Dear 4-H Families,

As we are beginning this month, I have a few important reminders. We have about 400 members and cloverbuds, and 70 adults approved in the enrollment system.

1. If you haven’t enrolled your child or haven't enrolled as an adult please do so ASAP. Next Friday is Nov 15, so we will no longer be sending the weekly emails to people who have not re-enrolled.

2. Adult Leaders: remember it does take some time after training and your background check, (usually at least 2 weeks) to be finished in Madison so we can approve you as a leader. Please get that process going now. We have currently 62 volunteers awaiting review.

3. Wisconsin 4-H has received an AmeriCorps grant to help us expand our impact statewide! Thanks to funding from Serve Wisconsin, AmeriCorps members will be serving throughout Wisconsin, strengthening our 4-H community and growing our programs. AmeriCorps members serve 900 hours between January and August - with VERY FLEXIBLE schedules - and receive $625 every two weeks to support living expenses, and then a nearly $3,700 education award to pay for college or student loans.

In the 2023-2024 service year, these members will collaborate with Wisconsin 4-H to build partnerships, identify opportunities for growth, and launch new programming to reach even more youth across the state! 

You can serve if you are 18 years old with a High School diploma, or you can serve as an adult, but you need to be 55 in order to share your educational award with a family member. A retired person can serve, earn the living allowance, and if they are 55 or older when they start, can give their education award to a child, grandchild, etc. To learn more check out https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/wisconsin4h-americorps/ or the information in the newsletter. We need to get the position filled ASAP for the January start date.

Have questions about 4-H enrollment? Contact our office with questions at 920-386-3790 or email marie.witzel@wisc.edu.

Marie
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!

Astico Perseverance (Cade Kurth) - This month we were given the opportunity to promote our club by setting up a booth in the fire station during Trick or Treating and passing out candy. We also painted bins for the Columbus Beautification Project. After our November meeting, we had our annual costume contest.

After 15 years of being a general leader for the Neosho Utopians 4-H club, and being in the club for more than 20 years, Jason Beck has stepped down from his role. Jason has been very helpful to the Utopians, and when my own family first moved to Neosho and decided to join the 4H club in 2014, the Beck family was very inviting towards us. The Beck family has always made everyone feel welcome. At the Neosho Utopians award banquet for achieving members this last Sunday, we presented Jason with a plaque signed by all the members, and a gift certificate for his favorite place to eat. Thank you, Jason, for all your years of leading, supporting, and endorsing 4-H. If you see Jason around- please give him a shout out!!

-Submitted by past Neosho President, and current member- Ely Lynch

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:

If you are not sure how to proceed or having trouble getting started, please feel free to call the office and we can walk you through it. We are open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm. 920-386-3790

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.

Registration Deadline: November 8, 2024

The event/meeting will be a best fit for dog project adult volunteers and members in 6th grade and older. With that said, all dog project members are welcome, if these areas interest them. All youth members must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

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.

Next DYAC meeting

Our next DYAC meeting is Nov. 12, 2024, 7:30 p.m., at the Dodge County Administration Building in Juneau. Everyone is welcome.

Dairy bowl

Dairy bowl/dairy-quiz bowl season continues. Upcoming practices are scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, and Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, 1 p.m., at the Watertown Library. 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!

Join us for a relaxed and real book discussion on "The 5 Love Languages of Children." 
Wednesday, November 13– 6:00pm-7:00pm 
Free Book with registration!

Space Camp will take place from May 1-5, 2025 and youth in grades 6-8 will have the opportunity to travel to Huntsville, Alabama to learn all about Space, STEM, career opportunities, and more! Learn more about Space Camp below.

Youth should create a google drive to put their cover letter and resume in so we can work on it during their session.  

NOVEMBER

19 - 4-H Leaders Association 7 PM

DECEMBER

14 - Shop With Cops

20 - New Family Gathering 6:30 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