New 4-H Families

Welcome to 4-H – we are so glad you’re here!

You’ve probably read all the basics about 4-H and what it means to be a member. But maybe you aren’t sure how to get started, or what to do first.  4-H can be a lot to take in, as there is a lot to it!  It is more than just showing at the county fair, and hopefully we’ll be able to help you through it!  Let’s get it sorted out through this website!  Also, for more information you can check out our New Family Handbook as well (if you want a hard-copy stop by the Extension Office)!

4-H To-Do List:

What do you need to do to even begin when you are in the 4-H program?  Well, we have a short 4-H to-do list to help you through figuring out the first steps.

  1. Find a club that fits both your youth(s) and your family.
  2. Enroll your youth(s) in 4HOnline.
  3. Choose Projects that your youth are interested in through 4HOnline. When you choose these projects you will then be added to the project email lists, so this is a very important task to do in order to stay in the loop with some of the different projects!
  4. Read our monthly newsletter, the CLOVER disPATCH, and 4-H Facebook page to get caught up on all things 4-H in Trempealeau County!
  5. Remember important deadlines.
    • April 1st – Fair Entry Deadline
    • September 1st – Re-enrollment process begins in 4HOnline
    • November 1st – Re-enrollment deadline

Fair and 4-H:

Trempealeau County 4-H members often participate in the Trempealeau County Fair. The Fair is NOT a requirement of any 4-H member, but it is a traditional, common event that many members participate in. The County Fair is operated and managed by the Trempealeau County Fair Board. There are many relationships between 4-H and the Fair, but it is not a part of 4-H. In fact, members from other youth organizations can participate in the fair, too.

That being said, you might see some similarities! If you look at the Fair exhibition handbook, you’ll see department names and classes that relate to our project list. The Fair is an opportunity for members to showcase the projects they have worked on throughout the year. If you hear us use the term superintendent, that is someone involved with the Fair, who helps youth sort out the requirements for their exhibits. Many fair superintendents are also volunteers in 4-H.

Projects:

When you enroll your child in 4-H, it will ask you what projects your child will work on. Your child can pick as many projects as we offer (we offer a lot of projects!). Some families work backwards and look at the fair book for what their children want to exhibit in, and choose the projects required for that exhibit. You can add or change projects throughout the year in 4HOnline, but if your child plans to exhibit a project at fair, the deadline for picking that project category is April 1st (March 1st if your child plans to exhibit at the State Fair). There is no limit to the number of projects each member can select, visit our Project page to learn more! 

Also, it is very important to sign up for these projects through 4HOnline as you will then get added to the emailing and/or mailing lists for those projects.  Not all projects send out information via email or mail, but some of them do and it is very important to ensure that you are in the communication chain!

Literature:

Once you’ve selected your projects, you can order literature! The literature is research-based curriculum based on the project, to help your child excel in mastering his interest. The 4HOnline system will allow you to pick out literature during enrollment-however, this system is not compatible with Trempealeau County, and your literature will never arrive. If you wish to order literature, you must contact the 4-H Program Educator.

Clubs:

Clubs are a way for members to get to know other members with similar interests or who live geographically close. Some clubs are based on specific projects. You can change clubs at any time in the year to find one that suits your children’s needs and interests.  Clubs vary by where, when, and how often they meet. Every club in 4-H practices inclusivity and no youth will be turned away if they want to join a specific club-it’s all about finding the right atmosphere and fit for your family!  Check out our Club Information page to see what our county has to offer!

County Communication/CLOVER disPATCH:

This is the best way to receive deadlines for all sorts of events, some that are pre-fair, and other events that are hosted by 4-H. The CLOVER disPATCH is our monthly newsletter that gets emailed out to all 4-H families.  For families who plan to show animals at the fair, there will be special qualifications and deadlines based on the animal. These deadlines are published in the CLOVER disPATCH. We also publish deadlines and events on our calendar – be sure to check it out!

Re-Enrollment:

Like any other youth organization, we have a membership year and ours runs from September 1st to August 31st every year. That means you will have to re-enroll your child every year they want to be involved in 4-H beginning in September. The best part? All your information stays the same! But you may want to update those projects!

Questions? 

We would love to help you out – please call the office at 715-538-2311 ext: 208!