September 15, 2023

Marie's Message

Wisconsin 4-H recently received an AmeriCorps grant to help us grow 4-H across Wisconsin! In 2023-2024, AmeriCorps members will work with Wisconsin 4-H to build relationships with partners, identify opportunities to increase capacity, and begin new 4-H programming.

Our AmeriCorps programs have the goal of increasing the capacity of youth-serving organizations in counties throughout Wisconsin by creating new 4-H clubs and programs. The members will work directly with community partnerships in youth-serving organizations to:

1. Assess current offerings

2. Identify opportunities to increase capacity

3. Develop and Provide new opportunities in counties across Wisconsin

The hope is to provide currently engaged youth with additional educational opportunities, reach new youth, and utilize new or existing volunteers in additional service to the organization. Through an asset-based approach, members will provide positive youth development opportunities – being led and supported by 4-H educators.

Dodge County will have 3 AmeriCorps members in 2024. We will have one from January-August and two from June-August. This is a great opportunity for a college student as the member receives a living stipend and educational award at the completion of their service hours. If you are interested, please check out the information below:

HALF TIME JANUARY START listing number: 119822
one position available (button one below)

QUARTER TIME SUMMER START listing number: 119826
two positions available (button two below)

If you have questions, please reach out to me to learn more.

Have a great week,

Marie

4-H Youth Development Educator
marie.witzel@wisc.edu
920.386.3790

Half Time AmeriCorps Position

Quarter Time AmeriCorps Position

Club Happenings

Hyland Prairie (Vivian Lichty) We made bags with dairy treats for first responders. Families volunteered to deliver them. Winston Lichty and Andy Hoefs talked about building a remote-control airplane together.

Leipsic (Owen Hemling) Alexis Vande Kolk reported on creating the Fair Booth. Emmet Hopp and Robert Tracy reported on Ham and Jam.

Oak Grove Owls (Makenna Reider) Marshall and Bentley reported on roadside clean up. They found a lot of garbage and baseball cards. Community service for October will be to decorate pumpkins.

Herman Hornets (Claire Zuern) Members participated in a paper airplane contest on who can throw the furthest and who can land it on a table. Our fundraiser event for Bingo is scheduled for November. We will have a fall hike in October held by the Schnitzler’s.

New Newsletter Submissions Deadline

With the changes in staffing in the office, we are making some changes to the Friday Focus. If clubs or groups have items to share, they should send them by noon on Thursday to be included in that week’s issue. Anything received after 12pm Thursday will be considered for the following week.

The articles should be sent to Marie at marie.witzel@wisc.edu

Want to help out with 4-H? Volunteer!

If you are 18 years or older and interested in becoming a 4-H volunteer, we can help. We will provide new volunteers with Volunteers in Preparation Training about how to work effectively with youth and what resources are available to volunteers. We will also ask you to participate in a Mandated Reporter Training to learn more about how to protect youth from child abuse and neglect. Finally, to ensure the safety of all youth and volunteers, a Volunteer Behavior Expectations Agreement and background check are required.

Depending on their role, some volunteers may be asked to complete subject matter specific trainings as well as training to enrich their knowledge of youth development (for example chaperones or Shooting Sports leaders).

All volunteers, both new and returning, are also required to take training on how to report sexual misconduct. Answers to questions about reporting and training are available on our FAQ page.

Volunteers in Preparation Training

Mandated Reporter Training

Volunteer Behavior Expectations Agreement

FAQs Page

Record Books & End of the 4-H Year:

Record books will continue to be optional, and the local clubs can continue to make their own requirements for youth to complete 4-H for the year. Youth who would like to complete record books are encouraged to do so. There will be a county level recognition as well. Each club can send no more than 10% of the junior members and no more than 10% of the senior members of their club to the County for record book evaluation. Each project is counted separately, and the overall record book is also counted separately in the ten percent.
Clubs also need to provide volunteers who will sign up to judge the record books.

Nominations Open for 4-H Executive Board
& 4-H Endowment Committee

Encourage club volunteers and youth members to serve on these leadership Boards! The 4-H Executive Board members can only serve for two terms at a time, with a total of four years. There are four vacant spots for the board next year and four vacant spots for the youth next year. This rule is put in place so that the same people are not serving the board and new opinions are being put out there. The youth have to be in 7th grade or higher in order to be nominated.

Executive Board Nomination Form

Endowment Fund Board Nomination Form

Rabbit Project Meeting

Monday September 18th 7:00pm
Dodge County - Admin Auditorium - Juneau

Questions - Contact Vicki Redecker 920-210-7613

Hey! Look at this:

This was submitted by Allyson Roberts and was a project from our very own Dodge County Fair! Help them out and support our fellow 4-Her!

Tractor Voting Link

Dodge County 4-H Dairy Promotion Contest

Every 4-H Club in Dodge County is invited to participate in the Dodge County Dairy Promotion Contest and earn money for your club! Any club can participate, regardless if they have or do not have a dairy leader or group. You are to report on only ONE dairy promotion activity that your club has participated in. You may do more than one dairy promotion activity for your club, but please submit only ONE activity to be judged. Complete the enclosed report for a chance to win funds for your club.

In the past, it was required for both the dairy promotion funding and the dairy promotion contest to attend the Family Learning Day session and help at our Dairy Brunch. For the Dairy Promotion Contest only, these requirements will be dropped BUT you will score extra points if you have done either of the past requirements.

The completed Dairy Promotion Report will be due at the Extension office on the same day the record books are due or at the September Leaders Meeting.

Any questions, please contact Brenda Conley at 262-224-2559 or dodgecountydairy@gmail.com

Dairy Promotion Funding Forms Packet

Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Field Trip Opportunity

Fall is in the air, and we are so excited to offer a unique field trip experience again! Seeing your smiling faces brings smiles to our faces as we hear the laughter and see the little feet and hands explore the fall outdoors at Ebert’s Greenhouse Village. We are pleased to offer field trips for $8 per student and $6 per chaperone. Classroom teachers are free. The fee includes a hayride, a small pumpkin for students, a craft project, a story, and full access to our play areas. Although many ages enjoy the program and activities, it is especially geared toward pre-kindergarten to 3rd grade.

To book your field trip please call (920)261-5645

Ebert's Greenhouse Village Kid's Korner

Older Youth Leadership Opportunity & LEGOs too!

Do you love LEGOS? The Hustisford Community Library is seeking a 4-H Youth in grade 7-13 or a certified 4-H Volunteer to lead a monthly LEGO activity session on Wednesdays for 1 hour in September - November. The LEGO sessions are open to all community youth and the LIbrary would love to have a 4-H Youth lead one, two or all three sessions. Attendees are typically youth in grades 5K-6. This is a great opportunity for older youth to demonstrate leadership activities on a resume, for scholarship applications, or in a 4-H Record Book.

WHAT: LEGO Building Activity Sessions - a 4-H Youth to lead a one hour session

WHO: 4-H Youth in grades 7-13

WHEN: 2nd Wednesday of the month from 3:30-4:30pm (Oct. 11; Nov. 8)

WHERE: Hustisford Community Library, 609 W. Juneau Street, Hustisford

Want to learn more? Please contact Tracy Malterer (Sinissippi 4-H leader) at 920-285-1817/tracymalterer@gmail.com or Erica Castillo (Hustisford Community LIbrary Youth Programming) at ecastillo@monarchlibraries.org

Cedar Crest Ice Cream Flavor Naming Contest

It's back! Last year's flavor name winner was Cow Lick. Do you have the winning name idea for 2023?
The contest runs September 1st through November 15th. It is open to all Wisconsin 4-H clubs. Visit the Cedar Crest page for details and entry forms:

Cedar Crest Ice Cream Naming Contest

Beef Project Display Challenge!

The Wisconsin Beef Council and Wisconsin 4-H Foundation are offering a display contest to all Wisconsin 4-H beef project members. The goal of the contest is to encourage 4-H beef project members and exhibitors to create an informative and appealing display that will educate consumers attending fairs or other events throughout the summer.
Entry deadline: September 30th.

Get all of the details here:

2023 Beef Display Contest Details

September 15-17 - State 4-H Horse Expo
September 19 - 4-H Leaders Association 7PM (Board Elections)
September 19 - RECORD BOOKS & AWARDS DUE AT EXTENSION OFFICE
September 25 - MAS Post Sale Meeting 7PM

October 1-7 - National 4-H Week
October 17 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board Meeting 7PM

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