Washington County 4-H Newsletter

Welcome to our Family Newsletter! The most up-to-date information about events and activities going on in or near Washington County. Please pass along to friends and family that might be interested in attending a 4-H event. Once you have enrolled, you will also receive the monthly Clover Update at the beginning of each month highlighting regional and state events.

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Hello! My name is Elli, and I'll be one of the interns for the summer. I just completed my junior year at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and I am so excited to be back and involved in Washington County 4-H again. During my time in 4-H, I showed beef, sheep, and chickens and was active in Town of May club, Ambassadors, and Federation. I look forward to catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones while I'm here!

Washington County 4-H would like to honor the class of 2026. 4-H wants to celebrate your accomplishments by highlighting you on our Facebook/Instagram accounts in the coming weeks. To participate please email the following to Kathy at; eber0002@umn.edu no later than May 31st.

• A photo of yourself
• Brief description of plans after graduation
• Favorite 4-H memory

Thank you to those who have sent me things so far, they will begin posting to Facebook and Instagram starting tomorrow.

A Hands-On Science & Food Adventure

Get ready to explore the magical world of fermentation! In this exciting class, kids will discover how tiny living helpers—like yeast and friendly bacteria—turn simple ingredients into tasty treats and amazing creations. We’ll experiment and watch science in action!

Along the way, we’ll learn:

• What fermentation is and why it’s important

• How it’s used to make foods we love

• The role of microbes in keeping our food (and our bodies!) healthy

This class is perfect for curious minds who love science!

May 27 from 6:00-7:00PM at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Please pre-register at https://z.umn.edu/FunwithFermentation

Are you a new family to Washington County 4-H that has never experienced the excitement around the county fair? Come find out what all the fuss is about on Thursday, May 28th beginning at 6:30 pm at the fairgrounds in Hooley Hall. We will discuss Fair Entry (entering your projects), project judging, animal shows, and the Food Stand just to name a few. We will end the evening with a tour of the fairgrounds (weather permitting). Pre-register at https://z.umn.edu/WCNewFamilyFair

Step right up and join the 2026 Minnesota 4-H Engineering Design Challenge (EDC)! This exciting statewide event invites youth in grades 3+ to work in teams to design and build a Rube Goldberg™–type machine that completes a two-part task: Win a carnival game every time and show the crowd you've won (e.g. make a sound, ring a bell, play a recording of a crowd cheering, raise a banner, lift up your prize stuffed animal in victory, etc). The goal of the EDC is to inspire creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking through hands-on engineering. This year’s theme is Step Right Up: The 4-H Marvelous Midway Challenge! Teams will bring the fun and excitement of a carnival midway to life by designing a machine inspired by classic fair games, attractions, and over-the-top chain reactions. Teams are made of 3-8 youth and can compete as a Rookie (5-step machine for a team brand new to the EDC), Level 1 (10-step machines, grades 3-12), and Level 2 (10-step machines, experienced teams or grades 9-12). More details about the specific challenge task and important dates will be on the EDC website. If interested get ready to engineer something marvelous!

We currently have a club participating as a team and also have a volunteer willing to coach a county wide team. If you are looking to join, please sign up now! Register here!

The Food Stand Committee oversees one of our largest fundraisers of the year! The Committee is making plans for the 2026 County Fair! Foodie Challenge winners are invited to participate in these meetings to learn about the processes, planning, pricing, ordering, & scheduling necessary to pull off this fundraiser! The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd. It will be held over Zoom to go over pricing! If you would like to be a part of this fun committee, contact Ann at churc109@umn.edu for details!

**Currently accepting water donations or cash to purchase water. If you would like to donate or have a business willing to donate, please let us know! **

Arts-In is a performing arts and leadership experience for youth that have completed grades 7-13. Participants will work together with a team of talented Directors and Student Directors to put together a 30-minute musical that will be performed at the Washington County Fair and Minnesota State Fair. Participants will choose which major they would like to participate in: performing, band, or technical. Auditions will take place on July 5, with the encampment starting the following week, July 12-15. See registration form for specific dates and times of auditions, encampment, and performances.

Cost is $90. Deadline to register is July 1! Late fees of an additional $25 will apply after July 1. Online payment option - https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInPayment

Volunteer requirement: 2+ hours of adult volunteer time is required for each child participating in Arts-In. A separate $100.00 check per family must be included with registration. This deposit will be shredded if the volunteer commitment is completed.

You will need to complete all three forms:

Registration Form: https://z.umn.edu/CountyArtsIn

Volunteer Form: https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInVolunteer

Conflict Form: https://z.umn.edu/ArtsInConflict

Alongside Mounds View Community Education, Ramsey County 4-H will be offering three summer day camp options for youth in grades 6-8. Consider joining us for one, or all! All camps will take place at Chippewa Middle School in North Oaks, MN.

• July - 6th-9th, 9am - Noon: Snackable Day Camp; a hands-on cooking and snacking experience!
• July - 6th-9th, 1pm - 4pm: Outdoor Adventures Day Camp; nature exploration and an appreciation for the outdoors!
• July 13th-16th, 9am - Noon: Brainwaves Day Camp; a deep-dive into understanding the brain and exploring the world of neuroscience!

4-H members of Washington and Ramsey counties are invited to participate in the 4-H Fashion Revue on Thursday, July 16th! You do not need to be registered in the Clothing Project to participate in this event. Fill out this form to let us know you'd like to participate. We'll reach out as we get closer to the judging date to gather more details about your outfits.

***Judging and the fashion show will be held on the same day***

Schedule for Thursday, July 16th:

Judging @ Oakdale Discovery Center : 12pm - 4pm

Dinner Break: 4pm-5pm

Fashion Show Rehearsal: 5pm - 6pm

Fashion Show: 6:30pm - 7:30pm @ Oakdale Discovery Center

Notes:

• Cloverbuds will not be judged, but they can take part in the rehearsal and Fashion Show
• State Fair trips will be selected in grades 6 and up

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JULY 1st!

The google form for registration is here

Contact Hani (habukar@umn.edu) or Bri (fishe866@umn.edu) for more information.

For project guides, resources, and judging criteria, please visit the Clothing & Textiles project page.

Join us for an engaging 4-H Rabbit Workshop featuring special guest presenter Tammy Pickar. This interactive session will explore a variety of meat rabbit breeds, highlighting the advantages and considerations of each. Participants will gain hands-on experience in evaluating rabbits and learning how to select quality animals with confidence.

Youth are encouraged to bring their own meat rabbits for guided, practical learning. If you have a Standard of Perfection, please bring it along as a helpful reference.

When: Saturday, May 30

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Dakota County Extension Office

Grades: 3rd and up

Register in 4-HOnline by May 29

Cost: Free

Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics (LQA&E) training prepares youth to provide responsible, high-quality care for food animals while promoting a strong commitment to food safety for consumers. Training is designed to enhance the educational value of 4-H animal science projects. Youth grade 6+ are required to complete LQA&E training to be eligible to exhibit beef, dairy, sheep, swine, goats, llama-alpaca, rabbits, and poultry at the State Fair. Training is good for three fair seasons. Dakota County 4-H is hosting an in-person training on June 12; 8:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Schaffer Family (Elmegca Farm) in Cannon Falls. Cost: $5. This training includes Washington County 4-H members.

Fees need to be paid by first practice, online payment available at https://link.clover.com/urlshortener/rCqKDb

Any questions about the Shooting Sports Program can be directed to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

4-H youth attending the State Shoot are required to have completed 8 hours of wildlife training in the prior year.

Examples of activities that can count for full or partial hours:

• Attend a club service project for habitat restoration at a local park (full hours)

• Do a demonstration on deer anatomy at your 4-H club (full hours)

• Go hunting (partial hours)

• Plan out your pollinator garden and do a fair project on it (full hours)

• Start a phenology journal and keep notes when you go hiking (partial hours unless you teach the skill to others, then you can get full hours)

• The list goes on and on!

If you are taking a course that counts toward wildlife hours, be sure to bring your Wildlife Hours Tracking Form to collect an instructor signature!

The county fair is coming up quickly! The county fair is the highlight for the majority of 4-H’ers and their families! You won’t want to miss the fun, friendships and learning that the fair experience offers! Everything you need to know about the fair can be found in the 2026 Washington County Fair Information/Premium Book found here; https://z.umn.edu/WashCoPremiumBook

If you have questions, please plan to attend the New Family Orientation scheduled for Thursday, May 28 (see article in this newsletter), or contact our office at ext-washington@umn.edu

Washington County has a wonderful Food Stand Committee that is already planning for the 2026 County Fair! This is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! All families are expected to volunteer time in the Food Stand during the fair. Shifts are available on all 5 days of the fair, vary in length, and type of work. Please read the instructions on the SignUp Genius so you understand the expectations. Cloverbuds must be accompanied by an adult! !Clubs and designated project areas will receive financial incentives based on the number of youth and adults that sign up from each club! Sign-up here: 2026 Food Stand sign up genius! Extended family and friends can sign up too and designate their time to your club/project area!

Have any of your projects made a positive difference in your community? Earn recognition at the county fair for your Community Impact by showing it in your exhibit and telling the judge about it.z.umn.edu/4HCommunityImpact

Washington County 4-H youth who plan to graduate out of 4-H this year (your last year of 4-H, typically one year post high school) are encouraged to complete the 2026 Graduation Application Youth who complete the Graduation Application will be recognized during the Sunday Night Awards (August 2) at County Fair. Graduation Applications are due by July 1st. Please email them to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

Welcome to FairEntry for the 2026 Washington County Fair! This is where you will register the projects and animals you intend to bring to the fair.

Please sign in by using your 4HOnline email and password once you are in FairEntry. It will be helpful to have a link to the 2026 Washington County Fair 4-H Information Book for general fair rules and project details. This book is also available on the Washington County Extension website. Please note that classes are based on the grade completed, NOT the grade going into.

DEADLINES!

1. Online registration must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1.
2. Or a list of classes emailed to the Extension Office by 11:59 p.m. on Wed., July 1.

Good luck! Please contact the Extension Office at 651-430-6800 with questions or concerns, (leave a message with name and number and what it is regarding) Emails are preferred.

BEFORE July 1. FairEntry questions can also be directed to Kathy at eber0002@umn.edu

TO REGISTER FOR THE FAIR GO TO; http://washington-county.fairentry.com

Dear Friends of 4-H,

We are excited to return to the Washington County Fair for our 26th season of the Grand Champion

Program. This program recognizes youth who receive grand champion awards during their county fair exhibition, is staffed by youth and adult volunteers, and is made possible by sponsors from the community. The Grand Champion Program has grown successfully and continues its efforts in

recognition of positive goals and inspiration.

For a tax-deductible sponsorship fee of $25, the Grand Champion 4-Her in your selected project area will receive a specially designed Champion t-shirt. The 4-H champions proudly wear their t-shirts during the county and state fairs, and often throughout the entire year. If you are interested in this opportunity to sponsor a champion, please complete the attached sponsorship form. Sponsors can request specific project areas, which are prioritized by the order received.

In return for your generosity, sponsors will receive a certificate with their award recipient’s photograph and a written thank you card. The lasting impact earning a Grand Champion has for a 4-Her is significant. Youth dedicate time to their projects, learn lifelong skills and cherish the opportunity to display their work to the community.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this request; this program and the recognition provided to 4-H youth could not be possible without the support of our 4-H community.

We appreciate you and all you do for our program!

Sincerely,

Champion Program Team

Washington County 4-H

Would you like to take your leadership skills to the next level? We will be electing the 2026-2027 Washington County Executive Board Officers on Tuesday, June 23, beginning at 7:00 pm at Hooley Hall on the fairgrounds. The Exec Board is a leadership team similar to club officers, but they serve on the county level. The officer team is made up of a; President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and 6 District Reps. We also have 6 adults who serve 2 year terms. If you are interested in serving as an adult on the Board, please let Ann know at; churc109@umn.edu and you will be put on the ballot.

All 4-H members and volunteers are invited to attend this Federation Meeting. We need at least one half of all the clubs ‘present’ to vote!

If you are a 4-H member who has completed 7th grade or older and would like to apply, please complete the application here: Federation Officer Application

What is the Washington County 4-H Federation?

The Washington County 4-H Federation is the county-level program and policy decision-making body for the Washington County 4-H club program. The full Federation is composed of youth and adult leaders from all 4-H clubs. The Federation meets quarterly, in October, January, April, and June. The organization is guided by an Executive Board composed of eleven youth and six adult representatives. The Executive Board meets the months between Federation meetings; September, November, February, March, May.

Who is eligible to be on the Executive Board?

The Washington County 4-H Federation Constitution states that youth officers "shall be elected for a term of one year only, but any given 4-H youth leader can hold a different office or position in ensuing years, providing it is not the same office or position held in a previous year. At the June Annual Meeting, youth who have completed grades 7-12 are eligible to vote and run for office. Youth must be enrolled in the Youth Leadership project in the year in which you are a Federation officer."

What is the time commitment?

Officer candidates should consider their other time commitments when applying. Please make sure you are available to attend meetings on the fourth Monday of each month. We cannot run a meeting without officers! Please direct any questions to Ann Church at churc109@umn.edu

Save the date! Tuesday, June 23 for the Ambassador Social at the fairgrounds. More details to come!

If you're in grades 7-13, we want you to join the Washington County 4-H Ambassador Team. The Ambassadors meet once a month at the Washington County Government Center and plan Cloverbud Workshops, Service Projects, Social events - all while building their leadership skills and having fun! Reach out to Megan at slate187@umn.edu with any questions!

Sign up to be an Ambassador here!

County 4-H scholarships open to Washington County youth can be found on our website and are due July 1, 2026. All scholarships will be awarded at the County Fair Awards Program, Sunday, Aug. 2

• Farm Bureau Scholarship (Due July 1, 2026)
• Washington County Federation & Memorial Scholarships (Due July 1, 2026)
• Mike & Adele Clemens Memorial Scholarship (Due July 1, 2026)

4-H is proud of its youth leaders! The Key Award recognizes the contributions youth have made in their clubs, county and community! Winners of the Key Award will be announced at the Sunday Night Awards at the county fair! To be eligible;

• 4-H member must have completed their sophomore year in high school

• Be a 4-H member for at least five years

• Have at least 3 years of active 4-H youth leadership

• Must meet seven of nine leadership requirements (see attached application)

Minnesota 4-H Key Award Application Applications are due by July 1. Please email to Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

The Ag Society is hiring a few 'handyman' individuals to be available during the five days of the county fair. Are you a 'fix-it' person? If some cows get loose or a sink falls off the wall, can you resolve the issue or contact someone who can?

The pay is $20 per hour. If you are available and would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Paul at fairmanager@washingtoncountyfair.org.

The Leash League 4-H Club met on May 3, 2026, at 4:00 PM, at The Greater Dog in Stillwater, MN. 10 leash league members were in attendance plus 3 guests from the Happy Hornets club to present about fashion review. Both pledges were given by Addy. Roll call was taken by Addy. The secretary report and treasurer report were given by Maria and Addy. After the reports, the guests from Happy Hornets presented about fashion review. Then the leash league discussed old business from last month’s activity of going to Color Me Mine. Finally, we came up with ideas for the club banner and planter and voted for Evelyn’s banner idea and Sam’s planter idea. The next meeting will be held on June 7, 2026, at 4:00 PM, at The Greater Dog in Stillwater, MN.

Reported by: Sam Glickman

The Riverside Routers 4-H Club met on Sunday, May 17th at the Denmark Township Hall. Members started the evening with a patriotic craft, creating American flags using pins and beads. Following the craft, the club held a short business meeting before ending the night with fun team competitions. The next Riverside Routers event will be a visit to the R&E Recycling Center on Wednesday, June 17th.

Lucky Aces 4-H club met on May 18th at Baytown Community Center. We started off with a short business meeting. Then, Kinsley, from the host family (the Golden family) showed off her Weiner dog (puppy). It was so cute! Anorah, Josephine, and Alastar presented their community service project: making bags to donate to a local bookstore. Ollie presented about his summer Chemistry camp and Henry presented about his project about fractals, both 4-H projects won high awards at fair last year! Finally, Lulu showed us her adorable pet rabbit who is getting ready to go to fair!

Also, our club talked about ordering our club t-shirts, plans for the container garden, and club banner.

Everyone had a great time learning about the many presenters' projects and getting ready for the fair.

Reporter: Eleanor Johnson

Activities and Events (Registration links with articles above)

• May 27 - STEM: Fun with Fermentation
• May 28 - New Family Fair Orientation
• June 12 - LQA & E in-person training. Cannon Falls, MN.(register through 4honline)
• June 23 - Ambassador social, Club Leader dinner and Federation elections.
• July 1 - Scholarship applications due!
• July 16 - Fashion Revue - Oakdale Discovery Center 12-8pm

Dog

• Apr. 21 - Dog Training began (Dog ID must be submitted before attending training)
• May 15 - Dog ID submitted online deadline
• July 25-26 - County 4-H Dog Show
• Sept. 20-21- State 4-H Dog Show - MN State Fair

Horse

• June 7-10 - Washington County 4-H Horse Camp. Registration closed.
• Sept. 17-21 - State Horse Show - MN State Fair

Livestock Reminders - 2026

• Feb. 17 - Market Beef and Dairy Steer Animal ID deadline. (Info emailed to members 1/5/26)
• May 15 - Animal ID deadline (Dog, Horse, Llama, Rabbit, Dairy, Breeding Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat (market & dairy) and leased poultry).
• July 1 - County Fair registration due
• LQA Training - Livestock Quality Assurance training needs to be completed BEFORE County Fair to be eligible for a State Fair trip with an animal (Must have completed 6th grade to attend State Fair with an animal). In-person training lasts 3 fair seasons versus online training which is good for 1 year and has a fee. In-person training will take place June 12, 2026 in Cannon Falls, MN. Please register through 4HOnline.
• July 29 - Aug. 2 - Washington County Fair
• Aug. 26-30 - MN State Fair 4-H Livestock Encampment
• Sept 5 - 7 - MN State Fair General Encampment
• Interested in being an adult chaperone at State Fair? Complete your adult volunteer screening before County Fair

Performing Arts

• July 1 - Arts-In registration deadline
• July 5 - Arts-In Auditions (evening)
• July 12-15 - Arts-In Encampment
• July 28 - Dress Rehearsal (evening)
• July 29-Aug 2 - Performances at the Washington County Fair
• Aug. 22 OR 23 - State Fair Rehearsal

• State Fair Performances: TBD

Rabbit

• July 12 - Agility & Knowledge practices (meet by the rabbit barn at fairgrounds) from 3-5 PM

• July 19 - Agility & Knowledge practices (meet by the rabbit barn at fairgrounds) from 3-5 PM

• July 26: 1:30 PM Rabbit Barn Setup; 3–5 PM Practice & Cage Assembly

Shooting Sports

• May 15 - Must be enrolled in 4-H and Shooting Sports project. Fees paid by first training date.
• June 8 - Aug. 24 - Summer Session - Mondays (Archery, BB, Pellet Gun)
• June 9 - Sept. 8 - Summer Session - Tuesdays (Trap, .22 Rifle, Black Powder)
• Sept. 11-13 - State Shoot in Alexandra, MN

Summer Camps

• June 7-11 - Washington County 4-H Horse Camp. Registration closed.
• June 9-12 - YELLO (Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities) Open to grades 7+ and will take place at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Registration closed.
• June 15-17 - Washington/Dakota 4-H Overnight Camp - Grades 3-8 - Baker Outdoor Learning Center. Maple Plain, MN. Registration closed.
• July 6-9 - 4-H Summer Day Camps will be held at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Day Camps are open to grades K-6. (Registration not yet open)

Washington County Fair 2026

• July 1 - County fair registration deadline. Final selection of projects and animals need to be entered in FairEntry by this date. Late entries accepted for ribbon only.
• July 25 - 4-H General project judging (Saturday) Includes Pet Show!
• July 29- Aug. 2 - Washington County Fair

Youth enrollment and animal ID deadline

• May 15, 2026 - Enrollment deadline for full County Fair participation and eligibility for State Fair, State Shoot, State Horse Show and State Dog Show.
• Participation is limited after May 15 (Not eligible for champions, auction, state trips) Blue, red and white ribbons only.

Take a chance and work together toward one show, one goal with State Arts-In! Youth in grades 9+ learn about teamwork, goal setting, and leadership as they put together a 30-minute show. Participants work in one of four majors: Tech crew, band, costuming, or performing. Early bird pricing is now available. Learn more and register.

We’re excited to offer this day camp experience for youth of all abilities in grades 3+. Whether you’re a budding scientist, a nature explorer, or just love being outdoors, these field days provide the perfect mix of learning, discovery, and fun. Step into real Minnesota fields and farms as you explore how plants grow, identify common pests and weeds, scout for crop health issues, and build your agricultural skills. This isn’t just a workshop—it’s a full day of hands-on activities, games, and outdoor exploration in beautiful settings. Crop scouting teams are encouraged to attend! This is a great way to prepare for the Minnesota 4-H Crop Scouting Challenge later in the month. Registration deadline: June 30. Choose the date and location that works best for you:

• July 7 in Lamberton

• July 15 in Rosemount

• July 15 in Crookston

4-H volunteers contribute to youth thriving. They make their communities stronger and develop skills they can use in other settings. These are all great reasons to take a step to becoming a volunteer—If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but aren’t sure where to start there are steps you can take to learn more:

1. Complete our volunteer interest form. The info you share will be given to 4-H staff so they can work with you to find or create a volunteer role that meets your skills, interests, and availability.
2. Reach out directly to your local 4-H staff to inquire about specific volunteer opportunities in your community.

Whether you join us for one day or for multiple events, we value the impact we make together for our youth and our communities! For more information contact MN4-HVol@umn.edu.

University of Minnesota Extension works across the lifespan. We create and support positive non-formal learning opportunities for youth. We foster resilient, healthy and secure futures for families and seniors. Extension works with Minnesotans to make informed decisions leading to better health and well-being. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/working-youth/contacts-families-and-youth

University of Minnesota Extension improves food literacy, physical activity, food safety and healthy food access for Minnesotans and the food service industry. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/food-health-and-nutrition

The best plants and gardening practices for Minnesota gardeners, homeowners and hobbyists to grow healthy lawns, landscapes and gardens. Learn more at: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden

Ann Church - Livestock (Beef, Dairy, Llama, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, Rabbit), Horse, Shooting Sports, Federation, Community Clubs, Fair, Charters and Finance, Foods & Creative Arts projects and Food Stand.

Megan Slater - Youth Teaching Youth, Ambassadors, Performing Arts, Overnight/Day Camps, Dog, Goat, Cloverbud workshops.

Interim - STEM, New Families, Promotion, Outreach, and Project Workshops.

Contact information is listed below.