November 22, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we gather next week to celebrate Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate the love and support of our families, the joy of friendships, and the opportunities we have to grow and learn.

To the youth, remember that you are the future. Your dreams, aspirations, and hard work will shape the world. Embrace every moment, cherish your loved ones, and always strive to be the best version of yourself.

To the families, thank you for your unwavering support and love. Your guidance and encouragement are the foundation upon which the youth build their futures. Let's continue to nurture and uplift each other, creating a community filled with kindness, understanding, and gratitude.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy, laughter, and wonderful memories. Let's give thanks for all we have and look forward to a bright and hopeful future.

One lesson I learned years ago is that Thanksgiving is also a great time to show your gratitude to those that inspire you. Maybe it is a teacher, 4-H leader, co-worker or someone else. Take a moment out of your day to send them a message, email or text and remind them of the positive impact they made on your life.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Remember we will be taking a break next week from the Friday Focus. The Dodge County office buildings will be closed on Thursday and Friday. We look forward to re-connecting in December.

Congratulations to our Dodge Co 4-H gratitude message winners:

Easton Bruins & Lilly Bohn - Cloverbud Winners
Harper Slechta & Giseli Avila - Regular Club Member Winners

Marie

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.

If you have Secretary's Minutes to share, please send them to the 4-H / Youth Program Assistant, Terra at: treider@wisc.edu by noon on Wednesday to be included in that week's issue. You can also contact the office with any questions. Thanks!

Achievers (Oliver) - Several 4-H members have been learning how to sew by taking lessons from club project leader Krystle Flier. The members pictured above sewed lap quilts that were donated to a local nursing home. The youth plan to continue their sewing lessons throughout the year and make more lap quilts. The members pictured above from left are Denise Anderson, Avery and Campbell Panetti, and Lucy Stowell.

Achievers (Oliver) - The Achievers 4-H Club celebrated achievement with a special 4-H trivia event that included a guest speaker and announcer, Michele Stangler, the Fairest of the Fair. She is pictured with the club.

Thank you everyone for your comments on our Dodge Co 4-H page! We loved hearing from you. Our winners can pick up their prizes at the Extension Office during business hours. We are open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. 

Much gratitude to the Portland Boosters for the fresh evergreen wreath! Everyone is welcome to stop by our office to see how beautiful it looks and smells!

BQA does more than help beef producers capture more value from their cattle: BQA provides a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they ensure the cattle they sell are the best they can be. Consumer research, conducted by the Beef Checkoff, shows that learning about BQA made consumers more confident in beef safety and animal welfare and improved positive consumer perceptions of how cattle are raised for food. There are trainings scheduled in Watertown and Lomira. Check out the link below.

As we welcome the colder weather and the start of a new 4-H year, we’re thrilled to announce that the Wisconsin 4-H Program Booklet for 2024-25 is now available!

This year’s booklet is full of exciting opportunities for 4-H families, members, and volunteers at the state level. These state programs offer valuable educational experiences that help youth develop lifelong skills and form lasting friendships. Whether your 4-H member is ready to create something amazing at Arts Camp in Upham Woods, embark on a thrilling adventure at Space Camp in Huntsville, or showcase their talents in a State Judging Competition, we’re confident there’s a spark waiting for every 4-H member in this year’s offerings.

The 4-H State Arts Teams (Drama Company, Arts Team, and COMM Team) are returning for 2025, expanding, and rebranding! The Arts Ambassadors program will be an excellent way for older 4-H youth to show off their Expressive Arts skills at the state level. We are excited to announce this upcoming rebrand, the return of the COMM Team, and more! Read on to learn about the Arts Ambassadors!

If anyone is interested in being a presenter, please email treider@wisc.edu or click the button:

Please call the office to find out what is available and to arrange for pick up. 

$5, $10 and $20 Culver’s Gift Cards are available to purchase!  Makes great appreciation gifts for 4-H members during achievement time. Cards available at the UW-Extension office.  Call 920-386-3790 for higher quantities requested.

The New Year in 4-H is here! That also means it's time for Volunteers to complete required trainings! Let's dive in and get this done ASAP!

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation has kicked off a contest that challenges all 4-H members to explore their creativity!

The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Celebrates the Arts Photography Contest is open to any current Wisconsin 4-H member, and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation is awarding cash prizes. The contest will be held virtually, with photos of all entries submitted electronically. Entries are being accepted now through January 31, 2025.

4-H American Spirit – June 20-29, 2025 and July 4-13, 2025

The 4-H American Spirit Experience is an opportunity for youth in grades 8-10 to immerse themselves in history and heritage through a 10-day bus journey to the East Coast and Canada. Staff and volunteers plan and facilitate the experience, while youth participants lead content throughout.   Participants will increase their knowledge of American history by visiting significant sites and gain unique exposure to diverse cultural experiences and perspectives foundational to our nation. This program will also focus on career readiness, leadership development, and experiential learning around history and civics, with an emphasis on diversity and the challenges that different groups of people have faced.  Additionally, participants will develop positive relationships with adults and peers from across the state. 

Participant Eligibility - All youth grades 8-10

Pre-Registration in 4H Online 2.0 is open starting November 10. Youth and their parent/guardian must complete the online registration together; it includes questions for the youth participant to answer!

Each experience is limited to 45 youth.  

Estimated Cost of Experience is $2,900 – Invoices will be sent to each county starting December 15, 2024.  Payment will be made to the State 4-H Office and is due on January 15, 2025.

Registration will be open in 4H Online 2.0 from November 10-30, 2024.   To register, youth and their parents will need to log in to and have an approved profile/enrollment at https://2025AmericanSpiritApp.4honline.com and follow the directions.  Please note:  registration in 4H Online does NOT confirm participation!!   Participation will be finalized based on # of youth per experience, full rooms by identified gender, ages of youth traveling together, and eligibility to participate in future years.  We will take into account registration dates and times.

Scholarship
The Wisconsin State Fair Dairy Promotion Board is offering $1,000 scholarships to individuals who will be third or fourth-year college students or second-year short course/technical college students during the 2025-2026 academic year. Click here for details.

Dairy-activity card
View the updated version here. Dairy youth must complete the dairy-activity card to be eligible for exhibiting at the Wisconsin State Fair Junior Dairy Show and in the Dodge County Fair Dairy Youth Recognition Auction. Signatures/initials (not Xs or checkmarks) will be required from here on out. If you went to World Dairy Expo, Cream of the Crop Dairy Challenge, dairy-bowl practice, etc. in the last few months, print off an activity-card copy, and take it to your coordinating leaders/coaches or DYAC officer-team member for their signatures. The same goes for activities labeled "previous fair."

Dairy bowl
The next dairy-bowl practice is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, 1 p.m., at the Watertown Library. The group will take a break for the holiday weekend; so, there's no practice on Dec. 1. The final competition is during the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention, Dec. 27-29, 2024. Even if you're just interested in seeing what it's all about, join the group for a practice or two. Questions: Mandy Sell-Stanford is the lead contact; her number is 920.253.8773.

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

Check your email inbox (the one you use with 4HOnline) for your link to participate in the Wisconsin 4-H Thriving Survey! The survey was sent to all Wisconsin 4-H members, ages 13-18, by email in the first week of November. The survey link will be open until December 2. Youth who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift card. Fill out the survey to help Wisconsin achieve a 30% response rate. Watch for your link and help us tell the story of 4-H in Wisconsin!

DECEMBER

14 - Shop With Cops 9:15 AM 

20 - New Family Gathering 7:00 PM

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