Extension in Scott County

U of M Extension, Scott County
[email protected]

7151 - 190th Street West, Suite 100
Jordan, MN 55352-2104

Phone: 952-492-5410

Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please note: the office will be closed on Monday, January 20 in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The office will reopen with normal hours on Tuesday, January 21.

View all Scott County contacts.

Kaitlyn Albers, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development 
[email protected] or 952-492-5384

Colleen Carlson, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems 
[email protected] or 952-466-5306 (office) or 507-521-3640 (cell)

Samantha Roth, Extension Educator, Financial Capability 
[email protected] or 952-466-5317

Kristy Mock, Master Gardener Program Coordinator 
[email protected] or 952-466-5309

Sydney Manabe, Administrative Specialist 
[email protected] or 952-492-5379

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
• Learn more and enroll in Scott County 4-H for the 2024-2025 year!
• Volunteer opportunities

4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for people grades Kindergarten through one year past high school. Youth choose a project that’s interesting to them and explore it with peers and caring adults.   4-H clubs are groups of youth who want to learn together and meet in every part of Minnesota. Scott County offers 7 community clubs and 3 project clubs from which to choose. View our club catalog.

The 4-H year is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

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."

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 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 many ways to participate in 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 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.

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

Give today

Kaitlyn Albers, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development 
[email protected] or 952-492-5384

Sydney Manabe, Extension administrative specialist 
[email protected] or 952-492-5379

Visit Scott County 4-H on social media

• Facebook

Fair Information

The Scott County Fair will be July 23-July 28, 2025. Learn more about Minnesota 4-H at county fairs.

Important dates for 2025

• June 16 - FairEntry registration closes at 11:59 p.m.
• June 30 - Last day to complete Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics training (LQA&E) to be eligible for the Minnesota State Fair
• July 14 - Clothing & Textiles and Fashion Revue project judging day
• July 22 - General (Static) project entry day and conference judging day
• The full schedule will be available in spring of 2025

4-H premium book

The 4-H premium book contains information about 4-H at the 2024 Scott County Fair. This is an incredibly detailed guide for the county fair, and includes exhibit requirements, state fair eligibility, project suggestions, evaluation criteria, show schedule, auction details, and so much more. The 2025 4-H premium book will be available in spring of 2025.

FairEntry: Register 4-H projects for the county fair

Note: 4-H Online and FairEntry are different websites. You will need to register exhibits in FairEntry after enrolling in 4-H Online.

FairEntry is the website used to register 4-H fair exhibits (this includes both general/static projects and livestock projects shown at the livestock shows). Please read the family registration guide for help using FairEntry. FairEntry registration is open starting Friday, May 16, and closes on Monday, June 16 at 11:59 pm at ScottMN.Fairentry.com.

Looking for a specific class and not finding it? Don't know which class to enter your exhibit into? Please reference the premium book first before contacting Scott County 4-H staff. A useful “hack” for searching the premium book: Press CTRL and F on your keyboard, and a small search bar will pop up. Type in a keyword, such as “flowers” or “Cloverbud” and it will find all mentions of the word for you.

For those participating in the Dog Show: FairEntry registration for Dog Show related classes will close early, on June 10 at 11:59 pm. This is because the Dog Show takes place much earlier than the Scott County Fair.

For new members and new families:

• New Family Newsletter 1 of 6
• New Family Newsletter 2 of 6
• New Family Newsletter 3 of 6
• New Family Newsletter 4 of 6
• New Family Newsletter 5 of 6
• New Family Newsletter 6 of 6

Financial Related:

• Reimbursement Request/Income Deposit Form

Colleen Carlson, Extension educator, Ag Production Systems
[email protected] or 952-466-5306 (office) or 507-521-3640 (cell)

Visit the Carver-Scott Master Gardeners website.

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

Make a gift on the University of Minnesota giving page.

Become a Master Gardener volunteer

Have a gardening question? Leave a message for Carver-Scott Extension Master Gardeners yard and garden line at 952-466-5308 or [email protected].

Kristy Mock, Master Gardener program coordinator
[email protected] or 952-466-5309

See all financial events for Scott County

Check out our UMN Extension Family News to stay current with information, resources, and programming. Also, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @UMNExtFD.

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

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.