On September 11, the Washington County 4-H Open House drew a lively crowd of prospective members, returning families, and community supporters. Over 150 families and youth attended the event at the Small Animal Barn at Washington County Fair Park, the event showcased the 16 home Clubs, 20 countywide projects and other opportunities available to youth aged 5–19.

Attendees enjoyed meeting with 4-H youth leaders and club volunteers of the county clubs, who provided insight into the program’s many offerings, from the STEM Project to the Horse/Pony Club to Cake Decorating to Robotics. Visitors were treated to live demonstrations from Shooting Sport Archery leaders as well as visiting with a goat, chickens, and rabbits from the countywide project leaders.  New members and returning members could learn about our offering of summer day and overnight camps and leadership trips, highlighting the program’s focus on developing citizenship and life skills.

The annual Open House kicks off another exciting and productive year for Washington County 4-H, demonstrating the community’s strong commitment to youth development. With enrollment now open, the energy from the Open House will carry forward as members dive into their projects and prepare for the year ahead.

4-H involves youth in project-based education. Through project learning, youth can explore their interests (“sparks”) and master new skills. 4-H projects are meant to be hands-on to create a memorable learning experience. Since 4-H started in the early 1900s, youth have learned by doing. This hands-on process allows youth to understand not only how to do something but also why they are doing it.

 Interested in enrolling your family and youth in Washington County 4-H. Follow the link HERE:

Adult volunteers help make 4-H possible. To volunteer, you don’t need to have previous experience working with youth. The most important qualifications are:

• a desire to work with young people to help them learn new things and gain life skills; and
• wanting to provide youth with positive experiences in a safe and welcoming environment.
• agree to do a background check and training session(s) on child protection laws and volunteer expectations

Volunteers work with UW-Extension staff (4-H Educator)  to deliver educational programs using University and other high-quality educational resources. To find out more about volunteering, contact Ron Jakubisin, Washington County 4-H Educator, at Ron.Jakubisin@wisc.edu