4-H families will celebrate 4-H this fall and recruit new 4-H members across Dakota County. All across Minnesota, 4-H is helping youth see their potential! 4-H youth across the nation are leading efforts to solve problems in their communities and make a difference for their futures. 4-H is one of the largest youth development organizations in Minnesota and the largest in the nation with six million young people. 4-H in Dakota County there is currently 1,435 youth members, about 14% of the youth population, and 426 adult volunteers. It is ranked the largest county 4-H program in Minnesota. 4-H, as part of the University of Minnesota Extension, is a program where youth learn through opportunities that provide them hands-on experiences in 4-H’s mission mandates of science, engineering and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. The program promotes life skills using your head, heart, hands and health. 4-H has connected youth and their communities with the innovative research and resources from our nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges for more than 100 years. The best time to join 4-H is now! Fall enrollment is October 1 through November 15. Youth should enroll online at www.4H4ME.com. For more information on how to enroll in the 4-H Program in Dakota County 4-H, contact Dakota County 4-H at the Dakota County Extension Office at 651-480-7755 or visit the Dakota County 4-H website at www.umn.extension/county/dakota and click on 4-H in Dakota County.
Did you know…?
4-H has programming available for youth in kindergarten through one year past high school throughout Minnesota. Last year, more than 113,000 youth throughout Minnesota participated in 4-H programs. 4-H uses a unique” learn by doing” youth development model, which allows youth to design and participate in their own programs and activities, reflect on the process, draw conclusions, and relate the learning to future experiences in their lives. This process helps youth develop essential, transferrable life skills that they’ll use throughout their lives, such as problem solving, decision making, coping, communicating and responding to the needs of others. 4-H has programs and activities in a wide range of areas, including Expressive & Communication Arts, Family Consumer Science, Natural Resources, Mechanical Sciences and Animal Science. Today’s projects include the traditional and still popular animal science projects that are most associated with 4-H. But 4-H youth also work on cutting-edge technology projects, such as robotics, GPS, GIS, and video production, environmental projects, such as maintaining local hiking trails and testing water in area streams for contaminants, and community service projects. 4-H continually works to reach new groups of youth in rural, suburban and urban communities. The four pedals of the 4-H clover represent Hands, Heart, Head, and Health. I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to great loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living for my family, my club, my country and my world.
Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H are more likely to contribute to their communities than those involved in other youth development programs.
Looking for a family activity with something for every child? Join a 4-H club – where you meet throughout the year and have time to hang out, get to know each other, and learn new things. Visit a local 4-H Club meeting in the next few weeks! Below is a list of all community 4-H clubs in Dakota County and the contact information for each club. There are currently 29 4-H clubs across Dakota County; you can choose any club that fits your interests along with the meeting time that works best for your family. By: Anja Johnson, Dakota County 4-H Program Coordinator
Apple Valley, Apple Seeds, Laurie 952-322-5317
Apple Valley, Dakota Explorers, Mary 612-968-464
Castle Rock, Bright Stars, Coreen 952-469-4952
Coates/Rosemount, Happy Go Getters, Jennifer 651- 437-8632
Eagan, Dakota Green Hearts, Darcy 651-687-0343
Eagan, Dakota Ramblers, Melissa 651-452-8834
Eagan/Inver Grove Heights, Dakota Wranglers, Beth 651-457-1178
Farmington, Empire Rockets, Deb 651-335-5637
Hampton, Spirit Riders, Patty 651-480-3373
Hampton, Hampton B&B, Ann 507-263-5054
Hastings, Good Neighbors, Kristie 651-438-1164
Hastings, Hastings Town & Country, Nancy 651- 437-8442
Hastings, Klover Klub, Kelly 651-437-8427
Hastings, Ravenna Rascals, Tammy 651-438-0323
Inver Grove Heights, Inver Growers, Tracy 651-552-9924
Inver Grove Heights, Kaposia Kids, Missy 651-532-8614
Lakeville, 4 Ever Green, Karen 651-463-2947
Lakeville/Farmington, Cedar Dodd, Trudi 612-419-978
Lakeville, Chub Lake Beavers, Tina 952-469-1807
Lakeville, Dakota Thunder, Kris 612-349-2755
Mendota Heights, Eagan Encores, Margaret 651-688-0218
Miesville, Douglas, Cheryl 507-263-0451
Miesville, Miesville Marigolds, Rebecca 507-263-2725
Northfield, Greenvale Cloverites, Dana 507-664-9269
Northfield, Working Huskies, Nell 651-460-2531
Randolph, Cannon River Clovers, Larissa 651-480-7732
Rosemount, 4-Force, Martha 952-322-3209
Rosemount, Dakota Whisperers, Meri 952-453-3576
Vermillion, Top Notchers, Jean 651-437-6960
4-H youth across the nation are leading efforts to solve problems in their communities and make a difference for their futures. 4-H is one of the largest youth development organizations in Minnesota and the largest in the nation with six million young people. 4-H in Dakota County there is currently 1,435 youth members, about 14% of the youth population, and 426 adult volunteers. It is ranked the largest county 4-H program in Minnesota. 4-H, as part of the University of Minnesota Extension, is a program where youth learn through opportunities that provide them hands-on experiences in 4-H’s mission mandates of science, engineering and technology; healthy living; and citizenship. The program promotes life skills using your head, heart, hands and health. 4-H has connected youth and their communities with the innovative research and resources from our nation’s 106 land-grant universities and colleges for more than 100 years. To find out more information about 4-H, visit the Dakota County 4-H website at www.umn.extension/county/dakota and click on 4-H in Dakota County, or contact Dakota County 4-H at the Dakota County Extension Office at 651-480-7755.