Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Dickinson County, 1600 15th St. Spirit Lake, IA | 712-336-3488 | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DICKINSON

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!

April 12-13 Swine Weigh in on Farm Sites

April 12 Bunny Bonanza 10 a.m. —noon Clay Co. Extension

April 12 Border Blowout Sale 1 p.m. at the Fairgrounds

April 12 Sheep and Goat Weigh in 1—4 p.m.

April 25-26 4-H Intermediate Plunge Trip!

April 26 Babysitter Training 8 a.m.— 4 p.m.

May 3 Painting and Planting Workshop 9—10 a.m.

May 3 PVC Construction Workshop 1—3 p.m.

May 4 Youth Council Meeting 7 p.m.

May 10—11 Youth Council Trip to Des Moines

May 15 ALL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATIONS DUE

May 31 Miniature Fairy Garden Workshop 2-4 p.m.

June 5 Babysitter Training 8 a.m. — 4 p.m.

CLOVERLEAF CONNECTION IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION & OUTREACH DICKINSON COUNTY

1600 15th Street · Spirit Lake, IA 51360

www.extension.iastate.edu/dickinson

DICKINSON COUNTY EXTENSION

April 2014

County Youth Council

Bodi Rouse: President & Council Delegate

Liz Naviaux & Gabe Goehring: Vice President

Emily Resch: Secretary & Reporter

Alison Bueltel: Treasurer

Kristen Salzwedel: Historian

Olivia Albright: Parliamentarian

Andrew Carr

Lizzi DeNoble

Grace Goehring

Britt Hibma

Justin Jones

Tyler Krebs

Blake Mart

Brett Salzwedel

Abby Taylor

Cody Wernimont

Extension Council

Susan Reiser: President

Steve Brueggeman: Vice President

Connie Purchase: Secretary

Cari Wallace: Treasurer

Sue Boettcher

Keith Brockmeyer

Ernie Cupp

Curt Smith

Robert VonEhwegen

Extension Staff

Karen Byers: County Extension Director

Jessica Sander: County Youth Coordinator

Betsy Harwood: Ricochet Coordinator

Janet Neppl: Office Assistant

Barb Utech: Office Assistant

OUR VISION A WORLD IN WHICH YOUTH AND ADULTS LEARN, GROW, AND WORK TOGETHER AS CATALYSTS FOR POSTIVE CHANGE

FSQA Dates

2014 Fair Dates July 14, 2014 Static Judging Day for County Fair

July 19-24, 2014 Dickinson County Fair August 7-17, 2014 Iowa State Fair

September 6-14, 2014 Clay County Fair

Bring your rabbit to the Clay County Extension Office on Saturday, April 12

from 10 a.m. — noon for the Bunny Bonanza! Assistance will be available for

grooming, showing, tattooing, and general maintenance. Coats Rabbit Supply

will be there as well. Youth also have the opportunity to build a rabbit carrier.

(See prices below.) If you have questions or would like more information

please contact Kristi Peck at 260-3200 or Clay County Extension at 262-2264.

Carrier Sizes/Prices

- Single: $17 - 12” 3 Hole: $29 (smaller breeds)

- Double: $29 - 12” 4 Hole: $30 (smaller breeds)

- Triple: $33.50 - 4 Hole 16X24 (criss cross) $35.50

- Giant 2 Hole: $36 (large breeds)

Please place your carrier order with Kristi Peck by April 9 to ensure supplies.

Bunny Bonanza

If you missed the FSQA Training on March 28, you have the option to attend a neighboring county

and get the training there. Here are some dates for your consideration.

April 19 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. O’Brien County Extension, Primghar 712-957-5045

April 26 from 9-11 a.m. Emmet County, Nazareth Lutheran Church 401 5th St, Armstrong 712-362-3434

April 27 from 4-6 p.m. Clay County, Royal Community Center 712-262-2264

June 9 from 4-6 p.m. Clay County 4-H Exhibit Bldg., Clay County Fairgrounds 712-262-2264

If you plan to attend one of these sessions, please contact the County Extension Office prior to the event

so they can plan room arrangements/materials accordingly.

4-H PLEDGE

I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEARER THINKING, MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY, MY HANDS TO LARGER SERVICE,

AND MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING, FOR MY CLUB, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, AND MY WORLD.

Swine Weigh-In

4-H Intermediate PLUNGE Trip!

Market sheep and goat weigh in is Saturday, April 12 from 1-4 p.m. at the

fairgrounds. Youth can weigh up to 15 market lambs, 10 feedlot lambs, and

5 market meat goats. See your fair book for more information. Breeding

ewes or does do not come to weigh-in. The weigh-in schedule is:

1-3 p.m. County Only Exhibitors

3-4 p.m. Iowa State Fair and Ak-Sar-Ben Exhibitors/Retinal Imaging

Please contact the office if you plan to identify animals for the Iowa State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben so we have ma-

terials on hand. 336-3488 or xdickinson@iastate.edu. If you purchase lambs at the Border Blowout Sale,

please call Doug Loerts at 330-3459, Dave Schwaller at 330-3969, or Jessica Sander at 330-5462 as the sale is

going on at the same time as Weigh-in.

PLUNGE is back! This intermediate leadership experience for youth in 6th –8th grade is April 25-26. Youth

are invited to board a chartered bus on an awesome adventure to the State 4-H Camping Center at Madrid,

Iowa. The overnight event will include team building and leadership development activities, outdoor adven-

tures, building friendships, and a lot of FUN! The cost of this event is $60. Please register with the Extension

Office at 336-3488 or xdickinson@iastate.edu

Sheep & Goat Weigh-in

The swine committee will weigh and verify swine at project members farms.

Weigh-in will take place on April 12 and 13. Youth can identify up to 20 pigs.

Derby pigs are going to be weighed in, all other pigs need to be verified by the

committee members. If you are planning to exhibit swine this year, please

contact the office at 336-3488 or xdickinson@iastate.edu .

4-H IS BASED ON RESEARCH

Painting and Planting Workshop

2014 Important Dates

May 15, 2014 ALL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATIONS (ID’S) DUE

June 24-26, 2014 Iowa 4-H Youth Conference

July 1, 2014 County & State Fair Entries Due

July 24, 2014 Clay County Fair Entries Due

Join us on Saturday, May 3 from 9-10 am. at Cottage Gardens in Milford for a Painting and Planting

Workshop! Youth will learn a new painting technique using nail polish and water; learn the science behind

why oil and water don’t mix; learn about plant selection and care; and the science behind healthy flower

growth.

Details:

Bring a 10 inch pot (plastic or Terra Cotta) and 2 different bottles of nail polish

Pre-register and pay by April 30 to ensure a spot and materials

Cost is $10 and covers your plants and soil. Make checks payable to Cottage Gardens

and drop off or mail to the Extension Office at 1600 15th St Spirit Lake.

If you have any questions please call 336-3488.

Babysitter Training

The Babysitter's Training Program* sponsored by ISU-Dickinson County Extension & Outreach and Dickinson County Public Health will provide a fun, interactive opportunity for youth to become a confident, responsible babysitter. Youth gain valuable employment skills and become a Red-Cross trained and certified babysitter.

Session 1: April 26th, 8 a.m.—4 p.m. First Lutheran Church in Milford (Pre-register and pay by April 23rd)

Session 2: June 5th, 8 a.m.—4 p.m. Dickinson County Community Building in Spirit Lake (Pre-register and pay by June 2nd)

Babysitter's Handbook At your Babysitter's Training Program, you will receive a full-color, illustrated hand-book filled with great information & resources to use in the course and on the job.

Make $30 Checks Payable to: ISU Extension, 1600 15th Street, Spirit Lake, IA 51360

4-H PLEDGE

I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEARER THINKING, MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY, MY HANDS TO LARGER SERVICE,

AND MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING, FOR MY CLUB, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, AND MY WORLD.

Animal Identifications (ID’s) Due

County Youth Council Trip

ATTENTION ALL YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBERS! Saturday, May 10 thru Sunday, May 11 is our Spring Trip!

Sign up deadline is Thursday, April 17 by 4:30 p.m. The cost of the trip is $40 and must be paid in full by

the 17th. We will visit Hawkeye Breeders, The Blank Park Zoo, ISU Dairy Teaching Farm, and the ISU Beef

Teaching Farm. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica at 336-3488 or jasander@iastate.edu.

REMINDER! Animal Identifications are due by Thursday, May 15 (with the exception of Jr. Rabbits)! This is

the last day they will be accepted! If you know you are bringing an animal (pet, dog, rabbit, poultry, horse,

goat, sheep, swine, or beef) to fair, identify it now. All ID’s MUST be done in the 4honline database.

NO PAPER COPIES ACCEPTED! Make sure to ID ALL animals that you are working with and think you might

want to bring to the fair. This is not a fair entry, just animal identification of what animals you may poten-

tially bring. Fair entry forms are due July 1st.

Our monthly meeting of the Dickinson County Youth Council has been moved to Sunday, May 4 at 7 p.m.

We will be finalizing details for the spring trip at this meeting, so bring any questions you have. If you are

unable to attend, please contact Jessica at 336-3488 or jasander@iastate.edu.

County Youth Council Meeting

Bring your friends and join us on Saturday, May 3 from 1—3 p.m. for a fun PVC

Construction Workshop. Projects to choose from are a chicken or goat feeder, a saddle

rack, a ladder ball set, or a hose cart. Simply complete the registration form from the

link above; indicate your project selection; and have a parent/guardian sign. Cost of the

workshop varies depending on the project selection. Please pre-register and pay by

April 30 to ensure materials. Please send completed registration form and payment to

the Extension Office at 1600 15th St Spirit Lake. Make checks payable to ISU Extension.

PVC Construction Workshop

4-H PLEDGE

I PLEDGE MY HEAD TO CLEARER THINKING, MY HEART TO GREATER LOYALTY, MY HANDS TO LARGER SERVICE,

AND MY HEALTH TO BETTER LIVING, FOR MY CLUB, MY COMMUNITY, MY COUNTRY, AND MY WORLD.

April Birthdays

Fair Queen Contest Reminders

Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear 4-H Member, Happy Birthday to you!

Cain Hanson, Lauren Duffy, Lexi Duffy, Ellie Smith, Liam Knudtson, Blake Mart, Naomi Sage, Kaelyn Byers,

Emma Watje, Andrew Carr, Jack Hines, Ted Doeden, Carter Thoreson, Montana Wilson, Benedict Steffens,

Braeton Nitschke, Teagan Boldra, and Mike Peterson.

Happy Birthday to all of these 4-H Members!!

The Dickinson County Fair Board is accepting applications for the 2014 Fair Queen. Guidelines for entering

the Fair Queen Contest include:

Must be a resident of Dickinson County

Must be between the ages of 16 and 21

Must not have been married or have had any children

Must be an active member of at least 1 service organization, i.e. 4-H, Church, Girl Scouts, etc…

For more information or the contest application, please contact the fair board office at 336-0479 or

Susan Reiser at 338-4674.

Miniature Fairy Garden Workshop

Mark your calendars! Join us on Saturday May 31 from 2-4 p.m. for a

Miniature Fairy Garden Workshop at 4 Evergreen Landscaping in Milford.

Youth will need to bring a 14 inch pot and gloves

The cost of the workshop is $30 and covers the soil, ground cover (moss,

sand, or rock), 1 miniature tree, and choice of 5 plants.

Make checks payable to 4 Evergreen and drop off or mail to the Extension

Office at 1600 15th St, Spirit Lake by May 28 to ensure a spot. Space is limited to 15 so sign up now!

If you have any questions, please call the office at 336-3488.

Bring a friend and have some fun planting! Hope to see you there!

Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Dickinson County, 1600 15th St. Spirit Lake, IA | 712-336-3488 | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DICKINSON

Jessica’s Craft Corner

“Ricochet: An Extreme Leadership Adventure” Update

The community leadership project is a big part of the Ricochet adventure. Harris-Lake

Park, Okoboji, and Spirit Lake middle school Ricochet participates have become

involved when recognizing the needs of their communities. The youth create, along

with carry out a community leadership project. Some examples of projects the youth

have put together include; playing BINGO with residents at Wel-Life, donating

supplies to the local Human Society, reading to younger grades, hosting a bake sale, and many more. Good

Job to all the Ricochet participants, facilitators, and teachers!

Welcome to Jessica’s Craft Corner! Here you will find a Static Project Idea each month!

Simply click on the link next to the description and get the step by step instructions! I will

provide the copyright information with the instructions.

Sun Catcher Wind Chime

The picture at right is one I found on Pinterest. I didn’t have a pretty piece of wood like the

one shown, so I had to put my own twist on it. Find the directions for it at the above link.

Pictured: SLMS 6th Grade Ricochet participants playing

BINGO with residents at Wel-Life.

Important Member Information!

4-H members! Please make sure to check with your leader about attendance, and commu-

nity service projects! You need to make half of your club meetings, present an educational

presentation, and do at least one 4-H sponsored community service project in order to be

eligible for fair!

Pictured: SLMS 6th Grade Ricochet participants helping a

kindergarten class make a country and listening to their story.

Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Dickinson County, 1600 15th St. Spirit Lake, IA | 712-336-3488 | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DICKINSON

Horse Practice Schedule

May 31, 2014 Market Beef Validation of DNA Complete (online process)

June 15, 2014 Market Hog, Lamb, Goat, & Feeder Calf DNA due to County Extension Office

June 15, 2014 Horses, Market Beef, Dairy & Dairy Steer ID forms due to Ak-Sar-Ben Office

June 20, 2014 Market Hog, Lamb, Goat & Feeder Calf DNA due to Ak-Sar-Ben Office

July 1, 2014 Market Broiler order/entry forms due to Ak-Sar-Ben Office

July 31, 2014 Market Hog, Lamb, Goat & Feeder Calf Validation of DNA Complete (online process)

August 11, 2014 All Stock Show Entry forms due to County Extension Office

August 11, 2014 Speech Contest

August 11, 2014 Premier Exhibitor

August 11, 2014 Fitting Challenge

August 15, 2014 All Stock Show online entries completed

September 1, 2014 Livestock Quiz Bowl

September 6, 2014 Livestock Judging Contest

The 87th Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Stock Show is scheduled for September 25-28, 2014 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebr. The Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Horse Show will take place on September 20-21, 2014 at the Lancaster Events Center in Lincoln, Nebr. 4-H members are eligible to enter livestock as well as take part in activities like the speech contest, quiz bowl, livestock judging contest, fitting contest, premier exhibitor contest and robotics competition.

Ak-Sar-Ben Information

Horse practice dates and times

are set for the summer!

Remember you must attend at

least 2 practices with your horse

for the full 2 hours to be eligible to

show at fair. If a practice has to be

cancelled due to inclement weath-

er, the committee will contact you.

Please bring and wear your helmet

every time you ride at the fair-

grounds. (If you need a new hel-

met, contact Jessica at 336-3488.)

Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Dickinson County, 1600 15th St. Spirit Lake, IA | 712-336-3488 | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DICKINSON

Volunteer Spotlights

We are continuing our Volunteer Spotlights as a way to say a big THANK YOU! to all

of our volunteers. They give of not only their time and effort, but also their vast store of

knowledge! We wouldn't be able to do as much as we do without them! Be sure to

thank them for helping “To Make the Best Better” in Dickinson County!

Fair Board President

Tom Underwood is the Dickinson County Fair Board President and has been

involved in the Dickinson County 4-H program for the past 56 years! Tom and his

wife, Della have 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren. Tom’s favorite part of the fair is

to watch the first time exhibitors with their projects and receiving their ribbons.

Tom was in 4-H as a youth in the Inkpadutas club with projects in sheep, market

lambs, breeding ewes, and market beef. Thank you, Tom for your continued

support of the Dickinson County 4-H Program!

Extension Council and Committee Member

Connie Purchase is a member of the Dickinson County Extension Council and a

Poultry and Rabbit Committee Member. Connie lives in Milford with her husband

Dennis. Connie has been involved in the Dickinson County 4-H program for 45 years,

first as a 4-H member, then a committee member and Extension Council Member.

Connie’s favorite part of the fair is the poultry and rabbit show and the horse show.

You can usually hear Connie announcing the horse show! Connie was a member of

the Okoboji Ramblers club with projects in Horse, Beef, Food & Nutrition, and various

crafting projects. Thank you Connie for all of your enthusiastic support!

Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.

Dickinson County, 1600 15th St. Spirit Lake, IA | 712-336-3488 | Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm LEARN MORE AT WWW.EXTENSION.IASTATE.EDU/DICKINSON