Extension in Blue Earth County

4-H is the University of Minnesota’s out-of-school, a hands-on learning program for youth from Kindergarten through one year past high school graduation. It is a public program for all youth delivered in each county through UMN Extension. Through hands-on learning, youth in 4-H build not only confidence, creativity, and curiosity but also life skills such as leadership and resiliency to help them thrive today and tomorrow. There are so many ways to participate in Minnesota 4-H!

• What is Minnesota 4-H? (you tube)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Earth County 4-H

All 4-H members in grades K-2 are called Cloverbuds and this is a special time in 4-H. Cloverbuds focus on non-competitive discovery and learning!

• Learn more: What is a Minnesota 4-H Cloverbud? (you tube)

Clubs

4-H clubs meet on a regular basis to learn together with friends. They work on 4-H projects, serve their community, develop leadership skills and learn to work together. Many people choose the club closest to them. Others choose to be with friends they already know.

• Learn more about Current Blue Earth County 4-H Clubs, when and where they meet and how to connect with the club leader. 
• Learn more:  What is a Minnesota 4-H club? (you tube)

Projects

4-H, youth choose projects that are interesting to them to explore with peers and caring adults. 4-H offers learning experiences in science, photography, agriculture, healthy living, civic engagement and much more. Projects are important in 4-H because we believe in experiential learning, which is why our motto is “Learn by Doing!”

• Learn more: What is a Minnesota 4-H project? (you tube).
• What is a 4-H project vs. a fair exhibit?
• Step-by-Step Project Workbook 

What is University of Minnesota Extension?

• Extension History
• What we do

We are excited to have you join us! 

Step 1) Find which club you are interested in joining. Blue Earth County has 6 4-H Clubs. Feel free to contact the club leader listed with specific questions about each individual club.

Step 2) Create a 4HOnline account - we use an enrollment software called 4HOnline.  This keeps everything for us - health forms, contact information, projects and interest areas.  Once you have logged into the account you can enroll in Blue Earth County 4-H! The step-by-step instructions are also attached here for your convenience.

Step 3) Get in touch with us if you have any questions - that is why we're here.

The Monthly Update goes out to all registered 4-H members via email on or around the first of each month. To receive this newsletter via email - please register for Blue Earth County 4-H through 4HOnline.

Monthly Updates

At the beginning of each month, all enrolled 4-H members will receive an email update from Minnesota 4-H and a separate email update from the Blue Earth County 4-H Extension educator about the local program. To receive these updates via email, please enroll in Blue Earth County 4-H through 4HOnline.

• Current Blue Earth County 4-H Monthly Update

You will also receive information throughout the year based on your grade and the projects you selected when you enrolled in 4HOnline. You can update those projects at any time. 

Be sure to Follow us on Facebook

Blue Earth County Facebook page

The Blue Earth County Fair is held each year in July at the Blue Earth County Fairgrounds in Garden City. The fair provides 4-H members with a place to showcase exhibits about their project learning and share what they have learned with friends, judges and community members. 

4-H members who earn blue ribbons at the Blue Earth County Fair (and have completed grade 6) may earn the opportunity to advance to the Minnesota State Fair. Similarly, members in the horse and dog projects are eligible to advance to the state horse and dog shows, which are held at the state fairgrounds later in September.

Blue Earth County Fair & State Show 

In 2022, 105 Blue Earth County 4-H members brought 820 exhibits to the county fair. 

Blue Earth advanced several members to state events, including 38 members to the Minnesota State Fair with livestock and general projects, 5 members to the Minnesota State Horse Show, 3 members to the Minnesota State Dog Show, and 13 members to the Minnesota State Shoot Competition.   

• Link to upload 2022 Fair Photos to Smug Mug
• Photos from the 2022 Blue Earth County fair
• 2022 state show results for Blue Earth County 4-H

The winter is a great time to make your annual 4-H project goals and begin to think about what you might want to show at the fair in the summer. These tools will help you be more prepared:

Important Dates

• May: Blue Earth County 4-H Premium Books are released and mailed/emailed to 4-H families
• Mid-May: Fair Entry registration opens 
• Mid-June: Fair Entry registration deadline
• July: Blue Earth County Fair!

Fair Registration

4-H fair exhibits must be registered in FairEntry for the Blue Earth County Fair. Registration will open in mid-May.  The deadline to register your 4-H exhibits is mid-June.

It takes many hands to make a fair! 

4-H Food Stand 4-H youth are asked to work at the 4-H Food Stand one or two shifts during the county fair. This is our largest and only annual fundraiser. Youth learn valuable life skills. Adults are needed to support them and to work the grill, fryers, cash register and various other duties.

4-H parents and older members are also needed as judge assistants, ring stewards and more.  And, clubs are assigned to set-up or clean-up duties each year. 

Quick links                                                      

• 2022 Blue Earth County 4-H Premium Book    
• Guide to 4-H Projects                                              
• Constructed Clothing & Fashion Revue (bring with you to judging)
• Purchased Clothing & Fashion Revue (bring with you to judging)
• Upcycled Clothing & Fashion Revue (bring with you to judging)
• Food Revue handbook
• Lamb Lead information and reference

4-H Youth Development is a hands-on learning program for Minnesota youth. We offer online, small group and independent learning experiences for youth of all ages. In 4-H, youth choose the topic they find interesting and caring adults support their learning and leadership. From agronomy to space exploration and creative arts to outdoor adventures, 4-H has just the right learning experience for young people.

There are many ways to participate in 4-H!

Give to Blue Earth County 4-H

Gifts support 4-H youth development in Blue Earth County, and local programming coordinated by the Blue Earth County 4-H Council. 

Give today

Blue Earth County Extension Office

mnext-blueearth@umn.edu | 507-304-4325

• Private Pesticide Applicator information
• Contact the Farm Information Line. 1-800-232-9077 or fil@umn.edu

Shane Bugeja, Extension educator, Ag production systems
sbugeja@umn.edu or 507-304-4325

The mission of the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Program is to support Extension by providing volunteers trained in horticulture to educate the public with research based information on the best practices in consumer horticulture.

Visit the Blue Earth county Master Gardener volunteers on Facebook.

• Become a Master Gardener volunteer
• Master Naturalist volunteers work in your community

Shane Bugeja, Extension educator, Ag production systems
sbugeja@umn.edu or 507-304-4325

Extension offers a variety of educational programs about nutrition and health in Blue Earth County. These programs are open to families and individuals of all ages who are eligible for benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or who meet Extension’s program income guidelines.

Programs are offered in community settings such as food shelves, schools, community centers and public housing sites. The programs are free to all individuals and families who meet income guidelines, and may be offered in multiple languages, depending on the audience needs and availability of educators.

Use the Real Life, Good Food website to find recipes, cooking tips and physical activity ideas for a healthier life.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) is the educational component of the United States Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program that offers nutrition assistance to eligible, low-income individuals and families.

Please contact Rachel Jones, SNAP-Ed Educator with questions. 

Rachel Jones, SNAP-Ed educator
wedex001@umn.edu or 507-304-4141

Extension's Center for Community Vitality engages Minnesotans to strengthen the social, civic, economic and technological capacity of their communities. We help create vibrant communities and enhance skills and knowledge in economics, leadership and civic engagement, and tourism.

Check our community research page for reports on county and community-focused topics relating to local economics, retaining businesses, growing retail markets, developing tourism, and more.

Local programs can be offered in collaboration with local community organizations and government agencies. Current programs include Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL).

Contact an educator in your area for consultation, guidance and conversation about your community.

Minnesota is a great place to explore, understand and conserve the natural landscape. Extension education, volunteer and community science programs encourage people to become stewards of Minnesota’s public and private lands.

Volunteer. Natural resources volunteers track invasive species, detect forest pests and count native bees, among many other activities. You also can study to become a Minnesota Master Naturalist.

Extension's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) connect Greater Minnesota communities and University of Minnesota knowledge and resources to support local sustainability projects.

Working in partnership, RSDP supports community-driven projects in four focus areas: agriculture and food systems, clean energy, natural resources, and resilient communities. Projects are supported by boards made up of local community members and University faculty and staff.

Learn more about RSDP’s recent work in your county and neighboring communities, and how to submit a project idea.

U of M Extension, Blue Earth County

Blue Earth County Historic Courthouse
204 South 5th Street, Suite #330
Mankato, MN 56002

507-304-4325
mnext-blueearth@umn.edu

Mailing address:
PO Box 168
Mankato, MN 56002

View all Blue Earth County contacts.

Extension brings Minnesotans together to build a better future through University science-based knowledge, expertise and training. Learn more about Extension by visiting our about page and by browsing this website.