National 4-H Dairy Conference

Wisconsin youth recently returned from an inspiring week at the National 4-H Dairy Conference, where they participated in hands-on learning experiences, toured dairy industry facilities, and connected with 4-H members from across the country.

Throughout the conference, participants expanded their knowledge of the dairy industry while building leadership, communication, and networking skills. The experience provided valuable opportunities to explore career pathways, learn from industry professionals, and create lasting connections with fellow youth leaders.

Congratulations to the Wisconsin delegation for representing our state and making the most of this outstanding 4-H experience! 🍀🐄

Building Tomorrow's 4-H Leaders

What a great time at 4-H Officer Training! 🍀 On October 17, 20 youth leaders in grades 2nd - 12th representing nine Waushara County 4-H clubs came together to strengthen their leadership skills and prepare for successful club leadership. Youth learned about officer roles and responsibilities, practiced parliamentary procedure while making trail mix, explored ways to create fun and welcoming club environments, and wrapped up the day with pumpkin carving. 🙋🎃

The training provided opportunities for youth to build confidence, communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills while working in partnership with adult volunteers. Following the program, 100% of participants reported feeling more confident in their ability to lead their 4-H clubs.

A HUGE thank you to the Leaders Association for helping make the training possible and to the Flyte family for generously donating the pumpkins! 💚

We are excited to see these young leaders take what they learned back to their clubs and continue developing the skills they need to become engaged leaders in their communities. 🍀🎃

Welcome 2026-2027 Loyal 4-H officers.
President: Brenna Lundt
Vice President: Mallary Williams
Co-Secretary: Peighton Schultz and Kaylyn Underberg
Treasurer: Coraline Biely
Co-Reporters: Chloe Biely and Lane Williams.

Looking for more livestock educational opportunities?

Be sure to check out and bookmark our Waushara County Livestock Project webpage! We've recently added a livestock events calendar featuring upcoming educational opportunities, shows, workshops, webinars, and other events offered both in person and virtually.

Whether you're new to livestock projects or looking to expand your knowledge, there's something for everyone!

https://waushara.extension.wisc.edu/livestock-project/

Come celebrate our amazing 4-H members and leaders at the Annual Member & Leader Recognition Potluck! 🍀

📍 Leon Town Hall in Pine River
🕛 Starts at 12:00 noon
🍽️ Potluck celebration

All are welcome! We hope you’ll join us as we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of our 4-H members and leaders! 💚

Looking for a way to grow your leadership skills, meet other teen leaders, and make a difference in your community? Consider becoming a Waushara County 4-H Ambassador!

As an Ambassador, you'll:

✅ Promote Waushara County 4-H
✅ Help plan and participate in countywide events
✅ Serve as a positive role model
✅ Build leadership and communication skills

Open to youth in grades 9-12, this is a great opportunity to lead, serve, represent, and connect with fellow 4-H members from across the county.

📅 Kick-Off Meeting
 🗓 Thursday, November 12
 ⏰ 6:30 p.m. Dinner provided!
 📍 Waushara County Highway Building
403 Ruth's Way, Wautoma

Join us and discover how you can make a positive impact in Waushara County through 4-H leadership!

🍀 Lead. Serve. Represent. Connect. 🍀

Hello leaders! 

The Waushara County ADRC reached out to share that they are looking for 4-H clubs interested in helping with Fall Yard Clean-Up. This is a great opportunity for youth to give back to the community while assisting older adults with seasonal yard work.

Please see the attached flyer for more information, or contact Ruth Weinberger with the ADRC directly at: Ruth.Weinberger@wausharacountywi.gov

🦌 Have a deer head from hunting season and aren't sure what to do with it?
Join us this spring for our upcoming European Skull Mount Workshop and learn the step-by-step process of creating a professional-looking European mount from your deer harvest! Participants will learn skull preparation, cleaning techniques, and mounting tips while creating a unique display piece.

This workshop is perfect for youth interested in hunting, wildlife, taxidermy, and outdoor skills.

❄️ To participate, youth should plan to bring a deer head from their harvest. Heads should be frozen as soon as possible to preserve them until the workshop. If you are unable to provide a deer head, please contact the Extension Office to discuss options.

📅 April 3rd! - time and details coming soon!

👀 Watch for registration details and additional information. Space will be limited!

Applications: located on the website: or request from Extension Office

Due Date: January 9th to the Extension Office.

Interview Date:  Saturday, January 16th at Waushara City Highway Dept 

 

American Spirit East: The 4-H American Spirit Experience is an opportunity for youth to immerse themselves in history and heritage through a 10-day bus journey to the East Coast and Canada. 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. Youth currently in grades 8-10 travel to Nappanee, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Lexington/Concord, Gloucester, Salem, and Niagara Falls (passport required) June 25 -July 3. 

 

Citizenship Washington Focus: a national youth leadership experience in Washington, D.C., designed to help teens discover their passions and build career and life-readiness skills. Through hands-on workshops, immersive activities, and offsite experiences, participants explore career pathways while developing leadership, problem-solving, and social entrepreneurship skills. Youth also engage in community-based projects, collaborate with peers from across the country, and experience the rich history, culture, museums, and monuments of the nation’s capital. This program is for youth currently in grades 10-12 and will be held on March 15-21. 

 

Explore Wisconsin: Youth currently in grades 6-8 spend three nights and four days exploring the cultural, historical, geographical/geological, political and economic aspects of one geographic region of Wisconsin. This trip generally takes place in June or July with exact dates determined by delegates as a group.   

 

National 4-H Congress: annually brings 4-H youth and adults from around the nation to Washington D.C. to work towards strengthening and expanding the 4-H Youth Development program at the local, state, and national levels. National 4-H Conference is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. The National 4-H Headquarters is charged with sharing the recommendations that emerge from the conference with the Secretary of Agriculture, National Extension Program Leaders, and others who determine 4-H programs. This program is for youth currently in grades 9-12 dates to be determined. 

 

Older Youth Trip: Youth currently in grades 9-13 spend three nights and four days exploring the cultural, historical, geographical/geological, political and economic aspects of one geographic region in the Midwest. This trip generally takes place in June or July with exact dates determined by delegates as a group.   

 

Space Camp: a camp experience where you learn and experience a ton of different aspects about life as an astronaut, working at NASA, and exploring places beyond Earth! Wisconsin 4-H Space Camp participants experience the Pathfinder Program, a 3-day experience where youth participate in a variety of simulated space activities at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center! Space Camp is open to youth in grades 6-8 and will be held from April 30-May 2, 2027, in Huntsville, Alabama. 

 

Summer Academy: is a statewide 4-H youth development experience held on the UW-Madison campus. Youth explore career and hobby interests through hands-on learning tracks in areas such as agriculture, STEM, leadership, and the arts while building friendships with peers from across Wisconsin. Participants stay in a campus residence hall and enjoy seminars, campus tours, guest speakers, performances, and a variety of engaging activities designed to inspire learning, leadership, and personal growth. Thie event is open to youth currently in grades 8-11 and will be held June 13-17. 

 

Key Award: This award recognizes youth that have shown consistent growth in 4-H, have developed their leadership ability and been helpful to their clubs and community.  Two or three youths, typically near the end of their 4-H career, can be selected for this award.  Individuals for this recognition have been nominated by their club or can be self-nominated.  

 

Leaders Association Scholarship: Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to members graduating from high school this year or members enrolled in college during the current academic year.   

 

Ambassadors get unique opportunities to represent Wisconsin 4-H, develop leadership skills, and contribute to statewide programming. Apply to join the Arts, Leadership, Agriculture, or NEW Outdoor Ambassadors depending on what inspires you most. Youth must be in grades 9-12 to apply! Individual information listed below. 

Applications are open October 1-November 15! Learn more and apply here: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/.../wi-4-h-ambassador-team/ 

 

Calling All Creative Wisconsin 4-H Youth!

Don’t miss the chance to be on one of the 2026 teams

🍀 Art Team

🍀 Drama Company

🍀 Photo Fanatics

Youth in grades 9-12 can apply for this opportunity to develop their artistic skills. Applications will be open October 1-November 15, 2026 in 4-H Online!

Learn more: Wisconsin 4-H State Arts Ambassadors

http://4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/state-arts-teams/

 

Agriculture Ambassadors will grow their leadership in agriculture by engaging in agriculture opportunities, contributing their ideas and shaping statewide events.

Youth in grades 9-12 can apply to build leadership skills in agriculture. Applications will be open October 1-November 15, 2026 in 4-H Online!

💚 Learn more about Agriculture Ambassadors on our website: 4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/wi-4-h-agriculture-ambassadors/

 

The Outdoor Ambassadors are a new team for 2027 who will be leaders and advocate for ethical practices and safe recreation.

Youth in grades 9-12 can apply for this opportunity to make a positive impact in outdoor programming. Applications will be open October 1-November 15, 2026 in 4-H Online!

💚 Learn more about Outdoor Ambassadors on our website: Link coming soon

Leadership Ambassadors advocate for Wisconsin 4-H and build leadership skills through supporting statewide programs.

Youth in grades 9-12 can apply for this opportunity to gain leadership experience. Applications will be open October 1-November 15, 2026 in 4-H Online!

💚 Learn more about Leadership Ambassadors on our website: 4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/wisconsin-4-h-leadership-council/

The Wisconsin Distance Learning group is excited to announce three Distance Learning programs for 2027! Registration is November 1-November 15. Register early so you don’t miss out!

Cloverbuds: Wizarding World of 4-H: A Cloverbud Series

Photography: “I signed up for the 4-H Photography Project... Now what?”

The Whole Animal: Co & By-Products Uncovered

Registration in 4-H Online is free. However, some programs will have a tiered pricing fee. Additional supplies may need to be purchased on your own.

Learn more about each opportunity on the Distance Learning website (https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/wi-distance-learning/)!

 

Between February 11-15, 2027, youth in grades 6-8 will travel to St. Louis, Missouri and experience fun, learning, and cultural discovery. 

Participants can experience:

🍀 Science museums

🍀 Art centers

🍀 Live music and performances

🍀 Local food

Registration opens October 26 and will close November 22. Learn more on the website: 4h.extension.wisc.edu/beyond-wisconsin-exploring-the-midwest/

🏛️  National 4-H Conference annually brings 4-H youth and adults from around the nation to Washington D.C. to work towards strengthening and expanding the 4-H Youth Development program at the local, state, and national levels. National 4-H Conference is the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s premier youth development opportunity to engage youth in developing recommendations for the 4-H Youth Development Program. The National 4-H Headquarters is charged with sharing the recommendations that emerge from the conference with the Secretary of Agriculture, National Extension Program Leaders, and others who determine 4-H programs.

‼️  Due to the nature of this program, 2027 dates are unknown at this time, but will be sometime during the Spring season.

🗓️  Submit an application with references to the State 4-H Office between October 15, 2026 – December 1, 2026. Between 8-10 youth are selected to attend this working conference.

🔗  For more information, visit https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/national-4-h-conference/.

 

💻  This 100% virtual, no cost program is a 4-week experience for youth grades 8-10! Sessions include:

❄️ Session 1: Charting A Path - January 13th, 2027 

❄️ Session 2: Finding Your Strengths - January 20th, 2027 

❄️ Session 3: Beyond Ready & Me - January 27th, 2027 

❄️ Session 4: LEGO Communication - February 3rd, 2027

‼️  Registration will be open from November 1-30, 2026. Spots are limited and are available on a first-come first-served basis!

🔗  For more information, visit https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/winter-academy/.

 

🍀  This program is available to youth grades 8-10 and will be held from June 25-July 3, 2027!

🏛️  The 4-H American Spirit Experience is an opportunity for youth to immerse themselves in history and heritage through a 10-day bus journey to the East Coast and Canada. 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.

Locations Include:

📍Nappanee, Indiana

📍Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

📍New York City, New York

📍Boston, Massachusetts

📍Lexington/Concord, Massachusetts

📍Gloucester, Massachusetts

📍Salem, Massachusetts

📍Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (A passport will be needed!)

‼️  Applications will be open in 4HOnline from November 1-30, 2026.

🔗  For more information, visit https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/american-spirit-east/.

 

🚀  Space Camp is a camp experience where you learn and experience a ton of different aspects about life as an astronaut, working at NASA, and exploring places beyond Earth! Wisconsin 4-H Space Camp participants experience the Pathfinder Program, a 3 day experience where youth participate in a variety of simulated space activities at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center!

👩‍🚀 Space Camp is open to youth in grades 6-8 and will be held from April 30-May 2, 2027 in Huntsville, Alabama.

🗓️  Registration will be open from November 16-December 13, 2026. 

💫  For more information, visit https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/statewide-events-and-opportunities/space-camp/.

 

Emily Jensen 

Waushara County 4-H Program Educator

 

emily.m.jensen@wisc.edu

Cell: 715-935-8874

Office: 920-787-0484

All newsletters going forward will be sent via email. 

If you would like to continue to receive a paper copy via mail please call the UW Extension Office at (920)787-0416.

Paper copies are also available at the UW Extension office. 

 

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