The Fourcast

At the special February Leaders Council Meeting, it was decided to bring awards selection back to the 4-H County Fair Planning Committee, which means that the committee needs to find a time to meet again in early April once we have passed the requested return date for awards sponsorships and have a better understanding of what amount of sponsor dollars we have to work with for awards. If your household is interested in attending this meeting, please complete this quick poll to help 4-H Educator Brooke plan for the next 4-H County Fair Planning Committee Meeting! Responses to this poll received by Friday, March 6, 2026 will be considered when 4-H Educator Brooke is setting the next meeting date, which will be announced in the March 9, 2026, 'Fourcast' Smore eNewsletter.

This winter, Hubbard County 4-H held a t-shirt design contest, and the winning design has been selected by our Leaders Council! The 4-H youth who created our most-voted for design this year is Paisleigh Brakke.

As voted upon during the October 2025 Leaders Council meeting, all currently active Hubbard County 4-H youth members and screened adult volunteers enrolled in 4-H Online will receive a t-shirt at no cost to them if ordered by the March 6, 2026, ordering deadline. Any additional shirts ordered by family or friends of 4-H members will be sold at cost, as listed in the order form.

To receive your Hubbard County 4-H shirt, please complete the order form and return it to the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN) by March 6, 2026.

Order forms are also available at the Hubbard County Extension Office as requested. If there are additional shirts being ordered by family or friends, payment must be received with the order form - only exact cash or checks made payable to “Hubbard County 4-H” will be accepted.

As youth begin work with their 2026 project animals, please remember to identify project animals in 4-H Online! While we have passed the February 17 market beef and dairy steer ID deadline, we still have the 'All Other Animals' ID deadline coming up on May 15, 2026!

All other animals, including breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs, prospect calves (steers and heifers), dairy, dairy goats, dog, horse, llama-alpaca, meat goats, poultry (doves and pigeons), rabbits, sheep, and swine must be owned or leased, tagged or tattooed and identified in 4-H Online by May 15, 2026. While there is plenty of time to get these additional animal IDs completed, please remember that you can always get started now if you already have your animals and are ready to complete the ID process. This letter has more information and guides on the ID process for all other animals.

Please note that Cloverbuds in grades K-2 do not need to ID animals in 4-H Online, but their animals attending the fair need to meet all Board of Animal Health exhibition requirements.

Hubbard County 4-H has been asked to partner with Hubbard County Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resources to facilitate the youth portion of their 2026 Winter Garden College on the rescheduled February 24, 2026, date from 5:00-7:00 PM in Park Rapids, and we couldn't be more excited to join youth in grades K-8 as they explore the 'dirt on soil' as we look at soil composition and layers through hands-on activities (and snacks!) before joining the adult group for a winter sowing project! More information and registration for both the adult and youth portions of the Winter Garden College will be available soon through Park Rapids Community Education.

Get ready for adventures with Cloverbud Project Explorers! Each month, Cloverbuds in grades K–2 will dive into a brand-new 4-H project area—exploring topics like science, health and wellness, horticulture, and more! Every session includes hands-on, exciting lessons and activities designed especially for our youngest 4-H’ers, and will be co-led by our 4-H Ambassador youth leaders. Because the February 14 session was postponed due to 4-H Educator Brooke being ill, we will instead meet on February 28 from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (noon) at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). This program is a great opportunity for our youngest 4-H’ers to discover what 4-H is all about while learning new skills—you won’t want to miss it! Pre-registration is required in 4-H Online and is open to all enrolled 4-H youth in grades K–2. There is no cost to attend, and youth may register for one session or join us for all! Even if your 4-H'er missed the first few sessions, there is still room for more registrations, and we'd love to welcome them to the group of explorers!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND - Explore the slimy, stinky, stomach-turning world of the human body as we take a deep dive with hands-on projects that make science disgustingly tangible with topics like tooth decay, saliva, boogers, burps and farts, body odor, the digestive system, and more! Gross Science sessions are open to youth in grades 1-5 and will meet from 3:30-4:30 PM at Nevis Public School on Thursdays from February 26-March 19. Registration for Gross Science can be found through Nevis Community Education.

An important part of any animal science project is learning about responsible and ethical care and show practices when working with animals from proper handling techniques to animal nutrition. Because 4-H values these ethical practices, all 4-H youth in grades 6+ who plan to show any livestock animal, including beef, dairy, dairy goats, lama, meat goats, poultry, rabbit, sheep or swine, at the Minnesota State Fair or the NE Livestock Show must complete one of the two training options – Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) or Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) before the start of the Hubbard County 4-H Showcases at the Hubbard County Fair. In 2026, all records of completed LQA&E or YQCA trainings must be submitted to the Hubbard County Extension Office by 11:59 PM on Monday, June 29, 2026.

This year, Hubbard County 4-H youth in grades 6+ will have the opportunity to complete a 3-hour, in-person LQA&E training on March 2 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Hubbard County Government Center (301 Court Ave, Park Rapids). There is no cost to attend this training, and Pizza Hut pizza and water will be provided for all pre-registered youth. The required pre-registration is now open in 4-H Online, and pre-registration closes February 25, 2026. When searching for the training in 4-H Online, go to the "Events" tab and search "Hubbard County 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics Training." Please call the Extension Office if you need assistance with registering.

If this training date and time does not work with your family's schedule, please take a look at the other LQA&E opportunities happening throughout the state to find one that would suit your family's schedule, or plan to complete the online YQCA training option for this year.

The next Ambassador Program gathering will be this Saturday, March 14, from 9:00-10:30 AM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN). At this gatherings, we'll be continuing to brainstorm how we will complete our Food Partner Challenge Project, plan for summer activities and events that will be done with the 4-H Intern and Interim Educator, and complete a communication-based activity to grow our skills in communicating with others about 4-H!

Get ready for adventures with Cloverbud Project Explorers! Each month, Cloverbuds in grades K–2 will dive into a brand-new 4-H project area—exploring topics like science, health and wellness, horticulture, and more! Every session includes hands-on, exciting lessons and activities designed especially for our youngest 4-H’ers, and will be co-led by our 4-H Ambassador youth leaders. The Cloverbud Project Explorers sessions will be held on the second Saturday of each month, October through April, from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM (noon) at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). This program is a great opportunity for our youngest 4-H’ers to discover what 4-H is all about while learning new skills—you won’t want to miss it! Pre-registration is required in 4-H Online and is open to all enrolled 4-H youth in grades K–2. There is no cost to attend, and youth may register for one session or join us for all! Even if your 4-H'er missed the first few sessions, there is still room for more registrations, and we'd love to welcome them to the group of explorers!

If your 4-H'er loves building, creating and using their imagination with LEGOs? Then the LEGO Lab: Mega Makers with 4-H program is for them! At each monthly program session, youth will tackle exciting building challenges, explore STEM in a fun way as they design their own creations, and learn new skills - brick by brick. Whether they are a master builder or just starting out, all 4-H youth in grades 3-7 are welcome to register to attend! We will see what amazing things we can create together on the third Tuesday of the month from October through April from 6:00-7:00 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids). Pre-registration for LEGO Lab: Mega Makers with 4-H is required in 4-H Online and will be open to all enrolled 4-H youth in grades 3-7.There will be no cost to attend these project days, and youth can opt to register for one or all program sessions! Even if your 4-H'er missed the first few sessions, there is still room for more registrations, and we'd love to welcome them to the group of Mega Makers!

Calling all 4-H youth interested in the Dog Project!

The Hubbard County 4-H Dog Project will be having their kick-off informational meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the Park Rapids Library! If you may be interested in joining in the project’s training sessions, or would be interested in simply getting more information about what you can all do in the 4-H dog project, please attend!

At this meeting, youth will be able to meet the project leaders and dog trainers that they will be working alongside this spring and summer as well as review key dog project topics like who is eligible to participate, what’s required to participate, and get a preview of the 2026 weekly training schedule.

Join the Hubbard County 4-H Livestock Project Development Committee (PDC) as they host monthly trivia events the hour prior to PDC meetings! Trivia nights will be held from 5:00-6:00 PM at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids, MN 56470) on January 5, February 2, March 30, and June 1, 2026, and will cover a variety of animal science trivia knowledge at each session. There is no cost to attend, and all 4-H youth members in grades 3-13 are welcome to register to attend one or all sessions throughout the year! There will be pizza and water available for those who pre-register in 4-H Online.

Be sure to join the Livestock Project Development Committee (PDC) on Monday, March 30, at 6:00 PM to discuss happenings for the livestock project area in Hubbard County 4-H! The meeting will be at the Hubbard County Extension Office (201 Fair Ave, Park Rapids), but, if you aren't able to be at the meeting in-person, members are welcome to join virtually via Zoom (joining instructions will be emailed to 4-H households the day of the meeting). Be sure to come prepared for discussions with fresh ideas and feedback to continue to improve the Livestock Project for our 4-H members!

Note: This March 30 meeting is in place of the regular first Monday of the month meeting, as the first Monday of April is Easter Monday.

The Minnesota State Fair is committed to showcasing our state’s finest agriculture, and they recognize the importance of cultivating youth experiences in the livestock industry. They also understand that exhibiting at the Minnesota State Fair can stretch the family budget. Thanks to support from the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, they are proud to provide the Minnesota State Fair Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant! This grant program will gift $500 each to large-animal exhibitors (beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, horse, llama, sheep or swine) and $250 each to small-animal exhibitors (poultry and rabbits) who commit to participating in the Minnesota State Fair for the first time in 2026. To learn more and apply, visit the Minnesota State Fair Beginning Exhibitor Livestock Learning Experience (BELLE) Grant webpage!

Get ready to carve out some excitement with our "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Turn your backyard patch into a giant pumpkin paradise and grow the biggest, most jaw-dropping pumpkin your county has ever seen. This isn’t just gardening, it’s a thrilling, family-friendly adventure open to everyone from Cloverbuds and up!

Sign up by March 19 to receive your free giant pumpkin seeds and a comprehensive planting guide packed with expert tips. All summer long, we’ll keep you pumped with fun updates, growing advice, troubleshooting help, and engaging content to help your pumpkin reach monster status. Share your progress photos, milestones, and watch your pumpkin transform from tiny seed to colossal masterpiece!

Show off your supersized creation at your local county fair or enter it in our statewide fall contest for a chance to claim the title of Minnesota’s biggest pumpkin. This is your shot to become a legendary pumpkin grower and inspire your community.

Don’t let this gourd-geous opportunity pass you by join "Grow a Monster: Supersize my Pumpkin!" Registration opens March 1 on 4HOnline. z.umn.edu/Growamonstersupersizemypumpkin Sign up early, grab your seeds, and let’s grow some Minnesota monsters together!

Calling all 4-H’ers in grades 7–12, get ready for a night you won’t want to sleep through! 🎉 The East Otter Tail 4-H ambassadors are hosting a 4-H Lock-In, and you’re invited. Spend the night hanging out with other 4-H youth while diving into swimming, cruising at roller skating, hearing from a guest speaker, playing group games, yelling “BINGO!”, and enjoying plenty of surprises along the way.

📅 March 7–8

⏰ 7:00 PM–7:00 AM

📍 PACC, Perham MN (620 3rd Ave SE)

💵 $20

🥫 Bring a canned good for the Perham food shelf

🔗 Register by March 2: https://z.umn.edu/EOTLockIn

✨ Come for the fun, stay for the memories! 🤩

The application period is open for the 2027 4-H Youth in Action program, hosted by the National 4-H Council!

The 4‑H Youth in Action program amplifies the diverse stories and leadership of 4‑H youth who are making a difference in their communities every day. It is a premiere community of 4‑H'ers who are preparing for their future while showcasing how 4‑H has changed their lives and equipped them to change the lives of others.

The Youth in Action program is based on the story that a young person can articulate the impact 4-H has made on their lives and how 4-H has inspired them to take positive actions to improve the lives of others. The application has some great guiding questions for youth to consider when applying, and applicants can check out the Youth in Action website to read about past applicants, including 2026 winner Antonio Becker from Morrison County, and finalists Laura Mohapatra from Blue Earth County and Seamus Schwaba from Winona County!

Applicants must be:

• A 4-H member/recent alum of any type of 4-H program in the US.
• At least 14 by April 13, 2026, and should not have turned 20 before Jan. 5, 2026.

National 4-H Council is offering the following webinars to learn more:

• March 4 at 6 p.m. (Central time): Webinar for applicants/parents.

4-H is offering an opportunity for youth to get feedback on their applications if they submit them here by March 22. Youth will receive feedback by March 30, and then have time to submit their applications by April 13.

Come test your skills with archery where you will have the opportunity to showcase your archery and wildlife skills and learn from peers, coaches, and volunteers in a positive environment! This invitational will take place on April 11, 2026, at the Morris Area Elementary School. Registration is open to youth grades 4+ in 4-H Online and is due by April 1, 2026. The cost to register is $20 ($25 for walk-ins or late registrations). Medals will be awarded to the top individuals in the archery competition!

Find more details and to register, visit 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

Are you new, or newer, to the 4-H Livestock Project or want to explore a new species this year in 4-H? Check out the 'Barn Buddy' Mentor Program with Hubbard County 4-H!

The Barn Buddy Mentor Program allows 4-H youth who are new(er) to the Livestock Project to jumpstart their 4-H Livestock Project journey in any species and to dive into knowledge and skill development in order to have a positive experience from selecting an animal to work with all the way to showing at the fair! 4-H youth in the Barn Buddy Mentor Program will be paired with an experienced 4-H youth or alumni member to receive one-on-one support and guidance in their species of interest. Youth participating in the Barn Buddy Mentor Program can expect to get hands-on experiences as they learn about animal care, showmanship skills, and project management. To request a barn buddy, please complete this short survey!

If your family is looking for more opportunities with 4-H, be sure to check out the February 4-H Clover Update Newsletter! It’s filled with additional regional and state-wide program opportunities open to 4-H’ers. As you think about registering for regional or state-wide programs, don’t forget to apply for scholarships to cover 50% or more of the registration fee as well as to reimburse mileage for families carpooling!

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

In general, 4-H programs, activities, meetings and outings will be cancelled if

• The outdoor wind chill is -20 Fahrenheit or lower,
• Travel advisories are in place due to ice, snow or visibility,
• Local area schools are cancelled or released early

In the event that there is a cancellation with 4-H, it will be communicated to all enrolled families through an e-blast message via 4-H Online and the Hubbard County Extension Facebook Page.