October 22, 2025
Marie's Message
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Dear 4-H Families:
October is Mental Health Month.
As part of our commitment to nurturing the whole child, we want to take a moment to highlight the importance of mental health and well-being in our 4-H community.
Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act—and it’s just as important as physical health. Whether it's managing stress, building resilience, or simply taking time to rest and recharge, we encourage families to make mental wellness a priority.
Here are a few ways we can support each other:
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Open Conversations: Encourage youth to talk about their feelings and listen without judgment.
- Healthy Habits: Promote routines that include sleep, physical activity, and time outdoors.
- Connection: Foster a sense of belonging through club activities, community service, and peer support.
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Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can help connect you with local support services.
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Together, we can create a safe, supportive environment where every young person feels seen, heard, and valued.
Thank you for being part of a caring and compassionate 4-H family.
Have a great week!
Marie
Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
UW Extension - Dodge County
920-386-3790
marie.witzel@wisc.edu
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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.
With all of the changes in the Extension Office, Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu
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Herman Hornets (Amanda Pecha)
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Hats off to the groups and clubs who completed their charters this week! Clubs: Achievers, Hyland Prairie, County Line 4H, Lomira Clover Leaves, Sinissippi, Trenton Highlights, & Tri-County Twisters. Groups: Horse Project, Shooting Sports.
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Hats off to Everyone Who Attended Officer Training! |
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Hats Off and A Big Thanks to the Following for Helping Teach at the Officer Training Workshop: |
Opening Session and President & Vice President: Cassandra and Max Luedtke Secretary: Leslie and Mia Odenwald
Treasurer Kris Schaalma and Shannon Desjarlais Caine
Thanks to the 26 club officers who attended officer training to learn about working as an officer team and their individual officer roles. Have a great year leading your club!
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Hats off to our 4-H Leaders Executive Board! |
Congratulations to Sandy Salmi, Dane Laufenberg for being newly elected to the executive board.
Also congratulations to Melissa Lake, John Siedschlag and Josh Roberts for being re-elected to the board.
Thanks to Teresa and Lucy Stowell, Max Luedtke and Isabelle Justmann for completing their terms on the board.
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Each year Dodge County 4-H Leaders offer scholarships to support youth attending educational experience trips. For youth looking for financial support for:
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- National Congress
- Ignite
- CWF at Ignite
- Key Award
- National Conference if selected by the Wisconsin 4-H program
- Busch Gardens 4-H Zoo Apprentice Camp
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The following materials must be received by the Dodge County Extension Office (in paper form), emailed to marie.witzel@wisc.edu, or submitted digitally
before 4:30pm November 1st:
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- Key Award & Educational Experience Scholarship Application
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Reference Page with Two References
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Applicants submit a cover letter, resume and reference page along with an application. The final step in the process is to participate in a short interview process. Interviews will be coordinated with each applicant.
We will have a separate time in early 2026 for youth interested in Space Camp, Summer Academy and American Spirit East.
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Wisconsin 4-H offers a wide variety of statewide educational experiences designed to help youth explore their interests, develop leadership skills, and engage in hands-on learning.
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Two Camps Available:
🐾 Junior Zoo Apprentice Camp (Ages 11–13)
🦒 Zoo Apprentice Camp (Ages 14+)
🗓️ Registration Deadline: December 8, 2025
✈️ Arrive: Fly or drive—plan to arrive at Busch Gardens in Tampa by 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27
🚗 Depart: Fly or drive home—don’t plan to leave until after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31
💵 Fee: $975 + airfare
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It's that time, Wisconsin 4-H!🍦🍀
Cedar Crest Ice Cream and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation have teamed up once again to present the “Cedar Crest Ice Cream 4-H Flavor Creation Contest” for Wisconsin 4-H clubs. All Wisconsin 4-H clubs are eligible to submit their ideas for a new ice cream flavor, along with a flavor description and interesting flavor name. Entries are being accepted now through November 15!
For contest information, rules and the entry form, please click the button below:
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Dairy bowl
Dodge County Dairy Youth have started practice for dairy-bowl/dairy-quiz-bowl season. Practices are Sundays, at 1 p.m., at the Watertown Library. The final competition is during the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, Jan. 2-4, 2026, in Stevens Point, Wis. The State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl will take place on February 7th, 2026 at UW Green Bay. Even if you're just interested in seeing what dairy bowl is all about, join the group for a practice or two. Questions: Brock Irwin is the lead contact at 920.470.1206.
Dairy-activity card opportunities
Many Dodge County Dairy Youth represented their local FFA chapters in the Cream of the Crop Dairy Challenge in September. Congratulations to all! This is an FFA event that qualifies for a point on the dairy-activity card in the "educational event" section. When the updated dairy-activity card is ready, take it to your FFA teacher to have that individual initial the "FFA event" line.
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The Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association Convention is the end of December. There are various opportunities for dairy kids to compete: dairy bowl, dairy Jeopardy, speaking contest, arts and craft contest, farm-scene contest, etc. See pages 6-8 in this document for details. Contact Mandy Sell-Stanford at 920.253.8773 with questions about junior Holstein convention.
The 2025 Professional Dairy Producers Stride Youth Leadership Conference is coming up Nov. 12, in River Falls. If you attend that, it's a point on the dairy-activity card. Here are details: https://pdpw.org/programs/PDP_Stride_2025/details.
New DYAC officers
President: Mandy Sell-Stanford
President-Elect: Travis Smith
Secretary: Nikki Gunst
Treasurer: Brenda Damrow-Gudex
Reporter/Communication: Dori Lichty
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| Next DYAC meeting (with location change)
Monday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., at St. John's, Juneau
General questions? Contact DYAC via e-mail: dodgecountydyac@gmail.com
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OCTOBER
28 - Cloverbud Sparks Seekers
NOVEMBER
18 - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting
27 - Happy Thanksgiving (Office Closed)
28 - Office Closed
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In Case You Missed It . . . |
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
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