Extension in Rice County

U of M Extension, Rice County
[email protected]

1900 Fairgrounds Drive #17
Faribault, MN 55021-8835

Phone: 507-332-6109 

Office hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Chadwick, Kelly, Extension educator, 4-H Youth Development
[email protected] or 507-332-6163 

Lermon, Ryan, Extension educator, Ag Production Systems
[email protected] or 507-330-0447 

Holling, Lisa, administrative assistant
[email protected] or 507-332-6162 

Rugg, Lorrie, Master Gardener program coordinator
[email protected] or 507-332-6164 

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 Animal projects

The 2026 animal information for Rice County will be linked here as it becomes available.

Animal tagging/ID help guide for livestock exhibitors.  This guide will show you the PROPER tagging/ID procedures and what IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.  Hopefully this will help in regards to the new RFID tag requirements.

• 2026 Minnesota 4-H Animal Science Identification Requirements
• State 4-H animal science guidelines
  • ID worksheets
• 2026 Animal Science Updates
• Animal lease information
• Animal Ownership Requirements and Clarifications
• Market Beef - beef steers, market heifers and dairy steer
  • Market Beef (steers, market heifers & dairy steers) Information - emailed to families January 8.
• County wide livestock letter (all animals) emailed to families March 4
• Dog
  • Dog project meeting letter
  • Rice County 4-H dog project handbook
  • All about the dog project - State website (to locate the State Dog Handbook)
• Horse
  • Horse project letter & stalling agreement
  • Horse informational meeting sign-up - google form
  • All about the horse project - State website

Cloverbud information for parents & guardians

LQA&E

Minnesota 4-H supports livestock quality assurance and animal science ethics.  All youth participating as a state fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, meat goat, dairy goat, and llama must complete livestock quality assurance training.  Members who certified (in-person) in 2023 or earlier will need to re-certify this year, 2026.

• Certification is required for state fair grade/age-eligible youth (6th grade and above). Must be completed before their home county fair qualifying show (Rice County - Monday, July 20).
• Minnesota 4-H youth must participate in one of the training options to be eligible for Minnesota 4-H state fair shows.  

1. A face-to-face 3-hour livestock quality assurance and ethics training from Minnesota 4-H. These will be offered in multiple locations statewide. This certification is valid for three fair seasons.  Additional information concerning Livestock Quality Assurance trainings in our area will be listed in upcoming 4-H Family Updates.
2. An online 1-hour youth quality care of animals training offered via distance learning. This certification is valid for one fair season. Cost: $12 (may have increased); pay at registration with a credit card. (This is a national program, and the registration fee pays for the national training system.). 

Freeborn and Waseca County have confirmed their details. (Know that Rice County will not offer an in-person session this year.) Free to Freeborn, Rice, Steele, & Waseca Counties /$15 for other kids from other counties. Open to grades 6+. Registration is opens through 4Honline for the training. Waseca County registration closes February 20 or when levels are full. Registration details for Freeborn County will come later.

Freeborn County – Saturday, April 18, 9 am-12 pm, Freeborn County Courthouse

Trainings promote responsible care of animals, making informed decisions in animal care and providing safe consumer food products. Check the LQA training page for available training options. 

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!

The 2026 Rice County Fair is July 20-26 on the Rice County Fairgrounds, Faribault. We start with pre-fair 4-H shows/judging/events on July 11.

Information for the 2026 will be post as it is updated.

Registration and important dates/deadlines

• Registration will open after May 15, families will receive an email when it opens.
• Registration deadline is Monday, June 22.
  • FairEntry online registrations must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 22.
  • Submitting a paper entry form, needs to be turned into the extension office or postmarked by Monday, June 22
• July 11-12 - 4-H Dog Shows
• July 15 - Performing Arts/Creative Writing/General Demonstration Judging Day
• July 16 - Clothing/Fashion Revue/Quilting Judging Day
• July 16 - Public Performance/Revue for Performing Arts, Fashion Revue and Share-the-Fun
• July 20 - 4-H general judging day
• July 21 - 4-H livestock entry day

Building set-up and clean-up

We are asking all clubs to send help for your designated time with hopes of having a more balanced work crew on both ends. Each club is encouraged to send a minimum of 4 people (youth and adults) but more are welcome!

• Set up, Tuesday, July 14 at 6:30 pm - will be done by Mighty Metogga’s, STEM of the Clover, Warsaw Willing Workers and Wheatland Wheaties
• Clean-up - following the release of general projects - will be done by. Big Giants, Big Woods, Full-O-Pep and Webster Willing Workers.

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 grades completed as of July 2026.
• Exhibit limits are five exhibits per project area (example: five crafts, five fine arts, five photo elements, five photo manipulation, five foods, five food preservation etc.).
• General Cloverbud exhibit limit is five.
• Large exhibit, bigger than 5’L x 5’W (including platform board and base for farm/city displays) must have prior approval of the 4-H Office before being the exhibit to the fair on General Judging Day. 
• Creative Writing Exhibitor Judging, Schedule - Wednesday, July 15
• Performing Arts Exhibitor Judging Schedule - Wednesday, July 15
• Clothing/Fashion Revue Exhibitor Letter/Judging Day Schedule - Thursday, July 16

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.
• Exhibit limits as listed in premium book.
• Livestock Cloverbud limit is 1 animal per species.
• Swine/PIP Fair Exhibitor Letter - will be emailed to participates.

Entering exhibits (general, livestock and Cloverbud)

• FairEntry quick family user guide
• Register your fair entries in FairEntry
• Cloverbud information for parents & guardians

Family information

• Family Fair Information
• 4-H Competitive Events: Deadlines, Consequences and Exemptions
• Fair Check List
• Conference Judging Information for Parents
• Conference judging Information for Youth
• 2026 Fair Update
• Evaluation/judges comment sheet - general project judging, if you want the judges written comments

NEW informational guides for...

• Minnesota state fair
• Rice County 4-H auctions
• 4-H events at the county fair

Forms

Print and complete the form. Either mail or email the form to the extension office by the deadline.

• Advanced fair entry worksheet, EXAMPLE of worksheet
• Large exhibit pre-approval form - turn into extension office by June 22, 2026
• Fashion revue script form - turn into extension office by June 22, 2026
• Performing arts - performance based judging entry form - turn into extension office by June 22, 2026
• Dairy production & genetic form - turn into extension office by July 10, 2026
• Sheep lamb lead form - turn into extension office by July 10, 2026

Rice County 4-H premium book

The premium book layout will look a little different. You will be able to search by the document tabs, click on a tab to see the information that is included in that section. You can print what section you need. If you want to print the complete book, print it from the Extension website. Printing it from Google docs will print extra pages in-between sections.

• 2026 4-H Premium Book - google document
• 2026 4-H Premium Book - printable pdf documnet

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

Premium book updates:

• Carefully read through all the exhibitor guidelines and the MN 4-H Animal Science Requirements under the MN 4-H Information section (if you are brining animals) in the 4-H Premium Book.
• Cloverbud project information section – the animal & general information has been combined for its own section in the premium book. FairEntry website – Like last year, the Cloverbud animals are entered in the species areas. This year for the Cloverbud general projects, under the Cloverbud division you will select the project area that fits your project with the exceptions in clothing/fashion revue, creative writing, foods, performing arts and quilting being they have specific display rules and project judging day/time may be different from the general judging day.
• Foods Decorating - added cookies, bring 6 decorated cookies. Change cupcakes to bring 6 cupcakes (instead of 12).

Reminders:

• County Fair general exhibit release will be at 5 pm and livestock release will remain at 6 pm.
• The Performing Arts Public Revue will be held with the Fashion Public Revue and Share-the-Fun on Thursday, July 16, 7 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Faribault.

Project information (includes Cloverbud)

• Project Idea Suggestions.
• Clothing/Quilting/Fashion Revue:
  • Letter to project member
  • Clothing/Quilting/Fashion Revue Judging Day and Public Revue Information
    • Clothing resource information - Script Writing Tips, Sewing and Care Guidelines, Evaluations
• Performing Arts, Creative Writing & General Demonstration Letter, Performing Arts Evaluation, Creative Writing Evaluation
• Foods, Food Preservation and Food Revue Information,  Food Revue Handbook, Create Display Example, Entry Worksheet
• Horticulture - Preparing 4-H exhibits in Fruit, Herb, Potato, and Vegetables, Potato Exhibit Support Guide, Preparing Vegetables for Exhibit
• 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 volunteers and 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 setup, 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 use SignUpGenius for the following needs:

General Project Judging Day  

• Volunteers to help with recording on General Project Judging Day, Monday, July 20, two shifts – 1-4 pm & 4:30-7 pm.  Here is the link: Volunteers General Judging Day - https://z.umn.edu/RiceGenJudgingVol

Food and Malt Stand

Working a shift in the food or malt stand is a requirement to qualify for the next 4-H year's bonus funding. Make sure you sign-in when you arrive for your shift as we use the sign-in to verify attendance to qualify for bonus funding.

T-Shirts: Thanks to the generosity of Central Farm Services, those that sign up (members and parents) to work in the food and malt stands will receive a t-shirt to wear when they work in the stand. To be guaranteed a shirt, sign up for your shift on Sign Up Genius and share your shirt size on the Google form by June 15: https://z.umn.edu/4Hstandshirtsignup. You will be given the t-shirt when you sign-in to your stand shift.

 Food Stand - https://z.umn.edu/Rice4HFoodStand

• Each family/member is to select shifts that work for them in the food and malt stands. In order to get credit, you must sign in when arriving for your shift. 
  • Screened adult volunteers who sign up to work the register must complete the required Clover (credit card machine) operation training before the fair.
  • 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://z.umn.edu/Rice4HMaltStand

Club information

• Club FairEntry exhibit registration - to be completed by the club leader and submitted to the Extension office by the county fair entry deadline.
• Club Planter Assignment (new planter assignments for 2026, also in the premium book)

Schedules

• General Judging Volunteer Schedule - will be posted in July
• 4-H Judging and Event Schedule

PDC fair responsibility assignments - as of June PDC meeting

Fairgrounds information

• Map of Fairgrounds
• Rice County Fair Board camping policy

4-H ribbon auction

• Auction letter for families
• Auctions informational flyer
• Script guide

Parade of Champions

• 2026 Parade of Champions
• 2026 Sponsors Addresses

Good luck and have fun at the fair! 

Please contact the Extension office at 507-332-6162 with questions or concerns.

April 2026 4-H Family Update

April 2026 Mid Month Memo

May 2026 4-H Family Update

May 2026 Mid Month Memo

June 2026 4-H Family Update

June 2026 Mid Month Memo

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

What does 4-H have to offer

• Minnesota State 4-H - website
• What is Minnesota 4-H? - video
• What is a 4-H Club? - video
• What is a Cloverbud? - video
• What is a 4-H Project? - video
• MN State 4-H Project Information Guide - informational sheet

Rice County 4-H

• Rice County 4-H Member Guide
• How to get involved in Rice County 4-H

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

Kelly Chadwick, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
[email protected] or 507-332-6163 (direct), 507-330-2018 (cell)

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.

Ambassadors

Awards and scholarship

Family Banquet

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.

2024-25 Rice County 4-H Family Banquet Program 

• Special awards nomination script
• Past award winners
• Award descriptions
• 2024-25 Scholarship application, deadline September Federation Meeting 

Club recognition 

Every year clubs are recognized for the club/member/volunteer participation with a monetary award.  The following forms are to assist the club leaders in gathering this information:

• 2024-25 Club Recognition Award Form (Word fill-in) - form to be completed by club leader and turned into the office by November 1, 2025.  (Download the form, complete, save.)
• Club Event Tracking Form - to use with the Club Recognition form to compile numbers from the family tracking form.
• Family Event Tracking Form - for families to keep track of participation for the 4-H year October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 to assist club leaders in completing 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 2025-2026 4-H year 

The completed form needs to be turned in to the Extension office by the 2025 November federation meeting.

County information

• 2024-25 budget
• Rice County program/financial policies
• Special request form
• Rice County Family Event registration reimbursement form

Club information

• Treasurer book
• Fundraising documents
• Charter materials

Record Judging

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 your name, club, last grade completed, and project area.
• The top ten individuals will receive a cash award from Compeer Financial.

Records

• 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.

Additional resources

• Record keeping tip sheet
• Livestock/General Evaluation
• Cloverbud Evaluation

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

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

Ryan Lermon, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems
 [email protected] or 507-332-6165 (direct)

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

Lorrie Rugg, Master Gardener Coordinator, 507-332-6162, [email protected]

Ryan Lermon, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, 507-332-6165 (direct), [email protected]

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

Make a gift on the University of Minnesota giving page.

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 FAQs
• Food preservation and canning troubleshooting guide
• Making jams, marmalades, preserves and conserves
• 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.
• 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 

Extension provides health, nutrition and community education across Minnesota. 

• COMET helps anyone start conversations around mental health.
• SuperShelf transforms local food shelves into dignified shopping experiences.
• Real Life, Good Food offers recipes, cooking tips and healthy activities.
• Rusty’s Cooking Club for preschool-aged children and their caregivers.

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.