Clover Chatter
CHARLES MIX COUNTY
Record Books
Be sure to start filling out your record book for the 2024-2025 4-H year! As they are due September 30th! Start early and set your goals! Lets have a great year! *There are record book covers in the office for any new member needing one!*
Youth Horse Literacy
Be sure to complete your YHL by June 1st and let the office know when you have done so! Charles Mix County YHL/YLL Event will take place May 2nd at the 4-H Center in Lake Andes. Note: YLL deadline is July 1st.
4-H Calendar
March 10th Beef Weigh In March 24th Leaders Meeting
Attention Sheep and Goat Exhibitors!
Sheep and goats are required to have a federal scrapie tag in order to exhibit in 4-H, in conjunction with federal laws. This scrapie tag will serve as the primary form of identification for all South Dakota 4-H sheep and goat exhibits. Any additional tags are also accepted as forms of animal ID, so long as they also have a federally approved scrapie tag. To obtain your tag, visit this link: aib.sd.gov/officialid.html
Alert: Dog Volunteer
Looking for a dog volunteer to run dog practices and help put on a dog show during county fair! If you or someone you know would be interested, have them contact Lesley or the office for more information.
County and State Horse Show Dates Announced!
The county Horse Show will be June 25th at the 7N Arena in Bon Homme Co.
The 2025 State 4-H Office Horse Show will be held in Huron at the State Fairgrounds on July 8th10th, 2025.
Check out the Show Guide Link here!
https://extension.sdstate.edu/stat e-horse-show-judging-andhippology
4-H Scholarship Application
County Fair Dates Announced!
The Charles Mix Leaders Association has announced the 2025 dates for the County Fair. The Fair will be taking place on July 29th-August 2nd.
The 2025-2026 4-H scholarship application is now posted on the SDSU Extension website here: https://extension.sdstate.edu/south-dakota-state4-h-scholarship-application Scholarship applications are due to the State 4-H Office the first Monday in April, which is April 7th this year. The County office is responsible for submitting the completed applications to the State Office, so please plan accordingly. Scholarship applications can be mailed or sent via email by the county to sdsu.4h@sdstate.edu County Note: I will be out of the office on April 7th for a training in Mitchell. Therefore if you could have them to me by the April 4th that would be great!
SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture. Learn more at extension.sdstate.edu. © 2024, South Dakota Board of
Meetings
Leaders Association
Mar. 24th, 2025 @ 4-H Center
Starts at 6:00 pm in Lake Andes
Fair Board
April 28th , 2025
7:00pm @ 4-H Center in Lake Andes
Clubs
Hearty Helpers
Meet the second Sunday of each month in Geddes
Community Hardworkers
Meet the second Sunday of each month in Wagner.
SOUTH DAKOTA 4-H YLL OPPORTUNITY
Don’t miss this opportunity to attend the 605 Sires and Donors 4-H Youth Livestock Literacy Program on May 27, 2025, from 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m. at 27666
443rd Ave. Marion, SD. This Youth Livestock Literacy approved program will include a hands-on tour of the state-of-the-art facilities at 605 Sires + Donors where participants will be able to witness how conventional semen practices in the beef industry are conducted. In doing so, participants will learn about collection procedures, storage and shipment of specimens, housing of sires and donors, and more. This is a great opportunity for participants to visit and learn from a renowned sire/donor operation right here in South Dakota! The 605 Sires and Donors Team is excited to work with South Dakota youth and has graciously agreed to offer this program statewide to youth ages 8- 18 as of January 1, 2025. In order to prepare for hosting this event, youth must register at the following link by May 22, 2025. https://forms.gle/wj5FLijo7TW5yUQDA If you have any questions, please contact Deanna Gall at deanna.gall@sdstate.edu.
Community service project available Junior Leaders Meeting March 22nd in Mitchell. Contact office for more information. All 13 to 18 year olds are welcome to come and learn about what the Junior Leaders in Charles Mix are doing!
Do you love to garden?
We are looking for youth that would like to grow up to 25 watermelons for the watermelon eating contest that is during the county fair. Please contact the office if you are interested and want more details. Mark your calendar Sheep/Swine/Goat weigh in as well as Youth Livestock Literacy will be May 2nd Weigh in starting at 4:00 pm YLL & YHL starting at 6:00pm
2025 4-H Summer Camps
SDSU Extension 4-H will host multiple different camp this summer Each camp will give youth the opportunity to meet other campers from across the state, participate in experiential educational activities and experience the recreation opportunities the facilities provide.
Poinsett-Session 1
June 2 - 4, 2025
Lake Poinsett Camp & Living Waters
Retreat Center, Arlington
Ages: 8-12 year olds
Cost: $185
Poinsett-Going Beyond
June 9 - 11, 2025
Lake Poinsett Camp & Living Waters
Retreat Center, Arlington
Ages: 12-14 year olds
Cost: $185
Registration
Poinsett-Session 2
June 4 - 6, 2025
Lake Poinsett Camp & Living Waters
Retreat Center, Arlington
Ages: 8-12 year olds
Cost: $185
Storm Mountain
June 15 - 18, 2025
Storm Mountain Center, Rapid City
Ages: 8-12 years old
Cost: $250
ALL camp registrations are due May 11, 2025. Scan the QR code or visit extension.sdstate.edu/events to register.
For more information
Kyle Beach | SDSU Extension Program Manager, Regional Youth Educator kyle beach@sdstate edu | 605-773-8120
SDSU Extension is an
South Dakota Board of Regents and the United
© 2025, South Dakota Board of Regents
So uth Dakota 4-H Information Sheet
4-H Youth Horse Literacy
Introduction
The South Dakota 4-H program has a long history of promoting equine education. Youth participating in equine projects are encouraged to maximize their education by taking advantage of many learning opportunities throughout the year To mitigate the higher risk associated with participating in equine projects, a minimum of one Youth Horse Literacy (YHL) certified event is required each program year for youth interested in exhibiting equine in a county horse show or the state horse show. (In 2022, YHL replaced the former Horse Safety Program with a more diverse slate of educational opportunities.)
Procedure [last updated March 1, 2024]
Here is a handy checklist SD4-H horse exhibitors will complete before the annual June 1 deadline:
□ Enroll youth and projects in 4hOnline
o Upload Horse animal information and photographs
o Upload Lease Form, if applicable.
□ Complete at least one YHL certified event. See menu of options on the next page.
o If attending the event in your own 4-H county, be sure to sign in at registration
o If attending a YHL event out-of-county, you will receive a completion certificate that you can convey to your home 4-H county’s Extension Office
Special Note for 4-H State Horse Show Exhibitors
Additional requirements apply to participate in the State 4-H Horse Show Look to the South Dakota 4-H Horse Project Show Guide (usually available around April 15) for these additional guidelines
Special Note for 4-H Rodeo Exhibitors
Voluntary participation at a YHL event each year is strongly encouraged; however, your annual safety obligations are met by attending the mandatory on-site safety orientation at each 4-H rodeo you attend
SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture
Learn more at extension sdstate edu © 2024, South Dakota Board of Regents
South Dakota 4-H Information Sheet
YHL Menu of Options
Choose one of these educational options to meet the annual YHL requirement # #
1. Attend a 4-H YHL certified event in county; common examples include:
•
• Horse specific clinic on vaccination, health, care, feeding, etc
Horse specific workshop on elements of preparing for a show
o o Showmanship, grooming, bits, etc
Must include at least one safety element
2 Attend a 4-H YHL event in another South Dakota 4-H county
3 Complete one approved online learning option (options listed below)
• Horse Sense: Equine Youth Safety Course
Counties currently experiencing a 4-H staffing vacancy will usually have fewer YHL options
o Register at: https://www myhorseuniversity com/youth-safety Watch program minimum of 1 hour of content; turn in a brief reflection paper of your learning
• Complete Stay Safe Working with Horses Interactive Course
o https://innovativemedia nmsu edu/products/information/safewithhorses html
Complete the three (3) chapter; turn in a brief reflection paper of your learning
• AQHLearn (some have a $ fee)
o https://learn.aqhuniversity.com/collections
Complete one (1) Level 2 or 3 course or two (2) Level 1 courses; turn in certificate(s)
4. Compete in the previous July’s State 4-H Hippology Contest or other approved Hippology Contest
• Critique and review of the answers is strongly encouraged
To learn about Youth Horse Literacy opportunities in your county and beyond, contact your local Extension/4-H Office.
SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture
Learn more at extension sdstate edu © 2024, South Dakota Board of Regents