September 17, 2025

Marie's Message

Happy Fall!

As the Fall season begins, we have a lot of programs happening in Dodge County 4-H. Please check out the Focus for registrations for the programs.

One is the Cloverbud 4-H Spark Seekers Series. Sample a variety of activities through hands-on, at home virtual activities designed just for Cloverbuds (K-2nd grade).

Open to Cloverbud & guests in K-2nd grades. Registration closes Sept 21st.

Participants will be sent a zoom link to participate. Zooms will be recorded.

Most materials will be provided and can be picked up at your local County Extension Office between Sept 30th-Oct 7th.

Check out the article later in the Focus for registration information. Register by Sept 21. Remember you don’t need to be in 4-H to participate, so invite your friends to check it out!

It is also enrollment season, it is great to see we already have 34 people approved for the new year, with several volunteers waiting for approval after training and background checks. Remind your club members to get their enrollment in along with the leaders.

Have questions about all that 4-H has to offer or need more information about enrollment? Contact our office with questions at 920-386-3790 or email marie.witzel@wisc.edu.

Have a great week,
Marie

Marie Witzel
Positive Youth Development Educator
UW Extension - Dodge County
920-386-3790
marie.witzel@wisc.edu

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. 

With all of the changes in the Extension Office, Please send any 4-H or youth development related emails to marie.witzel@wisc.edu

🌟 A New 4-H Year is HERE! 🌟

Youth can continue to enroll and join their projects! Remember you need to enroll in any project you want to do for the 2025-26 year. 

✅ New Volunteer Training Process:
This year, when you log in to re-enroll, you'll be able to complete your 2025-26 Volunteer Training right in your 4-H Online profile — no extra links or websites needed! 

🔍 Background Checks:
Background checks are required every two years. If you're due, 4-H Online will prompt you to start the process when you re-enroll. After you submit your enrollment, keep an eye on your inbox for an email from HireRight to complete your background check. (Be sure to check your spam folder.) 

📅 Important Deadlines:
 According to our updated Wisconsin 4-H volunteer re-enrollment policy:

Enrollment is due by November 1

Complete your training and background check (if needed) by December 1

These steps are required for you to be an approved volunteer. If they're not completed on time, you will not be allowed to lead programming with 4-H youth until everything is up to date.

We truly appreciate your commitment to creating safe, positive spaces for our youth. Getting your re-enrollment done early helps make sure all our programs are supported by approved, ready-to-go volunteers like you!

🔍 Hey Spark Seekers!
Are you ready for fun adventures after school? Each Tuesday in October, grab your magnifying glass and join us on Zoom at 6 PM! Explore animals, science, art, and cool projects while making new friends from Columbia, Dodge, Marquette, and Sauk Counties. Let’s discover something amazing together!

👉 Register by September 21st to save your spot!

Join us to “pledge our hands to larger service” in this year’s Statewide Service Project for National 4-H Week! Clubs are encouraged to participate in a community service project during (or around) National 4-H Week – October 5-11. Let’s make a big impact on our local communities and live the 4-H Pledge! 

🌟 A space for military youth! If you have a parent or guardian currently deployed, the new 4-H Military Club is just for you. It’s a place to connect with others who understand, make new friends, and have fun with hands-on activities you help choose!

🤝 Whether you're building, creating, or just hanging out, this club is all about connection and shared experiences. Join us for our first meeting on Saturday, October 25th at the STEM Innovation Center in Green Bay!

📲 Enrollment is open now — If you’re interested in enrolling or if you have any questions, please reach out to Carlea at carlea.liermann@wisc.edu or Jon Hill at jon.hill@wisc.edu.

It's that time, Wisconsin 4-H!🍦🍀
Cedar Crest Ice Cream and the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation have teamed up once again to present the “Cedar Crest Ice Cream 4-H Flavor Creation Contest” for Wisconsin 4-H clubs. All Wisconsin 4-H clubs are eligible to submit their ideas for a new ice cream flavor, along with a flavor description and interesting flavor name. Entries are being accepted now through November 15!

For contest information, rules and the entry form, please click the button below:

The MAS board is also accepting nominations for the Meat Animal Sale Board. Interested parties should email the MAS email by 9/21 if you want your name printed on the ballot. Any nominations after that can be made the night of, but won't be printed on the ballot. Thanks!

dodgecountymas@gmail.com

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 $9 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 .

Bella Stiers, Grade 4, Astico Perseverance, from Columbus: did the 16 classes of the model horse show. She scratched one class and received 1 Grand, 5 Reserve and 9 Top Tens. Grand in Pony Halter; Reserves in Western Pleasure, Natural Trail, Open other performance, Western Halter, and Showmanship; Top Tens in Fantasy Costume, Driving Pleasure, Gymkhana, Hunter/Jumper over fences, Arena Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, English Halter, Draft Halter and Customize by Exhibitor. 

Paige Conley, Grade 9, Neosho Utopians from Neosho: did 10 classes of the model horse show receiving 2 reserves and 8 TopTens. Reserves were in English Halter and Customize by exhibitor; with Top Tens in Fantasy Costume, Western Pleasure, Gymkhana, Open other performance, Western Halter, Pony Halter, Draft Halter and Showmanship. In addition, she received a Top Ten in Art-Any other Craft and entered still photo. For a total of 1 Grand, 7 Reserves, 18 Top Tens in Riding Classes 

Jaiden Bachleitner, Grade 10, Neosho Utopians From Iron Ridge: Grand In Western Pleasure W/t; Plus 6 Top Tens In The Other 7 Classes Of W/t English Pleasure, W/t English Equitation, Western Showmanship, Hunt Showmanship, W/t Stock Seat Equitation, In Hand Trail and W/t Trail. 

Myla Ehrlich, Grade 6, Neosho Utopians From Iron Ridge: Took 4 Top Tens In Her 5 Classes Of Pony Western Showmanship, W/t Western Pleasure, W/t Stock Seat Equitation, In Hand Trail and W/t Trail.

Isabella Radichel, Grade 7, Hyland Prairie From Beaver Dam: Had A Great Experience At Her First Show Entering W/t English Pleasure, W/t English Equitation, Hunt/Saddleseat Showmanship, W/t Western Pleasure, W/t Stock Seat Equitation, In Hand Trail and W/t Trail. 

Kari Schmidt, Grade 10, Juneau Victorians From Rubicon: Received A Top Ten In In Hand Trail and Entered Hunt/Saddleseat Pleasure, Hunt/Saddleseat Pleasure, Western Showmanship, Hunt/Saddleseat Showmanship, Western Riding, Stockseat Equitation, and Trail. 

Alexa Vande Zande, Grade 6, Achievers From Waupun: Received Top Tens In W/t English Pleasure And Western Showmanship Plus Entered W/t English Equitation And Pony Hunt/Saddleseat Showmanhip. for Total Of 1 Grand And 13 Top Tens

The Wisconsin 4-H Dairy Judging Team, proudly representing Dodge County, rose to the national stage at the All-American Dairy Show Invitational Youth Dairy Cattle Judging Contest in Harrisburg, Pa., on Sept. 14, 2025. Their journey to Pennsylvania came after an impressive second-place finish at state, and they made the most of it. From start to finish, it was a day packed with achievement and pride!

Team members include Ian and Marissa Spoke from Portland Boosters 4-H Club, as well as Mary Zwald and Sevanna Fairbank from Leipsic 4-H Club. Check out their award list below, and join us in congratulating these outstanding Dodge County 4-H youth on their remarkable accomplishments.

Ayrshires

Brown Swiss

Guernseys

Holsteins

Jerseys

Reasons

Overall

SEPTEMBER

21 - Registration for Spark Seekers Closes

29 - Meat Animal Sale Post Sale Meeting 7 PM

OCTOBER

21 - 4-H Leaders Executive Board Meeting

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