YOUTH ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

The new 4-H year begins September 1st. Families that are re-enrolling in 4-H must be enrolled and activated by February 1, 2023 to participate as exhibitors in the 2023 Iron County Fair. Follow the steps below for more details on how to join.

STEP ONE: CHOOSE A CLUB

Currently there are three chartered clubs in Iron County, the Iron County Green Team, Penokee Range Livestock Club and the Hurley Lucky Clovers. Each club meets once a month and has its own meeting date and location. Iron County 4-H also offers a special interest club called the SISU Endurance Team, which includes a running club (Mondays, June – July) and a cross country ski club (Sundays, January – March).

If you have any questions about which club would be the best fit for your child, please contact 4-H Youth Development Educator, Neil Klemme at neil.klemme@wisc.edu or call 715-561-2695.

Follow the box to the left for more details about the club offered through the Iron County 4-H program.

STEP TWO: CHOOSE YOUR PROJECTS

A 4-H project is an area you want to learn more about during the year. There are projects on just about any topic you would like to study and explore, from art to woodworking, from computers to rabbits, from clothing to small engines

So how do you know what projects are available to you? Your club organizational leader or county-based educator can tell you what projects and resources are available in your county. Contact Neil Klemme for more information at 715-561-2695 or neil.klemme@wisc.edu.  Or you can click the box to the left for information on all the possible projects that 4-H offers, with a table of contents list on the first two pages and more detail in the pages that follow.

STEP THREE: ENROLL IN 4-H ONLINE

Enrollment is done on an annual basis, starting in September. New members will need to be set up a new family and member profile, with existing 4-H families re-enrolling under their established account. Visit 4honline.com to complete enrollment. If you are an established 4-H family and having issues accessing your account, please do not create a new one. Instead, reset your password.

	Click the box to the left for detailed information on how to complete 4-H Online enrollment. Please be sure that you are signing up for Wisconsin 4-H (Iron County) If you are planning on joining the SISU Endurance Team, please click here (as the enrollment instructions are slightly different).
	Click the box to the left for additional 4-H Online resources.

STEP FOUR: WELCOME TO 4-H!

Club level participation – Be sure to attend monthly club meetings and events! The best way to know about Iron County 4-H happenings is to be present. All Iron County 4-H Clubs have their own Facebook pages, which is also a great way to stay in the know. Be sure to reach out to your club leader to be added to any social media pages.

Participate in county projects and events – Iron County 4-H occasionally hosts events that ALL CLUBS are welcome to attend. Examples include community service projects such as ringing the bells for the Salvation Army during the holidays, participating in community clean up events, representing Iron County 4-H at the Jack Frost Parade and more!

Participate in state and national events – Iron County 4-H members also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of state and national events, camps, and more! These opportunities are optional and most have a cost, but we encourage anyone interested to participate. The Iron County 4-H Leaders Association also assists members with scholarships if needed. For more information, visit: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/opportunities/statewide-events-and-opportunities/ 

4-H Projects –  Your 4-H’er will learn about many different projects while attending their monthly club meetings but did you know that Iron County 4-H is also offering a variety of specialized project meetings that will take place once a month (in addition to your regular chartered club meetings)? These project meetings are optional but we encourage all 4-H’ers to give them a try. Our new project meetings will be lead by creative Project Leaders who are ready to teach your child about woodworking, horses, woodburning, photography, sewing, fishing, Cloverbuds (into to 4-H for K-2nd grade youth), and foods & nutrition! Please note that in order to participate in one of these specialized project meetings, members must also be enrolled in one of the three chartered Iron County 4-H Clubs (Iron County Green Team, Penokee Range Livestock Club, Hurley Lucky Clovers).

Club Leadership – 4-H members have the opportunity to represent their clubs as elected officers! This is a great way for your 4-H’er to take on a leadership role in their club.

JOIN 4-H – ADULT LEADER ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Adult volunteers/leaders are essential to the Iron County 4-H program! If you are passionate about volunteering and interested in making a positive impact on local youth, becoming a 4-H leader could be for you! Follow the steps below to join.

STEP ONE: JOIN A CHARTERED CLUB, START YOUR OWN OR BECOME A PROJECT LEADER!

Currently there are three chartered clubs in Iron County, the Iron County Green Team, Penokee Range Livestock Club and the Hurley Lucky Clovers. Each club meets once a month and has its own meeting date and location. Iron County 4-H also offers a special interest club called the SISU Endurance Team, which includes a running club (Mondays, June – July) and a cross country ski club (Sundays, January – March). Want to start your own club? Iron County 4-H welcomes you!

Do you have a particular skill or talent that you would like to share with local 4-H youth? Become a project leader! Project leaders host specialized, monthly meetings where 4-H youth can focus on learning a particular project over the course of the year. Currently, Iron County 4-H has project leaders who will be hosting meetings focused on woodworking, horses, woodburning, photography, sewing, fishing, Cloverbuds (into to 4-H for K-2nd grade youth), and foods & nutrition.

If you have any questions about which club would be the best fit for you or if you would like to take the lead on a particular project, please contact 4-H Youth Development Educator, Neil Klemme at neil.klemme@wisc.edu or call 715-561-2695. Follow the link for more details about Iron County 4-H Clubs.

Click the box to the left for more details about the club offered through the Iron County 4-H program.

STEP TWO: REVIEW THE VOLUNTEER ROLE DESCRIPTIONS

You will need to determine which volunteer role position description you will be choosing prior to enrolling in 4-H Online. See below for more information. If you need help deciding which position description to use, feel free to contact Neil Klemme at 715-561-2695 or neil.klemme@wisc.edu.

	Club Leader Descriptions: Club Organizational/General – Volunteers who lead the club on an organization level.  Club Activity Leader – Volunteers who assist with club activities and events. Club Project Leader – Volunteers who lead a project in a club setting (example, leaders in the Penokee Range Livestock Club who help with livestock projects).  Click the box to the left for a more detailed 4-H Club Leader position description.
	Project Volunteer Descriptions:  Project Leader – Volunteers who are responsible for running and maintaining specialized project meetings. Click the box to the left for a more detailed 4-H Project Volunteer position description.
	Program Volunteer Descriptions:  Overnight Adult Advisor/Chaperone – Volunteers who volunteer at overnight 4-H programs, such as Iron County Summer Youth Camp or Iron County Outpost Camp.

STEP THREE: ENROLL IN 4-H ONLINE

Enrollment is done on an annual basis, starting in September. New leaders will need to be set up a new family and leader profile, with existing 4-H families re-enrolling under their established account. Visit 4honline.com to complete enrollment. Scroll down, click Wisconsin. If you are an established 4-H family and having issues accessing your account, please do not create a new one. Instead, reset your password.

	Click the box to the left for detailed information on how to complete 4-H Online enrollment. Please be sure that you are signing up for Wisconsin 4-H (Iron County). If you are planning on joining the SISU Endurance Team, please click here (as the enrollment instructions are slightly different).
	Click the box to the left for additional 4-H Online resources.

STEP FOUR: COMPLETE TRAINING/SCREENING

Training is one way that 4-H invests in you, the volunteers who support youth people who participate in the program. In order to be approved as a 4-H leader, you must complete the following trainings/screenings. Please do so in a timely manner.

	Mandated Reporter Training Registration: All 4-H volunteers are considered “Mandated Reporters” for child abuse and neglect. This training can be accessed from your 4-H Online profile (in the trainings tab). Click the box to your left to view directions on how you how to take the training on your own through 4-H Online.
	Title IX Reporting Sexual Misconduct Training: All Wisconsin 4-H volunteers are required to report incidents of sexual misconduct that take place in Extension programs and complete training on how to report concerns. Click the box to your left to access Title IX Training instructions.
	VIP (Volunteers in Preparation) Training: All new Iron County 4-H leaders must complete an in-person VIP Training, which includes an overview of Extension, volunteer roles and responsibilities, best practices when working with youth and resources available to you. Click the box to your left to view general VIP Training Resources.Mark your calendars for the next Mandatory VIP Training for new 4-H Leaders – Wednesday, November 2, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Iron County Courthouse.
	Background Check:  All Iron County 4-H leaders must pass a background check through UW-Madison Extension. After enrolling in 4-H Online, be sure to watch for an email from background check vendor, Hire Right. Please complete your background check asap, as the Hire Right emails are time sensitive and will expire if action isn’t taken.

STEP FIVE: WELCOME TO 4-H!

Thank you! We are excited that you have chosen to become an Iron County 4-H volunteer and to be part of the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization. Your interest and commitment to the Iron County 4-H program will help us continue to “Make the Best Better!”

Click the box to your left for 4-H volunteer resources.