4-H Key Award Recipients

The Wisconsin 4-H Key Award Program recognized a select group of 4-H participants who have demonstrated consistent growth in their 4-H involvement, developed and applied their leadership skills and actively participated in the functions of their 4-H club and community. It is the highest award given by Ozaukee County 4-H.

2026 Wisconsin 4-H Key Award Recipients

Emlyn Schuster

Emlyn took on the role of youth coordinator for the open houses for two years for the county. She is the current 2026 Miss Ozaukee 4-H and represents the county well in her regular appearances and involvement! Emlyn has a natural ability to connect with people of all ages, which makes her a great leader and role model!
Additionally, she has actively participated in a variety of county wide events like being involved with the Haunt Committee and acting, participating in the 4-H Bowl-A-Thon, volunteering at the Cops & Kids event, participating in Animal Area Science Days and being a Youth Board Member of the 4-H Foundation for the last two years.
Outside of 4-H, Emlyn just completed 12th grade year at Menomonee Falls High School. While in high school, she was actively involved as the Best Buddies Club Chapter President, a member of the girl’s golf team and participated in church youth group. Emlyn plans to attend Concordia University Wisconsin in the fall and major in special education.
It is evident that Emlyn has grown tremendously as a youth in the Ozaukee County 4-H program and has done a wonderful job showcasing her love for 4-H.

A message from Emlyn: It feels incredibly special to be standing here accepting the Wisconsin 4-H Key Award. If you had told nine-year-old me that one day I’d be standing here, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. After all, my very first 4-H experience involved showing up to a dairy farm dressed
completely in white. Looking back…that was probably not my smartest fashion choice. Needless to say, I learned pretty quickly that cows, mud, and white clothes don’t exactly mix. That first visit taught me something that’s become a theme throughout my entire 4-H journey: sometimes the best lessons come from jumping in, making mistakes, and learning as you go. Over the past nine years, 4-H has become so much more than dairy projects and county fair week. It has become the place where I discovered who I am. As a shy young member, I looked up to the older kids who seemed to have everything figured out. They encouraged me, answered my questions, and showed me what it meant to be a leader. Because of them, I eventually found the confidence to serve as my club’s Historian, Vice President, Treasurer, President, and now Secretary. I became a Dairy Youth Leader, served on the Dairy Youth Board, coordinated county events, and had the incredible honor of serving a Miss Ozaukee 4-H. Those titles are something I’m proud of, but they aren’t what define my 4-H experience. The moments I’ll remember most are helping a nervous first-year member clip their calf before a show, watching younger kids gain confidence because someone believed in them, spending long days at the fair with friends who became family, and working alongside volunteers who gave their time simply because they cared about helping young people succeed. 4-H taught me that leadership isn’t about having the loudest voice or the biggest title. It’s about showing up, being dependable, encouraging others, and being willing to serve your community. Of course, 4-H also taught me patience—especially when working with dairy cattle. As anyone who’s shown livestock knows, cows don’t care about your schedule. They certainly don’t care if you’re running late or trying to look good for a judge. They’ve taught me to expect the
unexpected and to laugh when things don’t go according to plan. This fall, I’ll be attending Concordia University Wisconsin to study Special Education. Looking back, I realize 4-H has been preparing me for this career all along. Through leadership opportunities, mentoring younger members, and learning to communicate with people of all ages, I’ve developed skills that I know I’ll carry into my future classroom. I hope to be the kind of teacher who encourages students the same way so many 4-H leaders encouraged me. Receiving the Wisconsin 4-H Key Award is an incredible honor because it represents so much more than my own accomplishments. It reflects the support of my family, who never complained about the early mornings or late nights; the volunteers who invested countless hours into helping me grow; my club leaders who believed in me; and my fellow 4-H members who made every meeting, every event, and every fair unforgettable.
To everyone who has been part of my journey over the last nine years, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, challenging me, and helping me become the person I am today. Although my years as a 4-H youth member are coming to an end, my journey with 4-H is far from over. This organization has given me so much over the past nine years, and I hope to spend many more years giving back. Whether it’s volunteering at the fair, mentoring younger members, or supporting my local club, I know I’ll always have a place in the 4-H community. Once a 4-H’er, always a 4-H’er. I may no longer be a youth member, but I will always carry the values of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health with me, and I look forward to helping future
generations discover the same opportunities and lifelong friendships that 4-H has given me.
Thank you.

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Lindsey Kroening

She has demonstrated strong club leadership through her involvement as a pledge leader, club historian, club treasurer and is currently the club president. Within her club, Lindsey has also participated in events like the Freistadt Heritage Foundation Fundraiser, Christmas caroling, the box social and the Adopt-a-Highway program.
Lindsey has also played an active role in county events like attending the 4-H dance, volunteering at the lemonade stand, participating in the pinewood derby and bowl-a-thon, recruiting new 4-Hers at the 4-H Open houses and supporting new families at the new family fairgrounds night. She also was a youth representative of the Leader’s Association Board and took on the role of being Vice President and led those meetings. Lindsey does a fantastic job of leading and mentoring younger youth with kindness and a positive attitude in all she does.
Outside of 4-H, Lindsey just completed her 11th grade school year at Cedarburg High School. Within high school, Lindsey has been very involved by playing golf and is a member of the Wisconsin Professional Golf Association Juniors and has been the high school Boys’ team manager. She has also been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club. When she is not in school, involved in playing or managing golf or participating in 4-H events, she has also worked at Honey Creek Orchard and Tinsel and Pine.
Lindsey has shown growth and achievement as a youth in the Ozaukee County 4-H program and has done a fantastic job showcasing her passion for 4-H. We can’t wait to see what she will continue to do!

A message from Lindsey: Thank you so much for the opportunity to hold such a high honor in the county. I have grown as a person as 4-H has grown as a program. It has helped shape me into the person I am and expand my skills. If you were to tell 9 year old Lindsey, who was terrified of public speaking, meeting new people and trying things out of her comfort zone that she would be standing here, doing all of those at once, she would tell you that you were insane. 4-H has connected me to opportunities to grow and learn new things, even if they seemed hard or scary. I’ve learned to challenge myself to step out of my comfort zone and it has allowed me to flourish in ways I never dreamed. I’ve always wanted to give back to such a powerful and influential program, and I have worked towards that every day. Whether it be small leadership roles like directing kids at the New Family
Fairgrounds Preview or even leading a Leaders Association Meeting, these roles not only benefited the program, but also shaped me as a person. I appreciate every time my mom ‘volen-told’ me for something, because even if I didn’t want to do it at first, it ended up being so much fun and so inspiring to myself and others.
As I take the next step in my journey to go to college in a few years, I will always remember how much 4-H, and the people in it, have impacted me. Ranging from both Grandma’s helping with quilting or exploring, to the dozens of volunteers who donate their time and dedication to help inspire a new generation of 4-H’ers and people in general, 4-H is full of amazing connections. These connections, whether they be relationships, new knowledge or skills, will stay with me long after I graduate, and I appreciate everyone who works hard to make that happen.
Thank you so much again for this wonderful opportunity.

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Taylor Wilke

Within her club, she has been very active by being vice president, president, club reporter and a board member. Taylor has been known to help keep everyone on track and motivate them to get involved! One of Taylor’s favorite club activities was attending Lasata Nursing Home year after year to participate in playing bingo, caroling and doing crafts with the residents.
Taylor has been active in a variety of county wide activities. She has been a youth manager of the Clover Cafe for the last few years, where she gained valuable skills in teamwork and customer service. She acted in the Haunt, attended the 4-H Dance, worked her club’s concession stand for the Cops and Kids event and was also a Leaders Association Board youth representative. She also participated in the 4-H American Spirit trip and was a delegate to Space Camp, but the event unfortunately got canceled due to Covid.
Outside of 4-H, Taylor just completed her 12th grade school year at Port Washington High School. While in high school, Taylor was an active member of the dance team, where she was team captain the last two years. She also was involved in Student Council, DECA and Key Club. In addition to her high school studies, dance commitments and 4-H activities, she also served as a hostess at The Stillery. Taylor plans to attend Auburn University in Alabama this fall and is pursuing studying marketing.
It is clear that Taylor has blossomed through her active involvement in the Ozaukee County 4-H program.

A message from Taylor: Nine years ago, I walked into my very first 4-H meeting. I was scared, quiet, and if you had told me back then that I’d eventually serve as the president of my club, travel across the East Coast, and end up standing on this stage receiving the Key Award, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. When I look back over the last nine years, my mind immediately goes to the people who made this journey possible. And at the absolute top of that list is my leader, Dorothy. Dorothy, I truly don’t have the words to thank you enough. You have been my mentor, my cheerleader, and, when I needed it, the gentle nudge to step outside of my comfort zone. Your belief in me, even when I doubted myself, is the reason I’m holding this award today. You didn’t just teach me how to sew; you taught me how to believe in my own potential. Thank you for your endless patience and support. But beyond the trips and the projects, the best part of the last nine years has been the people I’ve met. Whether we were working the haunt or leading a meeting together, the friendships I’ve built in Ozaukee County is the thing I’m going to miss the most. As for what I’m actually taking away from all of this, it’s a lot more than just a collection of ribbons. 9 years of 4-H teaches you how to figure things out when everything goes wrong. I’ve learned how to speak in public, lead a group of kids confidently, and work with a diverse group of people.
As I accept this Key Award, I realize it’s not just a celebration of what I’ve done in the past. It’s a key to the future. The confidence, friendships, and the
lessons I’ve gathered in Ozaukee County 4-H will stay with me as I go onto college. Thank you to the leaders association, the foundation, my mom, dad, and rest of my family, friends, all of my project leaders, and Ron and Dorothy for these amazing past 9 years and I am so grateful to end my 4-H chapter on such a high note. Thank you.

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