Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame
About the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame
The genesis for our Hall of Fame began with discussions about how UW—Madison Division of Extension 4-H Youth Development should celebrate our Centennial in 2014. Three broad themes came out of initial planning: we need to capitalize on this opportunity for the future; take pride in our accomplishments; and celebrate our past.
This Hall of Fame is established to recognize 4-H volunteers, financial supporters, staff, and pioneers who made major contributions to the 4-H movement at the local, state, and national levels. The candidates represent 4-H in the broadest sense – they may be 4-H volunteers, financial supporters, UW—Madison Division of Extension professionals, or staff employees who had an impact on the lives of children, their community, or state through significant contributions of time, energy, or financial resource to 4-H and its members. The names of some are very recognizable, as sites and buildings bear their names. Others, while not broadly known, have transformed the lives of children and families with whom they’ve worked and the communities in which they’ve lived. The Hall of Fame preserves Wisconsin’s 4-H history and development while increasing awareness of the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development program.
100 Hall of Fame laureates were inducted in 2014 to coincide with the Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Centennial Celebration. Moving forward, yearly nominations will be taken to select honorees each year to keep the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame growing.
Please join us at the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame Celebration to recognize the 2026 Laureates.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Plated Luncheon and Induction Ceremony at 12:30 PM. Please arrive by 12:15 PM.
Holiday Inn and Suites Rothschild
1000 Imperial Ave, Rothschild, WI 54474
Please RSVP by March 27, 2026
Tickets cost $25
Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Norma Ausman- Chippewa County Volunteer
Lisa Cochart- Kewaunee County Volunteer
Jerry & Melanie Donath- Barron County Volunteers
Elizabeth Haag- Jefferson County retired Home Economist
Dale Leidheiser- retired 4-H Program Leader
Charlie & Ruth Lindegarde- Dodge County Volunteers
JoAnn Maedke- Fond du Lac County Volunteers
Becky Merwin- Walworth County Volunteer
Kathryn Noll- Buffalo County Volunteer
Ruthann Rehberg- Price County Volunteer
Millaine Wells- Kewaunee County Volunteer
Hall of Fame Honorees
Nominations
**The 2026 WI HOF Nomination Cycle has ended. Please stay tuned for more information.**
Please use the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame Nomination Guide to help write your nomination.
Any group or individual is eligible to submit a nomination for consideration.
(Both Nomination forms below are the same, only in different formats.)
All nominations must be submitted electronically either through the Qualtrics form (see link below) or by emailing this fillable PDF to pydadminteam@extension.wisc.edu by November 3, 2025.
Complete nominations include a:
- Nomination form
- Nominee & Nominator information
- Essay questions
- Signatures
- Brief summary of the nominee to be used as a biography in the Hall of Fame publications (no more than 250 words) if selected
- Digital head and shoulder photograph
2026 WI HOF Nomination Qualtrics Form
2026 WI HOF Nomination Form editable pdf (Fillable PDF version – download a copy locally before typing in this pdf)
2026 WI HOF Nomination Form (MS Word version)
Selection Process
Selections are made by a state-level committee based on submitted nominations including a UW-Madison Extension educator’s signature.
Recognition will be in conjunction with an existing event; the virtual 4-H Hall of Fame will be updated annually with photos and bios of the honorees.
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