Extension in Rice County

Kelly Chadwick, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
chadw021@umn.edu or 507-332-6163 (direct), 507-330-2018 (cell)

Ashley Purry, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
purry002@umn.edu or 507-332-6258 (direct), 507-491-8615 (cell)

January 2023 4-H Family Update

January 2023 Mid Month Memo

February 2023 4-H Family Update

February 2023 Mid Month Memo

March 2023 4-H Family Update

March 2023 Mid Month Memo

April 2023 4-H Family Update

April 2023 Mid Month Memo

May 2023 4-H Family Update

May 2023 Mid Month Memo

There are several ways to join or re-enroll in 4-H.

• Join 4-H for the first time or re-enroll
• Enroll as an independent member
• How to get involved in Rice County 4-H
• Contact the Rice County Extension office at 507-332-6109 or mnext-rice@umn.edu
• Stop by our office on the Rice County Fairgrounds, 1900 Fairgrounds Drive #17, Faribault, MN 55021

Rice County 4-H

• Rice County 4-H Member Guide 

Volunteering with 4-H

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

Livestock and animal projects

You will find the 2023 animal information for Rice County here as it becomes available.

• 2023 Minnesota 4-H Animal Science Identification Requirements
• State 4-H animal science guidelines
  • ID worksheets
• 2023 Animal Science Updates
• Animal lease information
• Animal Ownership Requirements and Clarifications
• Market Beef (steers and heifers) and dairy steer -
  • Market Beef Information - emailed to families first week of January.
• County wide livestock letter (all animals) emailed to families March 14, 2023.
• Sheep - Wether Dam information sheet (difference between a wether dam and a commercial ewe)
• Dog
  • Dog project meeting letter
  • Rice County 4-H dog project handbook
  • All about the dog project - State website
• Horse
  • Horse project letter, rules & regulations
  • Necessary forms
  • All about the horse project - State website

Cloverbud information for parents & guardians

LQA&E

4-H’ers grade 6^th and above in beef, dairy, goat, llama, poultry, rabbit and sheep; need LQA certification (good for 3 fair seasons) or YQCA (online training that is good for 1 fair season) to participate at the State Fair by Friday July 14, prior to county fair.  You can find this training option and additional locations on the MN 4-H website.  An email was sent to families in February for member(s) that need to be recertified.  If you are not sure, contact the office at 507-332-6162 to confirm eligibility. 

• If an LQA&E training was offered in 2020 and a youth participated and completed it, we will extend their certification through the 2023 fair season. 
• Youth who certified (in-person) in 2019 or earlier will be required to re-certify this year, 2023.

Rice County LQA&E Certification - Levels 1 & 2, Saturday, April 29, 2023, 9 am - 12 noon (registration begins at 8:45 am) at the First English Lutheran Church - 204 2nd St. NW, Faribault, MN 55021.  This is for youth hoping to exhibit livestock at the state fair and all Rice County swine exhibitors in 3rd grade and above.  Registration will be taken though April 26 or until spots are filled and can be found here.  Registration prior to the event is highly recommended as spots cannot be guaranteed the day of.  It is free for members of Freeborn, Rice, Steele and Waseca counties.

When a 4-H member certifies with the YQCA program to be eligible to participate in Minnesota 4-H state fair shows, they participate in and complete a 1-hour online training. This certification enables them to be eligible to participate in state fair 4-H shows for one fair season.  Y

For LQA requirements and other locations, including online YQCA, visit 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance Training (LQA). 

All projects

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!

As documents are updated they will be posted and highlighted in Maroon

The 2023 Rice County Fair is July 17-23 at the Rice County Fairgrounds in Faribault with pre-fair 4-H shows/judging/events starting on July 7.

Registration & Important dates/deadlines

• Registration opened Friday, May 5

• Registration deadline is Monday, June 26

  • FairEntry online registrations must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 26.

  • If you're submitting a paper entry form, they should be turned into the extension office or postmarked by Monday, June 26.

• July 17 - 4-H general judging day

• July 18 - 4-H livestock entry day

Exhibit reminders

• Each exhibit/animal needs to be entered online using FairEntry to receive premiums, awards and state trips.
• Exhibit/animals that are not correctly entered will only receive the blue, red or white ribbon and premium.

General:

• Project classes are based on grade completed as of July 2023.   
• Exhibit limits are 5 exhibits per project area (example - 5 crafts, 5 fine arts, 5 photo elements, 5 photo manipulation, 5 foods, 5 food preservation etc.).
• General Cloverbud exhibit limit is 5.

Livestock:

• You will not be able to attach the animal to the class when you enter the class on FairEntry.  Animal(s) will be attached to the class at county fair check-in, which means only add the allowed number of entries per class.
• New in 2023 Auction Requirement –must have shown in your specie showmanship class.
• Exhibits limits as listed in premium book (new dairy goat limit).
• Livestock Cloverbud limit is 1 animal per specie.

Cloverbud information for parents & guardians

Entering exhibits (general & animal)

• FairEntry user guides and tutorials

• Register your fair entries in FairEntry

Rice County 4-H premium book 

Exhibit suggestions listed under each project area or view the "Project Idea Suggestions"

Family information

• Family Fair Information (emailed to all families May 5)

• 4-H Competitive Events: Deadlines, Consequences and Exemptions

• Fair Check List

• Conference Judging Information for Parents

• Conference judging Information for Youth

• 2023 Fair Update (posted in June)

Forms

• Advanced fair entry worksheet, EXAMPLE
• Large exhibit pre-approval form - turn into extension office by June 26, 2023
• Fashion revue script form - turn into extension office by June 26, 2023
• Performing Arts - Performance  based judging entry form -turn into extension office by June 26, 2023
• Dairy genetic & production form - turn into extension office by July 14, 2023
• Sheep lamb lead form- turn into extension office by July 14, 2023
• Evaluation/judges comment sheet - general project judging, if you want the judges written comments

County and State class/guideline adds or changes for 2023:

• Dairy – state class added – Milking Yearling – Born Sept 1, 2021 or later that has freshened and in milking form
• Dairy Goat - class limit of 2 animals
• Sheep – state class added – Fall Ewe Lamb – Born between Sept 1 – Dec 31 of previous year
• Swine/PIP – state class added – Crossbred Breeding Gilt – shown by weight; rules and guidelines have been updated
• Clothing – county requirement added – need to bring garment on hanger to judging

Project information (includes Cloverbud)

• Project Idea Suggestions.  

• Clothing/Quilting/Fashion Revue Letter, Clothing/Quilting/Fashion Revue Judging Day and Public Revue Information

  • Clothing resource information - Script Writing Tips, Sewing and Care Guidelines, Evaluations

• Performing Arts Information, Evaluation

• Foods, Food Preservation and Food Revue Information,  Food Revue Handbook, Create Display Example, Entry Worksheet

  • Food resource information - MyPlate 10 Tips

• Horticulture - Preparing 4-H exhibits in Fruit, Herb, Potato, and Vegetables and Potato Exhibit Support Guide

• Photography/Video - talent release form in English. You need to have these signed by people who appear in your photo/video if it will be displayed at the fair or any other public place. 

• Selecting and Preparing Poultry for Exhibition - L-771 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

Fair Winners

• 2023 Parade of Champions 
• 2023 Sponsors Addresses

Fair volunteers & stand sign-ups

County fair helpers - as we get closer to the county fair, we will be looking for helpers in a variety of areas including but not limited to building set up, general judging day, food and malt stands, and livestock shows.  In most cases, it is not required to be a screened adult as you will be among other staff and screened adults.  If you have an area of interest but are unsure how to sign up, connect with extension office staff. Please consider helping during the week of the county fair. 

We are using SignUpGenius for the following needs:

General Project Judging Day Volunteer on Monday, July 17. There are two shifts: 1-4 pm and 4:30-7 pm.  Please consider to help with recording for general project judging day.  Your help is greatly appreciated!  Schedule will be posted in July.  

Each family/member are to select shifts that will work for them in the food and malt stands. In order to get credit, you MUST sign in when arriving for your shift. This is also a requirement to qualify for the next 4-H years bonus funding.

Food Stand: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DABA628A6F58-20231

• Screened adult volunteers who sign-up to work the register must complete the required Clover (credit card machine) operation training before the fair: https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEhT3ThATRZIHga
• The Cloverbud shifts have been reduced to two-hour shifts.
• Youth with different abilities are allowed to split a shift with another member/family if the length of the shift is a concern. 

Malt Stand: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DABA628A6F58-20232

Club information

• Club FairEntry exhibit registration (to be completed by the club leader and submitted to the extension office by deadline)

• Club Planter Assignment

Schedules

• General Judging Volunteer Schedule

• 4-H Judging and Event Schedule

PDC fair responsibility assignments - as of June PDC meeting

Fairgrounds information

• Map of Fairgrounds

• Rice County Fair grounds camping policy

4-H ribbon auction

• Auction letter for families

• Auctions informational flyer

• Script guide

Good luck at the fair!  Please contact the Extension office at 507-332-6162 with questions or concerns.

4-H Competitive Events: Deadlines, consequences and exemptions

Leadership opportunities

Here are a few leadership opportunities you can be involved in as a youth or adult volunteer on the county level.

County ambassador application

County ambassador application - google form

Awards and scholarship

2021-22 Rice County 4-H Family Banquet Program (complete)

Every fall at the family banquet, we announce several award recipients who are youth and adults involved with the 4-H program.  You can fill them out for yourself or nominate somebody else.

• Award descriptions
• Past award winners 
• 2022-23 Scholarship application

Club forms

• 2022-23 Club Recognition - deadline November 1, 2023
• Event Tracking Form to use with the Club Recognition form.

Application/nominations forms

• Achievement pin
• Agricultural pin
• Alumni
• Early Graduation
• Friend of 4-H
• Outstanding Adult Leader
• Outstanding Youth Leader
• Project pin
• Minnesota key information

Financial information and forms

The following are various documents and links that relate to the finances of Rice County 4-H. If you are not finding what you are looking for, please contact the Extension office.

Bonus Funding form to complete for 2022-23 4-H year 

Completed form needs to be turned into the Extension office by Monday, November 28, 2022 (Federation Meeting).

County information

• 2022-23 budget
• Rice County program/financial policies
• Special request form
• Rice County Family Event registration reimbursement form

Club information

• Treasurer book
• Fundraising documents
• Charter materials

Records

Do not use the state records!

To participate in County Record Judging, records must be turned in at the September Federation meeting. Remember to clearly mark your records on the front page with name, club, last grade completed and project area.

The top ten individuals will receive cash from Compeer Financial.

For additional information check out the record keeping tip sheet.

• General
• Livestock
• Summary

Cloverbud - Cloverbuds use the same record as general and livestock and they are noncompetitive and reviewed just for feedback. Each Cloverbud participating in record judging will receive a gift.

4-H auction

The auction is the primary fundraising project for the Rice County 4-H program. The money collected gives all youth in our county program a chance to participate in 4-H activities at a reduced rate and provide opportunities at the county, region, state, and national levels such as:

• Camps
• Intrastate exchange
• Retreats
• Trainings
• Project Workshops
• Transportation
• Leadership conferences (county, state & national levels)
• Officer training
• Judging teams
• and so much more

Through 4-H youth development we are attempting to promote and provide these opportunities to all youth: youth leadership, responsibility, self-reliance, citizenship and community service.

Who can be in it?

Youth in 3rd grade and above earning a champion, reserve champion, or blue ribbon in the market beef, goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine projects. Dairy, Kids for Kids, Paradise in Porkland, Dog, Horse, Dairy Goats and the following breeding species:  beef, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine also have limited spots which will be pre-determined. 

When and where is it?

The auction takes place Saturday of the Rice County fair. There is a complimentary breakfast for buyers in the 4-H building at 8:30 am.   The auction follows at 9:15 in the judging arena.

How can you help?

You can come as an individual, organization, business, etc. You can bid on your own or team up with other buyers. 

All animals will be sold as a PREMIUM BID only.  The youth receive a pre-determined premium and the remainder supports our annual county 4-H budget.

• Informational auction flyer
• Letter to businesses
• Season Greetings to all Rice County Businesses

Give to 4-H

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

Give today

Claire LaCanne, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems
lacanne@umn.edu or 507-332-6165 (direct), 507-330-0447 (cell)

• Private pesticide application certification
• Farmland rent
• Custom rates
• Rice County agriculture profile

Lorrie Rugg, Master Gardener Coordinator, 507-332-6162, brow3298@umn.edu

Claire LaCanne, Extension Educator, Ag Production at lacanne@umn.edu or 507-332-6165

Visit the Rice County Master Gardeners Facebook page for

• Special events
• Classes
• Community news
• Tips & tricks
• And more!

• Visit the Yard and Garden pages to:
  • Solve a problem - plant diseases, what's wrong with my plant, is this a weed, what insect is this 
  • Find plants - flowers, fruit, house plants, native plants, trees and shrubs, vegetables
  • How to's - growing guide, flower pollinators, managing soil and nutrients, using your harvest, water wisely
  • Lawns and landscapes - landscape design, lawn care, flowers for pollinators, find plants
• Become a Master Gardener volunteer

Gardening help

• Planting and growing guides
• Vegetables for Minnesota gardens
  Selecting the right plants that will grow successfully in the north is half the battle. Expert advice from University of Minnesota horticulturalists will help you grow healthy vegetables that enjoy our climate and soil condition
• Saving vegetable seeds
• Growing fruit means balancing expectations and effort
  Because fruits are perennial plants, they require a bit more commitment than vegetables. Spend some time thinking about why you want to grow fruit.

Harvesting food

• Harvesting and storing home garden vegetables
• Planting vegetables in midsummer for fall harvest
• Farmbytes: thin apples for better harvests

Preserving and storing food

• Food preservation basics
• Food preservation FAQs
• Food preservation and canning troubleshooting guide
• Making jams, marmalades, preserves and conserves
• Preserving herbs by freezing or drying
• Preserving winter squash and pumpkins
• Storing canned food
• Store healthy foods properly

Courses

• Cottage food producer food safety training
• Home food preservation courses
• Local Foods College

Learn how to preserve, prepare and cook fresh food safely. 

To learn more about the topics listed below click on Preserving and preparing food safely

Food preservation methods

•  Food preservation basics
•  Canning
•  Freezing
•  Drying
•  Pickling
•  Jams and jellies

Preserving and preparing different types of food - 

Different kinds of food may require different ways of handling them.

•  Fruits
•  Vegetables and herbs
•  Tomatoes and salsa
•  Meat and fish
•  Eggs and dairy

Food safety

•  Video demonstrations
•  At the office
•  Safe cooking basics
•  Safely cooking meat and fish
•  Holidays and food safety
•  Kitchen equipment for food safety
•  Safe cooking during an emergency
•  Food storage

Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing - ‎testing is referred to Presto

• Presto will only test gauges from these brands: National, Magic Seal, Maid of Honor, Kook-Kwick, Presto.
• Steps to send in pressure gauges
• For more information, phone Presto Customer Service: 1-800-877-0441. 
• Questions? Contact GoPresto.
• For specifics on other models of pressure canner gauges, please check with the manufacturer. All-American – Wisconsin Aluminum Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry. 920-682-8627 

Position being filled.

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

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:

• Growing Local: Northfield Emerging Leaders Program
• 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.

Chadwick, Kelly, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, 332-6163 chadw021@umn.edu

Holling, Lisa,  Administrative Assistant, 507-332-6162 holli021@umn.edu

LaCanne, Claire, E Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, 507-330-0447 lacanne@umn.edu

Purry, Ashley, A Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, 507-491-8615 purry002@umn.edu

Rugg, Lorrie, L Master Gardener Program Coordinator, 507-332-6164 brow3298@umn.edu

U of M Extension, Rice County
mnext-rice@umn.edu

1900 Fairgrounds Drive #17
Faribault, MN 55021-8835

Phone: 507-332-6109
 

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.