SEPTEMBER 2026

(published September 8, 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.

September kicks off another exciting 4-H year, bringing new opportunities to explore interests, build confidence, and connect with others. Whether you're continuing your 4-H journey or joining us for the first time, there's a place for you to learn, lead, and grow. From club activities and project learning to countywide events and leadership opportunities, the months ahead will be filled with experiences that help youth discover their strengths, develop new skills, and form lasting friendships.

As we begin this new year together, I'm especially excited about the opportunities ahead for youth to take an active role in shaping our programs and experiences. Here's to a year of curiosity, leadership, belonging, and fun as we continue to learn and grow together through 4-H!

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

Now is the time to start thinking about 4-H meeting dates/times and room/building reservations for the new 4-H year!

Fairgrounds Reservations & Administration Building Reservations:  4-H leaders must submit this Google Form to reserve either 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.

As we begin a new 4-H year, we ask all volunteers to please return any 4-H items such as keys to buildings, binders, or other resources you may have used. These items are shared across the program and ensure that future leaders, members, and volunteers have what they need to be successful.

Per Wisconsin 4-H policy, all 4-H property and resources—including supplies and materials—belong to the 4-H program and must remain with the club, group, or county when a volunteer’s role ends. Returning these items promptly helps us stay in compliance, maintain accurate records, and make resources available for the next set of youth and volunteers.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep our 4-H program strong!

Questions? Want to return materials? Please contact the Extension office at 262-284-8288 in advance.

4-H enrollment for the 2026-2027 4-H year IS OPEN! Existing AND new members should plan to enroll during the month of September. 

Sharing a few helpful reminders:

You are invited to attend the Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association meeting on September 17 from 7:30-9:00 pm at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds, Pavilion.

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 September meeting!

Calling all 4-H Leaders and Adults! The Ozaukee County 4-H Leader's Association is seeking motivated individuals who would like to be behind the scenes and help with serving on the board for a term. This is a perfect opportunity to become more involved in the 4-H community and help with decision making! The Leader’s Board is eager to have new board members join us!

Application due by September 15th, 2026.

If you have questions, reach out at: president@oz4hleaders.org

Sept 19th & 20th - URGENT BUT SIMPLE VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED.

Ozaukee County 4-H supports Cedarburg Festivals For an Easy & Fun Fundraising opportunity. Sing-up your family and join us, we have minimum volunteer requirements we need to maintain to keep our opportunity.

4-H supports the Cedarburg Festivals Committee to run one of the lemonade stands during the Wine & Harvest Festival.  This is a fundraising event that provides the Ozaukee County 4-H Leader's Association funds to support our 4-H youth programming and scholarships.  The best part is all we have to do is show up, set-up the supplies they provide and be a welcoming and efficient sales team!  

This is fun for the whole family to do together!  We have created short shifts, so plan to sign-up for one or more shifts -- whatever fits in your family schedule!  Please wear a 4-H t-shirt so we can also help promote our amazing organization at the same time!

Our booth is located on Bridge St and Washington Avenue by Maxwell’s.  

More details will be provided closer to the event to those that sign-up using the link below.  At least 1 adult is needed per shift.  

This is a very well attended event for Cedarburg every year so please plan in advance to secure street parking, or review their website ahead of attending to review your parking options.

Thanks in advance for taking a moment to assist in our community while also fundraising for your future 4-H events!  Your 4-H Leadership team to assist with the Lemonade stand is: Lisa Fellenz, Laura Prahl, Erin Puro, and Deanna Lee.  If you have any questions at this time please contact Deanna Lee via email at d_r_lee@yahoo.com or text 262-352-2109.  THANKS!

Together Everyone Achieves More!

- Submitted by Deanna Lee, 4-H Volunteer Event Coordinator

Be part of a new virtual learning opportunity designed to help volunteers bring 4-H projects to life! The September 24th kickoff session introduces the series, provides a short "taste test" of a project lesson, showcase available resources, and gives participants a chance to help shape future topics. No experience needed! Join us to learn, connect, and help build future Project Learning Labs around the topics you're most interested in exploring!

The Statewide Events and Opportunities webpage is updated with educational experiences and travel opportunities for the new 4-H Year! These opportunities help youth build leadership skills, meet new people, make memories and represent Ozaukee County on the state and national levels.

Did you know that Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association and 4-H Foundation offers financial support for many of these opportunities? Ozaukee County 4-H members are encouraged to apply for financial support through the Ozaukee County 4-H Leaders Association for WI 4-H Educational and Travel Opportunities.

Fall Application Materials Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026 for experiences listed below.  Applications must include a cover letter, resume, essay, letter of recommendation, and participate in an interview.

Are you an adult volunteer looking to share your time and skills with 4-H youth? Consider becoming a leader for a Countywide project! Current needs for countywide project leadership in the following projects:

Contact Abi, 4-H Educator, at abi.quinlan@wisc.edu or 262-284-8288 for more information or questions! 

Hope everyone had a fun time at the fair and has finally recovered. It is that time of the year again to start thinking of the 2026-2027 Ozaukee County 4-H T-Shirt design. This year all registered members will receive a new shirt paid for through our Leader’s Association Funds.

What would you like to wear on your shirt? This design contest is open to any one who is registered in Ozaukee County 4-H. Voting will be done by 4-H youth as well. We encourage you to utilize two to three colors in a full front shirt design that includes ‘Ozaukee County 4-H’ as well as an individual club name (ex: Covered Bridge).

Entries are due by October 1st. If you have questions or would like to submit your design, please email it to Nicole Simon at:(cornerstonelandsurvey@gmail.com) by the deadline. After October 1st watch your emails for viewing and voting on the entries.

Need to know how to use the 4-H Clover correctly? Please visit the 4-H Name and Emblem guide. To download the official Wisconsin 4-H Logos visit: Wisconsin’s 4-H Logo Webpage. 

- Submitted by Nicole Simon, 4-H Volunteer Event Coordinator

Nominations are open for the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame!

The Hall of Fame recognizes 4-H volunteers, financial supporters, staff, and pioneers who made major contributions to the 4-H movement at the local, state, and national levels. Any group or individual is eligible to submit a nomination for consideration.

All nominations must be submitted electronically by November 2, 2026.

More information can be found on the WI 4-H Hall of Fame webpage.

This year, we're excited to launch Youth Camp Leadership Teams for each Ozaukee County 4-H camp. These new leadership opportunities are designed to put youth voice at the center of camp planning and implementation, ensuring that campers help shape the experiences they want to see at camp.

Each camp will have a Camp Lead (Adults 21+ age) and Youth Director (youth 11th grade and above) who will work alongside Extension staff and volunteers to provide ideas, help plan activities, build camp culture, and lead fellow campers throughout the camp experience.

Applications for Camp Leads and Youth Directors will be open soon on the 4-H Summer Camp webpage!

Whether you're passionate about welcoming new campers, creating memorable traditions, planning activities, or helping others have a great experience, this is your opportunity to make your mark on camp.

Contact Abi, 4-H Educator, at abi.quinlan@wisc.edu or 262-284-8288 for more information or questions! 

Do you love baking, decorating, or getting creative in the kitchen? Join 4-H for Sweet Skills: Cake Decorating Day Camp on Saturday, February 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the STEM Innovation Center in Green Bay, WI!

This hands-on day camp is open to youth in grades 3-13 from the Eastern Region and is designed to help participants build cake decorating skills at their own experience level. Youth will choose from one of two tracks:

The cost is $20 per youth, and lunch is included. Participants will leave with new skills, creative confidence, and delicious decorated cakes!

Registration will be available through 4HOnline.

Don't miss this sweet opportunity to learn, create, and decorate!

Reminders & Mark Your Calendars!

4-H Open House: September 8 & 9. There's still time to invite the family or friend that's interested in learning about 4-H to an upcoming 4-H Open House! September 8: 6:30-7:30 pm at Fredonia Government Center. September 9: 6:30-7:30 pm at Ozaukee County Fairgrounds in Cedarburg.

National 4-H Week Projects: Due September 11. Drop off your National 4-H Week projects (black ribbon) at Extension office before deadline. Call office at 262-284-8288 for appointment.

Fall Forum Registration Open: Register by September 15. Fall Forum is a statewide conference that brings 4-H youth and adult leaders together to connect, collaborate, celebrate, and build excitement and energy for a new year of 4-H.  It is for youth in grades 7-13, adult volunteers, and staff. Read more about Fall Forum experience by visiting the Fall Forum webpage.

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.

Congratulations to our new Mr. and MIss Ozaukee 4-H 2027: Jacqueline P. and Luke H!

Thank you to all our contestants, Lindsey K. first runner up, Sarah H., Olivia L., and Brystol O.

Thank you to Emlyn S. and Jacob C. for a wonderful year.

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

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.