Sibley County 4-H Newsletter
January 2025
The deadline to register for Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) is quickly approaching! It’s a new year so why not gain some new leadership skills? Dive into hands-on activities that break down stereotypes, open minds to fresh perspectives, and spark creativity. Discover how art and mental wellness connect, make an impact through creative stations for local causes, and explore what true leadership means in today’s world.
Building Leadership and Understanding (BLU) is a youth-led workshop for youth in grades 6 and up that strengthens leadership, communication, and relationship skills. BLU will be hosted in four different locations and all are overnight experiences:
Feb. 1-2, BLU at Camp Friendship, Annandale
Feb. 8-9 BLU at Redwood Area Community Center, Redwood Falls
Feb. 15-16 BLU at Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls
Feb. 22-23 BLU at Deep Portage, Hackensack
To learn more about BLU and register visit z.umn.edu/4-HBLU.
It is again that time of year. Inclement weather is upon us! If the weather causes cancellations or postponements of 4-H events, listen to one of the following local radio stations: KDUZ - Hutchinson 320-587-2140 and KNUJ - New Ulm 507-359-2921. If any of the county schools are canceled or have an early out due to weather, the evening county-wide 4-H events are canceled. You can also check our Facebook Page!
Federation Meeting
The next Federation Meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sibley County Service Center. Please plan on having EVERY club represented. The Federation Delegates are the link between the clubs and Federation. If you can’t make it, please try and find a replacement! REMEMBER - EVERY club that has a representative at ALL five Federation Meetings will receive a pizza party.
PDC Meeting
The Animal PDC Committee (Beef, Dairy, Dog, Goat, Horse, Llama, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine) will be meeting to discuss these project areas on Thursday, January 23 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Sibley County Service Center. If you have any ideas and would like to be part of the committee, please join us! At 7:00 p.m. we will join the state PDC meeting via zoom in the Sibley Room.
Project Bowl is a long-standing program in Minnesota 4-H and the second-most attended event of the year (next in line to the State Fair). In Project Bowl, teams of 3-6 youth build skills working and thinking together while testing their knowledge in these 4-H areas: Dairy, Dog, General Livestock, Horse, Llama/Alpaca, Poultry and Rabbit.
Last year Sibley County had six teams in General Livestock, one rabbit team and two poultry teams. This year we also have interest in a Dairy team. We are currently forming teams to start practicing for the regional and state competitions that are coming up in March and April. If you are interested in joining a team or starting up a team in one of the other project areas, please reach out to Connie or Joleen.
Poultry will have practice on January 5 at 2 p.m. at Elbert's farm. The Dairy, General Livestock and Rabbit will have their first practice to form teams on January 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sibley County Courthouse Basement. Please bring your calendars so we can set future practice dates and upcoming competitions.
Cloverbuds are welcome to attend practices also to start learning, but will not be able to participate in competitions yet. Instead, 4-H has something called Bowling 101 that is open to anyone that is new to project bowl (Cloverbuds and regular 4-Hers). It is an online format so they can see what it is like to be in Project Bowl, but more at their level. Here is a link with more details for Bowling 101.
Dog Project
The dog project has several options to work with your dog on training at Key City Kennel Club during the winter months. Please reach out to Cathy Malinowski if you are interested in participating.
Horse Project
Mark your calendar, we will be having a Horse Project 2024 kickoff to get to know each other, vote for captains, talk about the upcoming 4-H horse practices and drill team on March 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Central identification for market beef and dairy steers will take place on SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2025 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. The weigh-in will take place at the Joy Cohrs Farm, in rural Glencoe. The snow date is February 2, 2025! The Beef Weigh In is optional, BUT if you want to be considered for Rate of Gain - you MUST have your market beef animal identified on this date . If you can not make it this date, please call our office at 507-237-4100. Remember: ALL Market Beef ID’s are due February 18 in 4-H Online! The required ear tags will be available on the 26th!
Spring Fundraiser
The Sibley County 4-H Federation will once again be selling fruit. We will be asking ALL 4-H members to participate. Fruit order forms and more information will be mailed out to individual families in January. Fruit delivery will be set for later in March 2025.
Share the Fun and Performing Arts
Mark your calendars for Share The Fun and Performing Arts. We have set the date for Monday, July 14, 2025. Once again this year we will combine Share the Fun and Performing Arts with the Public Fashion Revue. A location will be set at a later date. Now is the time to start planning your clubs skit.
Events Through 4-H Online
There are many great events coming up that you can register for through 4-H online. Just log into your family profile and click on events. Check back often, items are always being added. Remember if there is a cost to the event, that the Sibley County Federation has scholarships available to reimburse a portion of the cost.