Montana 4-H Clover
is produced by
Montana State University Agriculture and Extension Communications

and funded by
Montana 4-H Foundation.

Agriculture and Extension Communications is part of MSU Communications Services
416 Culbertson Hall Bozeman, MT 59717
publications@montana.edu
(406) 994-2721

Edited by: Karen Johnson, Marla Goodman, Suzi Taylor

Contributors: Rae Lynn Benson, Wendy Gerky, Chery Ann Weatherell, Jennifer Wells, The Livingston Enterprise, The Great Falls Tribune

What is MSU Extension?

MSU:
The Extension program is a fundamental part of Montana State University's land grant mission, developed to ensure that all Montanans benefit from the University.

Public access:
The program extends university knowledge to the people who need it, even if they never set foot on a campus. It gives every Montanan access to useful information and expert help via workshops, demonstrations, community meetings, publications, videos, the internet and other sources. Montana 4-H is MSU Extension's youth development program.

Educational outreach:
Extension links a network of MSU facultytopic specialists on the MSU-Bozeman campus and agents in 53 counties and seven reservationsto the people. Its role is to extend practical knowledge to the public about agriculture, natural resources, youth development, community development and family and consumer sciences.

Free information:
MSU Extension provides resources on topics that range from raising livestock, growing crops and protecting the environment to raising a family, managing finances, starting a business and protecting your family's health and well-being.

For everyone:
You can use Extension by calling your local agent (listed in the county section of the phone book), by taking advantage of workshops and demonstrations in your area, or by clicking on "Extension and Outreach" at www.montana.edu.

For a catalog of free and low-cost publications, call (406)994-3273 or browse the Extension catalog online.

Making peace for pups' sake

Teens help bring their community together for animal shelter

4-H'ers Amanda and Jessica Shotzberger and Chelsie Gilder stayed cool-headed when their community was heated up over a difficult issue.

For several months in the spring of 2002, disputes about the treatment of animals at the Lincoln County shelter boiled over into county commission meetings and local newspapers.

The three 4-H'ers decided they wanted to help solve this problem. Their immediate goal was to provide a bridge between the citizens concerned for the well-being of the animals and the county employees overseeing the shelter.

Amanda, Jessica and Chelsie organized a town meeting to help the two sides find some common ground. "Our objective is to get people together who want to help and to show what volunteering can do," said Amanda.

The teens succeeded. Not only did they find grant money to improve the facility and help create a web-based adoption program, they also raised money for dog food and spay and neuter certificates, and encouraged volunteers to work together to create a more positive environment for pets as well as people.

by Rae Lynn Benson

Montana 4-H Clover 2003
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The programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to all people regardless of race, creed, color, sex, disability or national origin. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, LeRoy Luft, Interim Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.