End-of-Year Message to Youth and Volunteers:

Can you believe this is our LAST newsletter for 2023?! The year has flown by! To try something different for our final 2023 Focus on 4-H, I was inspired this morning to have Bard, Google's AI, write this week's newsletter introduction, with some ideas from me.

As another year draws to a close, painted with challenges and triumphs, I want to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your energy, passion, and unwavering dedication have been the driving force behind countless successes and positive ripples in our community.

To the youth:

You are the vibrant seeds of change, bursting with potential and ideas. You have challenged us with your questions, inspired us with your creativity, and led the way with your courage. Remember, your voice matters. Keep questioning, keep dreaming, and keep pushing for the world you envision.

This year might have brought hurdles, but you met them head-on. You faced setbacks with resilience, learned from your experiences, and grew stronger in the process. Never doubt your strength and determination. The world needs your light, and your journey is just beginning.

To the volunteers:

Your selflessness is the fuel that keeps our community engine running. You have given your time, talents, and hearts without expecting anything in return. You have offered compassion, built bridges, and ignited hope in countless lives. Your dedication is truly inspiring.

You have taught us that small acts of kindness can have enormous impact. You have shown us that togetherness, not division, is the path to progress. Thank you for being the embodiment of empathy and action.

To both youth and volunteers:

Thank you for being you. Thank you for making a difference. And thank you for inspiring us all to be better versions of ourselves.

With sincere gratitude and heartfelt wishes for a joyous new year,

Marie Witzel & the entire Extension Dodge County staff 

4-H/Youth Development Educator

marie.witzel@wisc.edu

920-386-3790

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

The articles should be sent to Marie at marie.witzel@wisc.edu. As an update with staffing, Dawn has taken another position in the County and is no longer with our office. Please continue to send all content to Marie by email. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

I am looking for some older youth who can help with the Gingerbread outreach program on Dec 26 at the Beaver Dam Library.  Please email me at marie.witzel@wisc.edu if you are interested or have any questions. 

We are still looking for Santa's elves to help wrap presents at the Dodge County Shop with Cops event on Dec 16.  Sign up in 4-H online ASAP.

Thanks for your help in always making our community events a success!

Do you like to help others?
Do you like 4-H? How do these opportunities sound to you:

- Help Expand 4-H Programs
- Create new partnerships
- Grow professionally
- Create great memories  
- Work with amazing youth, volunteers and families
- Inspire youth 
- Make a difference

Sounds amazing right? Check out the links below!

Lomira Clover Leaves (Lydia Feucht) Members went to Beckers Pumpkin Shack in October.

Oak Grove Owls (Makenna Reider) Motions were made and passed to decorate and donate Valentines cards for the February community service. Katelyn Draeger won a secretary’s award.

Neosho Utopians (Charlotte Klink) We approved a change in our constitution to give our members the opportunity to do an interview instead of just doing a scrapbook. We decided to make valentines for the vets at the January meeting. We all brought gifts so at the end of the meeting we did gift wars to celebrate Christmas.

Portland Boosters  Our club was recently announced the winner of the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin Beef Council’s Beef Display Contest in the ‘How Beef can fit into your Lifestyle’ category. The Club decorated the Waterloo Weiner and Kraut shuttle wagon with beef messaging and handed out beef recipes to riders.

Juneau Victorians At our December meeting we made ornaments for the residents at Clearview, decorated Christmas cookies and made no-sew blankets. We will be going caroling at Clearview on Saturday, December 16th. We also had a "hot cocoa bar" and did a family gift exchange.

December 15, 2023 - New Family Gathering

January 29, 2024 - Communication Festival

February 24, 2024 - Family Learning Day

March 23, 2024 - Family Learning Day

June 12-15, 2024 - Tri-County Camp - Camp Lakotah

Join the Juneau Victorians 4-H club in spreading holiday cheer!
Dress in your best Holiday gear!

TOMORROW - This Saturday, December 16th from 10am-1pm

10-10:30am Practice
10:30am-1pm  Caroling & Ornament Gifts
**There are 8 dining rooms for us to sing in during residents' lunch time**
1pm  Refreshments

Clearview - Long Term Care & Rehab
198 County Road DF
Juneau, WI 53039

Contact Melissa Sette-Lake
Juneau Victorians 4H club co-leader with questions 920-382-9605

Dodge County 4-H sponsors a variety of member educational experience scholarships available to 4-H youth in grade 6 or higher.  To be considered you MUST complete the M.E. (Member Evaluation) Forms. Fill out the category color that matches your HIGHEST CATEGORY trip choice. 

50% financial assistance is provided for these educational experiences by the Dodge County 4-H Leader’s Association and Beaver Dam Agri-Business. These groups would like to encourage youth to take advantage of these educational trip opportunities that are only possible through 4-H.

Questions? Call or email Ellen Bohn, 4-H Program Assistant at 920-386-3790 or ebohn@co.dodge.wi.us

Join us for virtual opportunities to learn about Careers and competitions in Wildlife & Woods! This new virtual series is open to youth in grades 6-12 and adult leaders. Come learn about what's available for our older youth in 4-H! Event registration is open now in 4-HOnline. You can attend as many hour-long sessions as you like!

Applications are NOW OPEN until January 16th, 2024.

When you apply to either of these state teams, you will be on a team with other youth from around the state of Wisconsin who share the same passion, and enjoy being creative! Whether that be by creating art or being involved in putting on drama shows, you can do it with Wisconsin 4-H!

Plan a "4-H Benefit Night" for your club. Contact local restaurants to learn more details.

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation provides support for arts and communications programs that encourage youth to develop strong leadership, creative, and communication skills. Each year the Foundation highlights 4-H artists through the Celebrate the Arts art contest.

This year’s contest runs from November 1, 2023, through January 15, 2024

Click the link to be directed to the contest submission form. Please read the complete 2023 Art Event Contest Information before entering your work. 

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help. We will provide new volunteers with (VIP) Volunteers in Preparation Training about how to work effectively with youth and what resources are available to volunteers. We will also ask you to participate in a Mandated Reporter Training to learn more about how to protect youth from child abuse and neglect. Finally, to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers, a Volunteer Behavior Expectations Agreement and background check are required.

Depending on their role, some volunteers may be asked to complete subject matter-specific training as well as training to enrich their knowledge of youth development (for example chaperones or Shooting Sports leaders).

All volunteers, both new and returning, are also required to take training on how to report sexual misconduct. Answers to questions about reporting and training are available on our FAQ page.

DECEMBER

15 - New Family Gathering Day - Dodge Co. Auditorium - 7 PM

16 - Dodge Co. Shop With Cops - The Watermark (Beaver Dam) - 9:15 AM-Noon

26 - Gingerbread House Make & Take - BD Comm. Library - 1pm
       (BRING FRIENDS - OPEN TO ALL)

JANUARY

 4 - ME Interviews for Space Camp, American Spirit & CWF - 6:30 pm

16 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board - 7:00 pm

29 - Communication Festival - 6:30 pm

4-H Learning Resources from Positive Youth Development Media Collections

Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Website

WI 4-H Policy Updates

An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements.

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