Wisconsin 4-H is excited to announce its 2026 Hall of Fame Laureates. These 4-H volunteers, financial supporters, staff and pioneers made major contributions to the 4-H movement at local, state and national levels. The laureates were honored in a ceremony at the Holiday Inn in Rothschild on April 26.
The Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame laureates represent 4-H in the broadest sense — people who had an impact on the lives of children, their community or state through significant contributions of time, energy or financial resources to 4-H and its members. The Hall of Fame was established in 2014 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 4-H in the state.
“Wisconsin 4-H is the organization we know today because of the countless hours of service our laureates dedicated to Wisconsin youth,” says Jessica Jens, Positive Youth Development Institute Assistant Dean & Director and Wisconsin 4-H State Program Leader, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. “Their passion for the 4-H program has helped generations of young people be ready for life and ready for work in a world of change.”
Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame 2026 Laureates
- Norma Ausman (In memoriam), Chippewa County Volunteer: For 70 years, Norma exemplified true citizenship and community leadership as a devoted member of the Homemakers and a 4-H project leader in food, canning and gardening.
- Lisa Cochart, Kewaunee County Volunteer: Volunteering has been a way of life for Lisa on both a county and state level for the last 36 years, including work with young people through a vibrant and thriving local 4-H dog project that has included over 50 youth per year.
- Jerry & Melanie Donath, Barron County Volunteers: For more than 50 years, Jerry and Melanie have been dedicated to 4-H through serving as club leader for the Sioux Creek Go Getters for 20 years and Jerry serving as a Shooting Sports leader for 15. Both also served on the 4-H Leaders Council chaperoning exchange trips, leadership conferences, and more. In recent years, they have been known for the woodworking workshops they put on for youth in Barron County and beyond.
- Betty Haag, Jefferson County Retired Home Economist: A 4-H’er since the age of 10, Haag served as the Extension Home Economist with 4-H responsibilities for 32 years, bringing educators together to network, learn, build relationships, and strategize ways to meet growing family needs.
- Dale Leidheiser, Retired 4-H Program Leader: Leidheiser’s county, state, and national work contributed to the development of youth, volunteers, and Extension staff through developing educational frameworks, strategies for financial support and recognition programs, including the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame.
- Kenneth “Charlie” & Ruth Lindegarde, Dodge County Volunteers: The Lindegardes were active in the county 4-H Leaders Association, Ruth as a fundraiser and Ken within the Leaders Association as board member, vice-president and president. They created a youth development program that included a new 4-H club, a teen center, afterschool programs, retreats and mentorship programs.
- JoAnn Maedke, Fond du Lac County Volunteer: Starting as a 10-year member of the Campbellsport 4-H Club, excelling in the clothing project, Maedke was a project and general leader for the Armstrong 4-H club for over 50 years and has served as treasurer for the Fond du Lac County 4-H Adult Leaders Association since 2004.
- Becky Merwin, Walworth County Volunteer: A 58-year volunteer of her county’s 4-H program, Merwin started her 4-H journey at age nine, showing beef cattle and demonstrating her sewing skills, which led to becoming a general leader and key sewing leader for future 4-H youth.
- Kathryn Noll, Buffalo County Volunteer: A life-long 4-H member, Kathryn has led the Clover 4-H Club, mentoring generations of youth, including her siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, along with hundreds of local members.
- Ruthann J. Rehberg, Price County Volunteer: For more than 40 years, Rehberg has been a cornerstone of the Price County 4-H program, serving as Club Leader of the Big Elk Badgers 4-H Club and holding leadership roles in the Price County Adult Leaders’ Association and on the Wisconsin 4-H Adult Leaders’ Council.
- Millaine Wells-Stodola, Kewaunee County Volunteer: Over the years, Wells-Stodola’s support for the 4-H program as host and producer of Midwest Farm Weekly has grown and now is undeniably impactful. As a volunteer, she helps young people find the “sparks” that interest them, specifically the youngest 4-H-ers, known as Cloverbuds.
You can search and view bios for the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame laureates throughout the years at this link.