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Note from our Office
Dear Calumet County 4‑H,
As we head into the holiday season, our 4-H year is already off to an exciting start! Right now, there are more opportunities than ever for youth to learn, explore, and connect through 4-H.
Registration is currently open for a variety of experiences, including the Area 13 Washington, D.C. Educational Experience, American Spirit, Distance Learning programs, food and nutrition workshops, woodworking SPARK experiences, and many other county, regional, and state opportunities. Whether your young person enjoys hands-on learning, leadership, history, citizenship, STEM, the arts, or trying something new, there is truly something for everyone.
I encourage families to take time to browse the opportunities shared in this newsletter and on our website and social media channels. Many of these programs have limited enrollment or application deadlines, so be sure to mark important dates on your calendar.
One of the greatest benefits of 4-H is the chance for youth to step outside their comfort zones, discover new passions, build confidence, and create meaningful connections with peers and caring adults. Sometimes the opportunity that seems the most unfamiliar becomes the experience that has the greatest impact.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I also want to express my gratitude to our volunteers, families, community partners, and youth members who make Calumet County 4-H such a vibrant and welcoming program. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and support create countless opportunities for young people to thrive.
We look forward to seeing all the ways our members learn, lead, serve, and grow throughout the year ahead.
Happy Holidays and happy exploring!
Sincerely,
Carlea Lonergan
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| Friday, November 6 - Sunday, November 8 - Fall Forum in Stevens Point
Tuesday, November 10 - 6pm - Extension Education Committee Mtg at Courthouse, Rm 025
Wednesday, November 11 - 7pm - Leaders Council Exec Board Meeting at Courthouse, Rm 025
Friday, November 13 - Sunday, November 15 - YPCL Conference at Upham Woods
Saturday, November 14 - All About that Crust Food Workshop
Sunday, November 15 - 1-4pm - Woodworking Workshop - Holiday Cows (grades 6 & up) at Courthouse, Rm 020
Sunday, November 15 - 4pm-Livestock Quizbowl & Skillathon Practice at Courthouse, Room 025
Saturday, November 21 - Babysitting 101 at Courthouse
Thursday, December 3 - French Macarons Food Workshop at Courthouse
Saturday, December 5 - 1-4:00pm - Woodworking Workshop - Holiday Cows (grades 3-5) at Courthouse, Rm 020
Sunday, December 13 - 4pm - Livestock Quizbowl & Skillathon Practice at Courthouse, Room 025
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Interested in babysitting or looking to build your confidence caring for younger children?
Join us for Babysitting 101 for youth ages 10 and older! This hands-on program will help youth develop important babysitting skills while creating their very own Babysitter Bag filled with resources they can use on the job.
Youth will:
✅ Create a first aid kit and sensory kit
✅ Learn easy, healthy snacks to make with children
✅ Discover fun, on-the-spot activities and games
✅ Practice interviewing with families and promoting their babysitting business
✅ Learn when to call 911, when to use a non-emergency number, and practice making those calls with help from the Calumet County Sheriff's Department and Dispatch
💲 Cost: Just $5
👧🧒 Ages: 10 and older
🌟 Open to ALL youth - you do not need to be a 4-H member to participate!
This is a great opportunity to build confidence, responsibility, and real-life skills while having fun!
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Calumet County 4-H Committee Sign-up
Our 4-H program thrives because of the dedication, ideas, and leadership of our volunteers and families. As we continue to grow and strengthen our county program, we are exploring the re-establishment and support of several committees that help create meaningful opportunities for youth. Committee members help provide guidance, share ideas, and support the success of countywide 4-H opportunities.
Committees provide a way to share talents, build connections, and help plan and support countywide events and programs. Whether you would like to take a leadership role or simply lend a hand, we invite you to indicate any committees that interest you. Completing this form does not obligate you to serve, but it will help us gauge interest and determine which committees may move forward for the coming 4-H year.
Thank you for considering how you can help make Calumet County 4-H a positive and engaging experience for all youth and families! Sign-up here: https://forms.gle/RVDQ4QYXsjJgqyGV6
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Sign-up for 2026-2027 Cloverbud Club!
Do you have a child in 5K through 2nd grade who loves to explore, create, learn, and have fun? Our Calumet County 4-H Cloverbud Club is the perfect place to start their 4-H journey!
Cloverbuds participate in hands-on, age-appropriate activities that help build confidence, friendships, creativity, and life skills. Meetings focus on learning through fun experiences, cooperative activities, games, and exploring a variety of 4-H project areas. There is no competition, just opportunities to discover new interests and grow!
New and returning Cloverbuds are invited to join us!
Thursday, October 15
6:00 PM
Calumet County Courthouse
At Cloverbud Club, youth from across Calumet County come together to make new friends, try new things, and discover what 4-H is all about through hands-on learning and exciting activities designed just for their age group. The best part? At the end of last year, Cloverbuds helped us decide what they'd like to do this year!
Register Here: https://CloverbudClub2026.4honline.com
Ready to join the fun? Enrollment for the new 4-H year is now open! We'd love to welcome your family to Calumet County 4-H.
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Sign-up for 2026-2027 Explorers 4-H Club!
Did you just finish Cloverbuds or recently join 4-H? Maybe you'd like to explore different project areas, while meeting other 4-Hers.Then Explorers is the perfect place for you!
Explorers is designed to help newer 4-H members in grades 3-5 learn how 4-H works, build confidence, make new friends, and feel comfortable becoming active members of their club. It's a fun, welcoming group where you can learn alongside youth your own age while discovering all the amazing opportunities 4-H has to offer!
As an Explorer, you'll:
-Discover exciting 4-H project areas you can explore
-Learn how 4-H meetings work and even practice leading one
-Explore club officer positions and learn what each role does
-Try different voting and decision-making methods clubs use
-Meet new friends and gain confidence in a supportive environment
Whether you're brand new to 4-H or ready to take the next step after Cloverbuds, Explorers is here to help you feel at home in 4-H while having fun along the way!
When: 3rd Thursday of each month
Where: Calumet County Courthouse
Time: 6:00 PM
Ready to start exploring all that 4-H has to offer? Register today! https://Explorers2026.4honline.com
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Calling All Calumet County 4-H Members!
Have you ever wanted to see your artwork on a 4-H shirt that members across the county will wear all year long? Now's your chance!
New this year, we're inviting YOU to design the 2026 Calumet County 4-H Enrollment Shirt!
Use the attached template or grab a blank piece of paper and let your creativity shine. Your design must include:
-Calumet County 4-H
-The 4-H Clover
The winning designer will not only see their artwork become this year's official enrollment shirt, but they'll also receive their design printed on a hoodie or crewneck sweatshirt...their choice!
Even better? Every member who re-enrolls by October 31 will receive this year's enrollment shirt FREE, making it extra special knowing it was designed by one of our very own 4-H members.
So grab your markers, pencils, paint, or digital design tools and show us what Calumet County 4-H means to you. We can't wait to see your creativity and celebrate the talents of our amazing youth! Designs are due to 4-H Educator, Carlea Lonergan, by Friday, October 16th!
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Something BIG is coming for Summer 2027!
We're just getting started with the planning, but trust us... this is one adventure you won't want to miss hearing about.
Stay tuned!
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Winter Leadership Camp 2027: Snowball Effects
What if one new idea, one conversation, or one small step outside your comfort zone could create something much bigger?
Join teens from across 10 counties for a weekend of connection, adventure, leadership, and fun at Winter Leadership Camp! Through interactive activities, team challenges, and meaningful conversations, you'll discover how everyday actions can create a "snowball effect" that inspires positive change in your club, school, and community.
Whether you're already a leader or just looking to build confidence, make new friends, and try something new, this camp is for you. Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave with new skills, new connections, and memories that will last long after the snow melts.
☃️ Ages 13-18
📍 Spencer Lake Camp, Waupaca
📅 January 15-17, 2027
Cost is $85/teen thank you to the funding from the Calumet County 4-H Leadership Council, as they will be covering over half of the cost for each youth!
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Decorate. Create. Celebrate.
Join youth from across the Eastern Region for a day packed with frosting, fun, and fantastic decorating skills!
February 27
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
STEM Innovation Center
Beginner Track
-Learn frosting basics
-Practice piping techniques
-Build decorating confidence
Intermediate Track
-Create a multi-level cake
-Master crumb coating
-Learn more advanced decorating skills
$20 per youth
Lunch provided
Register through 4HOnline
Transportation available from the Calumet County Courthouse.
Registration is open now through December 1! Spaces are limited and expected to fill quickly, so save your spot today!
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Spark Workshops: Woodworking
Registration is open for our first woodworking Spark Workshop! This is open for youth in grades 6 and up, and will cost $15!
Youth will learn to take a cedar fence picket, and use a variety of tools such as a scroll saw, miter saw, brad nailer, sander, etc. to make their own highland cow.
Register in 4honline at:
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Exciting Changes are Coming to the Calumet County 4-H Foods Auction!
At its heart, the Foods Auction has always been about more than selling a finished product. It's about celebrating the learning, skills, creativity, and confidence that our young people gain throughout their 4-H project learning.
As we look ahead, we're working to strengthen the educational component of the Foods Auction to better reflect what 4-H is all about: learning by doing!
Beginning in the future, youth will be required to complete two Foods Education experiences to be eligible to participate in the Foods Auction at the Calumet County Fair. We're excited to explore new opportunities, including educational fair entries and county-wide foods learning opportunities, to help members meet this requirement while building valuable skills in foods, nutrition, food safety, and culinary arts.
We want your input!
We're currently forming a Foods Committee and are looking for both youth and adults who would like to help shape what these new requirements and opportunities will look like. This is a great chance to share ideas and help ensure the program remains meaningful, educational, and fun for all participants.
Looking for ways to get started? Food Workshops are currently open for registration in 4HOnline, and local 4-H clubs can also offer Foods Education opportunities for their members. Does your Club do demonstration speeches? If you do a demonstration that is related to your Foods or Cake Decorating Project, then that can count as one of your requirements!
Once the new requirements are finalized, they will be shared with all members enrolled in the Foods & Nutrition or Cake Decorating projects. Together, we're building a program that recognizes not just the finished product on the table, but the knowledge, growth, and life skills gained along the way.
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2027 4-H Livestock Quizbowl & Skillathon Teams
Livestock Quizbowl is a quiz competition where all the questions are about beef, sheep, swine, and meat goat topics and students use a buzzer in order to answer the questions. Teams compete in a double-elimination format by giving oral answers to questions posed by a moderator. Each match has both an indiviual and toss-up question round. The winning 4-H senior team will represent Wisconsin at the National 4-H Livestock Quiz Bowl competition held each Fall in Louisville at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
Skillathon contest is made up of a written quiz and learning stations such as breed identification, feed identificaiton, equipment identification as well as some team activities such as demonstrating evaluation skills. The top Senior level 4-H team will represent Wisconsin at the National 4-H Skillathon Contest, held each Fall in Louisville at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
Who can participate? Any current 4-H members, grades 3-13. Please note: There are age divisions for each of those contests and parameters for grade 13 members.
Full practice participation counts as one market animal credit/class and competition counts as one market animal credit/class.
Competition Date: Saturday, March 13 at the UW-Madison Campus
Upcoming Practice Dates:
Sunday, November 15 at 4:00pm
Sunday, December 13 at 4:00pm
Practices are held in Room 025 at the Calumet County Courthouse. Any questions, feel free to reach out to Jessie Jansen at 920-470-1360 or jessicajansen2022@gmail.com
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Horse Project
The Horse and Pony Project had a Spooktacular open ride full of fun and games on their horses on Sunday, October 18th.
We have four members from our group that will be attending the State 4-H Horse Conference at UW-River Falls on November 14th.
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