4-H Friday Newsletter

Friday, June 5, 2026

Submitted by Misty Jimenez, 4-H Associate Educator

This spring, youth in School-Based Programs across Fond du Lac County have been participating in hands-on 4-H learning!

At Bessie Allen Middle School, 4-H members made a difference in their community through a Community Service program. They created dog toys for an animal shelter, made a no-sew blanket for a homeless shelter, designed positive message posters for the local pool, and made bookmarks to share at the library. They also began planning a community scavenger hunt to highlight fun local places.

At Horace Mann High School, students explored the natural world and agriculture in hands-on ways. In the Wildlife program, youth examined furs and skulls, learned how scientists track animals through Snapshot Wisconsin, and examined watershed impact and pollution solutions using an Enviroscape model. In the Agriculture program, students learned about plants, animals, food production, and how technology and engineering are used in agriculture around the world.

At Eden Elementary School, 1st grade students experienced the magic of life science through a Chick Hatching program. They learned how chicks grow inside an egg and the incubation process through hands-on activities, including hatching chicks right in their classroom!

Hello 4-H members, leaders, and volunteers!

My name is Makayla Stommel, and I’m excited to say that I am the 4-H summer intern at the extension office again this summer! I am a former 12-year Fond du Lac County 4-H member, where I was very involved in the Teen Leaders Association, active in my club, and participated in many county events. My favorite projects were Arts & Crafts and Food & Nutrition. I just recently graduated from UW-Madison, where I earned a degree in Elementary Education. Outside of my 4-H and school life, I enjoy playing soccer and pickleball, going shopping, and hanging out with family and friends. Events I am working on this summer include various camps such as Foodie Camp, Art Camp, and Cloverbud Day Camp, as well as going to promotional events, helping at the fair, and more!  I’m excited to be working with youth and adults this summer and gaining experience in my leadership and teaching skills! I’m glad to be back and ready for a great summer! 

4-H Youth Leader Austyn invites youth to a hands-on Drawing Animals Workshop focused on building drawing skills and adding detail through shading and blending techniques. Participants will learn how to draw animals step-by-step from start to finish, explore how shading and blending add depth, and discover ways to make each drawing unique with their own creative details. Youth will be able to add color with a medium of their choice at home. This guided workshop offers plenty of room for personal style and creativity.

All drawing materials will be provided, and youth will leave with ideas for adding color and extra details at home. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend. There is no cost for this workshop, but registration is required.

Register through 4-H Online

We still have about 10 plants that need a home! You can pick up a giant pumpkin plants from the Extension office, courtesy of Mike Schmit and the Wisconsin Giant Pumpkin Growers (WGPG). Contact the office by June 8 to pick one up! The plants are pictured above!

Cloverbuds can enter their pumpkins in the Cloverbud Pumpkin Contest on October 10.

Youth of all ages can enter their pumpkins in the Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off at Fondy FallToberFest!

Farmyard Frolic is a special pre-fair event where youth can explore the fairgrounds, meet animals, and learn about 4-H projects. By bringing your animal, you’ll have the chance to share your experience, talk about how you care for your animal, and encourage others to enter their own fair projects.

When: Tuesday, June 23, from 4:30-6:00 pm

Where: Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds

Ideally, we would love to feature a variety of animals and are currently looking for the following:
- pigs
- beef
- sheep
- dairy calf
- horse

Interested in bringing your animal and sharing your fair knowledge? Email Tracy at tracy.keifenheim@wisc.edu or call 920-906-4623. If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me!

We’d love to see you and your animal at Farmyard Frolic!

Swine/Sheep/Goat Barn Pen Set Up - Saturday, June 27 – 7:00 a.m.

Barn Display Set Up – Absolutely NOBODY will be allowed in the barns beforehand.
Sunday, July 12 – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, July 13 – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

MANDATORY MLC Fair Meeting with Mr. Pinchart
Sunday, July 12 – 3:00 p.m. – Cow Palace – OR Tuesday, July 14 – 3:00 p.m. – Cow Palace
If the meeting is missed, the exhibitor must discuss the agenda with Mr. Pinchart.

Weigh-Ins - Tuesday, July 14 – According to the Fair Book, there is absolutely NO unloading before the weigh-in time for swine, goats, sheep, and lambs.
Swine – 7:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Sheep/goat/swine barn
- Need health certificate done within 30 days of the fair.
- All animals including breeding stock must be checked in.
Beef – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. – Beef barn – southeast corner
Sheep and Goats – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Sheep/goat/swine barn

Entries are now open online at  https://fond.fairwire.com. All entries are due by June 17 at 11:59 p.m. Don’t wait until the last minute to sign up! Find more information in the fair book.

The Fair Office will open on June 9.

Office Contact Info:
office@fonddulaccountyfair.com
920-929-3168

Proceeds from the Adult Leader Food Stand support annual countywide 4-H Programs such as Family Learning Day, trips, and scholarship opportunities. You can sign up individually or as a club.

Sign up for the Adult Leader Stand: go.wisc.edu/6535pp

Proceeds from the Teen Leader Food Stand support Teen Leader Association programs, activities, and scholarship opportunities. You can sign up individually or as a club.

Sign up for the Teen Leader Stand: go.wisc.edu/rgj3nq

Proceeds from the Silent Auction go to the Fond du Lac County Endowment Fund, which in turn supports the activities of 4-H members.

Sign up for the Silent Auction: go.wisc.edu/49m4rj

Thank you for helping staff the food stands and the silent auction!

Wednesday, June 17 at 6 pm at Marian Stayer Center

4-H members and community youth of all ages are invited to create a food item using this year's theme: Cherries! Youth also set one place setting to showcase the dish along with a recipe card, placemat or tablecloth, and a centerpiece. Register through 4-H Online by June 10.

Not sure what Foods Revue is all about? Youth can also attend the event to check it out!

Cloverbuds can participate in the county fair and have items judged. Cloverbuds are judged on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 between 1-7 pm. Call the Fair Office to schedule a judging time. The information below is copied from page 61 of the Fair Book.

DIVISION 149- Cloverbuds
Cloverbud exhibitors do not receive a premium. Exhibitors are limited to 3 different projects. No live animals are permitted for the following three Cloverbud exhibits below. Cloverbuds are encouraged to obtain a Cloverbud card in the fair office when they pick up entry tags. Attach your picture and bring it at judging time. The judge will record comments and display the card and picture. 

Class No.
1. Item A
2. Item B
3. Item C

Save the Date for 4-H Graduation on Sunday, July 19th at 2pm at the Fond du Lac County Fair  in the Expo building.

Youth in grades 12 & 13, please complete this graduation survey by Friday, June 26 to indicate whether you will be graduating or staying with the 4-H program one additional year. This also helps us have an accurate program and materials for graduation.

Dog Project Classes - Thursdays, 5pm at FDL Co Fairgrounds Rec Center

Junior Master Gardeners - June 11 & 25, 1pm at the Fond du Lac County Campus

Wildlife Club - June 11, 6pm at the Fond du Lac County Campus

Small Animal Project Meeting - June 15, 6:30pm at the Fairgrounds Small Animal Barn

Foodie Camp - June 15-17, 9am-3pm, Fond du Lac County Campus - Register through 4H Online by June 8

Foods Revue - June 17, 5pm, Marian University

County Fair Entries Due June 17 by 11:59pm

TLA Meeting - June 22, 6:45pm at Rolling Meadows Meeting Room

LEGO Club - June 23, 6:30-8:00pm at the Fond du Lac County Campus

Cloverbud Day Camp: Foodie Camp - June 24, 9am-3pm, Fond du Lac County Campus - Register through 4H Online by May 30 to receive a camp t-shirt

Mandatory Small Animal Barn Set Up - June 27, 9am at the Fairgrounds Small Animal Barn

Around the World Camp - June 29-July 1, 9am-3pm, Fond du Lac County Campus - Register through 4H Online by June 22

  Tracy Keifenheim

4-H Program Educator

tracy.keifenheim@wisc.edu

Sarah Stevenson

4-H Program Assistant

sarah.stevenson@wisc.edu

 Misty Jimenez

4-H Associate Educator

misty.jimenez@wisc.edu

UW Extension Fond du Lac County
160 South Macy St, 2nd floor
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 906-4623

http://fonddulac.extension.wisc.edu/4h/

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.