Dear 4-H Families,

It seems like Spring is coming. This is one of my favorite times of the year. It is wonderful to see the “newness” outside after the winter season is finishing. New baby animals appearing on farms, new plants popping up after the dormant winter, temperatures warming as we head toward the summer months.

Another reminder about camp as we head to summer. This is your last couple weeks to register, which includes completing payment and the health information forms. We have 71 campers registered for summer camp on June 11-14 at Camp Lakotah. If you are still interested, we still have some spots open at the fee of $250/person. The deadline closes on April 30. For those of you that have registered, please remember we need your health form with immunization record and payment to complete your registration. Go to https://go.wisc.edu/6dzjf5 to register.

Have a great week,
Marie

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

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.

If you have Secretary's Minutes to share, please send them to the 4-H / Youth Program Assistant, Terra at: treider@wisc.edu by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's issue. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

Check your email on Wednesday, April 23th for the next Focus on 4-H! 

⚠️ Please keep this in mind as you make plans to pick up your tags ⚠️

Hats off to all of the Dodge County 4-H Shooting Sports members for their various placings both as individual and team at the recent Washington County Shoot. There are so many great scores we wouldn't want to miss anyone, so for a complete list of results click the button below.

Hats off to all the Dodge County 4-H Shooting Sports leaders. We know you have many more hours of training to do to be a leader and it doesn't go unnoticed. Our youth would not be as successful in Shooting Sports without your dedication

Thanks to some careful budgeting, registration fees for all Summer Academy participants (already registered and future registrants) will drop from $600 to $500.

 Wisconsin Distance Learning

There is no limit placed on the number of entries per class.  Pre-registration is encouraged.  Day of registration will be accepted.  Health checks will be performed and rabbits found to be unhealthy will be removed from the show. Animals are to be brought in their own cages.  Exhibitors will be responsible for cleaning up after their own animals.  Richland County 4-H Rabbits R Us Club and Richland County Fairgrounds are not responsible for any losses due to fire, theft, or accident.  Every precaution will be taken to prevent such occurrences. 

Please include the tattoo number on the registration form.  If your rabbit is not tattooed, putting a number in the ear with a black marker will be accepted.

Questions?  Call Chris Harpin, 608-649-7412 (home), 608-513-7412 (cell), or email harpfam04@proton.me

There is no official registration form. To pre-register, email your name, rabbit entries, and indicate if you will be participating in showmanship to: buscherag@gmail.com

Entry Fees: $3.00/rabbit
$3.00 for showmanship
Payment will be accepted the day of show
Showmanship categories:
Jr. (grade 3-5)    Int. (grade 6-8)     Sr. (grade 9-12)

Food will be available for purchase throughout the day.
We will be having a silent auction table…Check it out!!

Any club interested in having a booth at this years dairy brunch, please
fill out this Google Form:

Our Dodge County Pig Pals Swine Spectacular Show is looking for 4-H and FFA Swine Project members that are involved with the Swine Project this year. This is a great activity that offers people with disabilities a chance to shine in the show ring with your help. This is also a great way to grow your leadership by partnering or working within the show in a variety of roles. Our show is scheduled for Sunday, August 17th beginning with all arriving at 9:15 am.

We will once again be expecting approximately 20 Pig Pal participants so that means we’ll need: * 20 swine exhibitor mentors to be partners along with 20 well trained pigs (7th gr. & up) 

Parents and adults associated with swine project members can also volunteer. ALL volunteers will receive a Dodge County Pig Pals T-shirt too. This is a really fun and rewarding opportunity for all involved. T-shirt order due by June 1st.

Please contact Mary Pat Boschert at 920-382-7943, call or text or email at
billboschert@gmail.com to volunteer names and t-shirt sizes, and answer any questions. Thanks everyone!

There are two methods of involvement for Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard this year:

Dairy judging

There will be no dairy-judging practice on Sunday, April 20, 2025, due to Easter Sunday, and Sunday, April 27, 2025, due to the Wisconsin Dairy Showcase.

Dodge County calf-grant application

The purpose of the Dodge County Dairy Youth Recognition Auction Dairy Grant Program is to support active Dodge County Dairy Youth (4-H, FFA, junior breed associations) with a grant to expand their dairy project. Grant funds are used to purchase a dairy animal (any breed) to grow the youth’s dairy herd. $500 grants will be available for the 2025 program. The application is due June 1, 2025. 

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

APRIL

18 - UW Extension Office Closed

27 - Last day to register for Summer Academy

30 -  Last day to register for Tri-County 4-H Camp

MAY

2 - DNA Envelopes Due

20 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board Meeting

26 - Office Closed -  Happy Memorial Day!

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

4-H Volunteer Trainings Follow the link to learn more and complete your required trainings.

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

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