June 10th, 2026

Marie's Message

🐝 Bugs, Bees & Backyard Fun!

🌼 What’s the Buzz About Pollinators?

Did you know that 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat depends on pollinators like bees, butterflies, and even beetles? These tiny workers help plants grow fruits, vegetables, and seeds.

🌻 Around Wisconsin this summer, you might spot:
-Bumblebees visiting flowers
-Monarch butterflies laying eggs on milkweed
-Ladybugs helping control garden pests

👉 Why it matters:
Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have foods like apples, pumpkins, blueberries, and cucumbers!
_____________________________________________________________________

🔍 Try This at Home: Backyard Bug Hunt!

Grab a notebook and head outside—it’s time to explore!

✅ Your challenge:

Find and observe at least 5 different insects.

Look in places like:
-Under leaves
-Near flowers
-Around soil or logs
-On sidewalks or patios

✏️ Draw or write:
-What colors do you see?
-How many legs does it have?
-Is it flying, crawling, or hopping?

⭐ Bonus points:
Can you find a pollinator AND a helpful garden bug?

Feel free to share your results with me by Friday and I can share them in the next Focus.

Have a great week,
Marie

💡 Did You Know?

-Bees can see colors humans can’t—like ultraviolet!
-Some butterflies migrate hundreds of miles
-A single bee may visit 50–100 flowers in one trip

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

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. 

Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu

Neosho Utopians (Mckayla Conley) - This month the Neosho Utopians 4-H Club put together dairy goodies bags for staff for our local elementary school, we also planted our flower planter by the post office.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Camp Orientation on June 23 at 6:30 PM via Zoom! This session will help campers and families get ready for an exciting week at camp.

During the orientation, you’ll meet our camp counselors through fun introductions slides,  hear important updates about camp plans and health information. It’s a great opportunity for campers to start building connections and feel comfortable before arriving at camp.

We hope you’ll join us!

By the way the counselors have chosen our theme as America Celebrates 250 at Dodge County 4-H camp

Applications are open for the highest state-level recognition a 4-H member can receive.

4-H'ers who have won the County Key Award in 2024, 2025 or 2026 may apply to be selected as one of the Top 10 Key Award winners. 

National 4-H Council has launched the “4-H Class of 2026 Congrat A Grad Board.” It's fun to already see some Wisconsin 4-H members being recognized on this platform!

Join by sharing a message of congratulations. Whether you've known them for years or just want to cheer them on, every message helps send them off feeling recognized, supported, and Beyond Ready for what's ahead.

How to Congrat A Grad:

Click the “Add a post” button to share:

Congratulatory messages
Favorite memories
Advice for their future journeys
Photos and videos from their 4-H experiences

It's also just really fun to scroll through the lists to see the diversity and remarkability of 4-H members from around the country :)

Congrats to all the high school seniors you work with in your programs!

There will be up to 3 scholarships for no less than $1,000 each. Applications are due by July 25th of the current year.

Please sign up to help at the Cream Puffs & Carmel Apple Slices stand, the WWA Ice Cream Booth, Fish Pond, and 4-H Promotion Booth! 

At the Dodge County Fair, 4-H youth have the opportunity to go beyond displaying their projects—they can share the story behind their learning. Through reflection, youth highlight the skills they’ve built, the challenges they’ve worked through, and how their passions have grown throughout the year. This experiential learning approach helps youth connect their efforts to real-world skills like communication, confidence, and personal growth.

Who may exhibit at the Dodge County Junior Fair?
All youth who are Dodge County youth organization members (4-H, FFA, Jr. Holstein Assn, or other recognized youth organization under adult leadership, grades K-13, that has an education program appropriate to that organization and is approved by the Dodge County Fair Board) are eligible to exhibit. Cloverbuds (grades K-2) may enter the Cloverbud category ONLY.  Exhibitor grade is January 1 of the current year.

How to Enter Junior Fair Exhibits
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Dodge County Junior Fair Entry Coordinator with questions dodgecountyjrfair@gmail.com or 920-386-3834

⏰ Deadline for Junior Fair Entries is June 12th at 7 PM. Make sure you receive a confirmation email to ensure you are signed up.

Sign Up Now 👇🏻

Dairy-judging practices and competition

Mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting

In an effort to be more efficient, all dairy-activity cards must be printed and have signatures prior to arrival for the annual mandatory dairy-exhibitor meeting on July 27, 2026, 7 p.m., at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The exception to this effort is the line for "attendance at the mandatory exhibitor meeting."

Crowley award nominations

Dodge County is proud to recognize three outstanding dairy youth nominated for the James W. Crowley Dairy Leadership Award: Marissa Spoke, Mary Zwald, and Mckayla Conley. The award honors 4-H members who've demonstrated exceptional achievement, leadership, and involvement in the dairy project. Congratulations to Marissa, Mary, and Mckayla for representing Dodge County in this prestigious statewide award process.

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

JUNE

12 - Deadline to enter the Junior Fair, 7 PM

16 - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 7 PM

29 & 30 -  4-H Summer Camp at Upham Woods

JULY

1 & 2 -  4- H Summer Camp at Upham Woods

July 3: Office Closed 

21 - 4-H Leader's Executive Board Meeting, 7 PM

PYD Media Collection Project Resources Follow the link to learn more about the collection and request materials.

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