Extension in Houston County
Welcome to Houston County
Houston County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community.
Contact
[email protected] or 507-725-5807
Houston County Extension office
University of Minnesota Extension, Houston County
[email protected]
611 Vista Drive Suite #2
Caledonia, MN 55921
Staff in Houston County
Burrichter, Jennifer
Administrative Support Staff
507-725-5807
[email protected]
Drewitz, Katie
Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems
507-725-5807
507-951-6609
[email protected]
Paulson, Rebecca
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
507-725-5807
507-218-2946
[email protected]
Office hours
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Houston County events
View all events hosted in and near Houston County.
Extension courses and events
Extension provides in-person and online educational events all over Minnesota. Find one to attend.
Houston County news
Read all news from Houston County.
Extension wide news
Read the latest news from all of Extension's programs.
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.
Like our Houston County 4H or Houston County Extension pages on Facebook to stay up to date!
4-H
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?
4-H helps youth develop leadership skills, build self confidence, develop public speaking skills, and other healthy life skills all while having fun and meeting new friends!
You Name it, You can do it! And better yet, you can get a lot of help from adult volunteers and youth leaders. There are mentors who can teach you and help you learn. You can join a 4-H club through 12th grade where you can do all kinds of fun, learning activities.
Volunteering information
Mission of 4-H Youth Development
The mission of the 4-H Youth Development program is to engage youth, in partnership with adults, in quality learning opportunities that enable them to shape and reach their full potential as active citizens in a global community.
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.”
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 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 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
Club Activities-Please contact the Extension Office for more information
All 4-H events
Find a 4-H event in Minnesota.
4-H news in Houston County
Stay informed about all that is happening in Houston County 4-H.
Statewide 4-H news
Learn more about what is happening in Minnesota 4-H.
Houston County Fair 2025: August 13-17
Let us know if you're looking for something that's not here!
Pre-fair animal ID
- Horse Coggins-Due Aug. 1
County fair registration and stalling
- Deadlines Before County Fair
- FairEntry
- Fair Entry User Guide
- Stalling Form - completed by July 15
- 2024 Houston County 4-H Premium Book
- Club project registration form-Completed by July 15
Fair schedules
- County Fair Schedule on cover of Premium Book
- Livestock show orders
- Supreme Showmanship Contest
Cloverbuds (K-2) and new members
Exhibitor Tips
- Exhibitor judging tips
- Horse Handbook
- Horse The 5th H
State fair and Other state showcase events
- Houston County clubs for youth in grades kindergarten through one year post-high school
- Club and project leader information
- Leading a 4-H club
- Family Handbook
- 4-H ideas book
- Spotlight for new members
- Friends of 4-H Boosters application
- Other resources and awards
- Reimbursement form
- 2024 Houston County 4-H Senior Scholarship
Rebecca Paulson, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Houston County
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-218-2946
Jennifer Burrichter, Administrative Support Staff, Houston County Extension
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-725-5807
Like our Houston County 4H or Houston County Extension pages on Facebook to stay up to date!
Gifts support 4-H youth development in Houston County, and local programming coordinated by the Houston County 4-H Council.
Agriculture
Statewide agriculture events
Agriculture conferences, in-person events and online courses are offered all year around the state.
Agriculture news in Houston County
Find the latest on Extension agricultural research and news you can use on your farm from local experts
To nominate a Farm Family of the Year go here
Other local agriculture-related news and resources
Statewide news and blogs
- Agricultural Business Management News - Business and financial resources for farmers.
- Beef News - Beef industry featured events, farm safety and animal health.
- Dairy News - Dairy industry featured events, farm safety and animal health.
- Fruit and Vegetable News - Local production and marketing of fruit and vegetable crops in Minnesota.
- Minnesota Crop News - Emerging issues affecting Minnesota row crops and forages.
Katie Drewitz, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, Houston/Fillmore County Extension
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-951-6609
Jennifer Burrichter, Administrative Support Staff, Houston County Extension
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-725-5807
Like our Houston County Extension page on Facebook to stay up to date!
Gardening
Welcome to University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Houston County
Houston County is located in beautiful Bluff Country along the Mississippi River in the Driftless Region of southeast Minnesota. The ancient topography presents a wonderful variety of habitats for native and cultivated plants. A wide range of micro-climates are provided by the various exposure aspects of these bluffs and the deeply eroded faces that have exposed a range of soils. The zone 4/5 temperature regimes lend to the variety of plants that can thrive here.
“Master Gardeners work toward a healthy environment for all Minnesotans. They provide information and strategies to help people achieve thriving lawns, flowers, fruits and vegetables and home landscapes while minimizing or eliminating the use of pesticides.”
More about Houston County Extension Master Gardener volunteers
The Houston County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are a group of everyday people who are passionate about gardening and committed to giving back to their local communities in southeast Minnesota. Each member of this group has completed an educational program put on by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This program covers many aspects of gardening, including botany, soils, trees & shrubs, herbaceous plants, indoor plants, fruits, vegetables, lawn care, entomology, plant pests, and diseases. In exchange for their certification, they must annually contribute at least 25 volunteer hours of education to the general public. As well, they must complete 5-12 education hours per year.
Some activities of Master Gardeners include:
- Teaching classes and workshops.
- Answering phone inquiries concerning home horticulture.
- Assisting with county Horticulture Days.
- Teaching and demonstrating horticulture techniques in community and school gardens.
- Teaching youth and judging horticulture projects.
- Media interviews and articles on horticulture topics.
- Speaking to schools and youth groups on gardening topics.
- Holding plant clinics at garden centers and farmers markets.
- Representing the program at county and state fair exhibits.
- Teaching horticulture in hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement centers.
The University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener™ program is an internationally recognized volunteer program. It exists in all 50 states, in Canada and in the United Kingdom. Nationally, there are nearly 100,000 Master Gardener volunteers from all walks of life. They reach about 5 million people each year – the equivalent of more than $100 million in value to communities. In Minnesota, the Master Gardener program is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension and has strong ties to the research and outreach of the Department of Horticultural Science.
Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener.
Check out the University of Minnesota Master Gardener Facebook Page.
Gifts support local programming coordinated by Houston County Master Gardener volunteers.
Gardening events in Houston County
Find gardening learning opportunities online and near you.
Statewide gardening events
Find out about the Master Gardener Volunteer core course or attend other events offered throughout the year.
Gardening news in Houston County
Find the latest gardening tips and news you can use in your own back yard from local experts.
Statewide news
- Yard and Garden News - Gardening tips and emerging issues affecting Minnesota.
- My Minnesota Woods - Find out how to take care of your trees and enjoy Minnesota's beautiful woodlands.
- Natural Resources News - From preserving our wetlands to combating invasive species, read about protecting and enjoying nature.
Katie Drewitz, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, Houston/Fillmore County Extension
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-951-6609
Health and nutrition
Extension offers a variety of educational programs about nutrition and health in Houston 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.
Health and nutrition events in Houston County
Learn more about staying healthy and eating well.
Statewide health and nutrition events
Join Extension educators and community partners in events that encourage health, wellbeing and good nutrition.
Family News
Find information that helps families make informed decisions leading to better health and wellbeing.
Health and nutrition news in Houston County
Stay up to date with our health and nutrition news.
Use the Real Life, Good Food website to find recipes, cooking tips and physical activity ideas for a healthier life.
Sustainable communities
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.
Statewide community development events
Join us at an event in your community.
Statewide natural resources events
Find opportunities to learn about the natural environment, how to care for your forest lands, and how you and your family can get out and explore nature around the state and in your own backyard.
Community development news
Find information on community-focused news.
My Minnesota Woods
Find out how to take care of your trees and enjoy Minnesota's beautiful woodlands.
Natural Resources News
From preserving our wetlands to combating invasive species, read about protecting and enjoying nature.
RSDP Happenings
Learn more about community-driven sustainability projects happening across Minnesota.