Extension in Washington County

Welcome to Washington County 4-H!  

4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for people age 5-19. 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. All youth are welcome in 4-H.

Follow us on social media

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram

Give to Washington County 4-H

Gifts support 4-H youth development in Washington County and local programming coordinated by the Washington County 4-H Federation. 

Give today

We are excited that you are interested in joining 4-H in Washington County! You will find as you get connected that there is a lot going on and many ways to get involved. It is our hope that the 4-H community will be a positive one for you and your family. At Washington County 4-H, we are committed to using experiential education methods to develop a passion for lifelong learning! Our program is for youth grades Kindergarten through one year past high school. The primary way that youth get involved in our programs is through community clubs.

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
• Contact the Washington County Extension Office at 651-430-6800 or mnext-washington@umn.edu

Fill out a new family inquiry form

Please take a few moments to fill out the New Family inquiry form. This information will help staff best answer your 4-H questions and get you connected with programs that fit the needs and interests of your child(ren). Upon completing the form staff will reach out to you with more information about 4-H as soon as they can.

• New family inquiry form

Find a 4-H Club in Washington County

• 4-H Club Map
• 4-H Club Bios

4-H Enrollment Period (Sept. 15 - May 15)

You can enroll in 4-H at any time however, some events like County Fairs and MN State Fair require enrollment before May 15.  If you would like to exhibit animals, those also need to be ID'ed by May 15th. More information about Animal Science projects can be found under the Washington County 4-H Resources tab.

When you enroll you will be asked to pick a club and enroll in projects. Members will need to enroll in at least one project but we encourage youth to enroll in any project that they might be interested in that way your family will receive information about that project area.

Washington County Enrollment Fee

Once you enroll in 4-H you will need to send in a membership fee, $25 per child or $100 max per family. The fees can be paid by either check or cash and mailed or dropped off at our office (We DO NOT have online payment at this time). If you write a check please include the name of your child(ren) and the club they are enrolled in on the memo line. We do have scholarships available if need be.

Mail to:
Washington County 4-H
14949 62nd St N
Stillwater, MN 55082

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!

Get involved in programs and projects

Throughout the year there will be plenty of opportunities for you to explore different project areas at the county level outside 4-H clubs including livestock, STEM, performing arts, food and nutrition, gardening, and more! These programs can be short-term, long-term, half-day, full-day, overnight, and virtual events. Pick and choose programs based on your schedule and interests. Check out the Washington County 4-H program catalog.

You can also engage in self-guided project-based learning around any project area in 4-H independently.

Events and programs will be posted on this website and included in the monthly Clover Update that comes out each month along with the following social media sites.

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram

Volunteers always needed

• One-time volunteering, such as helping out at a 4-H event
• Leading the youngest 4-H'ers -- Cloverbuds in grades K-2
• Chaperoning a trip
• Teaching a topic you know a lot about - once or regularly
• Leading a 4-H club

Most of our programs are lead by adult volunteers, as a result our programs depend on adults willing to share their time and talents. All adult volunteers are required to be screened before working with children. Learn more about volunteering with 4-H.

General Information

• Washington County 4-H clubs
• Food Revue 2021
• Demonstration handbook (coming soon!)
• Project record keeping (coming soon!)
• Competitive events: deadlines, consequences and exemption table 

Animal ID information

• Market beef and dairy steer letter
• Beef ID tag help sheet

This section will contain all important Washington County 4-H updates for the county fair.

The 2021 Washington County Fair is scheduled for August 4-8, 2021.  This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the Washington County Fair!

Important Dates

• June 1: Registration opens and 2021 premium book is released
• July 1: Registration deadline
• August 3: Washington County 4-H entry day
• August 4-8: Washington County Fair

Registration

More information will be available by June 1. All entries are made online through Fair Entry.

Premium Book

The 2021 4-H Premium Book will be available by June 1st.

Ann Church, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
churc109@umn.edu or 651-430-6809

Megan Slater, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
slate187@umn.edu or 651-430-6805

Annamarie Zack, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
alzack@umn.edu or 651-430-6807

Kathy Erf, Principal office & administrative specialist
eber0002@umn.edu or 651-430-6803

• Animals and livestock
• Crop production
• Managing a farm

Yard & Garden Questions?

• Read all about Master Gardeners
• University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Yard & Garden Line 
  Call 612-301-7590 to have your yard and garden-related questions answered by a Master Gardener on duty, otherwise leave a detailed message explaining the problem or question. We will call back with a response.

Follow us on social media 

• Washington County Master Gardeners Facebook

Join us as a Master Gardener Volunteer!

A love of gardening, a passion for knowledge and a desire to share that knowledge with others are central to why people join the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener volunteer program. They remain Master Gardeners to enjoy the friendship of others who share their interests in gaining and  sharing research-based horticultural knowledge and giving back to the community through their volunteer commitment.

If combining your passion for people and plants sounds appealing, you may be a good Master Gardener volunteer candidate. A formal education in horticulture is not necessary—we will provide the training and resources to help you teach others. There are five steps to becoming a Master Gardener. Each step is described in more detail below.

Application

To become a University of Minnesota Extension Washington County Master Gardener, you must first apply and be accepted into the program. The application process starts early, and we begin sending out applications in September. The deadline for submitting a completed application is October 1. To request an application packet, please send an email with your contact information to wcmg@umn.edu.

After you have completed your application, email it to wcmg@umn.edu or mail a hard copy to the address on the application.

Selected applicants will be interviewed. Following the interview, selected candidates are accepted into the program and eligible for the next steps—commitment and training.

• Become a Master Gardener volunteer
• Master Naturalist volunteers work in your community

We're here to help you!

• Washington County Master Gardeners Voicemail:  651-430-6690
• Washington County Master Gardeners Email Address:  wcmg@umn.edu
• Mailing address: 
  U of M Extension
  Master Gardener Program
  14949 62nd St N – Room 4600
  Stillwater, MN 55082

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

• Families and youth
• Food health and nutrition

View all Washington County contacts.

Ann Church, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
churc109@umn.edu or 651-430-6809

Megan Slater, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
slate187@umn.edu or 651-430-6805

Annamarie Zack, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
alzack@umn.edu or 651-430-6807

Kathy Erf, Principal Office & Administrative Specialist, U of M Extension
eber0002@umn.edu or 651-430-6803

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.