Article I – Name

The name of this 4-H Club or Project shall be the Kenosha County 4-H Horse and Pony Project. This organization is chartered under the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension in Kenosha County

Article II – Purpose
4-H is a youth-driven, volunteer-supported program which empowers youth to reach their full potential working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

The purpose of the Kenosha County Horse and Pony Project is to provide a learning experience of horse knowledge throughout Kenosha County, to plan and conduct countywide 4-H Horse educational events, and to increase participation in the countywide 4-H Horse and Pony Project. 

Article III – Membership

Section 3.1 Membership in the Kenosha County 4-H Horse and Pony Project is open to all youth and adults enrolled in horse, horseless horse and/or model horse projects. Reference to youth and certified adult volunteers are those enrolled in the Kenosha County 4-H Horse and Pony Project. Certified adult volunteers are those who have enrolled on 4HOnline, completed a background check and have taken the mandatory training modules required by Wisconsin State 4-H.

 

Section 3.2 4-H is open to any youth regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental status

 

Section 3.3 Suspension and Termination of Participation: Suspension and Termination of Participation: Youth and certified adult volunteers who violate the Wisconsin 4-H Code of Conduct for Members and Participants may have his/her participation from the 4-H Horse and Pony Project suspended or terminated only by the UW-Extension Office. Please note, this code of conduct applies to all family members or other custodians who are participating in any meetings or events or working with project leadership or the UW-Madison Extension Kenosha County Office or 4-H Educator If the Adult Volunteer Expectation Guidelines, which are signed by the adult volunteer, are not followed, the volunteer may have his/her participation from the 4-H Horse and Pony Project suspended or terminated only by the UW-Madison Extension Kenosha County Office or 4-H Educator

 

Section 3.4 Requirements to hold a 4-H charter and be recognized as a 4-H Project in Wisconsin 4-H are found here: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/resources/wisconsin-4-h-policies/4-h-name-and-emblem/

 

Clubs and Projects must comply with:

i. All Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development Policies (https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/4h-ext/resources/wisconsin-4-h-policies/)

ii. All federal, state, and local laws
 

 

Article IV – Leadership Team
 

Section 4.1. General Powers. The powers, property and affairs of the Kenosha County Horse and Pony Project shall be vested in the 4-H Horse Project Leadership Team with oversight from the Kenosha County UW-Extension Office.

 

Section 4.2. Number and Qualifications. The Leadership Team shall consist of 13 individuals to include 9 youth and 4 adults, minimum. Youths must be enrolled in the project on 4-H Online and be a member in good standing.

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Note: If there are not enough candidates in 7th - 13th grades, youths in 5th and 6th grades can apply and be considered for the Leadership Team. Regardless, those in 5th and 6th grades who have applied for leadership may attend monthly leadership meetings but will not have a vote for business unless directly serving on the leadership team. Adult leaders must be enrolled in 4-H Online and be certified by completing a background check and a mandatory training module.

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Section 4.3: Elections. Individuals interested in serving on the Leadership Team shall complete an application and be elected at the annual meeting.

 

Section 4.4: Terms of Office. Adult positions will be for a two-year term, which is renewable for one additional 2-year term (for a total of four years). Youth members (7th grade minimum) will be elected to a one-year term, which is renewable for three additional 1-year terms (for a total of four years). Terms shall be staggered such that a portion of positions are elected annually. For the 2025-2026 4-H year, two adults will be elected to two-year terms, and one adult will be elected to a one-year term to ensure that there are at least two experienced adult volunteers on the leadership team at one time. For the 2026-2027 4-H year, the volunteer who served the one-year term can run for reelection to a two-year term in 2027-2028 unless it is their turn to “sit out” after 2 terms. All terms begin and end at the annual meeting. After serving four years, a Leadership Team member must “sit out” one year before serving another term.

 

Section 4.5: Attendance policies, Engagement and Expectations Elected leadership team members, youth or adult, who are inactive and have exhibited poor/inconsistent engagement within any elected year will be subjected to the following:

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1. A member holding an executive seat (president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer) will not be eligible to run for an executive seat for one year. They may run for an alternate seat on the leadership team.

2. A member holding an alternate elected seat on the leadership team will not be eligible to run for any elected leadership team seats for one year.

 

After the member or leader has sat out for one year, they may reapply and run for an elected seat on the leadership team.

 

An elected youth or adult leader must attend 75% of the leadership team and countywide meetings. It is understood that life happens and there are schedule conflicts. In these instances, we expect to have a courtesy notification at least 48 hours in advanced so the leadership team is prepared. For example, if the president is unable to attend the meeting, he/she should let the vice president know and set them up for success in addition to letting the adult leaders know. If the treasurer or secretary will not be present, they should seek an alternate or speak with the president to fulfill their duties for the period needed.

 

Furthermore, if you are leading an educational event, initiative, and/or activity, you should give plenty of notice to your teammates and seek out someone to take over, whether it is a leadership member or a current member. Plenty of notice means at least two weeks prior. There should be a plan in place on handing over the function and plenty of communication between original lead and lead taking over, so they are set up for success.

 

Poor/inconsistent engagement should be easily identified from volunteering, participating, and carrying through with various activities. The sign in sheets will assist in determining engagement level, too. Examples, can include but not limited to…

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1. Countywide meeting educational speaking engagements

2. Tack sale activities e.g. setup, tear down, working the event

3. Pre-Fair activities e.g. announcing, coordinating, working the event

4. Scheduling / coordinating educational activities e.g. farm tours, hippology, judging, model horse, etc.

 

Section 4.6: Resignation. A Leadership Team member may resign at any time by filing a written letter of resignation to the secretary.

 

Section 4.7: Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy of a Leadership Team member, the Leadership Team shall solicit applications for a successor for the unexpired remainder of the position’s term.

 

Section 4.8: Meetings. The 4-H Horse Program Leadership Team shall plan the educational programs and events for the 4-H Horse Program with oversight of the UW Extension Office.

 

Section 4.9: Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of the 4-H Horse Program shall be as follows:

• Pledge of Allegiance & 4-H Pledge

• Educational Focus

• Approval of the minutes of the preceding meeting

• Financial Report

• Reports of educational programs/events

• Upcoming programs/events

• Reports from programs/events attended by members

• Other Reports

• Unfinished Business

• New Business

• Other Business

 

Section 4.10: Monthly Project Meetings. The regular meetings of this club or project will be held consistently. Typically, meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the hearing room at the Kenosha County Center in Bristol, WI.

If there are changes, members will be notified through email and/or social media.

Article V – Executive Board 

Section 5.1. Election. The Executive Board shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. All positions must be held by youth members. Terms of officers are one year, renewable.

 

The Executive Board shall be elected by the 4-H Horse Leadership Team from their membership at the first meeting of the new Leadership Team after the annual meeting. Ties for election of officers are to be broken by “drawing names from a box.”

 

Section 5.2 Duties of Youth Officers

President

• The president shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Kenosha County Horse and Pony Project

Vice-President

• The vice-president shall assume the duties of the President in the event of absence of the President

Secretary

• Shall keep correct and complete records of attendance and all the proceedings related to the Kenosha 4-H Horse and Pony Project meetings.

• The secretary shall keep attendance records and meeting minutes for each meeting and send them to the Extension Office when requested.

Treasurer:

• The treasurer shall comply with all financial policies: https://4h.extension.wisc.edu/resources/wisconsin-4-h-policies/financialmanagment/

• Shall coordinate with the Kenosha County UW-Extension Office and the 4-H Council Treasurer to develop the annual budget and report on the financial accounting for the 4-H Horse and Pony Project.

• The financial accounting for the 4-H Horse Program will be the responsibility of the Kenosha County 4-H Council Treasurer with assistance of one certified adult volunteer of the project appointed by the UW-Madison Extension Kenosha County 4-H Educator. All expenses are submitted on the 4-H Horse Program Expense Form

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Article VI – Annual Meeting

Section 1. Annual Meeting. There shall be an Annual Meeting each year. The meeting will typically be held in September. Written notice of the annual meeting will be sent via email at least (10) days prior to the date of the meeting

 

Section 2. Agenda. The following business shall be conducted during the annual meeting:

• Vote on by-law changes

• Approval of secretary minutes

• Financial report

• Calendar of education meetings set

• Election of 4-H Horse Project Leadership Team members

• Such other matters as may come before the participants

 

Section 3. Quorum. For the annual meeting, a quorum shall consist of not less than 20 of the enrolled youth participants present and 4 enrolled and certified adult volunteers in the 4-H Horse Program present. The election of the 4-H Horse Project Leadership Team members and any action on issues shall require a simple majority of 50%+1 of the enrolled youth and certified adult volunteers present.

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Section 4. Annual Meeting Location. The annual meeting of the Kenosha County Horse Project shall be held at a location determined by the 4-H Horse Project Leadership Team.

Article VII – Decision Making Process
Youth members’ voices are centered in the club or project decision-making.

 

Section 7.1 This club or project will run their club or project using Robert’s Rules of Order

 

Section 7.2 Methods used for voting and/or meeting management. Voting on business may be conducted by those in attendance by raising hands, moving from one side of the room to another or by using paper ballots. 

Article VIII – Club Year

The club operates on both a 4-H program year and a fiscal year model.

 

Section 8.1 The 4-H Club/Project Year is defined as October 1st – September 30th for the purpose of definition in Wisconsin 4-H Policies.

 

Section 8.2 The 4-H Club/Project Fiscal Year is defined as July 1st – June 30th .

Article IX – Amendments
The bylaws may be amended by a (super or 2/3) majority vote of the total youth membership and certified adult volunteers at any regular meeting provided notice of such amendments shall have been given 10 days prior to the meeting. 

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