About:

Meetings:

About: In the beef project you can learn how to select market quality animals, select proper feed, identify different beef breeds, and gain herd management skills. You will also have the chance to learn about carcass value on market beef.

Meetings:

About: In the sheep project you will learn how to identify sheep breeds and body parts, observe sheep behavior, and identify uses of wool and other by-products. Project members will learn how to select desirable sheep and how to fit and show sheep.

Meetings:

About: The swine project allows members to enjoy learning about different swine breeds, anatomy of swine, and how to select the correct feed for swine while having a chance to practice judging market hogs.

Meetings:

About: Members can enroll in either dairy goats or meat goats. All members of the goat project will learn various breeds of goats, anatomy of goats and general management practices. Dairy Goat Project members will learn how to select dairy goats and about the milking procedure for them. Meat Goat Project members will learn how to select meat goats and learn about the carcass value.

Meetings:

About: Project members will learn about selecting and handling, identifying breeds and body parts, as well as exploring health issues and feeding.

Meetings:

About: The Rabbit Hopping 4‑H project introduces youth to the unique sport of rabbit agility, where rabbits learn to navigate courses similar to small‑scale show‑jumping. It provides hands‑on learning in animal care, training, responsibility, teamwork and sportsmanship. Youth typically participate in activities such as:

• Learning and practicing agility skills using Straight Line, Crooked Line, and Relay courses.
• Handling and caring for rabbits, including proper handling, exercise, proper harness fit and health management—core elements of all rabbit‑related 4‑H programs.
• Preparing for competitions, including our county fair as well as state‑level events such as those held at Wisconsin State Fair.

Meetings: We meet once a month January-June at the Jefferson County fair activity center from 6:30-8pm. Meetings in 2026 are scheduled for the following dates: January 14th, February 11th, March 11, April 1st, May 6th, June 3rd.

Rabbit Hopping Rules 2026

Find us on Facebook

About: Youth may enroll in poultry, poultry market and poultry non-animal within the Poultry project.
Poultry is for youth exploring non-market birds such as ducks, bantams, geese or turkeys.
Poultry Market is for youth exploring market birds such as chickens, ducks, geese or turkeys.
Poultry non-animal is designed to learn about poultry science or egg production without owning the animal.

Meetings:

About: Youth will be exposed to the following aspects working with llamas and alpacas: handling, showing basics, care and basic requirements of raising healthy camelids. Youth will also gain understanding and participate in projects related to the values associated to owning llamas and alpacas: fiber arts, packing, companion, public relations and guardians.

Meetings:

The following awards are for eligible 4-H Livestock Project members. Awards will be given at the 4-H Livestock Awards Banquet held in the Fall of each year.

To be eligible and considered for the below awards, youth must complete all required points listed. In the case of a tie, there will be an in-person interview with the individual project member regarding their specific project.

Outstanding Project Records Award: The top three Livestock records* for each species will receive an award. Awards TBA
*Breeding and Market Records will be combined per species.

Young Breeder of the Year: This award will be given to the top youth in the bred and owned livestock project in each species that earns the highest point total from Bred and Owned Point Card. Must submit the required Breeding Records, documents and point card. A youth from
each species will be awarded a prize. Awards TBA

4-H Greenhorn Award: A youth participating in a livestock project for the first time ever. Awarded to the first-year project member with the best records and top point cards.

4-H Limelight Award (Point Card): There is no cap on the number of points a youth may earn. They must have fulfilled all required points. Youth will be rewarded for the effort that they put into their project(s).
a. The top five members in grades 8-12 will be eligible for a special trip to a major exhibition. We want to reward hard work and create self-motivation.
b. The top five members in grades 3-7 will be eligible for a special trip to a major exhibition if a parent or guardian accompanies them OR will be eligible for a fun day trip.
c. The overall top earning point members can receive a testimonial written by the 4-H youth educator about their achievements within the project that the youth may utilize when recruiting buyers for their animals or animal products. Request must be emailed to wilcenski@wisc.edu by June 1st.

Skill-a-Thon Award: Youth will take a written evaluation in one or more species of their choice. Tests will include industry standards, breed identification, equipment identification and meat cut identification. Tests will be available to take in-person check the Clover Connection for dates and times. The top score for each species in grades 3-5; 6-8 and 9-13 Awards TBA

Livestock Marketing Awards: The Livestock Marketing Competition gives youth real world experience in marketing their livestock project to prospective buyers as well as developing effective communication skills. The top score for each youth (regardless of species) grades 3-5; 6-8 and 9-13 Awards TBA

4-H Exhibitor of the Year: An award will be presented to one project member of each species.
a. Members must meet all exhibitor and animal project requirements to be eligible.
b. Members must participate in showmanship and complete the species Skill-A-Thon to be eligible.
c. Members must complete a species specific Livestock Record Book of Video
d. The 4-H Educator will obtain live animal class rankings and carcass rankings from the County Fair. No documentation needs to be submitted to be eligible.
e. Total evaluation for Beef, Sheep, Swine and Meat Goats includes:
i. Live Class Ranking at Jefferson County Fair (20%)
ii. Carcass Ultrasound OR Livestock Marketing Results (20%)
iii. Live Showmanship Ranking at Jefferson County Fair (20%)
iv. Individual Placing from Skill-A-Thon (20%)
v. Market Livestock Records placing (20%)
vi. In the case of a tie, the tie will be broken in the following order: highest records
ranking, highest Skill-A-Thon ranking, highest carcass or marketing ranking,
highest showmanship ranking, highest live show ranking.
f. Total evaluation for Rabbits, Poultry and Dairy Goats includes:
vii. Live Class Ranking at Jefferson County Fair (20%)
viii. Live Showmanship Ranking at Jefferson County Fair (20%)
ix. Livestock Marketing Results (20%)
x. Individual Placing from Skill-A-Thon (20%)
xi. Breeding and Exhibition records placing (20%)
xii. In the case of a tie, the tie will be broken in the following order: highest records
ranking, highest Skill-A-Thon ranking, highest carcass ranking, highest
showmanship ranking, highest live show ranking.

Community support helps to provide our youth with a wide range of experiences. Sponsors help with travel to national judging competitions, out-of-state educational trips and more. Your support helps the youth of Jefferson County learn more about the livestock industry and to develop into future leaders in the Ag Industry. 

Interested in becoming a sponsor for the Livestock Committee educational programs? Please contact the Extension, Jefferson County Office at 920-674-7297 or jerry.wilcenski@wisc.edu for more details.