Pancakes, Promotion, and other uPdates!

Here are some reminders for you on some important upcoming events!

SPRING FUNDRAISER REMINDERS

Pancake Breakfast Tickets – Every family was sent 10 breakfast tickets that they should sell. Tickets are $5 each. Ticket money and unsold tickets are due back to the Extension Office BY MAY 5TH

Promotion and Publicity – We need your help spreading the word about this fundraiser!! Here are some ways you can help:

• Flyer - There is a promotional flyer for the fundraiser on the Extension website. Please feel free to share the link (http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Waseca) with family and friends. Be sure you click on “Publications” on the left hand side of the screen – the flyer will then be listed under “Publications” as “SPRING FUNDRAISER FLYER - May 15 - Waseca County 4-H” The fundraising committee will be working to hang flyers up at various businesses, but if you would also like to hang some up, feel free to print the flyer off. The direct link to the flyer is: http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Waseca/news/SpringFundraiserFlyer.pdf
• Email – Also on the Extension Website is a sample email that you can use to send to your family and friends letting them know about the fundraiser. It also includes a paragraph stating our need for donations for the sale, so please help spread the word! All people need to do with their items is box them up and bring them to one of four donation nights (May 10th – May 13th from 4 to 8 pm at the 4-H Building). They do not need to price the items, they won’t need to organize the items, and they won’t need to pick up items that didn’t sell! Feel free to use the email to send out to those you know about the fundraiser. Being this is our first year doing this, we want to be sure many people know about the event – the email can be found on the Extension Website – the direct link is: http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Waseca/news/sampleemailforpromotion.pdf
• Facebook Event – There is an “Event” set up on the “Waseca County 4-H” Facebook page for the Spring Fundraiser – If you are a Facebook account, feel free to invite your friends to the Spring Fundraiser via Facebook!

LIVESTOCK ID PACKETS & TAG PICK-UP NIGHTS -

• Livestock ID Packets are available from the Extension Office or online at http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/template/index.aspx?pID=4&countyID=83# . PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR LIVESTOCK ID PACKET.
• The only time you can get ear tags is Wednesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 29 from 3 to 7 pm at the Extension Office. YOU MUST BRING YOUR ID WITH YOU, FILLED OUT AS COMPLETELY AS POSSIBLE. No ID = No tags. Tags are $1 each.

OTHER REMINDERS -

• If you are a 4-H family in the Rabbit project and do not have a copy of the “Rabbit Standard of Perfection” book, let Amy know. We have several free copies to give to 4-H rabbit project families.
• There is a Meat Goat Project Workshop on Sunday, May 2nd at the Sankovitz residence near Waseca from 1 pm to 4 pm. See the flyer on the Extension website for more details - http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Waseca/news/MeatGoat10flyer.pdf - Don’t forget to sign up by contacting the Extension Office!
• All families are asked to complete an evaluation of Waseca County 4-H Week by clicking on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LQW5L9Q . Even if you did not participate in any Waseca County 4-H Week activities we would still like to have your feedback!
• Project Add/Drop Deadline – THE LAST DAY TO MAKE CHANGES TO WHICH PROJECTS YOU ARE ENROLLED IN IS THIS FRIDAY – APRIL 30TH. If you are not signed up for a project by April 30th, you will not be able to exhibit in that project at the 2010 Waseca County Fair. Also, if you have a friend or know of someone who is planning to join 4-H, encourage them to enroll by April 30th if they want to exhibit at this year’s fair.

WASECA COUNTY 4-H WEEK 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 10 through April 17.

The annual “Share the Fun and Performing Arts Contest” was held Saturday, April 17th, at the Waseca High School Little Theater as a final celebration of Waseca County 4-H Week. Approximately 75 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 performed a guitar mix that she wrote and composed herself. Reserve Champion Performing Arts was awarded to Ben Lewer of the Vista Busy Bees 4-H Club with his piano performance of “Hello Ma’ Baby.” Jennifer McKay of the Vista Busy Bees and Kirsten Brenden of the Riverside Ramblers received the “Rising Star” Performing Arts awards. Also participating in performing arts were Kortney Cummins, Natalie Jewison, and Kristen McKay who all performed a vocal solo. There were also two acts in the “Just for Fun” category. Matthew Feldkamp and Andrew Weller both entertained the audience with piano solos.

In the club skit category, the Vista Busy Bees 4-H Club won first place with their skit called “The 12 Months of 4-H” and will represent Waseca County at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair. Their skit also received an award for Best Costumes. The Janesville Jacks & Jill’s, who performed a skit called “Get Your Ticket to 4-H” received 2nd place and “The Golden Hammer” award for Best Set and Props. The Palmer Sunbeams 4-H Club received “Most Humorous” honors with their skit “Are You Smarter Than a 4-Her?”

Thank you to those who participated in Waseca County 4-H Week to make it a success!!!! We would like your feedback on Waseca County 4-H Week - please complete follow-up evaluation (click here to complete the evaulation - 10 bonus Purple Ribbon Club points will be awarded for each survey taken from your club). Even if you did not participate, we would still like your thoughts on how we can improve Waseca County 4-H Week.