There are over 100 different 4-H projects you can explore from animal sciences to hiking, citizenship to gardening, STEM to theatre, and much, much more. Visit the Wisconsin 4-H Projects Page to learn more about all the programs and opportunities available through 4-H.
Once you’ve found the projects that interest you, sign up for them in your 4-H Online account. You can try new projects whenever you like, but April 1st is the project sign-up deadline if you want to show it at the fair. Some projects, such as animal projects, have additional requirements to show at the fair. You must talk with your project leader so that you can meet the requirements to show up at the fair.
Click on the links below to learn more about some of the different projects that Jackson County has to offer. Please note: These are NOT the only projects you can take when you become a part of Jackson County 4-H, but they are some of the projects that require more explanation.
The Cloverbud program is an educational program designed for children in the 5K-2nd grade. Cloverbud events are open to both 4-H and community youth. The main goal of the Cloverbud program is to provide a welcoming, safe, and hands-on experience that promotes children’s healthy development, represented in the 4 H’s: HEAD, HEART, HANDS, and HEALTH. The delivery of the Cloverbud program may be through a project offering within a 4-H club, in a day camp, through county-level programming, or in a sponsored partnership with an afterschool or community-based program.
Annually the Cloverbud program consists of four events that take place from January through April that are open to all Cloverbud youth in Jackson County, and to non-4-Hers as well. These events change each year. We ask that individuals register for the events, as it is appreciated, but it is not required. Registering for the events helps us plan appropriately for supplies and snacks.
The Cloverbud program also hosts a day camp for Cloverbud-age youth in the summer every year.
There is a Dairy Committee in Jackson County that meets on a bi-monthly basis and gets all the necessary information out to members of the Dairy Project. The Dairy Project has weigh-ins and other important events happening throughout the year for youth to be able to show up at the fair, so you must get on the correct email list and be in contact with the Dairy Project Committee. The Dairy Committee also will keep project members up to date on other showing opportunities and educational opportunities in the project area.
Contact Information:
The Dairy Project email address is: jacksoncountydc@gmail.com
The Dairy Project also has a Facebook page where they post information to keep project members up-to-date on all the need-to-know information.
Educational Requirements:
Livestock projects also require additional educational requirements for beef, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, and small animal projects so youth can show their animals at the Jackson County Fair. The deadline for these requirements is set by the committee and the Fair Board. Generally, these additional educational requirements can be completed through attending workshops.
Information For Resources:
Below you will find some links to resources and opportunities for youth in the Dairy Project. Feel free to check them out for more information about your project area and to increase your education!
The Jackson County, 4-H Dog Project, is led by volunteers and consists of obedience, showmanship, and agility. If youth would like to participate in the Fair then they are required to attend a specific number of these training classes before the fair. In order to attend the classes you must have all of the correct paperwork and veterinary paperwork completed and turned in.
4-H Dog Project Class Schedule:
Generally, the Dog Project in Jackson County starts ramping up around March. It starts with an informational class to learn more about the project, and schedule for the year, and to turn in the proper paperwork to ensure animal safety.
Contact Information:
The Dog Project leader is Laurie Guza; you can contact her at 608-864-0690 or laguza26@yahoo.com
Information For Resources:
Below are some links to resources and opportunities for you in the Dog Project. Feel free to check them out for more information about your project area and to increase your education!
The Jackson County Horse Project has numerous meetings and workshops throughout the year. Be sure to reach out to the project leader if you have any questions about the project and the project requirements!
Contact Information:
The Horse Project leader is Sarah Giese and his email address is: Giesethomas@yahoo.com
The Horse Project has a Facebook page where they post information to keep project members up-to-date on all the need-to-know information.
Files and Forms:
Information For Resources:
Below are some links to resources and opportunities for youth in the Horse Project. Feel free to check them out for more information about your project area and to increase your education!
The Shooting Sports project in Jackson County has instructional sessions and shoots that generally start in January and end in February. To participate in this project be sure to get on the email list and to contact the project leader, as there are a lot of different events and activities that take place for this project.
Contact Information:
The Project Leader for Shooting Sports is Justin Pleinis and she can be reached via phone at 715-318-7377or via email at jcpleinis@netzero.net
Information For Resources:
- Wisconsin 4-H Shooting Sports – Basic Overview
- Wisconsin Wildlife/Conservation Activities
- Certification Workshops to Become a Shooting Sports Leader/Coach
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Go Wild With Wisconsin Wildcards
- National 4-H Shooting Sports
- National Rifle Association
- National Shooting Sports Foundation
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
There is a Livestock Committee in Jackson County that meets on a bi-monthly basis and gets all the necessary information out to members in the Beef, Goat, Sheep, or Swine projects. Please note that if you are a part of any of the above projects these projects all have weigh-ins, tag-pick-ups, or other events that happen throughout the year to show in the fair so you must get on the correct email list and are in contact with project leaders.
The Livestock Committee generally puts out a calendar of events for the year around January.
Contact Information:
The Livestock Committee does have its email address that can be used to directly contact board members with questions. The email address is: jclivestockproject@gmail.com
The Livestock Committee also has a Facebook page where they post information to keep project members up-to-date.
Educational Requirements:
Livestock projects also require additional educational requirements for beef, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, and small animal projects so youth can show their animals at the Jackson County Fair. The deadline for these requirements is set by the committee and the Fair Board. Generally, these additional educational requirements can be completed through attending workshops.
Information For Resources:
Below you will find a lot of links to resources for information regarding the different livestock project areas. Feel free to check them out for more information about your project area and to increase your education! Also, you will note that some of the projects have individual points of contact listed.
Beef Project
- American Angus Association
- American Hereford Association
- Breeds of Cattle
- Meat Science at Texas A & M
- The Cattle Pages
- UW-Extension Publications
Sheep Project
- American Sheep Industry Association
- Breeds of Sheep Livestock
- Information Dirt Road – Sheep
- MyLamb.com
- Sheep @ Purdue
- Sheep USA
- UWEX- Sheep Page
- UW Beginning Sheep Shearing School
Swine Project
The Jackson County Small Animal project offers a variety of different workshops throughout the year that are put on by the Small Animal Committee. The purpose of the Small Animal Committee shall be to:
- Educate members about the daily care and raising of small animals including poultry, rabbits, goats, exotics, and pets
- Hold three workshops per year for members to gain hands-on learning
Contact Information:
The Small Animal Committee does have an email address that can be used to directly ask questions. The email address is: jacksonsmallanimal@gmail.com
The Small Animal Committee also has a Facebook page where they post information to keep project members up-to-date.
Small Animal Project Scholarship Information:
The Small Animal Project has a $250 scholarship available to a high school graduating senior or a college freshman who will be attending an accredited program of higher learning leading to a certificate or degree. Applications will be available beginning around the middle of April. Contact the Small Animal Project email address above for the application and application guidelines.
Educational Requirements:
Additional educational requirements for beef, sheep, swine, goats, poultry, and small animal projects are also required so youth can show their animals at the Jackson County Fair. The deadline for these requirements is set by the committee and the Fair Board. Generally, these additional educational requirements can be completed through attending workshops. These requirements can be found in the Jackson County Fair book found Here.
