Jolly Joiners 4-H Club, Cashton, is the Wisconsin recipient of $2,500 from Compeer Financial’s Giving Tuesday contest. The donations represent Compeer’s commitment to rural communities through its Fund for Rural America. Their commitment has reinvested nearly $29 million since it was established in 2018.
For Annette Trescher, co-leader of Jolly Joiners, 4-H is all about preparing members for real life. That involves providing relevant educational experiences and being active in the community. Her members are benefactors of both. As contest nominator, she hopes to provide more opportunities with the donation from Compeer.
“Our officers continue to ask for more education. Even though we have a lucrative fundraiser, we see our treasury being utilized heavier than it has been in the past because of having 12 months of educational programs. That is why the $2,500 from Compeer is so important to us,” Trescher said.
“Our kids are also very active in the community – from the fall fest to donating to community improvements like an all-abilities splashpad and town mural. It’s pretty much a known that we’re going to participate in community events. The kids work hard to raise the money we do have, but they also give back. I think that speaks volumes to the kind of families we have in Cashton,” Trescher continued.
In return, the community supports the Jolly Joiners 4-H Club, maybe a grandma helping with a project or a business purchasing an animal at the county fair. “For the past several years, we’ve been having a community appreciation dinner,” she explained. “Receiving this donation is awesome and brings tears to my eyes.”
As a former 4-H member, Trescher understands firsthand the contributions 4-H can make to someone’s life. “4-H is the number one youth organization to prepare kids for real life. I want to give kids all the experiences possible to prepare the members and help them become leaders and citizens of their community wherever they may end up,” she said.
She hopes to continue increasing participation in 4-H. Over her 29 years as a leader, she has seen her children and now her oldest grandchild become members. “Somebody was a 4-H leader so I could be in 4-H. I want to be here so other kids can be in 4-H, too,” Trescher elaborated.
Nearly 4,000 nominations representing 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, county fairs and food pantries across the 144-county territory in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin were submitted for the Giving Tuesday contest. In addition to the contest, Compeer Financial will match donations made on Giving Tuesday to each state’s FFA Foundations, up to $2,500 per state.
