ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — Minnesota 4-H is beginning a new webinar series to introduce youth grades K-3 to the animals found on farms in Minnesota.
Guest speakers in the program introduce one or more animals and teach the 4-H members how to care for them and what they eat. Youth attending these programs learn about animals they may not otherwise see if they do not live on a farm themselves.
The upcoming webinars will be hosted on Saturday, Jan. 15, Saturday, Jan. 22, Thursday, Jan. 29, and all Saturdays in February. Through the online platform, youth across the state will be able to access the webinar and learn without having to travel or leave their homes. Speakers range from 4-H alumni to current 4-H members.
“We were also able to [include] videos and e-books from farmers across the nation that gave tours of their operations,” said Leah Polejewski-Bueltel, the 4-H STEM coordinator from Lyon County and a member of the Down on the Farm planning team. “When choosing these speakers and videos, we looked for information that was grade-level appropriate and had accurate information.”
Each member of the planning team used the resources from their area of the state to contribute to a well-rounded program. Members of the team include Crystal Reith from Cottonwood County, Mackenzie Wolf from Nobles County, Brandi Schaap from Pipestone County, Leah Polejewski-Bueltel from Lyon County, Program Associate Kelsey Maeschen from Rock County, Tracy Ignaszewski from Steele County, Amy Wadding from Freeborn County and Nancy Hegland the area program leader. These team members worked with three Minnesota 4-H members to make videos touring the member’s farms and explaining how to care for their animals to the young webinar viewers. Participants are encouraged to take their learning beyond the webinar, too, with hands-on activities such as making horse treats along with the video webinar.
In addition to the benefits of the webinar, Polejewski-Bueltel notes that “youth do not have to own livestock [to participate] like some would think. 4-H offers a wide variety of agricultural opportunities like farm tours, webinar series, project bowls and ambassador groups. Each offers their own unique way of learning about agriculture and is a great way to explore the different sides of agriculture.”
Get involved or register your child for the Down on the Farm Webinar at v2.4honline.com. Minnesota 4-H is an out-of-school, hands-on learning program for people ages 5-19. 4-H clubs are groups of youth who want to learn together and meet in every part of Minnesota. For more information about 4-H, contact Jeannie Ward at wardx064@umn.edu.
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