May 20, 2026

Marie's Message

Memorial Day: Honoring Service, Remembering Sacrifice

Memorial Day is a time for remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. Observed on the last Monday of May, this day honors the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the United States military. Their courage and sacrifice have helped protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.

While many of us gather with family, attend parades, or kick off the start of summer, Memorial Day invites us to pause and remember the true meaning behind the holiday. It is a time to reflect on the cost of freedom and to show respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

In 4-H, we strive to build responsible, caring citizens. Memorial Day provides an opportunity for youth and families to practice gratitude and service—whether by attending a local ceremony, placing flags on graves, thanking veterans and their families, or taking a moment of silence.

As we honor this day, may we remember not only with words, but through our actions—showing kindness, serving our communities, and working toward a future that reflects the values so many gave their lives to protect.

Have a great week.

Sincerely,
Marie

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

Awesome Model Horse Show at Educational Days!!!!!

Wisconsin 4-H Horse Association Education Days was held May 2-3, 2026 at the STEM Innovation Center - UW Green Bay Campus. The Model Horse Show was held on Sunday with Dodge County with outstanding performances by Bella Stiers (Grade 5) and Nora Stiers (Grade 3) from the Astico Perseverance.

Bella received Grands in Hunter Over Fences, Hunter Under Saddle, OF Western Halter and OF Draft Halter; Reserves in Costume-Fantasy, Other Performance and OF English Halter; in addition to Top Tens in Costume-Native/Historical, Harness Driving, Western Pleasure, Trail-Arena, OF Pony Halter and Showmanship.

Nora received Grands in Trail-Arena and OF English Halter; in addition to Top Tens in Costume-Native/Historical, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Other Performance, OF Western Halter, OF Pony Halter, OF Draft Halter and Showmanship.

Herman Hornets (Mia Odenwald):  Members enjoyed a game of kickball before the May 5th Herman Hornets 4-H meeting, which included member reports highlighting 4-H promotion efforts and community service like clean-up at the town hall and cemetery. Key reminders included bringing fishpond prizes next month, preparing for June Dairy Month activities, and reviewing fair book details with entries due June 12th. The meeting also recognized Kimmie Callies for 10 years in 4-H and shared upcoming opportunities like the Dairy Brunch and YQCA training.

County Line 4-H (Isabel Montoya):  The County Line 4-H Club met on May 12, 2026, at Ashippun Town Hall with 12 members present, where they reviewed recent activities including a demonstration speech night and discussed upcoming deadlines and events. Key reminders included Fair Entry due June 12, opportunities to volunteer at the Dairy Brunch, YQCA certification options, and preparation for the county fair. Members also received updates on upcoming outings, including the Noah’s Ark trip, and confirmed their next meeting for June 9.

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

Registration is now open for the 2026 WI 4-H Area Animal Science Days, with events hosted in Grant County (June 19) and Clark County (June 30). 

Registration deadline: June 1, 2026. Participants should review the registration guide before signing up. 

Youth can participate as individuals or teams; entries include judging contests, plus optional poster and photography contests.

Cost: $12 per participant; optional lunch is $10 and must be pre-ordered. 

Teams can be registered by a volunteer or staff member; individuals can register themselves. 

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

The Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences and the Dairy Innovation Hub are excited to announce the return of Badger Dairy Camp to the University of Wisconsin - Madison campus from July 9-12, 2026. The goal of this program is to educate youth about the breadth of areas that contribute to Wisconsin's dairy industry and the higher education and career opportunities available. The program includes hands-on workshops, tours, and recreational activities for youth ages 12-17 as of January 1, 2026. 

Registration is now open. The camp is limited to 100 campers, and applicants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Click the button to learn more and to register. You can also contact Megan Lauber directly at (262) 902-3156 or badgerdairycamp@ansci@wisc.edu.

Our 46th Annual Dodge County Dairy Brunch it will be held at the Dodge County Fairgrounds outside of Beaver Dam on Sunday, June 7th, 2026 from 9am until 12:30pm. 

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.

Sign Up Now 👇🏻

Dairy-judging practices

Reminder about dairy-activity cards

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, at the Dodge County Fairgrounds. The exception to this effort is the line for "attendance at the mandatory exhibitor meeting."

LAST CALL for Wisconsin Junior State Fair

Next DYAC meeting

The next DYAC meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m., at the Dodge County Administrative Building Main Auditorium, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039. Everyone is welcome.

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

MAY

25 - Memorial Day Observed - Office Closed

JUNE

16 - 4-H Leaders Association Meeting, 7 PM

29 & 30 - July 2: 4-H Summer Camp at Upham Woods

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