Adam Hartfiel – Regional Livestock Educator
920-647-6560
adam.hartfiel@wisc.edu

Brandon Springer – 4-H Educator
920-294-4035
brandon.springer@wisc.edu

Grace Brown – Fair and UWEX Office Manager
gbrown@greenlakecountywi.gov
920-294-4032

Pat Malone – Community Development Educator
patricia.malone@wisc.edu
920-294-4037

Pat Wagner – Area Extension Director
pat.wagner@wisc.edu
608-516-5540

August 6 – August 9, 2026

Theme: WELCOME to Fabulous Green Lake County Fair “All Bets on Fun”

Details for the 2026 Fair are currently being updated.

Show_Pig_Symposium_News_Release_01_12_26

When: Saturday, March 7th
Time: 9AM – 2PM
Location: Bark Academy, 2522 Overlook Dr. Wausau, WI 54401

Space is limited: There are 60 spots available for this event. There is a 1 dog maximum per handler. All youth members need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian or chaperone. Youth registration will not be accepted without an adult listed as attending with them.

Vaccination requirements: All WI 4-H Dog Project Vaccination Policies will be followed for this event. A copy of the vaccination records either needs to be added with your online registration or included with payment for your registration to be complete.

Who should attend: All participants must be currently enrolled WI 4-H Dog Project Youth Members. This camp is ideal for all 4-H dog project junior handlers seeking to refine their agility skills, whether preparing for competition or simply strengthening their partnership with their dog. All experience levels are welcome—activities tailored to individual skill sets and training goals.

Cost: $10.00 per youth/dog team.
Make checks payable to “WI 4-H Dog Association” and send to:
WI 4-H Dog Agility Learning Day
UW-Madison Division of Extension
3500 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53705

Registration deadline: February 18, 2026 or when the event is filled to capacity, whatever happens first. February 25th is the last day to withdraw from this event. Any registration withdrawal after this date will be responsible for payment regardless of attendance.

Registration is through 4-H Online: https://264hagilitylearningday.4honline.com

Lunch: Please bring your own lunch with you – the group will eat while a question and answer session is held. There will not be a food vendor at this event. Also, you should also bring a folding style camp chair.

State 4-H Dog Board and Association meeting will be held after the learning day. See the agenda at the website link below for approximate time. If you are only coming for the meeting after the learning day is finished – you do not have to register or pay to attend the meeting.

Featured Speaker and Youth Leader: Addison Connolly
Addison Connolly is a dedicated and accomplished dog agility enthusiast based in Galesville, Wisconsin. She is passionate about training and showing her two Border Collies, Cooper (7) and Quest (5 months). Since 2018, Addison has been an active member of the Trempealeau County 4-H Dog Project, and in 2022 she took on the role of Dog Agility Youth Leader, passionately mentoring aspiring dog agility 4-H members and their dogs. She currently serves as the Youth Vice President for the Wisconsin State 4-H Dog Project, where she helps guide and grow the program for fellow youth members. Addison is a five-time Wisconsin State 4-H Dog Agility Top Handler/Dog Team Champion. She competes at the Excellent level in both Standard Agility and Jumpers under the American Kennel Club (AKC) as well as Level 2 and 3 Agility and Jumpers at AKC International Sweepstakes Class (ISC) trial events – demonstrating consistent excellence in competition. In 2025, Addison represented Team USA at the Junior Open World Championships in Portugal, and this past fall traveled to Jacksonville, Florida to compete in the UK Agility National (UKI) US Open. Addison attends numerous agility workshops and seminars to advance her skills and her dogs’ performance. Addison’s commitment and leadership in the dog agility community make her a role model for young handlers nationwide.

Tentative Dog Agility Learning Day/Camp Agenda available at: 

https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/wi-state-4-h-dog-learning-days-march-7th-and-october-24th/

When: Saturday, October 24th
Time: TBA
Location: Bark Academy, 2522 Overlook Dr. Wausau, WI 54401

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project Launches Farm Transition Pilot Program

Foxhead Regenerative Agriculture Project (FoxRAP), in partnership with the University of
Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Renewing the Countryside, and Southwest Counseling, is
launching a pilot program to help aging farmers navigate the technical and emotional complexities
of a farm transition. The project, titled Holding Ground, Letting Go: A guided approach to farm
transition and legacy supports farmers aged 58+ in east central Wisconsin.

Filling a Critical Gap in Farm Succession Support

Wisconsin faces a significant challenge as agricultural producers age. Many farm owners are
approaching retirement age without concrete succession plans. This pilot program aims to create a
replicable model that can be implemented across Wisconsin and potentially nationwide.

Farm transition technical assistance is often focused on legal and financial preparation. Our
program follows this lead, offering valuable experience from professional service providers while
also addressing the overlooked personal, identity-related barriers that can prevent older farmers
from successfully transitioning their farms to the next generation. By taking a farmer-oriented
approach with personalized support for each participant, successful farm transition outcomes are
significantly more likely.

This holistic approach will make the process easier for all parties: farmers, families, and service
providers.

Program Details

The pilot program is seeking participation from 30 producers aged 58 and older in the Upper Fox
River watershed, which includes Green Lake County and Fond Du Lac County. Any other nearby farmers
who are interested in farm transition planning are encouraged to attend, whether or not they have
identified successors.

The program includes two in-person group workshops at American Legion Post 306 in Green Lake,
Wisconsin—February 24 and March 31 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. CST—followed by personalized,
one-on-one coaching and technical assistance from March 2026 to September 2026. (Lunch will be
provided at both workshops).

The project team includes experienced farm transition specialists from FoxRAP, UW Extension,
Renewing the Countryside, and Southwest Counseling. The program is free for participants with
materials included, and offers significant value in education, service provider expertise, and
technical assistance.

Register at:
https://www.farmlandaccesshub.org/event-details/holding-ground-letting-go-a-guided-approach-to-farm-
tr ansition-and-legacy-2026-02-24-10-00

For more information, contact the Holding Ground, Letting Go project manager Bonnie Warndahl at
bonnie@rtcinfo.org or 612.462.9311.

Funding for this project was provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education
Center and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 25-6324-0255-102

Article_ Holding Ground, Letting Go (1)