Waseca County 4-H frequently asked questions

4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. It's about young people making new friends and memories while preparing to be future leaders - from both rural and urban areas! It is a voluntary, informational education program for young people in Kindergarten through one year past high school. 

4-H is youth development. It is people sharing, learning, growing and becoming the best they can be.

4-H is life skills. Through real-life situations 4-H helps youth develop life skills - communication, citizenship, decision-making, leadership, building relationship with caring adults, and community awareness.

4-H is one of a kind! It provides learning experiences in which youth, with help from parents, interested adults, and older youth leaders, grow personally as they develop skills for living.

4-H is family  and community-oriented. Parents play a critical role in volunteering with the program to support their children. The 4-H member needs the support and encouragement of a family and growing together through 4-H strengthens the family.

4-H is open to all. 4-H happens everywhere. It is in the city, suburbs and small towns, on farms and ranches. The 4-H program is open to all who wish to participate without regard to race, creed, gender, marital status, handicaps or disadvantages, economic or ethnic backgrounds. 

No! 4-H is for all young people, regardless of where they live, what their backgrounds are or what interests them. Today in Minnesota, lots of 4-H members are from urban and suburban areas and are learning about and participating in many different 4-H projects and activities. 

There are over 40 non-livestock 4-H projects and activities that do not require animal ownership, so having an animal is not a requirement to participating in 4-H. 

To join 4-H, you need to enroll your child online at 4-H Online. 

Enrolling in 4-H is required to participate in many activities and events. Enrolling also ensures you received information about upcoming programs and opportunities. 

You can contact the Waseca County Extension at 507-835-0600 or email at [email protected] to receive help with enrolling or to request a paper enrollment form.

If you wish to exhibit at the county fair, you need to enroll online or via the paper form by June 4. 

4-H youth must re-enroll each year. 

Waseca County 4-H has no membership fees or required uniforms. Club typically collect dues from each member (usually under $10 a member per year). There is a minimal charge for project manuals and some 4-H activities or events. 

If financial hardship is an issue, the Waseca County 4-H Federation can help cover the costs of activities. To discuss potential funding for your family, contact Extension Educator Amy Nelson.

Waseca County 4-H has a weekly e-newsletter that contains information on upcoming 4-H events and activities that your child can participate in. 

Once you enroll online, you will begin receiving email notices containing the newsletter. There are many valuable resources that help you learn what is going on in Waseca County 4-H. 

Be sure to check out the our Facebook page and the Waseca County events calendar. 

4-H clubs determine the number of meetings and the amount of time themselves. On average, clubs meet monthly for one to two hours each time. 

4-H clubs usually participate in difference activities during the meeting, including a business meeting, special interest programs, and recreation or social activities. 

Clubs will often complete community service projects at meeting times also. Clubs may have a little business to conduct, work on their projects for a while and then play a game or two. 

Sometimes the whole meeting is devoted to one topic or recreation. Some clubs also do project activities where they learn about and do activities related to a 4-H project. 

Simply put, 4-H projects are topics that members can learn more about. 

4-H projects are grounded in the belief that kids learn best by doing. Youth members complete hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and civic engagement, in a positive environment where sometimes they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Often, the 4-H project and learning that takes place is self-guided. 

A snapshot of what project areas we offer can be found by visiting the 4-H projects page. 

Youth members can concentrate on one project area or they can try a variety of projects throughout their 4-H experience.

Projects vary in length to completion. Some 4-H projects produce a tangible product upon completion. Most projects can be entered in the county fair as exhibits.

Most often, 4-Hmembers work on projects at home with parents, siblings, and other family or community members who can help their with their project. Waseca County 4-H offers project activities to learn about and complete a 4-H project.

Depending on the project, there may be a project club to join. Project groups may meet throughout the year to work on a specific project depending on the time of year and the event surrounding the project (i.e. sewing).

Waseca County 4-H is always looking for adult volunteers who are willing to take the leadership of leading project clubs.

The cost for project learning varies. 

Members are responsible for the cost of their projects. Some projects might use household supplies while others might invest many dollars in their project. 

The cost of the project should be realistic to the family situation.

Children need parental encouragement to get them started in 4-H and to keep them involved in the program in later years. 

Parents can help by

• Sharing - provide encouragement and take interest in 4-H projects and activities. Listen, look, and offer suggestions, but avoid the temptation to "take over" and do things. Children learn by their mistakes as well as successes.
• Preparing - assist by helping children understand the value of doing projects, having duties in the club, and following through on responsibilities as expected by others.
• Being there - Children gain more from 4-H by attending meetings regularly and getting involved in 4-H activities. Parents are welcome at meetings and are encouraged to stay and observe. Lend a hand whenever possibly. However, remember that 4-H clubs are for kids.
• Caring - arrange to participate whenever possible. Parents' presence shows the child what he or she is doing is very important.

4-H is a family program. As a parent, your role will be to support, encourage, praise and assist (without doing it for them). Assisting your 4-H'er in selecting the appropriate projects is the first step in assuring a successful 4-H experience.

Parents are encouraged to take a leadership role in the 4-H program by offering expertise in a certain area, serving as a volunteer leader and/or serving as a resource. 4-H'ers will benefit at a higher level when the family takes an active role in the program. 

4-H Cloverbuds is a program designed for youth and their families to explore the 4-H program through activities tailored specifically for their ages and developmental stages. 

The primary purpose of the 4-H Cloverbud program is to support the positive development of children as they explore the world, discover possibilities, build self-esteem and practice basic social skills, which will be the basis for a future where they will become competent, caring and contributing citizens.

Youth in grades K-2 will join 4-H and choose to join one of the same clubs that an older youth would join. The youth will automatically be considered a Cloverbud. When the youth member enters third grade, Cloverbuds will become a regular 4-H member.

The 4-H clubs in Waseca County welcome their Cloverbud members with some have activities specifically designed for them. Cloverbuds are also encouraged to become active on the county level and participate in the county programs and events.

4-H provides a chance to learn new things, develop new skills, travel to new places, experience new situations, make new friends and, most importantly, have a lot of fun.

It's up to you! You can go to camp, learn to show wisely, give a demonstration, grow vegetables, hatch an egg, make bread, shadow an adult at work, choose to eat healthy foods, give a speech, cure a ham or conquer an obstacle course. 

You can perform in a skit, make a birdhouse, start a business, shear a sheep, take pictures, learn about electricity, barbeque chicken or drive a tractor. You can decorate a room, ride a bike, learn to sew, raise an animal or protect the environment.

And there's more! In 4-H, you will work with other young people toward common goals and , if you wish, teach younger kids. 

You can build your 4-H activities around your own talents and interests. 

The Minnesota 4-H program is conducted by the University of Minnesota and its Extension Department of Youth Development. 

County and state programs are directed by Extension staff that educate and support volunteers who work directly with 4-H members. 

Extension offices are located in almost every county in Minnesota. A County Extension Committee, comprised of local residents, serves as advisors to Extension staff to coordinate, organize and plan programming in the unit.

Adult volunteers are also responsible for conducting local 4-H programming, include club meeting experiences, project workshops and much more!

University of Minnesota Extension received funding from the United State Department of Agricultures (USDA), the state of Minnesota, and local county boards. A variety of private donors also fund Extension.

The Waseca County 4-H program is funded mainly by fundraisers including a market livestock auction and operation of a food stand, both during the county fair. Many local businesses, organizations, and individuals generously support Waseca County 4-H through monetary donations. 4-H Clubs in the county acquire their funds through small membership dues, fundraisers, and donations. 

Waseca County 4-H staff is happy to answer any questions you have about 4-H!

Contact us

• Stop in - The Extension office is location at 300 North State Street (south side of the building, Door #4).
• Call - Our phone number is 507-835-0600.
• Email - The general email address for Waseca County Extension is [email protected]. 
  • Amy Nelson is the Extension educator, 4-H youth development in Waseca County at [email protected]. 
  • Sarah Hiniker is the Extension support staff in Waseca County at [email protected] 

Find us online

• Waseca County 4-H Facebook page