By Crystal Reith Fifty-nine Murray County Central band and choir members, along with 11 chaperones, recently traveled to Florida for a musical education experience at Walt Disney World. Led by head chaperone and director Clayton Hartle, the trip took place June 13-19 and was designed to help students enhance their musicality and sharpen their musical skills while gaining insight into careers in the music industry.

The Minnesota Livestock Breeders’ Association, in conjunction with Minnesota 4-H and the 4-H Auction Committee, will award a minimum of $72,500 in scholarships to 4-H members furthering their education and work toward a post-secondary degree at an accredited college or university. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 1, 2026. Since the auction began in 1995, $959,000 has been awarded. More information and the applications for these scholarships can be found at mlbapurpleribbonauction.

The Southwest Regional 4-H Livestock Judging Contest was held on June 17, 2026, in Slayton. Murray County 4-H hosted 32 youth from the surrounding counties including Murray, Jackson, Lincoln, Brown, Lyon, and Pipestone County.

The Kiwanis Club of Slayton will observe its 75th Anniversary in conjunction with the Slayton Community Band at their Concert in the Park on Thursday, July 2nd, 5-7 p.m., at Gullord Park in Slayton. The Slayton Kiwanis Club was organized on July 17, 1951, and the Charter Night Banquet was held on August 10,1951, at Valhalla Resort, now known as Key Largo, rural Slayton.

You are invited to the Tracy Area Gardens and Quilts Tour in the Lake Sarah, Lake Shetek, and Currie area on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (The rain date is July 9.) The self-guided tour hours are from 2:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

By Kathy Schwartz, Murray County Master Gardener Shrub roses need very little pruning. Allow them to grow to their natural size and shape.

Summer has arrived and so have other things. Planting is done for a while.

Murray County 4-H’s summer programming for area youth recently held “The Great Waffle Challenge”, in which youth were given the task of creating a waffle out of different ingredients and opening their view of what a waffle could be.

The success of the Fourth of July holiday weekend depends on everyone working together to keep our roadways, trails, boat accesses, and lakes safe. Murray County, the Shetek Area Lakes Association, local law enforcement, fire departments, EMS personnel, and public works staff are committed to providing a safe environment for residents and visitors. However, public safety is a shared responsibility.

.