Houston County | UMN Extension

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1. Home
2. About Extension
3. Houston County

Welcome to Houston County

Houston County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community.

Contact

[email protected] or 507-725-5807

Houston County Extension office

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Office hours and location

University of Minnesota Extension, Houston County[email protected]

611 Vista Drive Suite #2Caledonia, MN 55921

Staff in Houston County

Burrichter, JenniferAdministrative Support Staff507-725-5807[email protected]

Drewitz, KatieExtension Educator, Ag Production Systems507-725-5807507-951-6609[email protected]

Paulson, RebeccaExtension Educator, 4-H Youth Development507-725-5807507-218-2946[email protected]

Office hours

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. All events and news

Houston County events

View all events hosted in and near Houston County.

Extension courses and events

Extension provides in-person and online educational events all over Minnesota. Find one to attend.

Houston County news

Read all news from Houston County.

Extension wide news

Read the latest news from all of Extension's programs.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. About UMN Extension

Extension brings Minnesotans together to build a better future through University science-based knowledge, expertise and training. Learn more about Extension by visiting our about page and by browsing this website.

Like our Houston County 4H or Houston County Extension pages on Facebook to stay up to date!

4-H

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Join or re-enroll

Interested in learning more about 4-H?

• Contact our 4-H staff to learn more, including how to get started in 4-H.

Ready to join or re-enroll?

• Join 4-H or re-enroll

4-H helps youth develop leadership skills, build self confidence, develop public speaking skills, and other healthy life skills all while having fun and meeting new friends!

You name it, You can do it! And better yet, you can get a lot of help from adult volunteers and youth leaders. There are mentors who can teach you and help you learn. You can join a 4-H club through 12th grade where you can do all kinds of fun, learning activities.

Volunteering information

• How to become a Volunteer
• Volunteering with 4-H

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. About Houston County 4-H

Mission of 4-H Youth Development

The mission of the 4-H Youth Development program is to engage youth, in partnership with adults, in quality learning opportunities that enable them to shape and reach their full potential as active citizens in a global community.

The 4 H’s

• The Head is to signify clearer thinking.
• The Heart is to signify greater loyalty.
• The Hands are to signify larger service.
• The Health is to signify better living.

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 family, my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

4-H Motto

“To make the best better.”

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Ways to participate

4-H Youth Development is a hands-on learning program for Minnesota youth. We offer online, small group and independent learning experiences for youth of all ages. In 4-H, youth choose the topic they find interesting and caring adults support their learning and leadership. From agronomy to space exploration and creative arts to outdoor adventures, 4-H has just the right learning experience for young people.

There are also many ways adults (anyone age 18+) can support youth learning and leading in 4-H.

• Want to learn about volunteering with the 4-H Youth Development Program?

  • Visit the Volunteering with 4-H page to learn more about how volunteers positively impact youth and community

  • Contact your 4-H Extension Educator to learn about specific roles available in your community

• Ready to become a screened Minnesota 4-H volunteer?

  • Visit the Apply to become a 4-H volunteer page to begin the application and screening process

Club Activities-Please contact the Extension Office for more information and we will connect you with the clubs

Houston County Events

Minnesota State Opportunities

National Opportunities

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Events and news for 4-H

4-H events in Houston County

Attend a 4-H event near you.

Houston County Event Google Calendar

Houston County Events

All 4-H events

Find a 4-H event in Minnesota.

4-H news in Houston County

Stay informed about all that is happening in Houston County 4-H.

Statewide 4-H news

Learn more about what is happening in Minnesota 4-H.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Houston County Fair information

Houston County Fair 2026: August 19-23

Important Dates/Deadlines

• February 15: Market Beef ID in 4honline
• March 21: Spring Judging Day - Demonstrations, Communications, Creative Writing & Story Telling -use google form to sign up (coming soon)
• May 15: All other Animal ID deadline in 4honline
• May 15: Enrollment into 4-H deadline in 4honline
• May 15: All Lease papers due
• July 15: FairEntry registration Deadline for all Fair Project Sign up (classes)
• July 15: Club project registration form
• July 15: Stalling Form and Payment
• July 15: Club/Independent sign up for foodstand shifts on Google Form
• August 1: Poultry Statement of Origin Papers
• August 1: Horse Coggins Papers
• August 1: Dairy Gentetics/Prouduction Forms
• August 17: Performing Arts & Fashion Review Judging Day
• August 18: General Judging Day at Fair (1-7pm)
• August 19-23: Houston County Fair!
• August 22: All State Fair Registrations Due (Livestock and General trips must be accepted and paid for at the 4-H fair office by 6:00pm)
• August 23: 4-H State Fair Exhibitor Meeting (9:00am)

Important Resouces

• Register your fair entries in FairEntry
• Fair Entry User Guide
• Houston County 4-H Premium Book (new book coming soon!)
• Lamb Lead
• YQCA/LQA Training
• Livestock Interviews
• First time registering for county fair? Check out these resources.
• State 4-H project evaluation / judging criteria sheets
• 4-H policies
• More information on Minnesota 4-H Animal science and general projects
• State fair and Other state showcase events can be found on the State fair website.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Houston County 4-H member, club and leader resources

• Houston County Clubs
• Club and project leader information
• Leading a 4-H club
• Family Handbook
• 4-H ideas book
• Spotlight for new members
• Friends of 4-H Boosters application
• Reimbursement form

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Contacts for 4-H

Rebecca Paulson, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Houston County

Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-218-2946

Jennifer Burrichter, Administrative Support Staff, Houston County ExtensionEmail: [email protected]Phone: 507-725-5807

Like our Houston County 4H or Houston County Extensionpages on Facebook to stay up to date!

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Give to Houston County 4-H

Gifts support 4-H youth development in Houston County, and local programming coordinated by the Houston County 4-H Council.

Give today

Agriculture

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Events and news for agriculture

Agriculture events in Houston County

Attend an agriculture-related event near you.

Statewide agriculture events

Agriculture conferences, in-person events and online courses are offered all year around the state.

Agriculture news in Houston County

Find the latest on Extension agricultural research and news you can use on your farm from local experts

To nominate a Farm Family of the Year go here

Other local agriculture-related news and resources

• Soil Testing Information
• Food Safety Information

Statewide news and blogs

• Agricultural Business Management News - Business and financial resources for farmers.
• Beef News - Beef industry featured events, farm safety and animal health.
• Dairy News - Dairy industry featured events, farm safety and animal health.
• Fruit and Vegetable News - Local production and marketing of fruit and vegetable crops in Minnesota.
• Minnesota Crop News - Emerging issues affecting Minnesota row crops and forages.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Contacts for agriculture

Katie Drewitz, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, Houston/Fillmore County Extension Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-951-6609

Jennifer Burrichter, Administrative Support Staff, Houston County Extension Email: [email protected] Phone: 507-725-5807

Like our Houston County Extension page on Facebook to stay up to date!

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Other resources

UMN Agriculture Extension Fillmore & Houston County Facebook page

Gardening

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Houston County Extension Master Gardener volunteers

Welcome to University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners in Houston County

Houston County is located in beautiful Bluff Country along the Mississippi River in the Driftless Region of southeast Minnesota. The ancient topography presents a wonderful variety of habitats for native and cultivated plants. A wide range of micro-climates are provided by the various exposure aspects of these bluffs and the deeply eroded faces that have exposed a range of soils. The zone 4/5 temperature regimes lend to the variety of plants that can thrive here.

“Master Gardeners work toward a healthy environment for all Minnesotans. They provide information and strategies to help people achieve thriving lawns, flowers, fruits and vegetables and home landscapes while minimizing or eliminating the use of pesticides.”

More about Houston County Extension Master Gardener volunteers

The Houston County Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are a group of everyday people who are passionate about gardening and committed to giving back to their local communities in southeast Minnesota. Each member of this group has completed an educational program put on by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. This program covers many aspects of gardening, including botany, soils, trees & shrubs, herbaceous plants, indoor plants, fruits, vegetables, lawn care, entomology, plant pests, and diseases. In exchange for their certification, they must annually contribute at least 25 volunteer hours of education to the general public. As well, they must complete 5-12 education hours per year.

Some activities of Master Gardeners include:

• Teaching classes and workshops.
• Answering phone inquiries concerning home horticulture.
• Assisting with county Horticulture Days.
• Teaching and demonstrating horticulture techniques in community and school gardens.
• Teaching youth and judging horticulture projects.
• Media interviews and articles on horticulture topics.
• Speaking to schools and youth groups on gardening topics.
• Holding plant clinics at garden centers and farmers markets.
• Representing the program at county and state fair exhibits.
• Teaching horticulture in hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement centers.

The University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener™ program is an internationally recognized volunteer program. It exists in all 50 states, in Canada and in the United Kingdom. Nationally, there are nearly 100,000 Master Gardener volunteers from all walks of life. They reach about 5 million people each year – the equivalent of more than $100 million in value to communities. In Minnesota, the Master Gardener program is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension and has strong ties to the research and outreach of the Department of Horticultural Science.

Learn more about becoming a Master Gardener.

Check out the University of Minnesota Master Gardener Facebook Page.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Give to the Houston County Master Gardener volunteer program

Gifts support local programming coordinated by Houston County Master Gardener volunteers.

Make a gift on the University of Minnesota giving page.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Events and news for gardening

Gardening events in Houston County

Find gardening learning opportunities online and near you.

Statewide gardening events

Find out about the Master Gardener Volunteer core course or attend other events offered throughout the year.

Gardening news in Houston County

Find the latest gardening tips and news you can use in your own back yard from local experts.

Statewide news

• Yard and Garden News - Gardening tips and emerging issues affecting Minnesota.
• My Minnesota Woods - Find out how to take care of your trees and enjoy Minnesota's beautiful woodlands.
• Natural Resources News - From preserving our wetlands to combating invasive species, read about protecting and enjoying nature.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Gardening resources

• Become a Master Gardener volunteer
• Master Naturalist volunteers work in your community

Katie Drewitz, Extension Educator, Ag Production Systems, Houston/Fillmore County ExtensionEmail: [email protected]Phone: 507-725-5807 or 507-951-6609

Health and nutrition

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Houston County health and nutrition information

Extension offers a variety of educational programs about nutrition and health in Houston County. These programs are open to families and individuals of all ages who are eligible for benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or who meet Extension’s program income guidelines.

Programs are offered in community settings such as food shelves, schools, community centers and public housing sites. The programs are free to all individuals and families who meet income guidelines, and may be offered in multiple languages, depending on the audience needs and availability of educators.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Events and news for health and nutrition

Health and nutrition events in Houston County

Learn more about staying healthy and eating well.

Statewide health and nutrition events

Join Extension educators and community partners in events that encourage health, wellbeing and good nutrition.

Family News

Find information that helps families make informed decisions leading to better health and wellbeing.

Health and nutrition news in Houston County

Stay up to date with our health and nutrition news.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Health and nutrition resources

Use the Real Life, Good Food website to find recipes, cooking tips and physical activity ideas for a healthier life.

Sustainable communities

Open all | Close all Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Houston County community development

Extension engages Minnesotans to strengthen the social, civic, economic and technological capacity of their communities. We help create vibrant communities and enhance skills and knowledge in economics, leadership and civic engagement, and tourism.

Check our community research page for reports on county and community-focused topics relating to local economics, retaining businesses, growing retail markets, developing tourism, and more.

Local programs can be offered in collaboration with local community organizations and government agencies. Current programs include Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL).

Contact an educator in your area for consultation, guidance and conversation about your community.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Natural resources

Minnesota is a great place to explore, understand and conserve the natural landscape. Extension education, volunteer and participatory science programs encourage people to become stewards of Minnesota’s public and private lands.

Volunteer. Natural resources volunteers track invasive species, detect forest pests and count native bees, among many other activities. You also can study to become a Minnesota Master Naturalist.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships

Extension's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) connect Greater Minnesota communities and University of Minnesota knowledge and resources to support local sustainability projects.

Working in partnership, RSDP supports community-driven projects in four focus areas: agriculture and food systems, clean energy, natural resources, and resilient communities. Projects are supported by boards made up of local community members and University faculty and staff.

Learn more about RSDP’s recent work in your county and neighboring communities, and how to submit a project idea.

Plus sign (+) if content is closed, 'X' if content is open. Events and news for sustainable communities

Statewide community development events

Join us at an event in your community.

Statewide natural resources events

Find opportunities to learn about the natural environment, how to care for your forest lands, and how you and your family can get out and explore nature around the state and in your own backyard.

Community development news

Find information on community-focused news.

My Minnesota Woods

Find out how to take care of your trees and enjoy Minnesota's beautiful woodlands.

Natural Resources News

From preserving our wetlands to combating invasive species, read about protecting and enjoying nature.

RSDP Happenings

Learn more about community-driven sustainability projects happening across Minnesota.

Events in Houston County

Mar 7 SE Regional 4-H Project Day 2026 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Byron Middle School

Mar 21 Southeast region 4-H show goat barn tour 9 - 11 a.m.

Welter Show Goats

Mar 28 Olmsted and Winona Counties: LQA&E Training 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Dover-Eyota High School

Apr 11 SW MN Spring Wildlife Day 8:45 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Merit Center

Apr 11 Dodge County LQA&E Training 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Dodge County Extension Office

All Houston County events Arrow pointing to the right.

News from Houston County

Minnesota 87: Houston County

Deep winter greenhouses help farms thrive in winter

SE Region: Whitewater camp counselor application

We're looking for camp counselors in grade 9 and up to work with youth this summer at 4-H Summer Camp at Whitewater State Park.

Extension addresses nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota

Changes in the agricultural landscape have brought economic benefits to the region and the state, but they are also a significant driver of nitrate water quality issues.

SuperShelf update: June 2025

Extension's team of SNAP-Ed health and wellness coordinators has helped more than 80 food shelves reduce stigma and promote shopper choice by improving the layout of their physical spaces.

Houston County Farm Family

Meyer Family, 2025 Farm Family of the Year

All Houston County news Arrow pointing to the right. Page survey

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