Enroll online through 4HOnline:

https://4honline.com/#/user/sign-in

Questions about enrollment? Contact:

aimee.elkins@wisc.edu

Get ready for a year filled with hands-on learning, new experiences, friendships, leadership opportunities, community service, and FUN. We can't wait to see what you'll accomplish this year!

Find Your Spark. Grow Your Skills. Make Your Mark.

The 2026–2027 4-H Year is Officially OPEN for Enrollment!

A new 4-H year means new opportunities to learn, lead, serve, explore, and grow!

Keep an eye on your mailbox! Current 4-H families should have recently received a special enrollment mailing from Wisconsin 4-H filled with important information and resources to help you prepare for another amazing year.

Whether you're excited to dive deeper into your favorite projects, try something brand new, build leadership skills, make lifelong friends, or discover a new passion, 4-H has something for everyone!

Returning Members:

It's time to re-enroll! Log in using your existing family account information and complete your enrollment for the new 4-H year.

New Families:

We would love to welcome you to the Oconto County 4-H family! Create a new account and begin your 4-H journey today!

Decorate. Create. Celebrate.

Join youth from across the Eastern Region for a day packed with frosting, fun, and fantastic decorating skills!

February 27

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

STEM Innovation Center

Beginner Track

Learn frosting basics

Practice piping techniques

Build decorating confidence

Intermediate Track

Create a multi-level cake

Master crumb coating

Learn more advanced decorating skills

$20 per youth

Lunch provided

Register through 4HOnline

Transportation available from the Calumet County Courthouse.

Registration is open now through December 1! Spaces are limited and expected to fill quickly, so save your spot today!

Come explore one of Marinette County’s most historic treasures! On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the Friends of Camp Bird will host an Appreciation Day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Camp Bird Youth Center (N8395 Caldron Falls Road, Crivitz, WI).

We’ll be serving up a good old-fashioned camp meal: charcoal-grilled hot dogs and brats with all the fixings, baked beans, chips, and desserts. Enjoy your meal in our historic log cabin dining hall, then take a tour through the buildings, around the grounds, or along the beautiful lake trail. Basketball, tetherball, and sand volleyball courts will also be open for families to enjoy!

Since 1943, Camp Bird has been a cornerstone for local youth. Come reminisce, enjoy the day, and help support our mission. While there is no set cost, donations are greatly appreciated—all proceeds go directly toward camp maintenance and improvements.

· Future Rentals: If you’re interested in renting the camp for a future youth outing, this is the perfect time for a tour!

· Please note: Waterfront activities are not available, and pets are not allowed per state regulations. RSVP: Get your tickets for this event here or scan the code.

Questions? Kindly email friendsofcampbird@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook @campbirdforlutherans to join the conversation and stay updated.

Join the Wisconsin 4-H Arts Ambassadors!

4-H Arts Ambassadors are three distinct, arts-based groups of statewide youth leaders in Grades 9–12. If you have a deep interest in the expressive arts, want to grow your skills, and desire to lead art activities locally and statewide, apply today!

Choose Your Creative Team

Art Team: Focuses on the visual arts. Members experiment with a variety of mediums while dedicated to building their personal creativity, technical skills, and leadership abilities.

Drama Company: Collaborates to create and perform an original theatrical production featuring music, dancing, acting, and technical stage design. Actors, singers, dancers, and technicians are all encouraged to apply.

Photo Fanatics: Builds technical and artistic skills in photography and videography through hands-on learning, while capturing and supporting local and statewide events.

Important Logistics

Key Dates

October 15: Registration opens

November 15: Registration closes

April 9–11: Spring Planning Weekend

June 11–17: Summer Academy

Program Cost

$500 per member (Covers all expenses for both the Planning Weekend and Summer Academy)

Scholarships are available to help cover this cost.

Ready to Elevate Your Art?

Click here to learn more and apply.

Register now for Fall Forum 2026, held from November 6-8, 2026 in Stevens Point, WI!

At Fall Forum, participants can look forward to:

- An inspiring keynote address

- Opportunities to participate in dozens of youth- and adult-led workshops

- Choose-your-own-adventure interactive activities

- Reflection on the weekend and future goal setting

Registration closes September 15, 2026!

Register at this link: https://26wi4hfallforum.4honline.com/#/

Explore more about Fall Forum here: go.wisc.edu/4hfallforum

Youth Sweepstakes is a fun way to test and expand your knowledge of sheep and the sheep industry. Youth ages 7-21 are encouraged to participate in any or all of the educational contests and exhibition events. At each event, participants earn points toward monetary prizes!

We encourage 4-H youth preparing for district, regional, or national competition to utilize this event as a practice.

https://wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com/.../youth...

Sweepstakes contests are held on Sunday, September 13. They include: poster contest, skillathon, photo contest, fleece show, live shows, showmanship, etc..

Use this link in order to enter: https://showman.app/shows...

More information and registration can be found on the WBE website: https://www.worldbeefexpo.com/judgingcontest

Please contact WBE Board Member Dakota Thomas with any questions at dthomas@animalauditor.org

4-H members are invited to put their livestock evaluation skills to the test at the World Beef Expo Judging Contest! Youth can bring a team or compete individually, making this a great opportunity for both experienced livestock judgers and those looking to gain more contest experience. Blackhawk East will be assisting with this year’s competition.

The contest will include 10 cattle classes, with divisions for junior and senior 4-H/FFA members as well as collegiate contestants. Junior 4-H/FFA contestants will answer questions, while senior 4-H/FFA contestants will give four sets of oral reasons.

The entry fee is $40 per contestant, and the deadline to register is September 24, 2026.

Please contact WBE Board Member Kelliann Blazek with any questions at kelliannblazek@gmail.com

Youth are invited to participate in the Youth Sweepstakes Contest at World Beef Expo (WBE) in West Allis, WI next month. The contest will be held on Saturday, September 26, and we will have photo, essay, and skillathon contests. This is a great opportunity for 4-H members involved in livestock production to test their skills and earn prizes. Registration is $5 per contest.

More information about the Youth Sweepstakes Contest, including the schedule, rules and registration are available here: https://www.worldbeefexpo.com/youthsweepstakes

Location: Upham Woods, N194 County Rd N, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Registration now open!

You can help promote Wisconsin 4-H when you buy your Shop 4-H gear!

When you use our affiliate link, you’re supporting Wisconsin 4-H programs and the youth they serve by helping create more opportunities for 4-H’ers across the state!

You’ll also find a featured Wisconsin 4-H page under the “Other” tab on the Shop 4-H home page, highlighting selected curriculum resources along with Wisconsin specific clothing and items .

Science In the Seasons

We will share a monthly opportunity to learn together at home.  These lessons are designed for youth ages K-2nd grade (Cloverbuds) and their families.  Enjoy this fun winter lesson when you can.  These lessons are designed to be short on supplies but long on fun!

Calling all Oconto County teens in grades 9–12! 💙💚

Teen Court is looking for open-minded, mature, empathetic, respectful and confidential teens to serve as panelists.

It’s a great opportunity to give back to your community, learn about the justice system and youth issues, build leadership skills, and make a difference!

📅 Apply by October 31
👉 Apply here: https://qrfy.io/r/XjgQj2yXjU

What a WHALE of a day at Oconto Falls Middle School! 🐳✨ 

Over 300 kids and families joined us and the Oconto Falls Public Library to wrap up summer reading with a splash—including walking *inside* a life-sized inflatable gray whale named Clara! 🐋😍

At the UW-Madison Extension 4-H station, youth got super creative:
🎨 Crafting colorful pipe-cleaner ocean critters
💌 Decorating 27 cheerful placemats to brighten up meals for local community members

Huge thanks to the Oconto Falls Public Library and everyone who came out to explore, craft, and spread kindness with us!

What a fantastic 3 days at our Fun & Foods Camp! Seven middle school youth rolled up their sleeves and built confidence through hands-on cooking, nutrition, food safety, and teamwork. Together, they made smoothies, infused waters, quesadillas, fruit salsa, and homemade tortilla chips while practicing skills like knife safety, using an oven, blender, and griddle. ❤️ One participant shared, “I was able to make my own quesadilla from start to finish without any help,” while another said, “I love cooking, it is like therapy.” Even better, 100% of participants said they would return, share what they learned with others, and recommend the camp to a friend!

As another Oconto County Youth Fair comes to a close, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year's event a success.

Most importantly, congratulations to our 4-H youth members! Fair is the culmination of months, and often years, of learning, practicing, growing, and persevering. Whether exhibiting livestock, showcasing creative projects, demonstrating leadership, or trying something new, our youth should be proud of all they accomplished. The skills they gain through 4-H, including responsibility, communication, problem-solving, goal setting, and resilience, will serve them well far beyond the fairgrounds.

We are grateful to the families, volunteers, club leaders, Fair Board, county staff, and community partners who give their time and support to make these opportunities possible. The fair truly is a community effort.

Thank you for another wonderful fair season!

Aimee Elkins

Oconto County 4-H Educator/Teen Court Coordinator

Click below to read an article in the Times Herald about Christy Brook 4-H Club!

Click below to read an article in the Times Herald about Oconto County 4-H

Achievement Night

Achievement Night is planned for November 14 at St. Anne’s in Lena. .

Next Leaders Association Meeting: September 27 at 6:00 p.m. at Oconto Falls Town Hall.

Oconto County Club Submissions Wanted!

Did you want to share about a successful 4-H event that you just hosted?

Do you have an upcoming 4-H event that you want to promote? Do you have a fun experience or 4-H story to share?  Send your news, notes, reports, and articles to us along with a photo, and we’ll include in the next issue. Email Sarah.Schindel@wisc.edu to share! 

Deadline: All contributions are due by the 5th of the month to make it into that months newsletter!  Feel free to send information from the previous month or months! 

Wisconsin 4-H operates within the guidelines, policies, and procedures of the University of Madison Division of Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture. These policies are established to ensure the educational and administrative integrity of all Wisconsin 4-H programs and activities administered by 4-H staff and 4-H volunteers. Wisconsin 4-H Leadership is committed to supporting staff and volunteers by writing clear and simple policies that will standardize Wisconsin 4-H safety and risk management practices.

Something to share?  We want to hear from you! 

Developing a system for communication/documentation is critical to the health and well-being of any organization. In order to provide a systemized approach to communication/documentation in the Wisconsin 4-H program, the Care to Share form was developed as a simple tool that could be used by members, volunteers, parents and the general public.  Find it at: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/contact-us/care-to-share/ 

Behavior Concern Reports

This form is to be used to document behavior concerns of 4-H members or 4-H volunteers participating in 4-H programs, projects or activities. 

Read more about it and locate the form here: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/4h-resources/4-h-behavior-concerns-report-bcr/ 

Contact Us: 

Aimee Elkins

Oconto County 4-H Program Educator/Teen Court Coordinator

email: aimee.elkins@wisc.edu

Work Cell: 920-857-5019

“The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.”