Phone Issues .......

The Extension Office is having problems with their phones. The equipment reps and service providers are working on it! To get in touch with Extension Staff, the best bet is to email them! We'll let you know when everything is back in working condition!

STATE 4-H AMBASSADOR INFORMATION

Thinking About Becoming a State 4-H Ambassador? The ambassador program is challenging, educational, and a lot of fun. However, the program is also a lot of work and can be quite time consuming. Before you make the decision to become an ambassador, please take time and think about the commitment you will need to make. Please consider the following questions as you think about becoming an ambassador:

• Do I have a desire to serve the changing needs of youth in Minnesota?
• Do I have an open mind and can accept change?
• Will I be able to attend all of the required events (mandatory orientation, state fair, etc.)?
• Will I be able to balance school, work, family, and other activities with my Ambassador duties?
• Can I work in-groups as well as on my own to accomplish a given task?
• Can I give and receive feedback and apply what is constructive to my work?
• Am I willing to drive several hours to fulfill an Ambassador obligation?
• What will I be doing next year that may conflict with the Ambassador calendar?
• Do I fully understand the roles and responsibilities of the State 4-H Ambassadors?

If you answered yes to these questions, perhaps being a State 4-H Ambassador is something you would be interested in pursuing! Applications are due March 31st - they are available online or from the Extension Office.

Any youth involved in Minnesota 4-H and its programs who must have completed at least tenth grade and have at least one year of 4-H eligibility remaining. Five Ambassadors will be selected to serve a second year. Individuals must be 4-H members; therefore those who will be in their second year past high school are ineligible to serve a second year.

The Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador program is committed to providing leadership through service. While the position will be voluntary (ambassadors will not be paid or reimbursed for mileage and expenses), the twenty-nine Ambassadors will benefit from providing leadership and service to youth throughout Minnesota. Ambassadors will serve as educational resources to 4-H youth development programs. Ambassadors will be trained to teach youth and adults about such topics as communication, diversity issues, and ethical leadership. In addition, they will teach youth and adults by leading hands-on workshops and trainings at the local, county, regional, and state levels.

Additionally, the ambassadors will serve as spokespeople to represent the youth who participate in Minnesota 4-H and its programs. This commitment will require active involvement beginning in their counties and regions, and continuing on to the state level through their work with the State Fair and in coordinating the Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Outloud (YELLO!)
Conference. The ambassadors will also work within Extension’s Regions fulfilling requests for leadership trainings, awards ceremonies, or retreats.

Contact Amy if you have any questions or would like an application!

For more information, go to http://www1.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/projects/leadership/ambassadors/index.html

Purple Ribbon Club Score Update

It's been a while since the Purple Ribbon Club scores have been announced. Lots of point-earning has been going on!! Keep up the good job, clubs and members! Here is where the points are at right now:

• Bits & Spurs average - 61.54 points per member (6th place)
• Clover Clan average - 59.00 points per member (7th place)
• Homegrown Explorers average - 42.84 points per member (8th place)
• Iosco Livewires average - 31.25 points per member (9th place)
• Janesville Jacks & Jills average - 81.25 points per member (5th place)
• Palmer Sunbeams average - 120 points per member (Tie - 1st place)
• Riverside Ramblers average - 120 points per member (Tie - 1st place)
• Vista Busy Bees average - 82.82 points per member (3rd place)
• Waldorf Peppy Peppers average - 81.28 points per member (4th place)

If you want to earn points for your club, here are things you can do:

• Participate in Share the Fun and/or Performing Arts Contest (100 points for club act; 25 pts for club member in a small group act; 25 pts for each individual act/performing arts act by a club member; 50 additional pts for 1st Place Club Act; 25 additional pts for 2nd Place Club Act; 15 additional pts for 3rd Place Club Act)
• Hold a “Get Green Night” activity or participate in a Club-Led activity during Waseca County 4-H Week (100 pts)
• Check out a Project in a Box (Points awarded when an evaluation is turned back in with the box - 100 pts per activity)
• Hold at least nine regular club meetings. (100 points)
• Enroll new members (100 points per new member)
• Enroll new adult volunteers/leaders (50 points per leader)
• Have Amy visit your club meeting (100 points per club)
• Submit an article/picture about club activities to a local newspaper, and turn in a copy to Extension Office (100 points per clipping/story/picture)
• Turn in Club Reporting Cards to the Extension Office after each meeting (100 points per card)
• Attend a Cloverbud Adventure (15 points per youth)
• Attend an Adventure or Day Camp (15 points per youth)
• Attend a committee meeting (15 points per member)
• Serve as a 4-H Camp Counselor (25 points per youth per camp)
• Attend 4-H Camp (25 points per member)
• Attend YELLO in June (50 points per member)

Updates ...

Things are sure busy in Waseca County 4-H these last few weeks! Lots of things happening = lots of kids learning and having new opportunities!!! Here is a recap on what we've been up to:

• The 4-H Federation Board met Tuesday night and began looking at results from the Club Meeting Experience Survey completed by members and parents. They are looking at ways they can provide additional help and support to the 4-H clubs, based on results of the survey.
• The Cloverbuds had a fun meeting Thursday night learning the basics of taking good pictures. We practiced holding the camera steady, not putting our fingers in front of the flash or lens, and where we need to stand if we're taking pictures outside on a sunny day. We got in lots of practice time with our cameras by going on a photo scavenger hunt. To see some of the photos the participants took, check out the Facebook fan page. Remember participants: practice, practice, practice!!!!!
• The 4-H Ambassadors also met on Thursday. There was some great team-building that took place through recreation and activities. The Ambassadors decided last night after good discussion to have their group go in another direction than their current teams. They will be taking a more practicial, hands-on approach to leadership and learning. It is exciting to see what this group will achieve!!
• Check out this story on the Agri-News. It's about the Larson family from New Richland about their 4-H goat projects and how they've rebuilt their herd after a devasting barn fire a little over a year ago.

Here are some quick updates on upcoming events:

• Don't forget about the 4-H "Pop Science" Adventure tomorrow morning (2/20) from 9:30 to 11 at the EXTENSION OFFICE. We will be learning what creates the fizz in soda, conducting taste tests to see if we can pick out our favorite sodas, and making our own root beer! If you come, please bring an empty and clean 2-liter pop bottle with the cover.
• Reminder - the Lamb Lead/Fleece workshop will NOT be held tomorrow. We will be rescheduling it for a different date (TBD). Watch the blog, Facebook fan page, and your newsletter for more details.
• Contact Amy if you want to help teach Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics classes to 4-H youth. There is a required training for LQA&E teachers on February 27th from 12:30 to 4:15 pm at the East Annex. There is no cost to attend. 4-H parents and members in 9th grade and up are encouraged to serve as teachers.
• On Tuesday, February 23rd, there will be the Arts-In Planning Meeting at 6 pm and the Building/Equipment Meeting at 7 pm. Both will meet at the Extension Office.
• 4-H Ambassadors will be helping at the Food Check-Out Breakfast sponsored by the Waseca County Farm Bureau on Wednesday morning, February 23rd.
• The monthly Horse PDC meeting will take place on Thursday, February 25th at 7 pm. We will be watching the required Horses, Kids, and Ethics video. All horse project members must attend.
• Things to be thinking about - club's responsibilites for Waseca County 4-H Week, participating in Share the Fun with either your club or doing a Performing Arts performance, attending 4-H Camp (registration brochures available from the Extension Office or online)which projects you may want to add or drop from your enrollment (changes have to be made by May 1st), and donating items for and helping with the county-wide garage sale and selling tickets for the Chris Cakes pancake breakfast (both held May 15th - details coming soon!)

FREE FRIDAY - #3

We had some great suggestions for day camp themes for last week's Free Friday question. Summer will be here before we know it! Congratulations to Alicia Merritt, the latest "Free Friday" Giveaway winner! This week's FREE FRIDAY question - What has been your favorite SET-related (science, engineering, and technology) activity or project you've done in 4-H?

(Remember, post comments by 8 am on Friday, February 19th to be entered in a drawing for another fun giveaway!) Comments can be left on the blog or Waseca County 4-H Facebook fan page.