Dear 4-H Families,

July is here with a number of great adventures and opportunities.

I have been working with UW Madison College of Ag and Life Science to offer a Garden Visit and Greenhouse visit. You will have a chance to participate in interactive sessions and leave with something to take home. Check them out for Aug 20!

AmeriCorps opportunities abound for youth in and around Dodge County. If you have a chance to listen and see Izzy and Molly this week on Hometown Today, you will know that they have a lot of programs happening this month. There are STEM camps, Wild Wacky Weekdays, Library programs, a Cloverbud Camp with Dodge and Columbia County, and National Night Out all coming up in the next month.

There are also a couple of opportunities to see 4-Hers in Competition. The Horse Fun Show is July 19, Fair Dog Show is July 26, Dodge County is hosting a State Archery Competition on July 25-26, and the County Fair Horse Pleasure show is on Aug 2.

We will have some youth representing Dodge County at the Wisconsin State Fair in August. We wish them all the best in their competitions as well.

Please check out the flyers in the Focus for these programs and dates on the calendar!

Have a great weekend,
Marie

Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
UW Extension - Dodge County
920-386-3790
marie.witzel@wisc.edu

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. Secretary Minutes need to go to Marie now too. The articles should be sent to Marie at marie.witzel@wisc.edu.

If you have Reporter Updates to share, send them to Kelly at kmflanders@wisc.edu by noon on Monday to be included in that week's issue. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

Watertown Badgers - The Watertown Badgers met with the Watertown Police Department on June 9 to deliver goodie bags in recognition of their service in the community and to promote dairy month! Our goodie bags were personally decorated and filled by our 4H youth. Our members were excited to meet the officers and see their department in addition to a viewing of one of the department's vehicles. We thank the Watertown Police Department for their service and dedication!

Lomira Clover Leaves (Harper Slechta) - The Lomira Clover Leaves had their monthly meeting at Dutch Touch Greenhouse in Theresa. Each member was able to plant a flower planter to take home.

Astico Perserverance (Milo Soldner)-club reports were given on roadside cleanup, officer garden bed clean out and Dane shared a video of his Space camp experience.

Juneau Victorians (Olivia Wittnebel) final preparations for the Dairy Party with tickets, donations, sign ups and bake goods for their club fundraiser.

Oak Grove Owls (Makenna Reider) had club demonstrations along with Sean on horseshoe welding, Lance and Hailey on parts of a goat, Dominick on making a cutting board and Lauren on the  4-H horse fun show.

Great news, 4-H families! If you're planning to send your child to camp this summer and could use a little extra support, camp scholarships are available!

Let’s make sure every camper gets a chance to join the fun! Please fill out the form and send it to Marie at marie.witzel@wisc.edu

Join CALS, Dodge and Dane County 4-H for a day in the Allen Centennial Garden and the DC Smith Greenhouse. Learn about plants, soil science, and horticulture and take a small plant or craft home with you! 

Date: August 20, 2025

Time: 9:30 am-12:00 pm

Where: UW-Madison Campus 

Who: any youth, 5th grade and older, who is interested in learning more about plants! (Adults and parents are invited to join and participate as well.) 

Cost: Free

We need your keen eyes and fresh perspectives to judge the Cloverbud projects at the county fair on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your leadership skills and support younger 4-H members. Questions? Reach out to Anne Rinzel at adrinzel@gmail.com. Let's make this a great fair!

We still have spots open at the fair in the food stands (cream puff, ice cream farm bureau, and fish pond) and are in desperate need for promotion booth helpers.   If you can volunteer some time, add your name to the list!

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!

We will conclude the 2024/2025 season with our own hosted Invitational for Archery, Air Rifle and Air Pistol on July 25th and 26th.- Please consider attending to either compete or help out:) 

Sign up for ring clean up
It's important all youth do their part to contribute to the overall function of showing dairy during the Dodge County Fair. Be sure to sign up for a 30-minute slot. Duties include picking up manure in the show ring during the show.

Show-catalog info needed
As in years past, all junior dairy exhibitors must provide additional information for their entries so the DYAC committee can complete a show catalog. Use the Google form to submit your information. One form submission per entry. Deadline: July 21, 2025. Questions should be directed to Mandy Sell-Stanford at 920.253.8773 or sellcrestfarm@yahoo.com.

Open-show note
The main idea behind allowing juniors to show their heifers, again, in the open show on Friday is to get the kids in the ring, again, for more experience. So, if a junior heifer is shown, again, on Friday in the open show, the same junior should be on the halter.

Mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting
Monday, July 21, 2025, 7 p.m., Dodge County Fairgrounds. The July DYAC meeting will follow.

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

JULY

15 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board Meeting

21 - Orange Card Due (Livestock Project)

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

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