KEWAUNEE COUNTY – Wisconsin 4-H Youth Development has announced the 2026 Hall of Fame Laureates, including 13 volunteers, supporters and staff who have impacted Wisconsin 4-H.

Among the 13 Hall of Fame Laureates are Kewaunee County 4-H volunteers Lisa Cochart and Millaine Wells-Stodola.

“We are incredibly grateful to this year’s laureates and the countless hours of service they have provided to the youth of Wisconsin,” said Jessica Jens, Positive Youth Development Institute Director and Wisconsin 4-H Program Associate Director, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. “Their dedication and passion for the 4-H program and the youth we all collectively serve is a testimony to their generosity, talent, and commitment to helping make this world the best it can be.”

The Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame was 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 — people who had an impact on the lives of children, their community or state through significant contributions of time, energy or financial resources to 4-H and its members.

Cochart

Volunteering has been a way of life for Cochart on both the county and state levels for the last 36 years. Lisa worked in a team of volunteers to create a vibrant and thriving local 4-H dog project that has included over 50 youth per year.

She is a builder with young people — meeting them where they are at and helping them move to the next level. She celebrates their accomplishments and successes, both large and small. She is there to comfort and encourage youth when things don’t go to plan — and helps them reflect in a positive way.
Cochart successfully co-chaired the State 4-H Dog Agility Show several times. She and her co-chair were responsible for taking entries, deciding class break outs, ordering awards, organizing fundraising, and coordinating day-of event classes and activities. Lisa also mentored other counties when they hosted the State Dog Show.

In 2023, Cochart answered the call to build the first chartered statewide dog project group. This project is being reorganized on the state level to offer training sessions, more education opportunities, the State Obedience and Showmanship Show, and the State Agility Show. Chochart was elected as the group’s president and also serves as the State Agility Show chair.

Wells-Stodola

Wells-Stodola is the host and producer of Midwest Farm Weekly, airing in TV markets across Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and South Dakota. She is also the co-host of Local 5 LIVE and a 4-H volunteer in Kewaunee County. Wells-Stodola has been part of the Local 5 news team in various roles since 2005.
Over the years, Wells-Stodola’s support for agriculture, the 4-H program, and the community has grown and now is undeniably impactful and her influence as a journalist is well known.

Wells-Stodola has a firm grasp on the 4-H program, spotlighting and crediting efforts in both 4-H and agriculture well.

In her personal life, she and her family live on a fifth-generation farm, raising two sons. While Wells-Stodola did not grow up in 4-H, she is raising her children in the program.

As a 4-H volunteer in Kewaunee County, she supports young people in their exploration of 4-H and helps young people find their sparks, specifically the 4-H Cloverbuds.

Recently, Wells-Stodola has won the Outstanding Volunteer award with Kewaunee County 4-H and has taken on the task of leading a county-wide LEGO project.

She works to give young people the opportunity to learn through hands-on projects, and for them to develop skills that prepare them for the world of work and their bright futures.