MAY 2026

(published May 12, 2026)

All 4-H Club and Countywide Project Leaders, 4-H Event/Activity Chairpersons or Organizers: Contribute to the articles posted monthly by completing a short form and uploading your article or photos using link: Newsletter article submission form 

NOTE: Articles for the current monthly newsletter, must be submitting by 2 pm. on the Monday before. Newsletter is published on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Any photos submitted with youth, must be identified for photo release.

As we move into May, our 4‑H year begins to shift into a season full of growth, learning, and connection. From preparing for summer programs and events to celebrating the dedication of our youth, volunteers, and families, there is a lot to look forward to in the months ahead. This edition of the Harbinger highlights important updates, upcoming opportunities, and ways your family can stay engaged and make the most of the 4‑H experience. Thank you for being an essential part of our 4‑H community. We’re excited to continue learning and growing together!

- Thanks, Abi, 4-H Educator - Ozaukee County 4-H 

A heads up to 4-H families that more information about 4-H volunteer shifts at County Fair and sign-up links for the various volunteer areas will be available on Friday afternoon, May 15th. Please watch your email for more information at that time. 4-H at County Fair webpage will also have updated information posted. Thank you!

You are invited to the attend the Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association meeting on May 21 from 7:30-9:00 pm at the TJ Middle School in Port Washington.

The Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association members encompass Ozaukee County 4-H members, volunteers, leaders, and families. We work together to expand and enrich the 4-H experience in the Ozaukee County 4-H Program. Together, we plan countywide 4-H activities, events, and fundraisers.

Leaders Association Board will submit a meeting agenda that will be posted on the Leaders & Volunteers page of the website once submitted.

We look forward to seeing you at the May meeting!

We’re excited to announce Cloverbud Day Camps for Summer 2026! Youth are invited to attend any and all dates that are of interest to them. Youth need to be a minimum of 5 years old and going into 5K-2nd grade.

Registration opens Wednesday, May 13th!

These camps offer age appropriate learning and the introduction of "sparks" to youth through 4-H. Explore new ideas, build confidence through hands-on discovery, and more by attending Cloverbud Day Camp! Please note that the day camps are open to all youth; youth do not need to be a member of 4-H to participate in the fun.

Any questions, please contact Abi, 4-H Educator, at abi.quinlan@wisc.edu

Join us for the New 4-H Family Fair Orientation on Tuesday, June 9th 2026, 6:30-8:00 pm at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds, Pavilion in Cedarburg. The whole family is welcome to participate in this FREE event.

FAIR ENTRY INFORMATION: Learn how to enter your exhibits and receive help with online entries for this year’s fair.

TOUR THE FAIRGROUNDS: Guided tours of areas to pick up entry tags for projects, where judging is held and where your projects will be displayed.

PRACTICE JUDGING: Try our face-to-face judging just like at the fair.  Bring a project you made this year to show and tell with the judge.

HAND ON ACTIVITIES: Make a simple hands-on project.

HELP WITH RECORD BOOKS: Get information on preparing your record book and see completed pages.

Please register by June 5, 2026 using link: 2026 New Family Fair Orientation

Ozaukee County Fair Dates: July 29-August 2, 2026

Face-to-Face Judging for static (non-animal) exhibits: July 23 and July 24, 2026

- Submitted by Carol Boehlke, 4-H Volunteer Event Coordinator

Attention 4-H Youth and Adults! Volunteers needed to make this event a success! The New Family Fair Orientation is set for Tuesday, June 9th at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds. Many hands are needed to ensure a smooth event and give our newer 4-H families preparation tools for the upcoming County Fair! Come help us and sign-up today for a wide variety of volunteer positions.

Sign-up using link: New Family Fair Volunteer Sign-up

- Submitted by Carol Boehlke, 4-H Volunteer Event Coordinator

We will be crowning a new Mr. & Miss Ozaukee 4-H 2026-2027 at the Ozaukee County Fair. This could be you! Older youth are invite to apply and be an ambassador for Ozaukee County 4-H throughout the next 4-H year!

A candidate letter with information explaining dates, times and duties as well as an application form can be found on the Ozaukee County 4-H website. Go to the 4-H Forms/Resources page, under 'Countywide Activities' to download the letter and form. All forms are due July 12th to Dorothy Parchim.

If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Parchim at 262-370-4745 or rondorpar@yahoo.com

- Submitted by Dorothy Parchim, 4-H Volunteer Event Coordinator

The Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association is once again offering an opportunity for local businesses and community members to support our 4-H youth through the Ozaukee County 4-H Business Awards award at county fair. 

4-H projects created by Ozaukee County 4-H youth are selected, typically based on merit, to receive a special award, sponsored by your business. Your contribution could be a gift certificate/gift card, monetary donation (cash or check), or an item that supports the 4-H member’s future project work.  

Projects receiving your award will be displayed at the Ozaukee County Fair along with a certificate recognizing your business name. In addition, a sponsor board will be featured in the 4-H exhibit building.  After the fair, a thank-you advertisement will be published in the News Graphic and Ozaukee Press. 

If you are interested in participating in the 4-H Business Awards program, we would love to hear from you!  Please contact us at:  businessawards@oz4hleaders.org, and a member of our Business Awards Committee will coordinate details and donation pickup. 4-H is a 501(c)(3) organization, and your donation is tax deductible.

The deadline to be a part of the 4-H Business Awards is June 15th, with all donations collected by July 1st, 2026.

Thank you for considering a donation in 2026!  Your generosity helps make this program meaningful and successful for our 4-H youth.

Questions regarding Business Sponsor Awards can be directed to businessawards@oz4hleaders.org

-Submitted by the Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association Business Awards Committee

The Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association is in the stage of developing our thank you certificate for this year. We are looking for 4-H families that have a small business that we can support! We plan to give each 4-H'er and their family a certificate that has specific organizations listed (hopefully yours!) that they can then spend their voucher at and then at the end of the time period you will be reimbursed for all the certificates you have received. Remember we are looking for businesses that would be geared towards families with 4-Hers. If you participated last year, we ask that you still fill out this year's form. 

For more information and to submit your small business info, please access the Small Business Google form now through May 31st.

- Submitted by Danielle Gettelman, 4-H Volunteer Leader Association Event Coordinator

Reminders & Mark Your Calendars!

Port Washington Farmers Market 4-H Brat Stand: Sign-up Open. The 4-H brat fry at the PWFM sign-up is accepting sign-ups! This weekly event during summer and fall is a great way to raise money for 4-H clubs, groups, or projects. It takes a few hours on a Saturday and you can do it with a small group of volunteers. More information and sign-up is available using link: 2026 OZ 4-H Port Washington Farmers Market Sign Up

4-H Lemonade Stand at Cedarburg Festivals: Sign-up Open. Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association partners with the Cedarburg Festivals Committee to run a lemonade stands during the Strawberry Festival (June) and Wine & Harvest Festival (September). This is a fundraising event that provides funds to support our 4-H youth programming and scholarships. Sign-up for your volunteer shift using link: 2026 4-H Lemonade Stand

Fairgrounds Reservations-Digital Form. Reminder that 4-H leaders must submit this Google Form to reserve the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds space for upcoming events. Once you’ve submitted the form, county staff will review it and either approve your requested date(s) or, if unavailable, propose alternatives.

Adults must be approved volunteers to be actively leading projects or working with 4-H youth. If you are not a current approved volunteer this year, you can not serve in your 4-H volunteer role. Questions about your enrollment or status? Log into your 4HOnline account to check status OR call the Extension office at 262-284-8288.

Recently, The Haunt Scholarship Committee named the 2025-2026 Haunt Scholarship award recipients. Congratulations goes out to the following Ozaukee County 4-H Youth:

Thank you for all of your participation and hard work through the years! The Haunt Scholarship is awarded to any current member of Ozaukee County 4-H who has worked at The Haunt and is pursuing higher education.

- Submitted by Michelle Kringel, The Haunt Scholarship Volunteer Coordinator

Pinewood Derby 2026 was held on April 12th. Thank you to the volunteers and participants that attended Build Day, Physics Day, and Race Day, making this a great annual event again.

Physics Day participants explored and applied science and engineering principles to test their cars and prepare for race day.

The Pinewood Derby Race Day was a fun day as always! This year we had many technical difficulties, but a great crew to get us through. A special thank you to those that come back year after year to help with this event. We had several new volunteers this year to help the events run smoothly. Everyone that contributes in any way to these events, you are all truly appreciated!

A total of 60 participants raced this year and ages ranged from pre-school to adult!

- Submitted by Sue Dowe, 4-H Adult Volunteer Event Coordinator

On April 25th, the 2026 WI State 4-H Dog Quiz Bowl happened in Green Bay, WI. The Ozaukee County 4-H Dog Project had four youth compete in the Mixed Teams division. They won their first three games and advanced to the championship match! They lost their first game but rallied to win the second and ended up winning first place! Way to go team! Your hard work and weekly study sessions paid off!

Congrats team members!

- Submitted by Alycia Kringel, 4-H Dog Project Volunteer Leader

The Ozaukee County 4-H Dog Show was held at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds, Show Arena on Saturday, May 9th. Congratulations to all the Dog Project members who competed at the show and completed a successful year of dog training! A special congratulations goes out to the following youth who placed in top honors:

Thank you to all the parents and youth who helped set up and take down the dog show. It was greatly appreciated!

- Submitted by Alycia Kringel, 4-H Dog Project Volunteer Leader & Dog Superintendent

The Ozaukee County Fair has published the 4-H Youth Premium Book! Please read it over carefully. One hard copy of the book was distributed to each Ozaukee 4-H Club. Please note, this is a 3-year Book. You may also find it on the Fair website, along with the updated judging schedule: https://www.ozaukeecountyfair.com/4-h-open-class-school-art-entries

Additionally, the online entry system, known as ShoWorks, is now open and ready for your entries! 

The Ozaukee County Fair is requiring Premise ID numbers for any animal entries (except dogs & rabbits). 

For additional assistance or if you have other questions regarding your entries, first read your Fair Premium Book. If you have further questions, contact your club leader or email: exhibits@ozaukeecountyfair.com  

The Ozaukee County Fair website is a great resource to access all things related to Fair! Visit the website: https://www.ozaukeecountyfair.com/

The 167th Ozaukee County Fair is approaching, July 29-August 2, 2026. Judging for many non-animal projects will take place ahead of the Fair.

4-H Clothing Revue: Tuesday, May 26th, starting at 6:00pm @ the Ozaukee Pavilion South (4-H Clothing Review exhibitors must enter in ShoWorks by May 12, 2026).

All other fair entries must be registered by July 1, 2026. No exceptions.

Non-Animal Pre-Fair Judging: Thursday, July 23rd and Friday, July 24th from 1:00-6:00 pm in the Expo Center (Curling Building).

2026 Judging Schedules are posted on the Ozaukee County Fair website. Please look them over carefully so as not to miss your project judging date and time. Here’s the link to the Judging Schedules: https://www.ozaukeecountyfair.com/judging-schedule

REMINDER…

Face-to-Face Judging is an important educational component to 4-H Project Work. 4-H Exhibitors that are absent from 4-H Face-to-Face Judging must complete the Project Explanation Form for Absent 4-H Exhibitors found at: https://www.ozaukeecountyfair.com/4-h-open-class-school-art-entries

*Please be aware that for exhibitors that are absent from judging, 4-H project awards will be lowered by one full placing, therefore they will not be eligible for special awards.

Picnic Tables & Benches

The Ozaukee County Agricultural Society is offering personalized picnic tables and benches again this year that will be used during the Ozaukee County Fair. You may have seen the tables & benches around the Fairgrounds in the past. The cost for each item is $200, and can be personalized with your club's name, family name, business name or in honor or memory of someone. 

The personalization is done in plain block lettering. The character limit for tables is 35 letters per line (including spaces), with a limit of 2 lines. The character limit for benches is one line with 30 letters (including spaces). All orders are due by July 1. Please print your order specifications clearly, make checks payable to: Ozaukee County Agricultural Society and mail to the Fair Office at P.O. Box 173 Cedarburg, WI 53012

- Submitted by Jody Brzezinski, Ozaukee County Fair Secretary

Reminder that the online 4-H calendar is the best way to stay on top of the many countywide activities going on throughout the 4-H year. Bookmark it here!

Abi Quinlan, 4-H Educator

abi.quinlan@wisc.edu

Extension Ozaukee County

121 W. Main St.

Port Washington, WI 53074

262-284-8288

To help us serve you, please call for an appointment when coming to the Extension office.

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