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 Nicole Cash, and I'm excited to join Washington County 4-H as an Extension Educator. I earned my B.S. in Ecology from Northern Michigan University with minors in outdoor recreation management and earth science, and I began my career journey as a National Park Ranger. I grew up in Minnesota 4-H and formerly served as the Extension Educator in St. Croix County, WI. Out of the office, you’ll find me hiking, enjoying live music, or sipping local coffee. I’m excited to feed my midwestern roots and jump back into the world of Minnesota Extension!

This is a reminder that you need to re-enroll each year in the 4-H program. Please go into your family account in 4honline and update all those enrolling for the 2025-2026 4-H year.

Animal ID's can also be entered for the coming fair season. Market Beef ID's were due Feb. 17. Other animals need to be ID'ed by May 15. Please check your specific species requirement on the state website at https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-projects/4-h-animal-id

We want to welcome our new families, we know it can be a challenging to navigate the 4-H year the first time but please don't hesitate to reach out to your club leaders, established 4-H families or staff with any questions you might have along the way.

The 2026 overnight camp counselor application is now live! Join us at our 4-H Overnight Camp at Baker Outdoor Learning Center, June 15-17, 2026. Counselors and staff from both Washington and Dakota Counties provide an overnight camp experience, complete with canoeing, archery, crafts, smores, songs, swimming, and so much more! Any youth who has completed 9th grade through one year past high school (by summer 2026) is invited to apply to become a 4-H Camp Counselor.

Applications are due March 10. Applicants self-select a virtual interview time on either March 19, 24, or 25. The tentative training dates for camp are April 30, May 31, June 11.

Any questions regarding this leadership role, contact Megan Slater at 651-434-1339 or slate187@umn.edu.

Camp is filling fast, sign up today!

Any youth who has completed grades 3rd – 8th by June 2026 is invited to attend a fun-filled overnight camping experience, June 15-17 at Baker Outdoor Learning Center in Maple Plain! Campers will enjoy cabin camping, campfires, team building activities, outdoor adventures, crafts, nature experiences, fun, making new friends, and much more! Cost: $150.00; camper must be enrolled in 4-H Online. Camp registration includes meals and lodging for three days/two nights, transportation, and a camp t-shirt. Registration opens on Thursday, February 19, on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must be received within one week of registration to secure the camper’s spot. Registration closes when camp is full or on May 15, whichever occurs first. Any questions, contact Megan at slate187@umn.edu.

Learn more about camp details and how to register.

4-H’ers interested in participating in the Llama Project this year are invited to a kick-off meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 12, beginning at 7:00 pm at Hooley Hall on the fairgrounds! Dan Whittaker will share information about his leasing program and the opportunities he offers 4-H youth to learn and show llamas. Any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Dan at llamadan@aol.com

You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to learn about feeding your 4-H project animals (beef, sheep, swine and market goats)! Topics will include: a premix feed demonstration, evaluating feed samples for quality and management, measuring and hand mixing one balanced feed ration (each participant will receive their own feed pan), feed tag analysis and expected results based on nutritional needs of your animal. A tour will also be included of the facility showing mixing and grinding feeds, bagging and sewing tags, etc.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 21, from 9:00 am – 11:30 am. Families are welcome and encouraged to attend! This workshop will take place at Herdsman Feeds (E 1353 Hwy 64, Connorsville, WI) about a 40 minutes drive from Stillwater. Herdsman Feeds is owned by Joseph and Alyssa O’Sullivan who are excited to host this workshop! To learn more and pre-register go to; https://z.umn.edu/HungryCritter. Pre-register by March 6th.

Youth in grades 3+ along with their parent/guardians, are invited to a hands-on, educational workshop on pigeon keeping on Saturday, March 28, 1–2:30 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Participants will learn from experienced guest presenters who will share what it takes to start a pigeon project, including housing, nutrition, and daily care. Youth will also gain practical tips and best practices for raising healthy pigeons and how to prepare for showcase events. Participants will have the opportunities to ask questions and connect with others who share similar interests.

Participants must be currently enrolled in 4-H Online for the 2025-26 4-H year to have access to event registration in 4-H Online. Workshop is free and open to all MN 4-H'ers. Participants must pre-register in 4-H Online by March 20. If you have any questions, contact Rachel Rezac at reza0027@umn.edu.

Registration is now open for the 2026 Dog training season! To complete registration, you will need to complete the registration form AND Dog ID, and pay the $40 registration fee.

All dog project members are expected to attend the Dog Orientation (no dogs) on Tuesday, April 7, from 6-8 PM at Hooley Hall on the Washington County Fairgrounds. This is an opportunity to meet the trainers, learn more about classes offered, and get any questions answered. Demonstration night will take place on April 14 from 6-8 PM at Hooley Hall, and training will begin on April 21, weather permitting.

Contact Megan Slater at slate187@umn.edu with any questions.

Interested in poultry but don't know where to start? Join us for an informational learning session on Sat., April 18, 1-3 p.m. at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center in Farmington. Open to youth grade 3 and up and parent/guardians. Participants will learn from a guest presenter who will teach the basics of poultry showing/showmanship, incubating and hatching eggs, and sharing tips on how to connect with local breeders. Designed to be fun and educational, this workshop encourages confidence and curiosity to engage in the poultry project. Light refreshments will be provided. The workshop is free and is open to all active MN 4-H’ers. Participants must pre-register in 4-H Online by April 10. Questions? Contact Rachel Rezac at reza0027@umn.edu.

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.

There will be a Horse PDC Meeting on Monday, March 9, beginning at 6:30pm at the Stillwater Gov’t Center. Any interested youth or adults that are interested in helping in some capacity with horse related events are welcome to come!

St. Croix Knoll Stable is hosting a fundraiser for the Washington County 4-H Horse project on Saturday, March 28 from 10:00AM to 4:00PM. Seeking sellers and vendors. $30 for a 10 x10 area, you must provide your own table. Volunteers will also be accepting donations of clean, usable and in good condition horse tack and related items to be sold by 4-H youth during the Tack Swap. Register through the QR code on flyer. For questions, email info@stcroixknollstable.com or contact Jill at 651-329-0141 or Lisa at 651-470-9314. Please help us spread the word with attached flyers.

Washington County 4-H families are invited to purchase Pheasant’s Forever raffle tickets! The tickets cost $10 each, and each booklet includes 10 tickets. 10 winners will be selected at the Washington County Pheasants Forever banquet on April 16. Scheel's gift cards will be awarded to the winners, with the grand prize being $1000. All Shooting Sports families are encouraged to sell tickets! Profits from this fundraiser stay in our county, which helps keep our registration fee low. If you can help out by purchasing and/or selling tickets, please contact Ashley Schwartz at amkelly6@gmail.com. All tickets must be returned with cash only, no checks.

All are invited to attend the banquet. It is a fun event with prizes awarded to youth and veterans.

Get ready to explore the amazing world of wildlife right outside your door! Join us on Wednesday evenings for Wildlife Wednesdays, a fun and interactive virtual series where we'll dive into the fascinating lives of animals and plants with the help of wildlife experts, biologists, and Master Naturalists.

Each week, you'll discover something new and inspiring about nature—from secret animal behaviors to incredible ecosystems—all while learning how to protect and respect the environment around us. Whether you're just curious, have a love for animals, or looking for a midweek adventure, this series is your gateway to conservation knowledge and a lifelong love of nature.

Discover the wonderful world of wildlife around you with Wildlife Wednesdays! Sessions will be held virtually on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. on the following dates: March 11, 18, 25 and April 1,8. 4-H youth can earn up to four wildlife hours for participating in 4 of the virtual sessions! Let’s get started on those Wildlife hours for next year’s State Shoot! Learn more and register.

If you are hoping to attend the 2026 State Shooting Sports Invitational, please remember to start tracking your Wildlife Hours NOW!!!

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)

• Wildlife Wednesdays is a great virtual option to earn hours! (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!

As our Shooting Sports Program continues to grow, we are in need of additional Trainers! We would welcome new Trainers in these disciplines: BB gun/Pellet Rifle, Archery, .22 Rifle, and Trap! Training for the 4-H youth begins the first week of June - end of August. Archery and BB/Pellet training takes place on the Washington County fairgrounds. Archery, .22, Trap and Black Powder take place at the Oakdale Gun Club.

To become a 4-H Certified Trainer, you must first become a 4-H screened volunteer:

Steps to become a 4-H screened volunteer

Once you have completed your screening process, 4-H Shooting Sports Trainers are required to complete 4-H certification to become Trainers. Pre-work is completed before attending an in-person training. Training is held throughout fall and spring months in various locations around the state. For more information go to; How to become a Certified Shooting Sports Trainer Registration fees are paid by our 4-H program.

2026 shooting sports and wildlife leader certification trainings

• March 28 - Austin (archery, rifle/pistol, wildlife) - Registration deadline: March 19
• April 11 - Sleepy Eye (rifle/pistol, shotgun) - Registration deadline: April 2
• April 11 - Marshall (archery, rifle/pistol, muzzleloading, shotgun, wildlife) - Registration deadline: April 2

Register for 4-H shooting sports and wildlife leader certification! These events are designed for adults and youth (grades 9+) who lead or would like to lead training in shooting sports or wildlife. Classes will be offered in the disciplines of archery, rifle/pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading, and wildlife. Additional dates and locations will be added soon. Learn more and register.

We are also in need of adult(s) to oversee the Wildlife Project that is required for those attending the State Shoot. Each county is required to present a Wildlife Project at the State Shoot. This does not need to be an elaborate project.

If you are interested in helping with the Shooting Sports Program in anyway, please contact Ann at; churc109@umn.edu

Stevens County 4-H is super EXCITED to share that they are hosting their 3rd Stevens County 4-H Archery Invitational state-wide event! Mark your calendars for April 11th! 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 their equipment. Deadline to register is April 1st. This event can count for archery and wildlife hours for those interested in competing at the state shoot this fall!

When: April 11, 2026

*Registration begins at 9am, competition begins at 10 am

*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 4th-13th grade

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

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

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!

YELLO, Minnesota’s statewide 4‑H leadership conference, will be held June 9-12 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, bringing youth together for hands-on learning, teamwork and personal growth. Participants in grades 7+ will explore the theme Planting Seeds of Leadership through workshops, service projects, and opportunities to connect with peers. Registration is now open for this energizing and transformative experience for youth of all 4‑H backgrounds. Learn more and register. Washington County will scholarship half the registration expense for Washington County 4-H members attending.

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!

Attention high school seniors and 4-H alumni, its 4-H scholarship season. These awards recognize years of leadership and "learning by doing" while providing vital financial support for post-secondary education. Please go to the public 4-H scholarships and grants page for full eligibility details and application links.

Local scholarships open to Washington County youth only can be found on our website and are due July 1, 2026.

The Riverside Routers met on Sunday February 22, 2026 at the Woodbury 10 Movie Theatre. They watched Zootopia 2. There were 38 people who attended. They enjoyed the movie, and ate pizza and pop. The next meeting is in March.

Respectfully Submitted.

Emilia H, Club Reporter

‘Beyond Ready’ is a national 4-H initiative that will prepare our youth for work and life after their days in 4-H by focusing on leadership, community service and career readiness. During the past two months, our focus has been on career readiness. In January, Washington County 4-H alum Greta Tank presented information on how youth can build their resumes that include their 4-H experiences. Our February event was focused on ‘how to prepare for an Interview’ presented by Nancy Dyslin. We want to thank Greta and Nancy for coming and helping offer these great life skills!

Activities and Events (Registration links with articles above)

• Mar. 10 - Overnight Camp Counselor Applications Due
• Mar. 12 - Llama Kick-off Meeting
• Mar. 21 - Feed My Hungry Critter Livestock Workshop
• Mar. 28 - Washington County Horse Tack Swap
• Apr. 18 - Spring Cloverbud Workshop - Plant theme (Save the date)
• Apr. 24 - Performing Arts Festival (registration above)
• June 12 - LQA & E in-person training. Cannon Falls, MN.(register through 4honline)

Dog

• Apr. 7 - Dog Orientation
• Apr. 14 - Dog Class Demo
• Apr. 21 - Dog Training begins (Dog ID must be submitted before attending training)
• May 15 - Dog ID submitted online deadline
• July 25-26 - County 4-H Dog Show
• Sept. - State 4-H Dog Show (usually last weekend of Sept.)

Horse

• Mar. 9 - Horse PDC Meeting
• Mar. 28 - Washington County Horse Tack Swap & Horse Related Market - St. Croix Knoll Stable
• June 7-10 - Washington County 4-H Horse Camp. Registration will be emailed to those who have completed grade 4 and registered for the Horse project in early April.
• Sept. 17-21 - State Horse Show

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 (Interested in being an adult chaperone? Complete your adult volunteer screening before County Fair)

Performing Arts

• Apr. 24 - Performing Arts Festival
• 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

Shooting Sports

• Mar.11,18,25/Apr.1,8 - Wildlife Wednesdays (Get your wildlife hours)
• Apr. 11 - Stevens County Archery Invitational
• Apr. 16 - Pheasant's Forever Banquet
• 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 open to grade 4+ and will be available through 4honline in early April.
• 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 now open)
• June 15-17 - Washington/Dakota 4-H Overnight Camp - Grades 3-8 - Baker Outdoor Learning Center. Maple Plain, MN. (Registration link above)
• 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.

YELLO, Minnesota’s statewide 4‑H leadership conference, will be held June 9-12 at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, bringing youth together for hands-on learning, teamwork and personal growth. Participants in grades 7+ will explore the theme Planting Seeds of Leadership through workshops, service projects, and opportunities to connect with peers. Registration is now open for this energizing and transformative experience for youth of all 4‑H backgrounds. Learn more and register. Washington County will scholarship half the registration expense for Washington County 4-H members attending.

4-H is partnering with FilmNrth in St Paul to offer a focused film editing workshop for youth in grades 7+. Our spring editing workshop will take place Saturday, May 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This workshop will highlight editing as a core filmmaking skill to give participants deeper, high quality instruction. Space is limited to 10 participants. The 4-H summer video workshop returns Aug. 11-13 with three days of in-person filmmaking supported by UMN faculty and film experts. Two virtual pre-sessions will be held July 27 and Aug. 3, 5 to 6 p.m. to help youth prepare for the on campus experience. This has the feel of a 48 hour film fest with professional guidance and resources provided. Learn more and register.

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 coming soon to the EDC website. Start talking to your friends, let your 4-H educator know you are interested, and get ready to engineer something marvelous!

It’s time to dig in, get curious, and grow something amazing—4-H Science Sprouts is back this winter! Join 150+ others as we explore plant science through fun, hands-on activities during three short and engaging online sessions. Designed with grades 3-5 in mind (but all youth are welcome!), this STEM-packed series proves you don’t need a backyard to grow big ideas. It’s not too late to join us! If you missed the first sessions, you can still jump in for our March gathering, where we’ll explore bulbs. Register by March 16 to receive the supply list and Zoom link so you can participate and grow right along with us! Learn more and register.

Dig in, get curious, and grow big—the Grow a monster: Supersize my pumpkin challenge is rolling into 2026, and it’s going to be huge! This exciting 4-H challenge invites youth to take on the ultimate growing experiment—raising a pumpkin and seeing just how massive it can become. From planting the seed to measuring jaw-dropping growth, participants will explore plant science, soil health, weather, and problem-solving every step of the way. Along the journey, 4-H’ers will learn what pumpkins need to thrive as they build responsibility, curiosity, and confidence (and enjoy a little friendly competition). Registration opens in 4-H Online on March 1, and space is limited. This challenge is expected to fill fast, and registration will close March 19. Get ready to register, grab your seeds, and prepare to grow a monster! Learn more and register.

Check out our free, searchable online Youth Development Curriculum Library for fun, educational lesson and activity resources designed for youth workers, volunteers, and youth themselves!

190 resources and counting! More content is added every month.

A few highlights:

• Independent learning guides to support youth project learning, such as this Microgreen Growing Guide

• Resources on project areas from Animals and Livestock, to Social-Emotional Learning, to Environment and Earth Science, to STEM, and much more!

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.

The decision to cancel a planned activity is no simple matter. The safety and well-being of 4-H members, volunteers and Extension employees is the top priority.

4-H programs, activities and outings should be prepared to modify programming as needed in extreme cold weather.

• Outdoor wind chill of 20 degrees below 0 Fahrenheit or lower.

The following will be considered when deciding whether to cancel a meeting or program:

• The ability to safely operate vehicles (ice, snow, visibility)

• Total predicted snowfall

• Predicted temperature and wind chill factor

• Schools are canceled

Emails will be sent to those who pre-registered for a county event being cancelled. Club Leaders should also notify members if club events are being cancelled.

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.

Nicole Cash - STEM, New Families, Promotion, Outreach, and Project Workshops.

Contact information is listed below.