Dunn County 4-H and Positive Youth Development
Welcome to Dunn County 4-H!
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
For more than a century, Wisconsin has been a leader in 4-H youth development, giving young people throughout the state an opportunity to learn new skills, gain self-confidence and contribute to their communities. Using real-life experiences from a team of devoted educators and volunteers, 4-H members benefit from leadership training, community-building experiences and experiential-learning opportunities to better their own lives and the lives of the people around them.
The wide array of 4-H programs enriches the lives of participants and their families and strengthens Wisconsin’s communities through volunteer service, civic involvement, and leadership.
What is 4-H all about?
4-H members get involved in their communities as volunteers and youth leaders. They learn new things by completing dozens of different kinds of projects, going on trips, having parties, hosting international students, participating in local government, experimenting with science, making art, going to camp, learning to canoe or taking care of an animal. These activities are largely facilitated though, research-based youth programming, learning-by-doing, regular 4-H club meetings, and adult mentorship. 4-H fosters healthy youth and adult relationships through process solving, project development, and interactive learning. 4-H is fun. 4-H grows here!
According to the 4‑H Study of Positive Youth Development by Tufts University, 4‑H youth are:
- 6 times more likely to be at the highest levels of positive development
- More likely to see themselves going to college compared to other youth
- 25% more likely to contribute to themselves, their families, and communities
- 41% less likely to engage in high risk behaviors
The Positive Development of Youth: Comprehensive Findings from the 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development is a longitudinal study that began in 2002 and was repeated annually for eight years, surveying more than 7,000 adolescents from diverse backgrounds across 42 U.S. states. Check out the Full Report (pdf) | Fact Sheet (pdf)
Resources
If you have any questions regarding Dunn County 4-H, please contact:
Extension Dunn County
3001 US Hwy 12 E, Suite 216
Menomonie WI 54751-3045
Phone: 715-232-1636
Statewide 4-H News
- Pesobic Pathfinders 4-H Club President and club leader recently went live on the radio show to talk about winning the Cedar Crest Ice Cream 4-H Flavor Creation Contest.
- Youth as Partners in Civic Leadership (YPCL) 2025 brought together 100 youth and 34 adults from 22 Wisconsin counties and 17 organizations for a three-day, two-night camp at Upham Woods in Wisconsin Dells in November. Hosted by UW–Madison Division of Extension’s Positive Youth Development Institute, YPCL’s mission is to “advance youth voice by strengthening youth–adult partnerships […]
- Amy Boelk started her career journey by guiding youth on nature adventures. She'll use that experience to lead Wisconsin 4-H'ers toward toward career and college pathways so they're Beyond Ready for life and work.
- Wisconsin 4-H announces 12 Hall of Fame Laureates for 2026 — 4-H volunteers, financial supporters, staff and pioneers who made major contributions to the 4-H movement at the local, state and national levels. The induction ceremony is set for April 18 in Wausau.
- Youth in grades 5-8 from Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties explored robotics, engineering and computer science during a hands-on Robotics Day hosted in partnership with UW–Stout’s Fab Lab and the FIRST Ambassadors Program.