4-H Friday Newsletter

Friday, October 16, 2026

LEADERS, MEMBERS, and PARENTS can contribute to the articles posted weekly by completing a short form and uploading their article and any photos at go.wisc.edu/2665ok. Articles for the current week must be submitted by 12 pm on Wednesday. We would love to hear from you. Secretary minutes can be submitted here too!

Here are the current standings as club teams are participating in the Goosechase Experience. If your club hasn't started yet, no worries! The Goosechase continues until Sunday, November 8! Don't wait as some missions do have a time limit! Youth under 18 need to have an adult volunteer on their team (their adult doesn’t need to be in all the pictures).

How to Register: 

1. Register for the game (or embed registration as part of the game?)
2. Download the Goosechase iOS or Android app
3. Log in. New to Goosechase? Sign up for an account or participate as a guest
4. Search for this Experience by name: 2026 National 4-H Week: Beyond Ready - or use the link: https://join.goosechase.com/eabe796e-5f25-42be-9d2e-7d50759daf4e
5. Enter passcode: 26BeyondReady
6. Join your club by finding your club’s name in the team list. (No club should require an additional password.)
7. Lastly, set yourself apart with a name and photo

Disclaimer: By signing up for this game, you are agreeing that photos may be used by the Fond du Lac County 4-H for promotional purposes. All team members must be listed on the registration form. Youth teams must have an adult listed on the form.

Submitted by Reporter Gabi W

At our October meeting we had a speaker named Jim Ford. He holds the Wisconsin state record for the heaviest giant pumpkin at 2551 lbs! He gave a presentation on how he grows his pumpkins. After the presentation we had our meeting. Alexia H and Bryce H gave project shares. Then we had our Halloween party and had contests for the best costumes and decorated pumpkins.

This is Jim Ford telling us about how he grows his giant pumpkins.

Bryce H showed us a clock he made and also talked about being in the Foods Revue.

Alexia H’s project share was a spider dragon she made.

Siggy R, Noah C, Isabella L and Cayden G all won for best costumes.

For the pumpkin contest Savannah S won for the most creative, Leah M won for the best carved, and Isabella L won for the best painted.

What a great meeting! Pumpkin decorating, costumes, caramel apple bar, treats, candy, next months banquet business, welcomed another new family and officer elections! Congratulations to our new officers!

2026-2027 Officers:
President - Klair G
Vice President - Eloise A
Secretary - Lilly L
Treasurer - Adella L
Reporter - Ryan Z
Club/County Communicator - Aubree A
Sergeant at Arms - Hope L & Mara F
Sunshine Officers - Kinsley S & Gracie H

See everyone next month for our annual banquet!

The annual Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest was held on Saturday, October 10, with a beautiful fall morning providing the perfect setting for some pumpkin fun! Fourteen Cloverbuds participated, bringing an impressive variety of creative pumpkins to share.

Teen leaders played an important role in the event by helping weigh, measure, and judge the pumpkins. While judging was underway, Cloverbuds had plenty of opportunities for fun. Youth climbed the big sledding hill and played games including Olympic Rock, Paper, Scissors and Wah Master.

Every pumpkin had something special about it! Congratulations to this year’s award recipients:

Largest in Circumference: Caden Z., Helping Hands 4-H
Tallest in Height: Ellie M., Campbellsport 4-H
Largest in Weight: Emer C., Rosendale 4-H
Most Unusual Shape: Emory H., Helping Hands 4-H
Best Pumpkin Color: Lysander, Ledgers 4-H
Smallest in Height: Liam C., Ledgers 4-H
Most Colorful: Cater Z., Helping Hands 4-H
Smallest in Weight: Zahne C., Rosendale 4-H
Scariest: Paige V., Ledgers 4-H
Most Unique: Grace C., Campbellsport 4-H
Funniest: Maggie G., Hands of Friendship 4-H
Best Use of the 4-H Theme: Donovan H., Helping Hands 4-H
Largest Overall: Paige K., Ledgers 4-H

Congratulations to all of our Cloverbuds who participated! Thank you for sharing your creativity and enthusiasm, and to our teen leaders for helping make the event run smoothly. We hope everyone had a fun morning celebrating pumpkins, friendship, and 4-H!

Join 4-H Youth Leader Austyn for a Comic Drawing Workshop packed with creativity on Sunday, October 25! Youth will learn how to build a comic drawing from start to finish. Austyn will lead participants through the drawing process while encouraging everyone to get creative and develop their own style. All drawing materials are provided, and youth can continue the fun at home by adding color or creating additional pages.

Come draw, create, learn some new techniques, and see where your imagination takes you! Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. The workshop is FREE, but registration is required.

Space is limited, so don't wait to sign up! https://26ComicArtWorkshop.4honline.com

Experience sessions at the UW River Falls lab farm with faculty from UW River Falls and other presenters and attend a number of rotating sessions on topics related to horses, developing your leadership skills, learning more about UW River Falls and so much more.

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Location: UW River Falls Campus and Lab Farm
Cost: $75.00 per person
Register by October 28th at https://264hhorseconference.4honline.com

All 4-H club officers elected for 2026-27 are invited and encouraged to participate in the annual club Officer Training Workshop on Saturday, November 7! Participants will learn the responsibilities of their officer positions, so it is important that all officers attend. Officers will also meet other 4-H members from throughout the county, and this will give them a chance to exchange ideas and build new relationships. Youth do not have to be incoming club officers to attend the training. Spread the word and invite your friends!

Sign up by November 2 at https://go.wisc.edu/271f22

Ambassadors get unique opportunities to represent Wisconsin 4-H, develop leadership skills, and contribute to statewide programming. Apply to join the Arts, Leadership, Agriculture, or NEW Outdoor Ambassadors depending on what inspires you most. Youth must be in grades 9-12 to apply!

Applications open now and until November 15th! Learn more and apply here: 
https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/wi-4-h-ambassador-team/

We would love to see you participate in the Fond du Lac County 4-H program. The Fond du Lac county deadline for returning 4-H members is Thursday, October 31 at 11:59 pm. We highly encourage youth to enroll in 4Honline as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss out on any opportunities. 

Achievement Banquet - October 18, 12:30pm, Rolling Meadows

Horse Project Meeting - October 20, 6:30pm, Rolling Meadows

4-H Project Learning Lab: Animals - October 21, 6:30pm

Art Workshop: Drawing Comics - October 25, 4pm, Fond du Lac County Campus

TLA Meeting - October 26, 6:45 pm, Rolling Meadows

LEGO Club - October 27, 6:30-7:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus

Re-Enrollment Deadline for Returning 4-H Members - October 31

Tri-County Science Expedition - November 4, Sign up through 4-H Online by Oct 26

Adult Leaders Association Meeting - November 5, 6:30 pm, Fond du Lac County Campus

Officer Training - November 7, 9:30 am, Fond du Lac County Campus

Horse Project Meeting - November 17, 6:30pm, Rolling Meadows

4-H Project Learning Lab: LEGO - November 19, 6:30pm

TLA Meeting - November 23, 6:45 pm, Rolling Meadows

LEGO Club - November 24, 6:30-7:30pm, Fond du Lac County Campus

Extension Office Closed - November 26 & 27

Art Workshop - November 29, 4pm, Fond du Lac County Campus

  Tracy Keifenheim

4-H Program Educator

tracy.keifenheim@wisc.edu

Sarah Stevenson

4-H Program Assistant

sarah.stevenson@wisc.edu

 Misty Jimenez

4-H Associate Educator

misty.jimenez@wisc.edu

UW Extension Fond du Lac County
160 South Macy St, 2nd floor
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 906-4623

http://fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/4h/

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.