We invite you to catch up on the impactful work our Extension Iron County educators and staff provide to the community in the form of this monthly newsletter! Below are highlights from each of our program areas.

Our 4-H woodworking project members have been "trucking along" on an ambitious journey since November! This year, the group has been meticulously crafting Lost Art Press chairs, a project that requires patience, precision, and a lot of elbow grease.

This hands-on experience has been a masterclass in craftsmanship, and our members haven't had to go it alone. We owe a huge thank you to Karl Zinsmaster and his talented team at Saint Maud's for their dedicated mentorship. Under their expert guidance, the students have mastered new tools and techniques that they’ll carry with them long after the sawdust settles.

Get ready for an adventure-filled summer!  We are excited to announce the registration release dates for our upcoming Iron County Summer Youth Camp and Iron County Outpost Camp programs. Since these programs are highly anticipated and space is limited—especially for our Outpost Camp—we want to give our families plenty of time to plan ahead.

Review the eligibility and dates below to ensure your camper doesn't miss out on the best part of 2026!

Watch our Facebook page and website for more details!

Questions? Feel free to contact 4-H Youth Development Educator Neil Klemme at 715-561-2695.

The Adventurers of the North 4-H Club held a vibrant March meeting featuring guest Instructor and Artist, Brandee Cedar Marie Benson, who taught members the craft of stained glass.

Having selected their designs ahead of time, members worked on custom pieces including elephants, bears, and Wisconsin silhouettes. Each project resulted in a unique, personal creation, making for a highly successful and creative day.

The club is buzzing with excitement to showcase these one-of-a-kind projects at the upcoming Iron County Fair. Be sure to look for these shimmering glass displays in the 4-H building!

The Penokee Range Livestock Club was out in full force on Sunday, March 1, proving that "community" is at the heart of everything they do. The crew spent the day supporting the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department during their annual turkey feed, ensuring the event was a success from start to finish.

Members (and Leaders) stayed on their toes with a variety of roles, including:

It was a fast-paced day, but the club kept everything running smoothly with a "job well done" attitude. A big thank you to the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department for once again including the Penokee Range Livestock Club in such a great local tradition! 

A huge thank you to the sponsors and community for making last Saturday's Penokee Range Livestock Club's Meat Bingo fundraiser a hit! Club members truly embodied the 4-H motto, "To Make the Best Better," by expertly handling everything from calling numbers to event cleanup. Great job everyone!

Penokee Range Livestock Club members Piper Hitter and Bella DeRosso officially kicked off their hog project this week. These Berkshire/Spot cross feeders—currently weighing between 27 and 50 lbs.—were sourced from a family farm in Medford. We can’t wait to see them grow! Check out the Penokee Range Livestock Club's Facebook page to see more photos and other club updates! 

The SET Race Team saw impressive results on the trails earlier this month. Marlo Brand delivered a podium performance at the Loopy Loppet, finishing 3rd overall in the women’s division and 1st in her age group.

At the Korteloppet, Liam Schoeller placed 68th out of 1,472 total skiers and 7th in his age group. Reflecting on his season, Liam shared: "So fun to race with 4-H this season, you guys rock for making it possible! Happy to put in the work and represent you guys."

We are proud of both members for their hard work and dedication this season.

Iron County Summer Youth Camp Registration Goes LIVE
Friday, March 27 
Watch our Facebook page for announcements

Iron County Outpost Camp Registration Goes LIVE
Monday, March 30
Watch our Facebook page for announcements

Iron County Green Team Meeting
Monday,  April 13 - 5:30 pm
Location: Iron County Courthouse

Penokee Range Livestock Club Meeting
Sunday, April 19 - 9:00 am
Location: Hurley School 

Iron County Leaders Meeting
Wednesday, April 15 - 5:30 pm
Location: Iron County Courthouse

Adventurers of the North 4-H Club Meeting (Macrame)
Sunday, April 30 - 5:30 pm
Location: Saxon Community Center

On March 3, 2026, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced the recipients of their 2026 Small Business Development Grant, which includes $250,000 of funds for Hurley businesses through the Hurley Chamber of Commerce. In September 2025, Hurley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Teeple applied for the grant with a letter of support from UW-Extension Iron County Community Development Educator Joseph Miller.

The funds, which are 100% pass-through, will be awarded to local for-profit businesses for ADA Accessibility Improvements and Business Infrastructure Revitalization. The ADA Accessibility Improvement Fund will cover upgrades related to physical accessibility, such as ramps, widened entryways, ADA-compliant restrooms, and accessible parking. The Business Infrastructure Revitalization Fund will be used to address code compliance and infrastructure upgrades such as electrical improvements, roof and façade projects, and fire safety measures. 

The Hurley Chamber of Commerce is joined by nine other economic development organizations across the state, including the St. Croix Economic Development Corporation; Red Letter Grant, Inc.; 7 Rivers Alliance, Inc., and Green Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, among others. Small Business Development Grant funds will be disbursed on a two-year grant cycle, from January 2026 to January 2028. As noted, all funds awarded must be passed through directly to local for-profit businesses, with no administrative overhead or incentives to the Hurley Chamber of Commerce. Additional grant requirements include technical assistance related to business development and application assistance will be available for Hurley business owners. 

Stay tuned for more information, including local program-specific details, application materials, and a regional technical assistance calendar of events. View the WEDC’s full announcement on their site.

Have you heard about zines? They’re the greatest thing since tortillas were invented by the Taco Bell chihuahua [citation needed]—they may not taste as good (it’s just paper, after all), but they’re usually much more appealing to look at!

On Saturday, April 18, Joseph will set up a table full of Iron County zines at one of the longest-running celebrations of zine art and culture in the Midwest, the Milwaukee Zine Fest. Held at the Milwaukee Central Library on Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee Zine Fest is described as “an annual explosion of zine-focused wonder in the form of a boisterous festival featuring over 100 vendors from across the country.”

This is a great opportunity to share some of the unique history, culture, and stories of Iron County in a creative and collaborative way.

If you’d like to help fill the display table, there’s still time! Late Run Coffee will host the first of four workshops on Tuesday, March 31, followed by the Crafty Cup on Thursday, April 2. Lastly, on Monday, April 13, the Mercer Public Library and Hurley Public Library will round out the series.

All workshops are open to all ages and will include a drink and snack. Registration is preferred and there is a suggested donation of $10.  

The Hurley REV Team is hitting its stride! On Tuesday, February 24, the Hurley REV Team met with Program Specialist Lisa Taylor to discuss and set program goals. Members of the Hurley team include County Board Chair Larry Youngs, County Supervisor and Hurley City Council Representative Jamey Francis, local business owners Julie Doucette and Brooke Gilbertson, and Hurley Tech Education teacher Roger Peterson. It was a productive discussion that focused on Hurley’s small business gaps, such as retail, family-friendly entertainment opportunities, additional options and opportunities for nightlife, and a stronger workforce for area restaurants to broaden operating hours. The Hurley REV Team meets again on March 24 to begin stakeholder mapping—identification of local people and organizations who have a vested interest in achieving team goals.

Additionally, Mercer is in the process of assembling a REV Team, which will begin meeting next month. The REV program is a two-year process that begins with an economic data presentation by UW-Extension’s Community Economic Data Specialist Matt Kures, followed by goal-setting, stakeholder mapping, entrepreneur mapping, resource mapping, and outreach.

For more information, please contact Extension Iron County Community Development Educator Joseph Miller at (715) 561-2695.  

Zine Workshop
Tuesday, March 31 - 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Late Run Coffee

Iron County Economic Development Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 1 - 6:00 pm
Location: Iron County Courthouse Board Room

Zine Workshop
Tuesday, April 2 - 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: The Crafty Cup

Entrepreneur Fund - Business Barnstorm 
Tuesday, April 7 - 6:00 pm (dinner), 7:00 pm (presentations)
Location: Iron County Memorial Building

Zine Workshop
Tuesday, April 13 - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Mercer Public Library

Zine Workshop
Tuesday, April 13 - 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Hurley Public Library

Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference 
Wednesday, May 13 -  Friday, May 15
Location: Green Lake, WI

Visit the Iron County website to view meeting agendas. 

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