Clover Connection 4-H Newsletter

Order a Linn County Fair Book Today!

NEW!! This year you will only receive a paper copy of the 2025 Linn County Fair Book if you request one! Please fill out the request form below by March 18th, 2025. (Limit one per family.) A digital copy of the Linn County Fair Book can be found online. The year will read 2025 when the updated Fair Book is available.

FLL Fair 101

Sign up for FLL Fair 101! Learn how 4-H Lego League members can participate at the Linn County fair!

February 18th 5:30 pm.

Register at 4-H Online!

Horticulture Judges Training

Are you interested in becoming a 4-H Horticulture Judge? Attend the upcoming training on February 25th at 6:00pm at the Linn County Extension Office! This is a FREE training! This training provides you with the opportunity to be added to the Judges list for county fairs in Iowa.

Questions: otter@iastate.edu

No School? No Problem!

Does your child have the day off of school on Tuesday March 18th? Are you looking for something educational for them? Look no further! Linn County 4-H is hosting a "No School? No Problem!" Day Camp!

From 9 am- 3 pm join us for a fun filled day of art, science, and games. The Location is 1770 Boyson Road Hiawatha (The extension office)

Please bring a lunch but snacks will be provided.

Cost is $30 per participant.

Sign up on Jotform.

Read Across Iowa: Bring the Joy of Reading Home!

Make reading a fun family tradition!

Check out the March Read Across Iowa Home Activity Calendar for book lists, activities, and fun ways to join the celebration!

sent on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 2:53 PM

 Let’s read, explore, and grow—one page at a time!

Brand new Horticulture Contest for Linn County Fair!

Join Master Gardner's and fellow 4-H members and learn about the new Horticulture Contest happening at the Linn County Fair this year. We will be going over rules, and plant ideas and answering any of your horticulture questions! Participants will be able to walk aways with free seeds to get started! 

• When: April 10th 5:30-6:30pm
• Who: K-12th grade youth and their adults
• Where: Linn County Extension Office

ISU Fashion Show Behind the Scenes Day

One of the largest student-run fashion shows in the nation happens right here at Iowa State – and you’re invited! April 11, 2025, is Behind the Scenes Day – we can’t wait to see you!

Throughout the day, you’ll participate in hands-on activities related to the fashion industry. The day ends with a front-row seat for the final dress rehearsal for The Fashion Show. This event is designed for high school students. Learn more and register to attend!

Graduation Honor Cords for Seniors in 4-H

We would like to recognize our 2025 graduating seniors with graduation cords for all the hard work you have put into the program these past several years! Please fill out this form by April 25th, 2025. Cords will need to be picked up at the Linn County Extension Office (1770 Boyson Rd. Hiawatha).

Note: Please check to make sure your school allows you to wear cords that they did not provide to you.

Senior Spotlight

We would like to recognize our 2025 graduating seniors at the 2025 Linn County Fair and all the hard work you have put into the program these past several years! Please fill out this form by May 31st, 2025.

11th & 12th grade scholarships!

Are you looking for scholarships? Apply for scholarships from the Iowa 4-H foundation! More than $100,000 in scholarships are available and range from awards of $250 to $5,000. Applications are due March 1, 2025. Read about the scholarships available. Parents or 4-H members with questions, please email linn4h@iastate.edu. We can also help you determine which scholarships you qualify for! Remember if you need a letter of recommendation, reach out early!! List of scholarships available to Linn County youth!

Annual Volunteer Training and Reporting Hours

Are you a 4-H Volunteer?

Annual Volunteer Training is now open on 4-H Online! Club leaders, you will be receiving an email with more detailed directions soon.

Report you volunteer hours on this form each month. If you missed a month, you can still submit them!

Links to Linn County Livestock/Animal Facebook Pages

Stay in the know, ask committees your questions!

• Beef Facebook Page, Beef Band App
• Dog Facebook Page
• Horse and Pony Facebook Page
• Rabbit and Cavy Facebook Page
• Poultry Facebook Page

Breeding Beef Tattoo Reminder

ALL breeding beef need a legible tattoo in their ear that matches the tattoo listed in 4-H Online. Physically check the tattoo in the ear to ensure it matches with what is on the registration papers and listed in 4-H Online. It is not recommended to rely on what others have told you the tattoo is. Verify the tattoo yourself! If you need assistance reading your tattoo or getting a new tattoo put in, please contact Josh Langhoff, Beef Committee Co-Chair, and he will come to your farm to help. Fresh tattoos are not allowed at the county fair. Tattoo your heifer prior to May 15th.

Bucket Bottle Calves must have 840 USDA Tag or 4-H Tag!

New this year, Bucket Bottle Calves, including Clover Kids Bucket Bottle Calves, must have an 840 USDA Tag or a 4-H Tag! 4-H tags can be bought from the Extension Office, and an Alfex red tagger can be borrowed until May 1st. Please email linn4h@iastate.edu with any questions.

Dog Orientation!

Dogs learn obedience. 4-H’ers learn responsibility!

Note: Any 4-H or FFA Member wanting to exhibit dog at the 2025 Linn County Fair must attend at least one orientation!

March 25th: 6:00pm or March 27th: 6:00pm

People only in attendance at orientation (no dogs). Dog classes will start on Tuesday, April 15th, at the Linn County Fairgrounds.

New to the dog project area and have questions? Orientation is the perfect time to ask. Want to ask prior? Email linn4h@iastate.edu RSVP for Dog Orientations through 4-H Online

Saddle up for Linn County 4-H Horse & Pony!

We need your help to plan the Horse Clinics, workshops, and fun events for our Horse and Pony Project this year!! Please plan to join us on February 13th at 5:30pm-6:30pm at the Extension Office! This is for adults and youth to attend so we can make this years horse workshops, clinics, and fun events something you want to attend. If you are unable to attend but have ideas please email otter@iastate.edu

Please RSVP so we have enough supplies for our hands on planning session!

RSVP for Horse & Pony Saddle Up for the new year event!

Equine Extravaganza!

• April 12-13, 2025
• Location: Ellsworth Equestrian Center, Iowa Falls, IA
• Audience: Youth in grades 4-12
• Cost: $40/team or $10/individual for Horse Judging, Quiz Bowl, Hippology | $10 for Model Horse Show | $8/entry for Horseless Horse Events (Financial assistance available for youth registration fees.)

Equine Extravaganza provides opportunities for all youth in grades 4-12 to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. Depending on the event, youth can participate both as an individual and as part of a team.

For more information visit the Iowa Equine Extravaganza Webpage!

Rabbit/Cavy need a tattoo or tag for County Fair

All rabbits must have a tattoo in their ear for identification to exhibit at the county fair. Cavy (guinea pigs) must have an ear tag. Families can schedule a time with the rabbit committee to accomplish either of these two identifications. Email dunlha00@gmail.com and/or christophe3.16@gmail.com

Rabbit Showmanship and Fair Entry Help Workshop!

Learn how Rabbit/Cavy Showmanship is different from other species and what to expect. Get practice questions and learn from the pros. Get a head start on the May 15th deadline. Bring a laptop, tablet, or phone with your 4-H Online login and password saved. 

Who: 4-H & FFA Members

When: March 1^st 9:00am-10:30am

Where: Kirkwood Linn Regional Center 

Register: 4-H Online

Iowa State Rabbit Breeders Workshop

Each spring, the Iowa State Rabbit Breeders volunteer to organize two area-wide workshops for youth wanting to raise and show rabbits for 4-H and FFA. The dates for 2025 are Sunday, March 9, at the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Colfax and Saturday, April 5, at the Muscatine Agriculture Learning Center in Muscatine—more information to come. Contact Lynne Rechterman with questions.

Rabbit School and Show

Date: April 13th 9:00am-12:00pm

Join 4-H and FFA Members for a fun ½ day of Rabbit and Cavy learning and a practice show! Sign up for either the morning or afternoon session. This will count as a Rabbit Orientation or Workshop for Linn County Fair!

Single Source Swine

Looking for a way to get involved in hogs but don’t know where to start? Single Source can be a great place to start! The Single Source Swine class is new this year!! This class allows 4-H or FFA members to purchase up to four (4) pigs. These pigs will all come from the same farm, have the same starting weight, and will be shown against each other at fair. Registration is open now and close on February 28th. Pick-up for these hogs will be on March 29th. Single Source Hogs will come with tags already in their ears. 4-H Members order at 4-H Online FFA email otter@iastate.edu Subject: Single Source.

Swine Tags

We do not host a weigh-in for hogs. Instead, families need to stop by the Extension Office and purchase ear tags for their hogs. Ear tag numbers need to be entered into 4-H Online by May 15^th for the Animal Identification deadline. If you need assistance with tagging, let extension staff know, and we can get a committee member to help you. Swine ear tags are USDA Sheild EID ear tags. If you already have these or similar tags, please email otter@iastate.edu prior to purchasing tags. 

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certifications are due May 15th, 2025 for those 4-H and FFA exhibitors wanting to show the following species at the Linn County or Iowa State Fairs.

Pigs—Beef Cattle—Sheep–Dairy Cattle— Goats—Rabbits/Cavy—Poultry

You will need to have YQCA completed prior to registering in FairEntry.

To complete YQCA follow the steps below:

Video Directions

1. Go to YQCAProgram.org
2. Sign-in or create an account
3. Select the member taking the course.
4. Select age of youth in 2024
5. Pay and take the course.
6. Take post test!
7. Save the certificate and certificate number. Email photo or PDF of the certificate to JD at otter@iastate.edu