Welcome to Iowa County 4-H!

4-H is the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization. In Wisconsin, more than 69,000 youth are involved with 4-H and other UW-Madison Division of Extension youth programs. 4-H programming aims to engage youth in activities to increase their leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills. Our programs center on the 4 H’s: head, heart, hands, and health. This is the foundation for everything we do.

Wisconsin 4-H has over 8,500 volunteers who serve as mentors for 4-H youth. They help provide a safe, engaging place for youth to take risks, practice their independence, and master new skills. Research shows there are many benefits to being involved in 4-H. 4-H youth are four times more likely to make contributions to their communities, two times more likely to be civically active, two times more likely to participate in out-of-school science programs, and two times more likely to make healthier choices.

4-H provides opportunities for youth to learn the life skills they need to be responsible adults, such as making good choices, leadership, public speaking, goal setting, planning and organizing, working as a team, written communication, and managing change. In 4-H, volunteers help youth plan and conduct meetings, projects, and activities and guide youth as they learn new skills.

Membership in 4-H is open to youth in kindergarten through age 19.

Iowa County 4-H News & Announcements:

Upcoming Events:

July
1	Iowa County Fair Entry Opens
9	~~4-H Cooking Class (Chinese Menu), 9am-1pm~~ Cancelled
12	Deadline for Ambassador Applications
16	4-H Cooking Class (Chinese Menu), 9am-1pm
18	Cloverbud Camp, 9:00am at Iowa County Fairgrounds
22	Ambassador Interviews/Banquet
23	Archery Practice, 6:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds
28	Shooting Sports Practice, 5:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds

August
1	Iowa County Fair Entry Closes
4	Shooting Sports Practice, 5:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds
6	Archery Practice, 6:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds
11	Shooting Sports Practice, 5:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds
11	Foods Review, 5:00pm at HHS Building, Dodgeville
15	Clothing Preview, 6:00pm at HHS Building, Dodgeville
18	Shooting Sports Practice, 5:00pm at Iowa County Fairgrounds
19	4-H Club Annual Financial Reviews Due
29	Iowa County Fair Begins (goes through September 2nd)

The Iowa County 4-H Ambassador program uses an application and interview process to support youth in building life skills as they pursue extraordinary 4-H opportunities and recognitions. Any Iowa County 4-H member who has completed 8th grade or higher may apply to become an Ambassador. The Ambassador group is charged with promoting 4-H throughout the county, assisting in leading 4-H activities and events, developing teamwork, leadership, and other important life skills, communicating with the pubic and serving as public relations ambassadors, leading community service projects at the club and county levels, working with other youth from around the county, and having fun while representing Iowa County 4-H.

There are many expectations of a 4-H Ambassador, including:
✓ Participate in at least four 4-H Ambassador activities.
✓ Help at 4-H Cloverbud judging during the Iowa County Fair and two other events.
✓ Attend at least 75% of the Ambassador meetings.
✓ Assist at county 4-H events, and proudly promote 4-H.

YQCA is a fair requirement to show animals at the Iowa County Fair; it is NOT a 4-H sponsored training or requirement to participate in the 4-H program. YQCA offers an in-person class as well as an online version. The online version is a better educational opportunity…it is set up for the age level the youth sign up for when taking the training. The in-person training is set at the lowest level to reach all audiences in attendance.

When signing up for the YQCA training, you must login online to register and pay the $3 per person fee. Youth also need to complete the pre-survey when signing up. Please go to the following link to register: YQCA – Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (yqcaprogram.org)