Clayton County Extension and Outreach Media for April 9th
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Clayton County ISU Extension & Outreach Media Packet for 4/9/26
April 25
9:00AM Beyond the Barn: Animal Care from the Inside Out West Union
April 28
9:00AM ServSafe® Food Handler Training - Spanish Waterloo
April 30
6:00PM Produce Basics Child Care Provider Training Online
7:00PM Spring 4-H Leader Meeting Elkader, IA
May 2
9:00AM Market Sheep & Goat Weigh-In Garnavillo
May 11
12:30PM Garden Q&A Live - May Online
May 13
7:30PM Clayton County Extension Council Meeting Elkader
33 Youth Weigh-in 116 Swine for the 2026 Derby Show at the Clayton County Fair
This year 33 Clayton County 4-H and FFA members weighed 116 head for the 2026 swine derby show at the Clayton County Fair. This is down one youth, but up one head from last year. The Derby competition uses the rate-of-gain along with visual appraisal by the judge for evaluation.
There is also a non-derby division in which 4-H and FFA members can participate in Clayton County. Those pigs are not weighed in April but do need to be identified with official ear tags by May 15. The tags are available at the Extension Office in Elkader. The 2026 Clayton County Fair Swine Show will be Thursday, August 6. For more information contact the ISU Extension & Outreach Office in Elkader at 563-245-1451.
Clayton County 4-H & FFA Derby pigs were weighed and tagged on April 4.
Market Sheep and Goat Weigh-In will be May 2
Clayton County 4-H and FFA members who intend to participate in the market sheep and meat goat classes at the 2026 county fair must qualify their projects at the weigh-in on Saturday, May 2. The weigh-in will be from 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Clayton County Fairgrounds in National. Animals will be weighed and ear-tagged at the site.
This will also be a site to qualify for the Iowa State Fair. State fair animals will have retinal imaging done. State Fair meat goats (market and breeding does) MUST have a 4-H tag (or tattoo for does). Retinal images are required for all state fair meat goats-both market & breeding. ALL State Fair sheep must have a 4-H tag and retinal images (Market lambs, commercial & purebred breeding ewes)
For more information on county and state fair rules and guidelines contact the Clayton County Extension Office at 563-245-1451.
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From Field to Future: Learning Opportunities at the Iowa Youth Crop Scouting Competition
Register for the 2026 Crop Scouting Competition by July 1
Sydney Peterson, Maya Hayslett
AMES, Iowa –The 2026 Crop Scouting Competition for youth is set for July 27, according to Iowa 4-H and the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. The competition will take place at the Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone.
Students in grades 7–12 from across Iowa have the opportunity to showcase their crop scouting abilities in this statewide competition that emphasizes both skill development and career exploration. The event highlights the importance of integrated pest management while engaging youth in interactive, real-world learning experiences.
The deadline to register is July 1.
In preparation, teams collaborate to lay a foundation in pest and disease identification, crop growth and field scouting techniques. According to program coordinator Maya Hayslett, a crop science youth education specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, the experience goes beyond memorization.
“The competition challenges students to think critically, communicate effectively and work as a team while making informed decisions about crop management in field-based scenarios,” Hayslett said.
On the day of the competition, participants rotate through multiple field stations set up in different crop plots. At each stop, they answer questions and complete hands-on tasks designed to test their knowledge and problem-solving skills. These stations are facilitated by university faculty, staff and professionals from the agriculture industry, offering students valuable exposure to experts and insight into potential careers in agronomy and related fields. The competition covers a wide range of topics, including weed and insect identification, crop diseases, plant disorders, growth staging, cover crops, pesticide application and sprayer calibration.
“I would definitely recommend (the competition). You learn something different each year,” said participant Collin Harder from Pottawattamie County. “I’ve been doing this for five years and you always learn something new. (It’s) definitely fun to do.”
Beyond the contest itself, students can connect with peers from around the state, enjoy a provided meal from Hickory Park and take part in additional activities that enhance the overall experience. Teams accumulate points based on their performance at each station. The highest-scoring teams are awarded cash prizes, and the top two teams earn the chance to represent Iowa at a regional competition in September, where they will compete against teams from six other states.
ISU Extension and Outreach has resources, including a coach’s guide, youth study guide, field guides, publications and presentations to help each team prepare for the event. For more information and resources, and to register, visit the Crop Scouting Competition webpage. You also can watch a recap from last year’s event.
Iowa 4-H extends special thanks to Corteva Agriscience for continued support of this educational experience for Iowa youth. Iowa 4-H also appreciates the support of Wyffels Hybrids, Iowa 4-H Foundation, Bayer, Syngenta, Nutrien, United Soybean Board, Iowa Independent Crop Consultants Association, Iowa Certified Crop Advisors, Iowa Soybean Research Center and Environmental Tillage Systems.
For answers to questions, please contact Maya Hayslett at hayslett@iastate.edu.
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Join Monthly Garden Q&A Live This Spring from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Get timely, research-based answers as the growing season gets underway
April 7, 2026, 11:12 am | Aaron J. Steil
AMES, Iowa — As lawns green up and gardens come to life across Iowa, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invites gardeners to take advantage of Garden Q&A Live, a monthly interactive program designed to provide timely help throughout the growing season.
Get expert gardening help with Garden Q&A Live
Garden Q&A Live connects home gardeners directly with Iowa State University horticulture experts during live, hour-long Zoom sessions. The program is tailored to Iowa and similar Upper Midwest conditions and offers practical, research-based answers to common and uncommon questions about lawns, landscapes and gardens.
“Spring is when many gardening questions start to pop up,” said Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture extension specialist with Iowa State. “From pruning and planting to diagnosing problems or planning ahead, Garden Q&A Live gives gardeners a reliable place to get answers and make confident decisions.”
Ask questions on lawns, landscapes and home gardens
Sessions include experts who can answer questions about a wide range of home gardening topics, including trees and shrubs, flowers, vegetables and fruits, lawns, houseplants, weeds, insects, diseases and general plant care. Participants may submit questions when they register or ask them live during the program. Photos can also be shared to help experts better assess specific problems.
Join monthly live gardening sessions on Zoom
Garden Q&A Live is held on the second Monday of each month from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and continues throughout the growing season. Participation is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required for each session. The next Garden Q&A is set for April 13.
“Even gardeners who don’t have a specific question can learn a lot by listening to what others are asking,” Steil said. “It’s a great way to stay informed, troubleshoot issues early, and help get the most out of your garden, lawn and landscape.”
To learn more and register for upcoming sessions, visit the Garden Q&A Live page.
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Additional Stories Published Online
The following news releases have been published on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.
The 2026 Crop Scouting Competition for youth is set for July 27, according to Iowa 4-H and the Iowa State University Integrated Pest Management program. The competition will take place at the Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone. The deadline to register is July 1.
Drones are beginning to play a role in Iowa agriculture, particularly for crop monitoring and pesticide application, but most farmers remain uncertain about the technology’s advantages and limitations, according to results from the 2025 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers conducted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
As lawns green up and gardens come to life across Iowa, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invites gardeners to take advantage of Garden Q&A Live, a monthly interactive program designed to provide timely help throughout the growing season.
Iowans face a wide range of disasters each year, and preparation is one of the most effective ways to reduce risk. To support communities statewide, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has launched a new Disaster Readiness website — a one-stop hub for trusted information and resources to help Iowans prepare, respond and recover from disasters.
Local elected officials and community leaders across Iowa can register this spring for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Introduction to Planning and Zoning for Local Officials, a three-hour workshop focused on land-use issues that shape development patterns, business growth, farmland and access to public spaces. Evening workshops in April and May are still open for registration.
Cathy Hockaday, a health and human sciences program manager with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, was awarded the Ellen Swallow Richards Public Service Award from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board on Health and Human Sciences.
4/2/2026 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to Host Two New Summer Cooking Camps for Youth
Youth may register now for two new Cyclone Kitchen Summer Camps to be held on the Iowa State University campus in June. Designed for students entering fourth through seventh grade, these hands-on culinary camps give youth the chance to explore cooking, creativity and healthy living in a real teaching kitchen. Human Sciences Extension and Outreach is offering the camps in partnership with Iowa 4 H Youth Development.