Polk County 4-H Volunteer

Gwen Dado holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in agricultural education. She and her husband, Rick, own and operate Four Hands Holsteins, Inc. in Amery, a 500-cow Registered Holstein dairy. The farm has been recognized numerous times nationally for type, milk quality, and production. She serves as the CFO and calf manager. An educator by trade, Dado shares her knowledge with local youth. She provides the opportunity for 10 to 20 4-Hers to annually exhibit dairy animals at local and state fairs. She also employs 4-Hers to grow their skills.

When Dado is not working, she can be found coaching 4-H dairy quiz bowl and judging teams, FFA members in speaking competitions, and helping with overall community youth development and education.

Gwen currently serves as the Beaver Brook Badgers dairy project lead and served as the general club leader for six years. Broadening her reach, she serves as one of Polk County’s dairy project leads and chaperoned youth at the Wisconsin State Fair for 10 years. The teams she has coached have earned impressive honors including National Champion 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Team twice (Wisconsin only had three in 42 years), National Champion 4-H Dairy Management Team (Wisconsin’s only win in 36 years), and three National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest high individuals.

Because of her dedication to youth, she earned the Wisconsin Association of FFA’s Honorary State Degree and was a finalist for Amery’s outstanding community volunteer award. All who know Gwen, know her catchphrase, “Work hard, Get smart.” She works to instill values of dedication, work ethic, education, and teamwork in all people she reaches.