To All Columbia County 4-H Families and FFA Advisors From: Pat Wagner, 4-H Positive Youth Development Educator, Columbia County

Here is your weekly update of 4-H happenings both county-wide and state-wide. In order of appearance:

Click the topic below you are interested in and you will be directed to that topic’s information.

4-H Save The Dates 4-H Robotics Project Meeting – March 5th 4-H Arts Lab Extended via Zoom teleconference – March 5; April 23; and May 21 Scholarship Application DEADLINE – March 16th!! Muzzleloader Certification Workshop - Stoughton, WI – March 21st WJPA Poultry Winter Workshop Day – March 21st Columbia County Dairy Day – March 22, 2020 Columbia County Archery Project Meeting – March 28 in Montello Archery Opportunities for Volunteer Training and Competition Announced Let’s Get Green and Growing – March 28th Upham Woods Camp Counselor Training – Call for Proposals! Fairest of the Fair Application Deadline – April 4th Columbia County Banner Design Contest – Due 4/15/2020 4-H Ambassadors to Host 4-H Record Book Workshop – April 26 2020 Area Animal Science Days Dates Announced Community Programs at Upham Woods – BioBlitz and Lip Rippers Green – Columbia 4-H Camp Dates are August 12-15, 2020 Columbia County Fair Votes to Change Parade Of Champions Call for Nominations – 2020 Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame Portage Center for the Arts Upcoming Events 4-H Save The Dates March 2 – Cupcake Wars Registration Deadline March 5 – Robotics Project Meeting, Caledonia Town Hall, 6 p.m. March 14 – Cupcake Wars, 9 a.m., HHS Building, Portage March 16 – Scholarship application deadline--Columbia Co. 4-H; Wisconsin 4-H Foundation; Sale of Champions March 19 – Robotics Project Meeting, Caledonia Town Hall, 6 p.m. March 21 – WJPA Poultry Winter Workshop Day, Big Bend, WI March 21 – Muzzleloader Certification Workshop, Stoughton March 22 – Columbia County Dairy Project Day, Brenda Murphy Farm, Poynette March 28 – 4-H Archery Project meeting at Montello Bowbenders March 28 – Let’s Get Green and Growing, Rio April 2 – Robotics Project Meeting, Caledonia Town Hall , 6 p.m. April 4 – Music and Drama Festival, morning at Portage Center for the Arts

April 4 – Communication Arts Festival, 2 p.m., Columbia Co. Health and Human Services Building, Portage April 15 – Wisconsin State Fair Banner contest deadline April 18 – Columbia County Cottontails All Breed Show, Arlington April 26 – 4-H Recordbook Workshop by the Columbia County 4-H Ambassadors, 2-3:30 p.m. Location TBD May 2 – Foods Revue and Foods Activity, mid-morning at Portage Library

Cupcake Wars Last Call for Registrations Columbia County 4-H Cupcake Wars is set for March 14th. The team building activity is loosely based on the Food Network Series and has a theme of 2020—Vision for the Future. Registration deadline is TODAY, March 2nd. The registration materials are available at this link: https://columbia.extension.wisc.edu/4-h-events/cupcake-wars/ Teams will register in one of three divisions and work together toward the following objectives:

• To promote self-confidence. • To develop public presentation ability. • To showcase baking and decorating ability. • To work together as a team.

• To allow for self-expression in a safe supportive environment. • To develop safe food handling skills.

4-H Robotics Project Meeting Dates The dates are set for the 2020 4-H Robotics project meetings which will be held at the Caledonia Town Hall – N5479 Beich Rd., Portage, WI 53901. Meetings are every other Thursday from 6:00—7:30 p.m. on the following dates: March 5, 19; April 2, 16, 30; and May 14 (the May meeting will be a pizza meal and clean-up night). Project meetings will include opportunities for youth to work with one or more of the following pieces of robotics equipment: Lego We Do; Lego NXT Mindstorms; and/or MakeBlocks. The Columbia County 4-H program owns a number of robotics pieces so youth get the chance to have hands-on learning without the initial investment on the part of the family. This year the committee is asking that participants be prepared to purchase AA batteries to run the equipment so that 4-H Robotics committee funds can be directed to purchasing and repairing equipment as necessary. Again, youth still have time to add this 4-H project in their 4Honline account until March 1st. Contact Pat Wagner with questions – pat.wagner@wisc.edu or 608-742-9685.

4-H Arts Lab Extended via Zoom teleconference – March 5; April 23; and May 21 Would you like to be involved in conversations about art, community, future careers, and more? 'Art Lab Extended' provides an opportunity for older youth and adults all across Wisconsin to learn about art through monthly video conferences. Here are the upcoming topics:

• Art Lab Recap and Featured Artist Talks o March 5th, 7:00pm-8:00pm

• Art with Community Impact o April 23rd, 7:00pm-8:00pm

• Careers in Art o May 21st, 7:00pm-8:00pm

Join in at this Zoom Meeting link: https://uwextension.zoom.us/j/320877803 OR join by phone: +1 646 558 8656 US (Meeting ID: 320 877 803)

Scholarship Application DEADLINE – March 16th!! Columbia County 4-H Scholarships Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Scholarships Sale of Champions Scholarships

Muzzleloader Certification Workshop - Stoughton, WI – March 21st

Stoughton Conservation Club, 918 Collins Road, Stoughton, WI 53589 Cost: $52 (includes instructor manual, equipment, ammunition) Reduced Fee for Spouse: $26 (if both spouses are attending, one spouse may pay a reduced fee) Please submit TWO registration forms and two separate payments if both spouses are attending. One payment of $52 and one payment of $26. What can you bring: Sack Lunch, Ear/Eye protection - RSVP Deadline: Thursday, March 19, 2020 Find registration information for the muzzleloader certification workshop at the link here: https://www.browncountywi.gov/form/muzzleloader-certification-workshop-stoughton-wi/

WJPA Poultry Winter Workshop Day – March 21st

Columbia County Dairy Project Day – March 22, 2020 March 22 - 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. - Columbia County Dairy Day at Brenda Murphy's farm, W8611 Kent Rd., Poynette, WI 53955. Sessions to attend are: Vet checks - what are they all about?; Hoof trimming; Feeding for success; Fitting techniques, and how to select your calf for the fair. RSVP by March 15 to Brenda - 608-575-1525 (mobile) or blbehnke@yahoo.com.

Lunch will be available.

Columbia County Archery Project Meeting – March 28 in Montello Ryan and Linda Helmer will host a 4-H archery project meeting on Saturday, March 28th from 9 – 11 a.m. for all shooting levels. The location is Montello Bowbenders, N3736 State Rd. 22, Montello. If you are new to archery and want to add the 4-H project, the Helmers have arranged for the use of equipment at the Bowbenders facility. Please note: 4-H members may still add the archery project to their 4-H project list up until March 1, 2020. If questions about this archery project meeting, please contact Linda Helmer at lhelmer03@yahoo.com.

Archery Opportunities for Volunteer Training and Competition Announced The State 4-H Shooting Sports committee recently announced changes to the process to become a certified Shooting Sports Volunteer. All leaders must first complete one 12-hour workshop to be certified. After that, you may be eligible to attend a Saturday, eight-hour range workshop to receive an additional discipline certification. If three years lapse before adding an additional certification, the full 12-hour certification must be repeated. Only one certification may be obtained at any one certification workshop. New for 2020 and Future Certification Workshops-- The Friday evening training has ended. A National 4-H Shooting Sports online training has replaced the Friday session. New leaders will complete this at-home training prior to attending the Saturday range training. Leaders returning for an additional certification need only register for Saturday range training. The Saturday certification workshops will remain on the same annual east/west and north/south spring rotation. Workshops for 2020 locations will be near Green Bay and Eau Claire. Workshops for 2021 will be Lodi and Phillips. Each year the fall workshop returns to Marshfield. Please check the Wisconsin 4-H Shooting Sports website at https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/wi4hshootingsports/certification-workshops/. Details about course dates and locations for the 2020 4-H year are listed there; however, the 2020 Saturday Certification schedule includes May 2, May 9, and September 12.

Let’s Get Green and Growing – March 28th

Upham Woods Camp Counselor Training – Call for Proposals!

2020 4-H Camp Counselor Training Weekends! March 28-29, 2020 April 25-26, 2020 May 2-3, 2020 Camp Counselor training is an excellent opportunity for counselors, adult volunteers, and 4-H staff alike to come together in collaboration to prepare youth to excel in their summer camp counselor role. This weekend is applicable for both beginning counselors (as participants), experienced counselors (as leaders), adult volunteers, and 4-H staff. A variety of opportunities exist at Counselor Training Weekend:

• Opportunities to lead training sessions as a presenter • Counselors participate in training that builds confidence and provides youth development strategies to be

successful with campers • Tracked training modules:

• sessions for counselors • allocated time for 4-H staff collaboration

Where: Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center Map and Directions to Upham Woods: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/uphamwoods/about-us/map-directions/ When: March 28-29, 2020 OR April 25-26, 2020 OR May 2-3, 2020

• All participants and adult volunteers arrive Saturday morning • Check-in: Begins at 9:15am on Saturday for participants and adult chaperones

Lodging: Participants and adult chaperones will stay in cabins on Saturday night • Lodging is available Friday night at no additional cost

Meals: Meals are part of the conference fee and start at lunch on Saturday through lunch on Sunday. Schedule: Training activities run Saturday all day and evening through Sunday afternoon, with a closing ceremony at 1:30 pm. The schedule is not yet available. Finalized schedule will be available on this page and distributed to participants. Cost:

• Counselors from 4-H Counties with current summer contracts at Upham Woods and Counselors registered for Upham Woods Open Enrollment Summer Camp:

• $30/person • Counselors from camps not contracted with Upham Woods:

• $55/person • Adult volunteers attend at no cost.

Registration: Online Registration for all sessions is open now. Call for Presenters: If you are interested in presenting, please complete the Counselor Training Session Proposal form and send to Ariel Christian, Program Coordinator at ariel.christian@wisc.edu. Experienced counselors can lead a session and build public speaking and leadership skills. This opportunity is open to all experienced counselors, whether your group camps at Upham Woods or elsewhere. Presentation spots are also open to adult volunteers and 4-H staff.

Fairest of the Fair Application deadline is April 4th The Columbia County Fair is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Columbia County Fairest of the Fair! The Google link to the online application is below. Applications are due April 4th, 2020 and the competition will be April 4th. Fairest of the Fair applicants can be male or female and need to be at least 18 years old as of the day of the contest. New this year is our Junior Fairest of the Fair program! This is for ages 13-16 and open to both male and female applicants. Applicants for both positions should have exhibited in the fair and have a passion for sharing the story of the fair! All questions can be forwarded to Allison Foster at columbiacofairest@gmail.com or 608-566-9340.

Columbia County Fairest of the Fair Application...

Columbia County Banner Design Contest for the Wisconsin State Fair—Entries due 4/15/2020

Columbia County 4-H

“Banner Contest”

Let’s promote Columbia County 4-H in the Wisconsin State Fair – Youth EXPO Hall!

The Wisconsin State Fair has extended an open invitation to each 4-H county, Boy Scout pack, Girl Scout troop, and FFA chapter to showcase their county/pack/troop/chapter by displaying a banner in the Youth Expo Hall during the annual Fair. Banners should effectively promote the organization’s name and logo to the thousands of Fairgoers who attend annually. Banner Contest Details: Current Columbia County 4-H members (youth) are invited to submit a banner design to represent Columbia County 4-H at the Wisconsin State Fair to the thousands of fairgoers who visit the Youth EXPO building each summer. The banner will become property of the Wisconsin State Fair. Banner specifications:

• 4’ wide x 6’ tall

• Suitable method of hanging – grommets preferred; however, if a dowel is required, leave a 2-inch rod pocket on the top

• vinyl, dense fabric or felt (no foam or kite-like material)

• bright, eye-catching colors

• include the county, pack, troop or chapter name and logo (4-H clover) Entry specifications:

• Entries may be computer generated or hand-drawn

• Entries should be submitted at 8” x 12” size to reflect proportion for the 4’ x 6’ banner o (Note: The final design will be digitized for voting.)

• Entries must take into account the fact that banners are hung from the ceiling of the Youth EXPO Building ceiling (consider letter and image size)

• Entry deadline is April 15, 2020 -- submit to the Columbia County Extension Office o Email to: sarah.millard@wisc.edu or sarah.millard@co.columbia.wi.us or o Mail to: Columbia County Extension, ATTN: Columbia County 4-H, 112 E. Edgewater St., Rm.

212, Portage, WI 53901

Following the deadline, all entries will be reviewed at the April 23, 2020 Columbia County 4-H Leaders Council meeting. A group of top finalists will be selected at the meeting and then put to online voting by all of Columbia County 4-H for the final selection (likely with a Facebook poll). Note: If anyone has a contact at a banner manufacturing company, please contact them about a price estimate for a 4’ x 6’ banner with grommets along the 4’ wide top and report estimate to the 4-H Leaders Council meeting on April 23, 2020.

Columbia County Cottontails All Breed Show – April 18

4-H Ambassadors to Host 4-H Record Book Workshop – April 26 At a recent meeting of the Columbia County 4-H Ambassadors, plans were made to host a countywide 4-H record book workshop. It will be on Sunday, April 26 from 2-3:30 p.m. Location is being confirmed at this time so watch for more details, but mark your calendars now!

2020 Area Animal Science Days Dates Announced We are happy to announce that the dates and locations for the 2020 Area Animal Science Days contests will be Thursday, June 11 in Jefferson County (Southern Site) and Friday, June 12 in Marathon County (Northern Site). This year we are consolidating the regional contests into a northern and southern host site. We have made the decision to try 2 host sites this year due to changes in staffing capacity in both the Wisconsin 4-H Program and in the College of Ag Life Sciences (CALS). We are committed to delivering a high quality educational experience for all youth who participate and

have done our best to choose sites that can handle the larger amount of youth participants and dates that fit into the packed summer schedule of 4-H educational events and animal-science related events. Registration information will be posted online soon at https://fyi.uwex.edu/wi4haganimalscience/area-animal-science-days/. We will send out another announcement when registration is available.

Community Programs at Upham Woods – BioBlitz and Lip Rippers Upham Woods in Wisconsin Dells along the Wisconsin River offers many community programs throughout the year to enjoy

the beauty of Upham Woods in all seasons! Programs are open to all. For upcoming events, check out their calendar. One

upcoming program is detailed here…….

Upham Woods 5th Annual BioBlitz and Species Inventory

Join natural resource professionals to find and identify plants and animals on guided hikes! Friday, May 8, 2020

✓ 5:30 pm-6:30 pm: Macro-invertebrates ✓ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Aquatic species

Saturday, May 9, 2020 ✓ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm: Blackhawk Island Hikes (Plants, Mammals, Birds)

o Pack a lunch to eat on the island! ✓ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Share your collections with the group ✓ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Group paddle around Blackhawk Island

For more information, please follow this link https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/uphamwoods/files/2020/01/Upham-Woods-bioblitz-flyer.pdf for an informational flier or contact Caroline Zimmerman or call (608) 254-6461 Another Upham Woods program is Upham Lip Rippers. Four programs will be offered – May 17; June 24; July 29; August 26. Upham Lip Rippers will participate in four, 4-hour fishing clinics to develop skills such as casting, knot tying, fish ecology, and conservation. All clinics are taught by a DNR certified angling instructor. These clinics are open to youth ages 12-15. All youth will then have a chance to participate in the Upham Classic in August. Space is limited. Contact Caroline Zimmerman at caroline.zimmerman@wisc.edu to register or for more information.

Green – Columbia 4-H Camp Dates are August 12-15, 2020 After a very successful partnership in 2019, Green and Columbia Counties will be camping together again in 2020. Watch for camp registration materials coming out in Spring 2020, but SAVE THE DATES now!

Columbia County Fair Votes to Change Parade Of Champions In 2020, changes to the Parade of Champions will be the removal of trophy distribution. New, all trophies and livestock awards will be presented at live shows during fair week. Then, on Sunday at 12 noon, the presentation of the following awards will take place: HCE Awards, Master Gardener awards, Angela Frederick awards, Herdsmanship awards; 4-H awards; and 4-H Graduate awards.

Call for Nominations – 2020 Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame Each year during the Wisconsin 4-H Fall Forum, ten individuals are inducted into the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame. The date and location of the 2020 Wisconsin 4-H Fall Forum are TBD. Two Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame application forms are available – one in Word and one .pdf.. Columbia County 4-H has yet to have a laureate recognized in the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame. If you know of a worthy recipient, please have their name shared at the next meeting of the Columbia County 4-H Leaders Council or contact Pat with the suggestion. A complete nomination includes 5 items:

1. Nomination cover page 2. Nomination signature page 3. One-page Microsoft Word document outlining the nominee’s qualifications based on the 4-H Hall of Fame criteria 4. Digital head and shoulder photograph and 5. Brief (no more than 250 words) biography.

Completed nominations are due by May 20, 2020 and should be sent via email to cynthia.blackburn@wisc.edu. She will reply to you confirming she has received your documents as soon as possible after receiving your message, so be sure to watch for her reply in your inbox & spam in case there is a problem. *Please note that people who have been nominated in the past and not selected are eligible to be nominated again; however, please do not simply re-submit their first nomination, as it did not meet the criteria as described. The criteria document should be revised to increase possibility of being selected. Please visit the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame website at https://fyi.uwex.edu/wi4hhof/ for information and the application forms. If you have questions, feel free to contact Rosanne Schleif, Committee Chair at rm.schleif@hotmail.com .

Portage Center for the Arts Upcoming Events

Weekly Emails Online! http://columbia.uwex.edu/4-h-youth-development/4-h-calendar-of-eventsdeadlines/