The Clayton County 4-H program continues to make a meaningful impact on local youth, reaching 45% of all youth in Clayton County through club programs, Clover Kids, camps and school enrichment programs. These programs help build leadership skills, strengthen communities, and create hands-on learning experiences in areas such as crop scouting, livestock judging, citizenship trips, county fair activities and more. To keep this momentum going, the Clayton County 4-H Foundation relies on community support to help fund these valuable opportunities and invest in the future of Clayton County youth.

The Clayton County 4-H Foundation Board is made up of community leaders from across the county who believe in the power of 4-H and are committed to raising the necessary funds to help grow the 4-H Program in Clayton County. Current Board members are Joel & Lyn Berg, St. Olaf; Scott & Sarah Cherne, Guttenberg; Dan & Darla Keehner, Monona; Katie Ruff, McGregor; Joe & Suzanne Shirbroun, Farmersburg; Joe & Linda Zuercher, Postville; Steve & Diane Wagner, Elkader; Kevin Wright, Garnavillo; and Tammy Muller, Monona.

One of Clayton County 4-H Foundation’s signature fundraising events is the Wine & Dine Prime Rib Dinner, set for Saturday, February 14 from 5-8 pm at the PromiseLand Winery near Guttenberg. Guests will enjoy a delicious prime rib dinner with green beans, baked potato, roll, salad, coffee, and milk with cheesecake for dessert. Tickets are $50 per person, with group rates available. Contact a Foundation Board member or the Clayton County Extension Office for more information and tickets.

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4-H Omelet Brunch & Silent Auction to be Held March 8

The annual Clayton County 4-H Omelet Brunch & Silent Auction will be Sunday, March 8 at Johnson’s Reception Hall in Elkader. Serving will be from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. This annual event is sponsored by the 4-H County Council and the Extension 4-H & Youth Development Committee. The menu will include pancakes, egg omelets with your choice of ham, sausage, cheese, mushrooms, green pepper, or onion. Applesauce, juice, milk & coffee. Tickets are $10.00 (age 10+), $5 (ages 5-9) and children 4 and under are free. Tickets are available at the door or at the Clayton County Extension Office, 120 S Main Street, Elkader. Proceeds will be used to maintain & promote 4-H & Youth activities in Clayton County.

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.Additional Stories Published Online

The following news releases have been published on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.

1/27/2026 Iowa 4 H Delegates Reflect on 2025 National 4 H Congress Experience

Eighteen Iowa 4-H youth joined hundreds of young leaders from across the country for the 2025 National 4-H Congress. Reflections from Iowa’s delegates highlight the strong impact of the event on their leadership development, confidence and collaboration.

1/27/2026 2026 Iowa Crop Production Costs Increase, Limiting Profit Opportunities for Corn and Soybean Farmers

Iowa corn and soybean producers continue to face tight margins heading into the 2026 growing season, according to the newly released Estimated Costs of Crop Production in Iowa – 2026 from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

1/27/2026 Woodland Management and Water Quality Workshops to be Held in February

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University, will host two woodland management and water quality workshops in February. The events are open to farmers and landowners at no cost and include a complimentary meal.

1/26/2026 Cook Up Confidence and Healthy Habits with Iowa 4-H Virtual Cooking School

Registration is now open for the next 4-H Clover Power Virtual Cooking School, scheduled for Feb. 5. The live, online program — designed for any youth in grades K–12, regardless of 4-H enrollment — brings young cooks together from across Iowa to learn practical kitchen skills, nutrition and food safety right from their own homes.

1/26/2026 Iowa State to Offer Workshops on QGIS and Tableau Public Tools

Community leaders, planners and data users can build practical skills to analyze, map and clearly communicate local data during two hands-on workshops Feb. 25–26 at Iowa State University.

1/26/2026 Webinar Offers Iowa Local Officials Tools for Understanding Fiscal Conditions

City and county leaders across Iowa, facing growing service demands and long-term fiscal uncertainty, can learn how to better interpret and use financial data during a Feb. 18 webinar offered at no cost by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

1/26/2026 Advanced Calving Clinic to Be Offered in Denison

The Iowa Beef Center with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer an Advanced Calving Clinic to help Iowa cattlemen and women prepare for a successful calving season and subsequent breeding period. The clinic will be offered on Thursday, Feb. 19, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., at the Iowa National Guard Armory in Denison.

1/26/2026 Grant Writing 101 Workshop Offered Online Feb. 26

Nonprofit, government and school district representatives seeking to strengthen their grant writing skills are invited to attend an online Grant Writing 101 workshop on Feb. 26. The virtual session is offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development.

1/23/2026 Media Advisory: Real Impact 2025 Report

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has released its Real Impact 2025 Report, which shares how ISU Extension and Outreach addresses issues in the state and creates opportunity for Iowans, including: AI education for youth through 4-H, work with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, Community and Economic Development efforts that help communities attract investment, and more.

1/23/2026 Iowa 4-H Invites Families to Create Life-Changing Memories Through the 2026 Japanese Youth Exchange Program

Iowa 4‑H Youth Development is seeking Iowa families to open their homes for the 2026 States’ 4-H Exchange program, a three‑and‑a‑half‑week summer homestay. Families do not need to be involved in 4-H to participate. Interested families should apply online by April 15.

1/23/2026 Siouxland Garden Symposium Set for April 11

The Siouxland Garden Symposium will take place on Saturday, April 11, at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City. The annual event offers valuable, research-based information applicable to both home gardeners and small-scale growers.

1/22/2026 ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s Milking Technologies’ to Explore the Future of Advanced Milking

Dairy farmers, consultants, students and service providers are invited to attend an innovative conference in February on robotic and advanced milking technologies. The event will feature expert presentations from dairy specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota, focusing on the profitability, labor efficiency and herd health impacts of these technologies.

1/22/2026 Virtual Field Day to Explore Prairie Establishment and Management with Carl Kurtz

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with C-CHANGE: Grass2Gas, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. CST. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Carl Kurtz, a professional writer, teacher, naturalist and photographer with over 50 years of prairie establishment and management experience.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach news releases are available from our website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/