Extension in Goodhue County

U of M Extension, Goodhue County
mnext-goodhue@umn.edu

Government Center Rm B01
509 W 5th Street
Red Wing, MN 55066-2540

Phone: 651-385-3100
Fax: 651-267-4884

Office hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (by appointment is preferred)

View all contacts in Goodhue County

Aly Kloeckner, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
schw1348@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

Amanda Gebhart, Extension Educator, 4-H Afterschool and Outreach
gebha162@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

Danielle Rice, Administrative Assistant
riced@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

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. 

4-H is a hands-on learning program for youth grades K-13. Youth explore project areas with peers and caring adults in community clubs throughout the county.

If you have an interest, we have a project for you!  

The 4 H’s

• The Head is to signify clearer thinking.
• The Heart is to signify greater loyalty.
• The Hands are to signify larger service.
• The Health is to signify better living.

4-H Pledge

“I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my family, my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

4-H  Motto

“To make the best better.”

Find the Goodhue County 4-H Club that best fits you

Check us out on Facebook and Instagram!

We are excited to have you join us! 

Follow these steps to join

1. Find which club you are interested in joining! Goodhue County has 18 4-H clubs. Feel free to contact the club leader listed with specific questions about each individual club! 
2. Create a 4-H Online account - we use an enrollment software called 4H Online.  This keeps everything for us - health forms, contact information, projects and interest areas.  Once you have logged into the account you can enroll in Goodhue County 4-H! The step by step instructions are also here for your convenience! 
3. Get in touch with us if you have any questions - that is why we're here! 

The Goodhue County 4-H Weekly Update goes out to all registered 4-H members via email on Wednesdays. To receive this newsletter via email, please register for Goodhue County 4-H through 4-H Online. 

Read the latest weekly newsletter.

Click on our calendar to find a 4-H event near you.

General information

• New member resources
  • Family Handbook - This handbook is meant to help families become familiar with the 4-H mission, structure, policies and programs.
  • Family Guide to 4-H Online - 4-H Online is the website we use to enroll families and keep all member information current. 
  • Family Guide to FairEntry - Families with 4-H Online accounts will use this website to enter projects for the Goodhue County Fair once registration opens.
  • Records -
    • Cloverbud record
    • Participation record
    • General (Static) project record
    • Production livestock record book
    • Poultry project record
    • Rabbit project record
    • Horse project record
    • Companion animal project record
• Curriculum and resources for checkout - Please stop by our office to reserve these kits. We require a $30 deposit for each kit that is loaned out. The following kits/games are available:
  • Zoonotics Programming kit
  • Lego Robotics kit
  • Agritourism board game
  • Germo card game
  • Code Your World kit
  • Incredible Wearables kit
  • Galactic Quest kit
• State event scholarship qualifications - The Goodhue County 4-H State Event Scholarship will cover the event program fee and up to $75 toward the cost of 4-H provided housing, 4-H provided meals, state event classes or beef chutes/tie-outs for state events. To be eligible for the scholarship, members must complete prior year records (due this fall for next summer's scholarship) and attend 50% of 4-H club meetings. Note: First-year 4-H'ers are exempt from the records requirement. 
  • Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more details.

There are also many ways adults (anyone age 18+) can support youth learning and leading in 4-H. 

• Want to learn about volunteering with the 4-H Youth Development Program?

  • Visit the Volunteering with 4-H page to learn more about how volunteers positively impact youth and the 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?

  • Visit the Apply to become a 4-H volunteer page to begin the application and screening process.

Fair registration opens May 16! The following information will help you prepare for registration.

Goodhue County  4-H 2025 Premium Book - your resource to everything related to 4-H exhibits at the county fair.  What day(s) is judging? How many beef projects can I bring? What are the requirements for my photography project? It's all here. Please come back in February for updated premium book.

What changed in the premium book - This document highlights what has changed since last year, so you are not surprised when you start to register for the fair.  Will be updated in February

Important livestock deadlines - Don't miss out on a chance to earn a trip to the state fair or livestock auction! These dates are important (and non-negotiable). 

• Market Beef ID - Feb. 15
• Animal ID (except for market beef) - May 15
• 4-H Enrollment (or re-enrollment) - May 15
• Project (or class) entry for county fair - July 8
• Livestock stalling entries - TBD

Exemption chart - Deadlines and consequences

Families will register again this year using FairEntry. 

• Family quick start guide 
• Family detailed guide

Aly Kloeckner, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
schw1348@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

Amanda Gebhart, Extension Educator, 4-H Afterschool and Outreach
gebha162@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

Danielle Rice, Administrative Assistant
riced@umn.edu or 651-385-3100

Would you consider a donation to help us continue to offer positive youth development experiences to our community? Your contribution of any amount can be directed locally to support our 4-H program. 4-H reaches youth and families in positive ways across the county and around the state of Minnesota.

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

Give today

Goodhue County Extension Master Gardeners are enthusiastic volunteers committed to providing research-based horticultural information and education to our Goodhue County communities.

We cultivate healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy environment. Our members take pride in sharing their collective knowledge to inspire change by:

• Answering lawn and garden questions.
• Teaching community education classes.
• Speaking to community groups and classrooms.
• Coordinating the design and maintenance of public gardens and greenspaces.
• Establishing local and state partnerships to identify and expand collaborative horticultural initiatives.

We live to grow and grow to live!

Learn more about the Master Gardener program and its priorities.

Visit the Goodhue County Master Gardeners  Facebook page for information about:

• Special events.
• Community classes.
• Tips and tricks.
• Becoming a Master Gardener volunteer.
• and more!

If you have a lawn or garden question, please call the Master Gardener line at 612-301-7590. 

Gifts support local programming coordinated by Goodhue County Master Gardener volunteers.

Make a gift on the University of Minnesota giving page.

Miss a class? Lose the information on the way home?  Here are some helpful handouts from our classes. Still can't find it?  Contact the Extension office to see if we can get it to you.

Handouts

• Beginning Vegetable Gardening
• Edible Flowers
• Fall Garden Tips
• Origami Seed Pots
• Pollinator Gardens
  • 2020 Plant Suppliers List and Plant List
  • Garden Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects
  • Native Plant Selection
  • Plants for Minnesota Bees
  • Pollinator Gardens
  • Pollinator Plants - Great Lakes Region
• Sites
  • Discovery Garden
    • Discovery Garden  - Pizza Garden
    • Discovery Garden - Tea Garden
  • HeMniCan - Barn Bluff 
• Perennial Food Plants
• Sustainable Gardening
• Seed Saving: Native Plants
• Seed Saving: Vegetables
• Seed Trial Codes 2021
• Weed I.D. 
• Winter Sowing

2022 Master Gardener Volunteer Program Annual Report

• Animals and livestock
• Crop production
• Managing a farm
• Farmland rental rates and information
• Private pesticide application certification
• 2023 Farm Resource Guide

Extension offers a variety of educational programs about nutrition and health in Goodhue 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.
• Visit the Save Money on Food website for information on nutrition, stretching your food dollar, reducing food waste, and holiday food on a budget.
• Visit Family Development on Facebook.
• Watch our food preservation basics videos.

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 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.