Spring Fun Day - May 21 (Garage Sale, Pancake Breakfast, and more!)

Through their experiences in 4-H, youth have hands-on learning opportunities in areas that interest them, such as photography, performing arts, robotics, shop and wood science, engineering, computers, crafts and fine arts, animal science, and much more. 4-H is helping its youth members grow into compentent citizens by teaching them skills they will use well into their adult lives, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and citizenship.

4-H offers many different activities for youth in Kindergarten through one year past high school. Many opportunities in Waseca County 4-H are offered at either no cost or very little cost – it is one of the things that makes 4-H a great program for the whole family! There are also scholarships available to youth for overnight camps, leadership trips, and State Fair experiences.

In order to keep Waseca County 4-H affordable, we are hosting a Spring Fundraiser on May 21st. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly to Waseca County 4-H and will help fund monthly Adventure programs, scholarships, our new 4-H Garden, and many project-related learning opportunities.

The Spring Fundraiser is a very exciting event for Waseca County 4-H – it consists of a Pancake Breakfast with Chris Cakes’ and their entertaining pancake flipping and throwing, a huge garage sale, children’s carnival, and a petting zoo!

If you would like to support 4-H and attend the fundraiser, here are the details of the events taking place on Saturday, May 21st:

“Chris Cakes” Pancake Breakfast
Location: 4-H Building on the Waseca County Fairgrounds
Time: Serving from 8 am to 12 noon
Cost: $5 a person for juice, coffee, milk, sausage, and all-you-can-eat pancakes – Tickets are available from any Waseca County 4-H member, the U of MN Extension - Waseca County Office, or at the door the day of the breakfast. Kids 5 and under eat free. (Tickets are $6.00 at the door on the 21st.)

Garage Sale
Location: 4-H Building on the Waseca County Fairgrounds
Dates & Times:
Thursday, May 19th – “Preview Sale” for $1 admission - 2 pm to 5 pm
Friday, May 20th – 1 pm to 7 pm – no admission!
Saturday, May 21st – 6 am to 2 pm – no admission!

The Garage Sale will feature a wide variety of items, such as clothes, books, movies, toys, and household items. New items will be put out every day!!! For every $5 you spend at the Garage Sale, you will be able to enter your name into the drawing! We are giving away 4 themed-baskets, complements of the Waseca County 4-H Federation and the 4-H Clubs in Waseca County. Baskets include Fun in the Sun, Campfire Goodies, Car Care, and Movie Night.

Petting Zoo
Location: Livestock Arena on the Waseca County Fairgrounds (close to the 4-H Building!)
Time: 8 am to 2 pm
Cost: Free admission!

Children’s Carnival
Location: Livestock Arena on the Waseca County Fairgrounds (close to the 4-H Building!)
Time: 8 am to 2 pm
Cost: Only $0.25 per game – lots of games and activities to choose from including a Duck Pond, Crazy Hair, Ring Toss, and much more!

**** You can also donate items in good, clean, working condition to the Garage Sale. As you clean your closets, basements, garages, and attics, please consider donating the gently used items for the Garage Sale!

Donations will be accepted on:
Sunday, May 15th from 2 pm to 6 pm
Monday, May 16th from 4 pm to 8 pm
Tuesday, May 17th from 4 pm to 8 pm

Bring your items to the 4-H Building – the great thing is that you will not need to price the items, organize the items, or pick up your items which don’t sell. This fundraiser is also a Community Service project for the Waseca County 4-H program because items left at the end of the Garage Sale will be donated to area families in need and the Epilepsy Foundation.

Waseca County 4-H would love to have your support. 4-H members appreciate any way you support 4-H in our efforts to grow into competent, caring citizens through the skill-building experiences we have in 4-H. If you have any questions, please contact the University of Minnesota Extension - Waseca County Office at 507-835-0600 or dobbe007@umn.edu.

**** CHECK BACK THE WEEK OF MAY 15TH FOR PHOTOS OF ITEMS THAT WILL BE FOR SALE AT THE GARAGE SALE!!!! ****

Weather-Related Cancellations

THE FOLLOWING 4-H EVENTS TONIGHT WILL NOT BE HELD DUE TO WEATHER - Welcome to 4-H Night, Livestock Superintendent's Meeting, and Dog Training. If you have any questions, call the Extension Office at 507-835-0600. Help spread the word!!!

Waseca County 4-H Week was a Success!!!

Members, families, and volunteers involved with Waseca County 4-H celebrated their top-notch youth development program with special events and contests the week of April 2 through April 9.

The annual “Share the Fun and Performing Arts Contest” was held Saturday, April 9th, at the Waseca High School Little Theater as a final celebration of Waseca County 4-H Week. Approximately 50 4-H youth from throughout Waseca County participated in the evening of entertainment. Share the Fun and Performing Arts gives 4-H members the opportunity to experience performing in a group, which develops poise, self-confidence, and discipline. It also expands interest, knowledge, and skill in the performing arts.

Jackie Barbknecht of the Riverside Ramblers 4-H Club was awarded Grand Champion Performing Arts – she played guitar to a song titled “Insecure” that she wrote herself – Abby Wendland performed the vocals. Reserve Champion Performing Arts was awarded to Natalie Jewison of the Janesville Jacks & Jills 4-H Club with her vocal performance of “Cowboy Casanova.” Ben Lewer of the Vista Busy Bees received the “Rising Star” Performing Arts awards. Also participating in performing arts were Sadie Mortenson, Billy Barbknecht, Michael Marrero, and Jennifer McKay who all performed vocal solos or duets. Mortenson received a special award for Best Costume.

Matthew Feldkamp entertained the audience in the “Just For Fun” category with a violin solo.

In the club skit category, the Janesville Jacks & Jill’s 4-H Club won first place with their skit called “The Little Red Hen and the Community Garden” and earned the chance to represent Waseca County at the 2011 Minnesota State Fair. Their skit also received an award for Best 4-H Theme and Most Humorous. The Homegrown Explorers 4-H Club, who performed a skit called “Alice in 4-H Land”, received 2nd place and “The Golden Hammer” award for Best Set and Props. Also performing skits were the Palmer Sunbeams 4-H Club (“Alice in Wipeout 4-H Land” ) and the Waldorf Peppy Peppers 4-H Club (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Enjoy 4-H!”).

Thank you to those who participated in Waseca County 4-H Week to make it a success.

Medallion Clues and Updates

The New Richland and Janesville medallion have been found! Congrats to Ethan Strenge, Brenda Strenge, and Laura Manthey for locating the NR medallion by the Care Center's garden. Congrats to Austin Witt and his family for locating the Janesville medallion at the public library.

Here are today's clues for Waldorf's and Waseca's medallion:

Waseca Clue #4 One by one, 4-H members find the medallions hiding spot. To find me, think circular … perhaps a plant’s pot? Directions to find me are north of the tracks, yet south of the town’s edge. Between two places where, in the morning, you might hear allegiance pledged.

Waldorf Clue #4 As my medallion friends in neighboring cities are being found, I just sit here, tape sticking to me, staring at the ground. If you think “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night…” You’ll be lead right to my hiding spot, all snuggled in tight.

Medallion Hunt Clues #2 & #3

Due to technical difficulities with the website, I wasn't able to post clues on Sunday. However, there are now TWO new clues posted for each town! Remember to email Amy at dobbe007@umn.edu when you find the medallion! Happy searching! Janesville Clue #2 My hiding spot has me a bit protected from the wind and the rain. I’m on the outside of great knowledge that there is to obtain. Search high, search low, check big places and places so tiny. If you do this, you’re sure to be rewarded with me, green and shiny. Janesville Clue #3 No searchers have found me – I should make some noise! Children pass right by me – many girls and boys. In the presence of history, knowledge, and prestige I do sit. It’s rather humbling to be hiding here, I do admit. New Richland Clue #2 If the sun comes out, I am not at risk for sunburn. I’m near a place filled with compassion and concern. If you head west you may miss me completely. Here I hide, tucked somewhere oh so discreetly. New Richland Clue #3 Are the clues too easy? Do you know where I rest? This search is so much fun – a great rewarding quest! By three trees I sit and wait so patient, so excited to be found. But I do like my hiding place, for there is great beauty all around. Waldorf Clue #2 It is cold waiting here for the sun doesn’t reach me too much. Cold and shiny metal is about all I touch. You may think finding me would be easy because Waldorf is so small. But my spot is a challenge, so stay east of where one might play baseball. Waldorf Clue #3 Another gloomy day hiding here with no sunshine to be seen If my tape doesn’t stick, it’ll be easy to spot me for I’m shiny and green. I’m hiding by a place of handiness and ease. What connects us to places overseas? Waseca Clue #2 Day two of the medallion hunt is on! More fun awaits! I hope you find the search exciting and not one that frustrates. Between dirt and a plant I’m sandwiched in my spot. If I was just a couple inches higher, I might be able to see a parking lot. Waseca Clue #3 Is it just me or are the clues giving too much away? They are the truth and not meant to lead astray. A quick snack may have you thinking more clearly about where I hide. There are places nearby – and what good food do they provide!