4-H Youth Development
Positive Youth Development prepares the youth of today to become the effective, empathetic adults of tomorrow. Our research-based youth enrichment programs. 4-H clubs, camp and after-school programs give young people the hands-on experience they need to develop an understanding of themselves and the world.
Abi Quinlan, 4-H Program Educator
Planning and development are underway for a countywide Cloverbud program for youth in grades K-2, designed with input from youth and junior youth leaders. The goal is to deliver inclusive, one-day Cloverbud programs that introduce a wide range of 4-H project areas and foster curiosity, confidence, and early connection to 4-H, so that more families, both 4-H and non-4-H, can access high-quality, developmentally appropriate youth experiences.
Ozaukee County 4-H has experienced continued growth in Cloverbud enrollment, alongside increasing interest from families seeking structured, age-appropriate opportunities beyond traditional club settings. At the same time, there is an opportunity to more intentionally engage youth voice and expand access to families who may not yet be connected to 4-H. As the entry point into the 4-H program, Cloverbuds benefit most from short, engaging experiences that introduce the breadth of 4-H projects while fostering a sense of belonging and excitement for future involvement. I am leading the development of a countywide Cloverbud program that incorporates youth voice, expanded access, and youth leader led delivery. Youth and junior youth leaders have been engaged to help shape program activities and ensure they are engaging and developmentally appropriate for Cloverbud-aged youth. This effort includes the development of a flexible Cloverbud curriculum focused on hands-on exploration across multiple 4-H project areas, allowing youth to sample activities and begin identifying personal sparks. The program is intentionally designed to serve both current 4-H members and non-4-H youth, reducing barriers to participation and broadening community reach. As part of this preparation, five adult volunteers and four youth leaders have been recruited and approved to support the delivery of three one-day Cloverbud programs. Program structure, lesson outlines, volunteer roles, and logistics are being finalized using a local needs assessment and best practices shared by fellow 4-H Educators. This effort is positioning Ozaukee County 4-H to increase access to structured, high-quality Cloverbud programming for families across the county, including those not currently enrolled in 4-H. By intentionally incorporating youth and junior youth leaders into program design, the effort elevates youth voice and ensure activities are engaging and developmentally appropriate. The planned one-day programs will provide Cloverbuds with early exposure to a wide range of 4-H project areas, supporting spark discovery and positive youth development. In addition, recruiting and preparing approved volunteers strengthens local capacity to deliver consistent Cloverbud programming. Collectively, this work supports long-term 4-H participation by creating welcoming, hands-on entry points that benefit young children, families, and the broader community.
Community Development
Community Development provides educational programming to assist leaders, communities, and organizations realize their fullest potential. We work with communication to build the vitality that enhances their quality of life and enriches the lives of their residents. In short, the Community Development Institute plants and cultivates the seeds for thriving communities and organizations.
Paul Roback, Community Development Educator
A one-hour virtual workshop where participants leaned how to prepare nonprofit organizations for a successful transition to the next generation of board members and volunteers. The intent of the workshop is to ensure the long-term sustainability of organizations and prevent mission disruption during leadership changes.
The Director of Partnerships of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP), a regional nonprofit, contacted Paul to provide a workshop on succession planning and volunteer recruitment for their partner organizations. The LNRP is “a conservation champion committed to fostering community and partner collaboration from the Niagara Escarpment to the shores of Lake Michigan.” Paul had previously facilitated LNRP’s strategic planning process in 2024. In response, Paul researched and presented a one-hour virtual workshop titled “Fueling Your Future: Planning for a Powerful Tomorrow” to six participants. The interactive session was developed to prepare nonprofit organizations for a successful transition to the next generation of board members and volunteers. Topics included national volunteer trends, good governance practices, and board and volunteer recruitment and engagement. The session was recorded so that additional LNRP member organizations can benefit from the content. Four participants completed an end of session on-line evaluation of the workshop. As a result of attending the workshop, 100% of participants gained knowledge on the topic that was presented and 100% strongly agreed that the content was relevant to their needs. Overall, participants evaluated Paul’s facilitation of the workshop as a 5.0 on a 5-point Likert Scale (1=terrible and 5=excellent). One participant commented “Paul Roback is an excellent instructor.”
Agriculture
If it happens on a farm or in a field, the Extension Institute of Agriculture works with you to achieve better results. Our innovative dairy management programs range from genetics to farm and business management. Extension researchers work hand-in-hand with row crop, forage, and fresh produce growers to provide best practices for every aspect of the growing phase. We also advise communities on using sustainable practices to create inviting spaces free from invasive species.
Crops I Manuel Pena, Regional Dairy Educator
A train the trainer safety toolbox program for farm operations, safety consultants, educators, and instructors where they find materials to lead or support agricultural safety training by following an interactive guide and adult-learning principles to encourage participation, ownership, and responsibility, while encouraging a safety culture.
This program was developed in response to feedback from dairy producers from my region, including Ozaukee County, who expressed a need for practical, on-farm training to reduce injuries and accidents and maximize animal performance. In response, we designed this effort to deliver targeted, farm-based education focused on real-world scenarios and immediate application, with the goal of improving worker safety, animal welfare and profitability. Through pilot testing with farmers, participants reported improved understanding of workplace risks and identified specific changes they could implement immediately, such as safer animal handling, and tractor safety practices and clearer communication protocols among employees. Feedback from the pilot also helped refine the training to better align with different farm conditions, increasing its relevance and usability. This work contributes to broader societal goals by promoting safer agricultural workplaces, reducing the risk of injury, and supporting the well-being of farm employees. We are adding modules to the program and it is completely free and available for all the farms in Ozaukee on our website.