Extension in Crow Wing County

U of M Extension, Crow Wing County
326 Laurel Street, Suite 11
Brainerd, MN 56401

Phone: 218-824-1065
[email protected]

Office hours

• Monday, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, 12:30-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Friday, 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

View all Crow Wing County contacts.

Sashanna O'Shea, 4-H Youth Extension Educator 
[email protected] or 218-824-1069

Carolyn McQueen, Extension educator, Health and Nutrition
[email protected] or 218-824-1349

Brittany Goerges, Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected] or 218-824-1068

Tracy Giza, Administration
[email protected] or 218-824-1065

Tony Hansen
Regional Director Northeast Region
[email protected] or 218-828-2286

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. 

Interested in learning more about 4-H?

• Contact our 4-H staff to learn more, including how to get started in 4-H. 

Ready to join or re-enroll?

• Join 4-H or re-enroll

Welcome to 4-H!

We are excited you are interested in Crow Wing County 4-H and getting involved! 4-H provides a positive learning experience for the whole family. Your 4-H year will be full of exciting opportunities such as meeting new people, participating in programs and activities along with learning about opportunities available to you in Crow Wing County, regionally, and across Minnesota.

We realize that joining 4-H can be overwhelming and hope this publication will help answer some basic questions for you and your family.  We invite you to contact another family in your club, your club leader, or one of us at the Extension office at any time.

Please note that meetings and times may change. Please contact the club leader or Extension staff to double-check before visiting. Also, check out the yearly calendar.

Volunteering with Crow Wing County 4-H

• Want to learn about volunteering with 4-H Youth Development?
  • Visit volunteering with 4-H to learn more about how volunteers positively impact youth and community.
  • Contact your  4-H Extension educator to learn about specific roles available in your community.
• Ready to become a screened Minnesota 4-H volunteer?
  • Begin the application and screening process at apply to become a 4-H volunteer.

4-H clubs in Crow Wing County 

4-H clubs provide a “home base” to get to know other youth, learn a variety of projects, do community service, and find out what other opportunities exist in Crow Wing County 4-H. Please contact club leaders or the Extension office for further assistance.
 

Project Development Committees (PDC)

• Dog PDC meets quarterly at the Crow Wing County Land Services building.
  • Contact Erin Butler at [email protected] for meeting dates and times.
• Horse PDC meets at Crow Wing County Land Services.
  • Contact Lorrae Schneider at [email protected] for meeting dates and times.
• Livestock PDC meets at various locations, dates and times.
  • Contact Sarah Rosekrans at [email protected] or Amy Keehr at [email protected] for meeting dates and times.
• Shooting Sports & Wildlife Club meets at the Lake Shore Conservation Club on Thursdays at 6 p.m. during the spring and summer months.
  • Contact Sashanna O'Shea at [email protected]  for meeting dates and times.
• 4-H federation meets on the fourth Monday five times a year.
  • Contact Sashanna O'Shea at [email protected] for additional information.
• Ambassador program meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the County Extension office, unless otherwise noted.
  • Contact Sashanna O'Shea at [email protected]
• Arts In
  • Contact Sashanna O'Shea at [email protected] for meeting dates and times.
• Drill team contacts:
  • Reining Chaos - Haley Hins and Angie Hins
  • Small Freestyle - Lorrae Schneider
  • Compulsory - Lorrae Schneider

Please visit the Facebook page for more information! 

What are you into? Learn more about 4-H projects.

4-H is an option for your family!  4-H is the nation's largest youth development program and is a terrific place for youth of all ages to gain life and leadership skills.  4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for all youth ages 5-19 (Kindergarten through 1 year post-high school graduation). 

As a program of University of Minnesota Extension, 4-H's research-based curriculum and learn-by-doing approach, delivered by experienced youth development staff and more than 13,000 volunteers, helps kids develop essential, transferrable skills they'll use throughout their lives.  So whether 4-H'ers are building robots, raising dairy cows or writing musical plays, they are learning the leadership, problem solving, decision making and communication skills they need to succeed.  There are many ways to participate in 4-H!

Did you know that 4-H youth:

• Have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school?
• Are more likely to see themselves going to college?
• Are more than twice as likely to be civically active and make contributions to their communities?
• Are 47% less likely to have risky or problem behaviors?
• Are less likely to experience depression?
• Are more likely to have features of positive youth development: competence, confidence, connection, character and caring!

4-H calendar

Welcome to Crow Wing County 4-H

Crow Wing County Fair

Premium Book

Your guide to 4-H activities at the state fair

Are your calendars marked for the Minnesota State Fair, set for Aug. 21- Sept. 1, 2025?  We will see you there!

Registration details

• FairEntry Quickstart Guide
• FairEntry Detailed Guide
• Paper Registration Form - Clubs

Other links

• Judging Tips

Important dates

Help yourself to the minutes and agendas from the Federation meeting or any of the PDC meetings.

Keep up to date with the weekly 4-H happenings by reading our weekly newsletter!

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

There are many areas to donate to 4-H including 4-H General Fund; 4-H Youth Leadership Program Fund; 4-H Project Areas; 4-H State Fair Building Improvement Project Fund; 4-H Scholarships and Awards; and Urban 4-H Program Fund.

Give today

Please reach out to us with any questions on
4-H and how we can help you!

• Farm Information Line
  Call 1-800-232-9077 to talk to an Extension Educator about
  agriculture and small acreage farm questions.
• Farm Bill Educational Materials
  Access online training materials developed in conjunction with USDA Farm Service Agency.

Master Gardener volunteers are University of Minnesota-trained volunteers who educate the public about a variety of horticulture subjects using readily available, up-to-date research-based information. This educational effort is designed to enhance the public’s quality of life and to promote good stewardship of the environment.

Master Gardener volunteers complete many hours of volunteer work each year, providing a valuable in-kind contribution. These dollar figures quantify the enormous value that our volunteers provide to Minnesota.

View the latest statistics and information of the Crow Wing County Master Gardeners.

Read more information about Master Gardeners or contact Brittany Goerges, Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator. 

Gifts support local programming coordinated by Crow Wing County Master Gardener volunteers.

Make a gift on the University of Minnesota giving page.

• Insect identification
  Go through steps to identify an insect.
• Email [email protected] a photo of an insect to have it identified by a U of M entomologist
• Pressure canner testing
  Stop by our office to use our free pressure canner tester.
• Home food preservation
  Access resources on Home Food Preservation and learn about upcoming in-person and online classes.
• Household AnswerLine
  Household experts can be reached at 1-800-854-1678 to help answer questions on topics such as cooking safety, canning and freezing foods, and stain removal.

Brittany Goerges, Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected] or 218-824-1068

Extension offers a variety of educational programs about nutrition and health in Crow Wing 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.

Carolyn McQueen, Extension educator, Health and Nutrition
[email protected] or 218-824-1349

Extension 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 can also 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.