Retired State 4-H Office Manager

For 24 years, Jane Marquardt was the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Office and Budget Manager. She managed a team of 4-6 clerical support staff and several student workers, who supported all aspects of the Wisconsin 4-H program. Jane set up an operating budget for the 4-H Youth Development department and helped to write and manage budgets for local, state and federal grants.

Self-taught in computer technology, Jane was the main force in moving the State 4-H Office into the computer age, serving as the office troubleshooter and staff trainer. She also took on several major computer tasks for the state 4-H program, including leading the transition to the new online 4-H Plus enrollment program and creating registration systems for the North Central Region 4-H Volunteer Conference and the 4-H National Conference held in Milwaukee in 2006. She was also instrumental in the use of a new Judging Contest scoring program for 4-H’s Area Animal Science Days, and later helped Wisconsin FFA officials adopt the scoring program for their statewide use.

In addition, Jane annually played major administrative roles for the Wisconsin 4-H & Youth Conference, volunteer and staff conferences, and production of educational materials, travel plans for staff and youth, and day to day office operations.

Jane has previously been recognized for her 30 years of outstanding UW-Extension work by being presented the UW Extension 1991 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, 2003 Friend of WAE4-HYDP, 2006 WAE4-HYDP Communication Award, 2009 WAE4-HYDP Successful Program Award – Teaching Series, and the 2015 Chancellor’s Award – Career Award.