May 27, 2026

Marie's Message

June Dairy Month: Celebrating a Wisconsin Tradition

June is Dairy Month—a time to celebrate the farmers, families, and communities who make Wisconsin’s dairy industry so special. Here in Dodge County and across the state, dairy is more than an industry—it’s a way of life that connects us to our land, our food, and each other.

From milk and cheese to yogurt and ice cream, dairy foods provide the nutrients that fuel growing bodies and active lifestyles. But Dairy Month is also about people—the hardworking farm families, youth learning through 4-H animal projects, and volunteers who help share agriculture’s story with our communities.

In 4-H, dairy projects offer young people opportunities to build responsibility, develop skills, and discover their sparks—whether caring for animals, learning about nutrition, or exploring agricultural careers. Events like the Dairy Brunch and local promotions give our members a chance to connect with the public and share what they’ve learned.

This month, we encourage you to celebrate by supporting local dairy farms, trying a new dairy product, or attending a community event. Look for ways to learn, give back, and show appreciation for the people behind Wisconsin’s proud dairy tradition.

Happy June Dairy Month!

Marie

Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
marie.witzel@wisc.edu
920-386-3790

If clubs or groups have items to share, send them by noon on Monday to be included in that week’s issue. Anything received after 12 p.m. Monday will be considered for the following week. 

Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu

From April 10th to April 15th, seven delegates from across Wisconsin, two chaperones, and I went to Arlington, Virginia, to attend the National 4-H Conference. We got to meet delegates from 36 states, various U.S. military bases, Puerto Rico, and the Mariana Islands, and were divided up into roundtable groups. Each group got to discuss a specific relevant topic, and I chose Roundtable #18: Building Agriculture's Future Leaders. Each roundtable got to present to an agency or department assigned to them, and #18 got to present to the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture. Throughout the week, my delegation also got to visit various museums, including the Holocaust Museum, the Spy Museum, and the National Museum on Asian Art. During the last few days of the conference, we also got to visit Capitol Hill, where we met the House Representatives from our respective congressional districts and some of their staff. Overall, the experience was invaluable and allowed me the chance to network with 4-Hers from other parts of the U.S. as well as the officials who help keep our country running.                                                          

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Camp Orientation on June 23 at 6:30 PM via Zoom! This session will help campers and families get ready for an exciting week at camp.

During the orientation, you’ll meet our camp counselors through fun introductions slides,  hear important updates about camp plans and health information. It’s a great opportunity for campers to start building connections and feel comfortable before arriving at camp.

We hope you’ll join us!

By the way the counselors have chosen our theme as America Celebrates 250 at Dodge County 4-H camp

Green County 4-H Horse Project is hosting a "Horse Fun Show" on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at the Green County Fairground, Monroe. 

This event is open to 4-H members and non-4-H members, in 3rd grade thru one year past high school, not to exceed age 19 as of 1/1/2026. All riders ride at their own risk.

A clear, color copy of Coggins for each horse brought, with the Premise ID written on top of where the horse is housed, must to turned in at the event, unless already submitted to the Green County Extension Office in 2026.

Youth under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. Youth and parent MUST agree to and sign the 4-H Horse Project Concussion Agreement, in order for the youth to participate.

Entry fee is $5.00 per class, or a maximum of $45.00 per person and maximum of $75.00 per family. Entry fees will be paid at check-in on the day of the event. Checks made payable to: Green County 4-H Adult Leaders.

Register by June 9, 2026 

Registration is now open for the 2026 WI 4-H Area Animal Science Days, with events hosted in Grant County (June 19) and Clark County (June 30). 

Registration deadline: June 1, 2026. Participants should review the registration guide before signing up. 

Youth can participate as individuals or teams; entries include judging contests, plus optional poster and photography contests.

Cost: $12 per participant; optional lunch is $10 and must be pre-ordered. 

Teams can be registered by a volunteer or staff member; individuals can register themselves. 

There will be up to 3 scholarships for no less than $1,000 each. Applications are due by July 25th of the current year.

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and the Dairy Innovation Hub are excited to announce the return of Badger Dairy Camp to the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus from July 9-12, 2026. The goal of this program is to educate youth about the breadth of areas that contribute to Wisconsin's dairy industry and the higher education and career opportunities available. The program includes hands-on workshops, tours, and recreational activities for youth ages 12-17 as of January 1, 2026. 

Registration is now open. The camp is limited to 100 campers, and applicants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the button to learn more and to register. You can also contact Megan Lauber directly at (262) 902-3156 or badgerdairycamp@ansci@wisc.edu.

Our 46th Annual Dodge County Dairy Brunch it will be held at the Dodge County Fairgrounds outside of Beaver Dam on Sunday, June 7th, 2026 from 9am until 12:30pm. 

Please sign up to help at the Cream Puffs & Carmel Apple Slices stand, the WWA Ice Cream Booth, Fish Pond, and 4-H Promotion Booth! 

At the Dodge County Fair, 4-H youth have the opportunity to go beyond displaying their projects—they can share the story behind their learning. Through reflection, youth highlight the skills they’ve built, the challenges they’ve worked through, and how their passions have grown throughout the year. This experiential learning approach helps youth connect their efforts to real-world skills like communication, confidence, and personal growth.

Who may exhibit at the Dodge County Junior Fair?
All youth who are Dodge County youth organization members (4-H, FFA, Jr. Holstein Assn, or other recognized youth organization under adult leadership, grades K-13, that has an education program appropriate to that organization and is approved by the Dodge County Fair Board) are eligible to exhibit. Cloverbuds (grades K-2) may enter the Cloverbud category ONLY.  Exhibitor grade is January 1 of the current year.

How to Enter Junior Fair Exhibits
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Dodge County Junior Fair Entry Coordinator with questions dodgecountyjrfair@gmail.com or 920-386-3834

⚠️ Deadline for Junior Fair Entries is June 12th at 7 PM.

Sign Up Now 👇🏻

Dairy-judging practices

Next DYAC meeting

The next DYAC meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at the Dodge County Administrative Building Main Auditorium, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039. Everyone is welcome.

Reminder about dairy-activity cards

In an effort to be more efficient, all dairy-activity cards must be printed and have signatures prior to arrival for the annual mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting on July 27, 2026, at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The exception to this effort is the line for "attendance at the mandatory exhibitor meeting."

General questions? Contact DYAC via e-mail: dodgecountydyac@gmail.com.

JUNE

16 - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 7 PM

29 & 30 - July 2: 4-H Summer Camp at Upham Woods

PYD Media Collection Project Resources Follow the link to learn more about the collection and request materials.

4HOnline  Log in to your account at the Wisconsin 4-H Online Sign in page

Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Website

WI 4-H Policy Updates

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

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension
Dodge County 4-H
Extension Dodge County  127 E. Oak Street  Juneau, WI 53039-1329
tel: 920.386.3790    fax: 920.386.3928