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.

---

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)

---

If you have any questions regarding 4-H in Iowa County, please contact:

Dan Brandt
Iowa County 4-H Youth Educator
303 W Chapel Street, Ste 1200
Dodgeville, WI  53533
(608) 930-9850 – Phone