan Bakker

Pick-up Date: Friday, March 6

Pick-up Location: Beck's Seeds: 1005 W Elm Ave, Olivia MN 56277

Pick-up Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

It is estimated that the truck will be to Beck's around 11:30 to drop off the fruit. We will need help to sort through fruit boxes and organize into orders by family. If you are able to help, please be to Beck's around noon. We will provide pizza, water, and treats. If you are planning to help, please let Ashle or Theresa know so we can order enough pizza. It typically takes us about an hour or two to sort and organize everything. The more hands, the quicker it goes!

During pickup we will also be voting on T-shirt design and livestock banner design as well.

If you have any questions, or concerns, feel free to call the Extension office: 320-523-3713.

See you on Friday!

The program is to give interested youth the opportunity to learn about agriculture, responsibility for the care of an animal, grow self-confidence, and a chance to make new friends. Our goal is to make this opportunity affordable and available to any interested youth to grow our market project areas as well as our youths' knowledge in the respective species industries.

Please review the species documents that you are interested in participating in before you complete this form. Once the interest form closes, we will have a meeting to discuss the programs in detail, sign the care agreement contracts and submit the deposits.

*Please note: These deposits will not be refunded if we have received the animals and you decide to back out of the program. As long as all requirements of the program are met, the fee will be put towards the bill at the end.

Important Dates

• Deadline to register for the Swine Market Livestock Program is March 5
• Orientation meeting: March 12 - 6:00 PM - in-person
• Piglet pick-up: Tentative date of March 29 or April 10/11
• County Fair-ready meeting: TBD (most likely late May/early June)
• Livestock Entry Day: Tuesday, August 11
• Swine Show: Wednesday, August 12

If you have any questions, contact the office at 320-523-3713 or Ashle at benson18@umn.edu. We look forward to having you participate in this program.

The program is to give interested youth the opportunity to learn about agriculture, responsibility for the care of an animal, grow self-confidence, and a chance to make new friends. Our goal is to make this opportunity affordable and available to any interested youth to grow our market project areas as well as our youths' knowledge in the respective species industries.

Please review the species documents that you are interested in participating in before you complete this form. Once the interest form closes, we will have a meeting to discuss the programs in detail, sign the care agreement contracts and submit the deposits.

*Please note: these deposits will not be refunded if we have received the animals and you decide to back out of the program. As long as all requirements of the program are met, the fee will be put towards the bill at the end.

Important Dates

• Deadline to register for the Poultry Market Livestock Program is June 5
• Orientation meeting: Tentatively the week of June 15 - 6:00 PM - in-person
• Chick pick-up: Tentative date of June 23
• County Fair-ready meeting: TBD (most likely late June/early July)
• Livestock Entry Day: Tuesday, August 11
• Poultry Show: Thursday, August 13

If you have any questions contact the office at 320-523-3713 or the Extension office at mnext-renville@umn.edu. We look forward to having you participate in this program!

2026 Animal ID Deadlines: February 17, 2026: Market Beef (market steers, market heifers, dairy steers). May 15, 2026: Breeding Beef (heifers, cows, prospects), Dairy, Dairy Goat, Dog, Horse, Llama/Alpaca, Meat Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep, and Swine. For more information, please contact your local 4-H office.

Ownership requirements for all animal science projects are uniform for 4-H Beef, Cats/Pets, Dairy, Dairy Goat, Dog, Horse, Lama, Meat Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine Projects: animals must be owned solely by the 4-H’er or the 4-H’ers family. The family includes the 4-H'ers parents/guardians and siblings living together as a family unit. The definition of family includes an extended family where the animal may be owned by grandparents as long as the 4-H’ers parents are actively involved with and working on the farm. Animals owned in partnership with non-family members (as defined above) must be leased and follow lease guidelines. All information must be submitted by May 15 with 4-H Online data. Market animals (with the exception of prospect calves) cannot be leased.

All Animal Ownership and Identification Deadlines:

February 17: Market beef (beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers)

May 15: Breeding beef, prospect calves, dairy, dairy goats, dog, horse, llama-alpaca, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep, swine. Fryer rabbits (should be 70 days old at show) 4-H’er must own the doe of fryer rabbits and doe must be identified by May 15.

June 1: Junior meat goat doe kids

June 1: Dairy spring calves

July 1: Junior dairy goat doe kids

Projects in Minnesota may be started at any time during the year. However, if the project is to be shown at a county or state event, certain requirements must be met. Each of the requirements listed pertain specifically to state events. Identification worksheets are available in most species for use by families to gather data needed to complete the 4-H Online Identification process. Please keep ID worksheets for records.

Please take a look at the document and website, linked below, for exact birthdates. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Extension office.

Join us on March 28, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plass Farm, 78685 Co. Rd. 3, Hector, MN. Join us for a hands-on youth-learning event focused on poultry, cattle, and swine. Youth will learn the basics of daily care, feeding, nutrition, and animal health through fun, interactive activities. Perfect for beginners and experienced show kids alike. Come for the animals, stay for the skills and the snacks, and leave knowing more than just "they need food and water." Lunch will be served. $5 per Renville County Family if registered before March 23 ($10 after March 23), and $10 per non-Renville County Family. Payable at event. If you register before March 15th, you will receive a starter bucket.

We are still looking for someone to fill in while Ashle is out on maternity leave (end of March - middle of June).

Please take a look at the flyer attached below. There is a link for a full job description towards the bottom of the document.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Kate Holland at kharring@umn.edu

4-H Summer Intern positions provide meaningful professional youth development work experience for the student intern working alongside Extension educator(s). Each intern will be assigned projects or focus areas determined by program needs and, if applicable, to meet internship course credit requirements. Each intern will work with their supervisor to set goals, establish a plan to meet desired outcomes, and review progress throughout the internship.

Deadline to apply for this round is February 10.

Renville County 4-H will be hiring a food stand manager for during the 2026 County Fair.

This individual will be responsible for making sure that things flow smoothly in our food stand during the week of county fair (estimated 35 hours). Please see the job description attached below. If you know of anyone who is interested, please let me know.

If there is anyone that comes to mind, or if you are interested, please let Theresa or Ashle know by emailing or calling us at the office: mnext-renville@umn.edu or 320-523-3713.

There are a lot of opportunities that are happening throughout the state. Many of you have most likely received this already, but this serves as a reminder to take a look at the exciting opportunities that Minnesota 4-H has to offer.

Please see below the agenda template for March - June. These are still a work in progress and will get more specific as the months go on.

Please make a copy of this document by:

1. Clicking the file on the top left-hand corner of the screen.
2. Find "Make a copy" (should be the third one from the top) and click on it.
3. Name your document and save it into the folder you wish to save it to.

If you have any issues, please let Ashle know!

Minnesota 4-H has an awesome Volunteer Resource Center for 4-H volunteers. Take a second and check it out.

Under the "Lead a Club" picture, you will find a lot of resources to help you plan your club meetings and fun activities.

Click on the link below:

Club Leader Toolkit

March always seems to bring a mix of excitement and unpredictability — changing weather, busy schedules, and the first signs of spring activities ramping up! It’s an energizing time in our program, and I’m so proud of the growth, leadership, and engagement I continue to see from our youth and volunteers.

1. Spring into Action with 4-H Projects

It’s a great time to kick off your 4-H projects. Whether you’re focusing on livestock, gardening, STEM, or creative arts, now is the perfect time to start planning and setting goals. Reach out to your club leader or me if you need help or resources to get started. Don’t forget to keep track of deadlines and make sure your projects are on schedule for upcoming fairs and exhibitions.

2. Registration for 4-H Camps and Events
Our summer camps and events are just around the corner. Registration is now open for the Morris Regional Camp, and we’d love for you to be part of it. These camps and workshops provide fantastic opportunities for hands-on learning and meeting new friends. Be sure to sign up soon, as spots fill up quickly.

Summer Programming will look a little different this year. There will not be as much offered as the past few years. Please keep your eyes and ears open for updates.

3. Volunteer with Us
We can’t run 4-H programs without the support of our dedicated volunteers. If you’re looking for ways to get more involved, we have a variety of opportunities for you to help out—whether it’s assisting with events, mentoring younger members, or sharing your expertise. Please get in touch if you’re interested in lending a hand. We have a lot of ways that you can volunteer - whether it is a short-term one-day event, serving on a committee, or leading a project workshop.

4. 4-H Fundraiser: WOW!
I am blown away at how well you all did this year. We raised over $24,000, which means that we exceeded our $8,000 goal! These dollars go towards scholarships for camps and State Showcase events, programming expenses, and various other things you want to do in the county.

5. County Fair Prep
The County Fair may seem far off, but now is the time to start thinking about your entries. Review the fair guidelines and start preparing your projects early. Be sure to check our website for fair-specific deadlines and registration info coming soon.

6. Reminder: 4-H Club Meetings
Attending your club meetings is a great way to stay connected and informed. Be sure to attend regularly to receive updates on upcoming events, deadlines, and more. If you can’t make it to a meeting, reach out to your club leader for any missed information.

7. County News

We have a lot of opportunities for spotlights and sharing. We love to see what you are doing in the county with 4-H in your clubs and on your own. Please share when you are having various events (anything from a club meeting to an event). We love to see pictures after the event.

If you know of a volunteer, parent or 4-H member that is doing some cool things, let us know.

At some point in March, I will begin my leave and will be out of the office until mid-June. While the exact start date may depend on timing, please know that preparations are well underway to ensure a smooth transition and continued support for our 4-H families.

Our spring programming, club support, and event planning will continue with the help of our incredible volunteers, Federation/Leaders Council, and county/regional staff partners. I have full confidence in the strength of this community — your leadership, flexibility, and willingness to step in when needed truly make this program thrive.

A few reminders as we head into spring:

• Please watch newsletters and email closely for updates and deadlines.

• Reach out early with questions so we can make sure you are connected to the right support while I am away.

• Continue encouraging youth to take ownership of their projects, communication, and leadership roles — this is a wonderful season for growth!

I am so grateful to work alongside such dedicated families and volunteers. Thank you in advance for your patience, understanding, and teamwork over the coming months. I look forward to reconnecting with everyone in June and hearing about all the amazing things that happened while I was away.

Wishing you a smooth and successful start to spring!