Dear 4-H Families - 

Attention Cloverbuds and friends in Columbia, Dodge, Marquette, and Sauk Counties!

Sample a variety of 4-H projects through hands-on, at home virtual activities designed just for Cloverbuds (K-2nd grade).

Open to Cloverbud & guests in K-2nd grades. Registration closes March 1st.  Most materials will be provided and can be picked up at your local County Extension Office between March 20th - April 3rd.

Thursday April 4th - Build your Sparks - Woodworking - 6PM

Thursday April 11th - Grow your Sparks - Gardening - 6PM

Thursday April 18th - Capture your Sparks - Photography - 6PM

Thursday April 25th - Catch your Sparks - Fishing - 6PM

Participants will be sent a zoom link to participate. Zooms will be recorded.

Register here: https://forms.gle/UFe7gypRhrZCT6jV8

Summer camp update:

We have shared the summer camp dates on June 12-15 at Camp Lakotah.  There is one piece that has changed:

                Base Camp is for Grades 3-6

                Outpost Camp is for Grades 7-8

Outpost campers will be going to the same camp location during the same times.  However their camp will be more rustic.  They will be staying in a group of cabins with a small number of youth.  They will do separate activities and do some of their own cooking. Below are some pictures to give you an idea of what Outpost looks like. Does your 7th or 8th Grader want to come to camp and are bummed they can't go? Send them to Outpost!

Have a great week,

Marie Witzel

4-H/Youth Development Educator

marie.witzel@wisc.edu

920-386-3790

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. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

The Achiever’s 4-H Club won the 4-H Foundation and Wisconsin Beef Council’s display contest in the “benefits of beef” category with their display at the 2023 Dodge County Fair. The club’s beef project members received a pair of Bog boots and a prize from the beef council. Pictured from left are Oliver Stowell, Jocelyn Edmunds, Wyatt Stowell, Lucy Stowell, Autumn Lueck, and Oscar Stowell. Not pictured is Adrian Lueck.

Reminder to all of the 2023 Scholarship recipients.  Turn in your transcripts by February 1st to receive your scholarship funds.  If you did not attend a post secondary program last fall, please give us a heads up that we should not be looking for your grades.  

Scholarship applications for the 2024-2025 Academic year are due on March 1st.  Please remember that you need to apply for each of the scholarships separately since they have different review committees.  If you have any questions about the process, contact Marie at the Extension Office.

The following scholarship applications are all due by March 1, 2024:

Check out these and other scholarship opportunities on the Scholarship Applications page of the UW Extension Dodge County Website.

The Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program continues to grow as more and more youth incorporate their interest in cattle, sheep, swine and meat goats through 4-H/FFA projects. This website will provide youth and adults the teaching tools to become successful in their project areas as well as keep up to date on current information.

Save the Date!

Sunday, June 2, 2024
9:00AM

Hafemeister Farm, Hustisford

Are you interested in bringing a group of youth to UW-Madison campus to explore science? There are 10 different science venues to choose from and over 25 workshops to experience. From astronomy to stem cells, there are hands-on workshops for everyone to explore. Fill out the UW-Madison Campus Science Field Trip Interest Form to reserve your date now.

The PYD Media Collection is a library of educational tools that can be borrowed from anywhere in the state. Youth leaders, volunteers, and staff will find displays, skillathons, learning lab kits, interactive CDs, DVDs, and more. Project area materials include horses, dairy, livestock, small animals, and some arts. Learn more about the Collection and how to request materials.

This program is geared towards newer producers (< 5 years of experience) and those who do not own beef yet but are considering it. We have also worked to include considerations for dairy producers thinking about adding or transitioning to cow-calf production.

Each class would also qualify for 1 point! Make sure you fill out the Education Verification Form to ensure you receive your point(s)!

This pilot program includes five FREE, 1.5-hour online classes that will be held from 7 – 8.30 pm on March 19, 21, 26, and April 2 and 4.

Pre-registration deadline is March 11.

Compeer Financial Discovery Barnyard provides an opportunity for fairgoers to learn about Wisconsin Agriculture, engage in ag-focused learning activities, and visit baby animals. Wisconsin State Fair is seeking dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to help make Discovery Barnyard great!

Apply to be a member of the Discovery Barnyard Core 4 Superintendent Team: 

Apply to be a Volunteer Group of the Day: 

Crochet or knit peony flowers/ blossoms using your own stash (a great "stash busting project "). We have easy to intermediate free patterns to choose from. Certain sizing and colors are recommended.

Want more info? Contact Shannon at Chamber: skoele@beaverdamchamber.com or call 920.887.8879

What you do makes a difference!  We are excited to share that our state will be participating in the 4-H Volunteer Impact Study of volunteers in the North Central Region. This survey is being conducted as a part of 12 state effort to document the impact of volunteering.  

A random sample of volunteers of 1000 volunteers from each state will be surveyed.  This study will be conducted through an electronic survey. If you are selected, you will receive an email to let you know you have been selected to participate. If you are, please respond. 

Your impact is great, and we want to hear from you!!!

Plan a "4-H Benefit Night" for your club. Contact local restaurants to learn more details.

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help! We will provide new volunteers with training to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers. The below linked trainings and a background check are required. Answers to questions about reporting and training are available on our FAQ page.

FEBRUARY

20 - 4-H Leaders Association - 7:00pm

24 - Family Learning Day (Dodgeland)

MARCH

1 - Scholarship Applications Due

19 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board - 7:00pm

24 - Family Learning Day (Dodgeland)

4-H Learning Resources from Positive Youth Development Media Collections

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