MURRAY COUNTY 4-H NEWSLETTER

Fundraiser season has begun! By now, most of you or your club leaders have received packets for families. All of the vendors are the same aside from adding the Walnut Grove Mercantile!

Please see the Murray County Extension website for a folder that contains fundraiser forms!

We appreciate all that you do to support our program! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Animal ID tags have arrived and are ready to be picked up in the office for market beef animals! This includes beef steers, market heifers and dairy steers.

Letters will be sent out to families with more details shortly!

For those interested in exhibiting market beet at the county fair, please visit the 4-H Animal ID page within the Extension website.

"You Cannoli Do Your Best" was a hit last Sunday with over one hundred Murray County 4-H family members attending. Meal included a pasta bar, garlic toast and a cannoli dip for dessert! Several youth and adult were recognized. Please certain individual awards listed below:

Friend of 4-H: Brad Pagel

Ambassador(s) of the Year: Aiden & Tyler York

Ignite Your Spark Award: Clara Pagel

These awards along with fundraiser top sellers, goals achieved, record completion and so much more were recognized.

2026 high school graduates that have been a Murray County 4-H member at least four years are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded at the Murray County Fair after the Premier Showmanship Showcase Friday, August 14, 2026. Awards will start at 5:30 p.m. or after Premier Showmanship, if it runs longer than 5:30 p.m.

Apply using the Murray County 4-H Scholarship Form

Get ready for a fast-paced, knowledge bowl–style competition that puts youth livestock learning to the test! Teams can dive into learning in one of several focus areas: dog, horse, dairy, general livestock, rabbit, or poultry. Youth participate in teams of 3–6 members, each guided by a coach. Now is the perfect time to start forming teams and practicing

If you would be interested in coaching or participating on a project bowl team, reach out to Kerstin or Kim today.

Learn more about Project Bowl by visiting https://extension.umn.edu/4-h-showcase-events/regional-and-state-project-bowls#rules-and-references-1495160

The contest rules are available online and are an important tool for coaches and teams. Also online is the list of references for each contest; it is important that if you have a team, the team has access to at least one set of these references. Also available online are resources for volunteers serving as team coaches.

Regional contests will take place in March, giving teams the chance to compete for a spot in the State Bowl Competition in April.

March 7 - Sauk Rapids
March 14 - Hastings (Note: Dog not offered at this site.)
March 21 - Bemidji
March 21 - Redwood Falls (Note: Dog not offered at this site.)

April 11 - State Bowl, Sauk Rapids

Registration for Project Bowl is due January 26, so start organizing your team today!

Students entering grades 7-13 can have an adventure in science and career exploration on the prairie in SW Minnesota. University on the Prairie is a unique program that showcases hands-on activities related to animal science, food science, engineering, ag/environmental science and chemistry.

Faculty from the University of Minnesota and SDSU, along with local professionals and SWROC scientists will join teachers from the region to guide students through hands-on exploration of science in five career areas important to the life and future of southwestern Minnesota. The program is unique in the state and offers students an opportunity to open doors to many career paths and will perhaps result in a future soil scientist, pharmacist, or chemist.

The program is full of fun and hands-on activities. It will be held at the Southwest Research & Outreach Center laboratories, classrooms, and outdoor facilities near Lamberton. Check in at the SWROC will be at 10 a.m. on June 30. The program will run from 10:30 a.m. - 6:25 p.m. on June 30 and from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on July 1. An overnight lodging option is available at the SWROC (air mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows are encouraged).

Registration is now open at uotp2026.4honline.com. Total cost is $50 per student. Register by June 12. More information can be found at: https://extension.umn.edu/event/university-prairie

Questions! Please email mohrh002@umn.edu

YELLO is a 4-H leadership conference for youth in grades 7+ that prepares youth to learn and lead in their communities. YELLO is planned and facilitated by the Minnesota State 4-H Ambassadors.

This annual event aims to engage youth in building leadership skills, developing positive relationships with peers and adults, and planning out how to take future action.

Activities include:

• Leadership minor: Leadership lessons are led by the Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors throughout the event. Youth will explore leadership on a personal, group, and societal level.
• Service and education: Participants engage in hands-on service to learn about civic responsibility while also making positive contributions to the community. This years’ service focus is on disaster relief and emergency response.
• Majors: Majors are one of the main educational components of the YELLO experience. Majors are opportunities for youth to do a deep dive into the project area of their interest. There are different major categories, and each youth will choose a class where they will receive a full day of exciting hands-on experiences.
• Social events: Youth will be able to network with one another in fun ways. In the past, this has included talent shows, game nights, dances, etc.

Registration for YELLO will open in February. The cost to attend YELLO is expected to be $350, with an additional fee for opting in to ride the bus. Youth will register via 4-H Online.

This contest offers a hands-on opportunity for youth involved in general livestock projects—beef, meat goat, sheep, and swine—to put their knowledge into action! Participants will rotate through interactive stations that challenge them to apply what they have learned in real-world livestock scenarios.

Youth may compete individually or as part of a team, making this a flexible opportunity for all levels. SkillaThon is a fantastic way to showcase skills in livestock breeds, animal health, production, and more. It’s also an excellent learning and practice opportunity for Project Bowl teams looking to sharpen their knowledge.

The contest rules and procedures are available online, as well as a list of the resources used for the contest content. Here is a communication toolkit to help share about this opportunity locally. There will be two contests in February that youth can choose to participate in; one right in our region, in Redwood Falls on February 7! Registration for Livestock SkillaThon is due January 25.

Be a 2026 Lake Shetek 4-H Camp Counselor and make a difference! Lead activities, play games, and mentor 3 - 6 graders while building leadership skills. Choose your session: June 22 - 24 or June 24 - 26 (or both).

Apply by January 25, 2026: z.umn.edu/CampCounselorApp-Shetek.

Questions? Email Karen Beranek at kberanek@umn.edu

Yes, it's that time of year already...Re-enrollment for Murray County 4-H opens today! It allows you to update your family information, address, email, etc. This is also the time to select your primary club with the option the enroll in a secondary club (for example Horse Club or Llama/ Alpaca Club). Staff want to make sure you are getting the information you need and answer any questions you may have!

Every year, starting September 15, each youth from Cloverbud to grade 13 need to be enrolled. Families can do that by visiting https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in. Update all the info, share any new project areas you might be interested in learning about so you can receive the appropriate emails throughout the year regarding information and deadlines for those particular project areas.

Here is a 4-H Online 'Tip Sheet' for enrolling/ re-enrolling to help with the process offering step-by-step instructions.

Volunteers need to be updated every third year. You should have received a message prior to September 15 if it's your year to renew. It will include directions as well as the link https://4-h-volunteer.extension.umn.edu/welcome-or-renew/renew. If it's not your year, 4-H staff will handle the rollover for you.

Thank you for taking the time to do this - the sooner your enrollment gets completed, the less emails and reminders you will receive.

Thank you for making Murray County 4-H the best it can be!😃

Attached are the flyers that will be sent home with MCC and Fulda youth grades K - 6. We would love to have your 4-H youth join us once a month for our After-School-Adventures program. Youth do not need to be a member of a 4-H community club, but do need to complete the 4-H online registration

(https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in) to participate. Youth do not need to attend MCC or Fulda Schools to participate.

Visit https://z.umn.edu/2025-2026afterschoo4HAdventures to get a flyer if your youth does not attend MCC or Fulda. Please note that each school location has different dates, so be sure to sign up for the location that best works for you.

Please take a moment to download or print the 2025 - 2026 Murray County 4-H calendar.

We have an app available that provides easy access to all things Murray County 4-H and Fair season!

Please take the time to download and utilize for access to show programs, stalling survey, Foodstand menu and so much more!

Available in the Apple App Store or Google Play! Search 'Minnesota 4-H' to download!

With a new year, that means new scholarship opportunities are available for high school seniors and college students. Please take the time to check out the scholarship site, to learn about upcoming opportunities this spring.

Applications for the 2026 Compeer Giving High School Senior Scholarships are officially open! The scholarship amount increased from $1,500 to $2,000 to better support rural students pursuing agricultural or community-focused careers.

If you know a student with a passion for agriculture or rural life, encourage them to apply by Feb. 15.

Please apply on the Compeer Website.

The family of Andrea Ruesch established a 4-H scholarship in memory of her dedication and contributions to the Minnesota 4-H program. Based on the family's belief in positive youth development, the focus of this scholarship is on demonstrated learning through hands-on experience and using what you have learned to help others (youth leadership).

For 4-H members who are high school seniors or first-year college students. Must currently be enrolled in one of the counties listed: Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rock or Watonwan.

This is a one-time $1,000 scholarship and at least eight scholarships will be awarded annually.

Due: March 1, 2026

Apply by visiting the University of Minnesota Extension Scholarship page (this will also show you various other opportunities for you to apply for).

Need activity ideas for your 4-H club? Check out our Youth Development Curriculum Library for fun, educational lesson and activity resources designed for youth workers, 4-H volunteers, and youth themselves! 86 resources and counting! More content is added every month. Current categories: Animals and livestock, civic engagement and leadership, Cloverbuds (K - 2), environment and earth science, expressive arts and communication, family and consumer science, gardening and agriculture, healthy living, icebreakers, games, and reflection activities, including youth of all abilities, independent learning, outdoor adventures, STEM, and themed 4-H club agenda samples. If you have specific content you’d like to see, contact Jessica Russo at pier0239@umn.edu.

Join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors! We meet typically once a month for leadership opportunities, youth engagement, ambassador outings, and service projects. Youth in grades 8 and up are invited to join the Murray County 4-H Ambassadors. Fill out the attached link

https://z.umn.edu/MCAmbassador

Next meeting will be held on February 1 in the Murray County Courts Meeting Room starting at 2:30 p.m.

Looking to volunteer with Murray County 4-H?

Contact the Extension staff at (507)-836-6927

We would love to see the positive impact you could make in our program!

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County

📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1144 ✉️hausek@umn.edu

SLAYTON, MN 56172

Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development

University of Minnesota Extension, Murray County

📍2848 BROADWAY AVE 📞(507)-836-1145

✉️thoms531@umn.edu

SLAYTON, MN 56172

Administrative Assistant, Murray County Extension

📍2848 Broadway Ave 📞 507-836-6927 ✉ carl5049@umn.edu

Slayton, MN 56172

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