Click here for a PDF of the Newsletter. 

 

A Letter from the Extension Agent

Can you believe it’s the start of the new 4-H year?!  It’s a chance to start fresh and set new goals.  An anonymous individual once said, “Unless you open yourself up to trying new things, you can’t find what you love.”  This year, I challenge you to try a new 4-H project or activity that you won’t normally try.  Here are a few ideas:

·      Dive into the 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide and choose a new 4-H project.  Did you know there is an interior design project?  

·      Host a summer international exchange student.  It’s a great way to share your family traditions and state with someone else as well as learn about a new culture.  

·      Experience a state 4-H event such as Rec Lab or Montana 4-H Congress.  You’ll meet new people to create lasting friendships and learn new skills.

·      Try a new 4-H competition.  There is more than just Fair!  Participate in 4-H county contests, livestock judging or shows, or a shooting sports event to try something new!

4-H has so much to offer if you take advantage of it!  Write down your goal to try something new in your record book and then reach for the stars!

Sincerely,  Allison Kosto - Extension Agent, MSU Extension Broadwater County

 

Re-Enrollment

The New 4-H year starts October 1st.  Instructions on how to enroll will be emailed out with this newsletter.  If you don’t already have your new 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide, please get it from your leader or the office. Please re-enroll by November 1st to remain on the list to receive the 4-H newsletter and other communications.  

If you do not have internet access at home, we have a public computer at the office to help you through the process. Remember, if you plan on taking a 4-H project to fair, you must be enrolled in that project.  If you know anyone interested in joining 4-H, have them contact the Extension Office.

 

Welcome New 4-H Club! 

We are excited to announce that a new club was recently formed, the Radersburg Rattlers! They have recently completed the club chartering process. The leader is Danyel Henke. So exciting to see our county 4-H program continue to grow in leaps and bounds! Welcome, Radersburg Rattlers!

 

SAVE THE DATE – Achievement Night

The annual Achievement Night has been set for Sunday, November 14th at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds.  We will be celebrating with banana splits at 6:00 pm and the program will start at 6:30 pm.  Come to receive your awards and celebrate our achievements. New members- come and watch and see what you can earn next year! Watch for more details.

 

Financial Reports

All Treasurer’s (including Council, Livestock, Exchange, Teen Club and Archery) are required to complete the Yearend Financial Report.  Financial records need to be reviewed after September 30th and will be due Friday October 22nd to the office. All treasurer’s and club leaders should have received an email with the form and instructions on how to complete these. The form is also available on our website.

National 4-H Week

Help celebrate the 79th National 4-H Week October 3rd-9th! This year’s theme is “Find Your Spark”. This is a great time to tell your friends about 4-H.  Each club is encouraged to find a way to celebrate!  Here are a few ideas:

        Put something “4-H” on every bulletin board around town or school.

        Make a 4-H promotional video.

        Do a service learning activity.

        Hang 4-H flags along main street.

        Organize a “green day” at school.

        Do a radio PSA.

        Announce the “4-H Club of the Day” during school announcements along with highlights and achievements of that club.

 

Club Leader(s) Needed

We are seeking a new club leader to take over the Elkhorn Clovers 4-H Club.  This is a very small club and is a great opportunity for a new leader or team of leaders to design a club program that makes a positive impact on youth.  If you are interested, please contact the Extension Office for more information.  If a new leader is not found, the club will be automatically disbanded or inactivated at the end of the 4-H year and existing club members will need to find a new club.  We would really like to see this club continue as there is a major need in our program for it!  

Club Leader Training

There will be a leader training for all club leaders on Thursday, September 30th at 6:30 pm at the Extension Office.  There are a lot of new club leaders for this upcoming year, so this is going to be a great opportunity for all to network, share ideas and learn new skills to help them be successful for the upcoming 4-H year.  An RSVP is appreciated.  Contact the Extension Office to RSVP or with questions.

 

Countywide 4-H Activities


Committee & Council Meetings


INDOOR COMMITTEE: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 26th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). We will be discussing project leaders and workshops. Contact Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items.

4-H COUNCIL: Next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). Contact Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items. 

LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE:  The next meeting will be Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). If you have any questions or agenda items, please contact Jason Noyes at 406.949.4851. 

HORSE COMMITTEE:  The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 17th at 5:00 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). Any horse project members/parents are welcome to attend. Officers will be elected for the upcoming year. Officer positions are a 1 year term. If you have any questions or agenda items, please contact Jan Finn at 406.266.4992 or email at [email protected]. 

 

4-H Indoor Project Activities

Cloverbud Workshops

There will be Cloverbud workshops the first Thursdays of October, November and December. These workshops will be from 6:30-7:30 pm on October 7th, November 4th and December 2nd at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Renee Kockler at 406.220.2820.

 
Sewing Workshops

There will be a workshop on Saturday, October 16th at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend).  Level 1 members will meet from 9:30-11:30 am and Level 2 will meet from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Please bring your sewing machine. If you have any questions, contact Sarah Holland at 406.266.3473

 

Cake Decorating Workshops

The first cake decorating workshop will be Sunday, October 24th at 3:30 pm in the kitchen at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). The dates for the rest of the workshops are: November 7th and 21st and December 5th and 19th. If you have any question, please contact Jessica Erickson at 406.980.0521.

 

Interstate Exchange

Have you ever heard of the 4-H Interstate Exchange?!  If you love to travel, then you may want to check this program out! The Interstate Exchange program is an opportunity for a group of teen 4-H members to share their local community with 4-H group from another state.  In exchange, our 4-Hers get to travel and visit the group in their home state.  The program allows youth to experience culture, geography and heritage of a different local community with a common 4-H identity.  Participants learn many skills through the process including communication, social skills, caring, accepting differences, building relationships and responsibility.  In the past, our county has exchanged with Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Florida, Maryland and more. 

Due to COVID, our county’s interstate exchange program has been on hold, but we are starting to get it back up and running again!  We are looking for new members! The plan is to host during the summer of 2022 and travel to Michigan in the summer of 2023.  Members must be at least 12 years old to host and 13 years old to travel.  Additionally, you must be able to commit to both years of the program. 

The next meeting of the Interstate Exchange program will be Wednesday, October 20th at 6:30 pm at Infinite Hope Counseling (108 N Front St, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Beatty at 406.490.1362 or Todd Beatty at 406.490.1361

 

Visual Arts Workshops

There will be Visual Arts workshops on Wednesdays October 6th, 13th and 27th. The workshops will be from 3:45 to 5:00 at the Extension Office. During the first workshop, you will be exploring different mediums, so you do not have to bring any materials. Katria is open to holding a workshop in the southern end of the county if there is a need. If you have any questions, contact Katria Schindoll at 406.431.1087.

 

4-H Animal Project Activities

Beef Tagging and Weigh-in- SAVE the DATE!

Beef weigh In and tagging is set for Saturday, January 1st at 9:00 am at GaLor Genetics (8393 US Hwy 287, Townsend).  All market beef are required to attend.  If you can’t be there, you must make arrangements for your animal(s) to be there.  It doesn’t take long, so please be on time!  We may not wait for you!  If you have any questions about the beef project, contact Marlo Leachman at 406.581.0531.

 

Rabbit Workshop

The first rabbit workshop of the year will be on Saturday, October 23rd at 4:00 at the Extension Office. At this meeting, you will be going over the plan for the year and what you want to learn and do. No rabbits at this workshop. If you have any questions, contact Kat Warburton at 406.266.1632.

Statewide 4-H Opportunities

Montana Shooting Sports Leaders Trainings

The schedule for the upcoming Shooting Sports Leaders Trainings has been finalized. Any adult interested in becoming a Shooting Sports Leader must complete training in that particular discipline. The trainings include training modules through Zsuites first, and an in person training to complete. Dates for this upcoming 4-H year are as follows:

·         December 3-4, 2021 – Flathead County Fairgrounds, Kalispell, MT

      Disciplines offered: Rifle, Pistol, Archery, Shotgun, Muzzle-loader, Hunting Skills

·         December 10-11, 2021 – Custer County, Miles City, MT

      Disciplines Offered: Rifle, Pistol, Archery, Shotgun

·         January 7-8, 2022 – Teton County, Fairfield, MT

      Disciplines Offered: Rifle, Pistol, Archery

·         Spring of 2022 – Manhattan Wildlife Association, Logan, MT

            Disciplines Offered:

                        Western Heritage

                        Muzzle-loading

                        Hunting Skills

                        Shotgun

Financial assistance to attend may be available.  For more information or if you are interested in becoming a Shooting Sports Leader, please contact the Extension Office for more details 406.266.9242

 

NILE Livestock Evaluation Contest

Billings, MT— The NILE is proud to offer a Livestock Evaluation contest for 4-H and FFA members, as well as an FFA Sales & Service Competition on Tuesday, Oct 19th. 4-H and FFA members from across Montana, surrounding states and Canada travel to Billings for one of the largest youth gatherings across the region! Get registered today - deadline to register is Tuesday, October 5th!

LIVESTOCK EVALUATION:

Top of the line stock is brought to Billings to be judged by some of the region's best. The Livestock Evaluation competition is to provide an educational experience for youth to learn more about animal evaluation and public speaking. Through these skills, youth expand their knowledge about the agriculture industry.

Each team is made up of four (4) members, with the option of two (2) alternates for up to six (6) members per team. The top four (4) scores will count toward the team scores. Individual fees will apply for the two (2) alternates. A maximum of twelve (12) members per county/chapter will be allowed to judge.

The NILE offers four (4) divisions:

•      Sr FFA Team (Jr & Sr in High School)

•      Jr FFA Team (7th Grade - Sophomore)

•      Sr 4-H Team (14-18 years of age - as of Oct 1, 2021)

•      Jr 4-H Team (8-13 years of age - as of Oct 1, 2021)

Cost is $75 per team or $20 per individual. Registration deadline is Tuesday, October 5th. Please visit http://www.judgingcard.com to register. For 4-H teams without a Judging Card account, please call the NILE Office at 406-256-2499 to register. All registration fees must be paid by October 5th - check or cards accepted - sorry no COD's.

 

Canadian Western Agribition

The Canadian National 4-H and Youth Judging competition will be held November 21-23rd, 2021 in Regina SK. Registration is done online at their website. and is due by October 1st. Competitors must be 17-22 years old as of December 31st of the current year. Participants will compete in judging livestock and non-livestock classes and provide oral reasons in those classes. For more information, please contact the office.

 

Keith Steinbeisser Memorial Livestock Judging Contest

This contest will be held October 3rd in Sidney Montana. There is no registration fee and no requirement to pre-register. Team categories include Novice (1st or 2nd year in 4H and under 9 year’s old), Junior 9-13, Senior and FFA. There is also a “winner take all” adult division. Novice will have to give 1 set of reasons and all others (except adults) will give 2 sets of reasons.

Prizes will be awarded in the following:

* NOVICE- First or Second Year (Jr. Age) and Under 9 Years Old

*JUNIOR- 9-13 Years Old

*SENIOR- 14 Years Old and Up

*FFA- All Participants that are FFA Members

*ADULTS- 18 and Over. $20 Entry Fee. Winner takes the Pot.

There is NO entry fee for youth participants. Adults will not give reasons. For More Information Contact: Richland County Extension Office, (406) 433-1206 or [email protected]. Registration12:00 pm and the Contest starts at 1:00pm. Location is at the Dynneson Feedlot, 35157County Road 129, Sidney, MT.

 

Fall Leadership Training

The 2021 Fall Leadership Training will be all about building your 4-H NETwork! There will be activities that will help 4-H members and volunteers from across the state meet people and access resources that will help them reach their leadership goals. 

Fall Training is the annual leadership development retreat for Montana 4-H Ambassadors and Teen Leaders. The event is planned, implemented, and evaluated by the State Ambassador Officer Team. Youth will leave the weekend prepared and excited to take the knowledge and skills they have gained and apply them in their counties. It is also a great place to have youth leaders exchange ideas and create a statewide network of resources. 

This year’s dates are Friday October 22- Sunday October 24, 2021 at the 

Billings Hotel and Convention Center, Billings MT. Registration cost is $175, including lodging (2 to a room) meals on Saturday and Sunday Breakfast and program costs. 

Those participants interested in attending need to register using Zsuites. You must re-enroll for the current 4-H year in Zsuites before registering for this event. 

Youth participants must be 14 on or before October 1, 2021 and volunteer chaperones must be at least 21 and a certified volunteer.

Schedule:

Registration and check-in 3:30-5:30pm Friday evening

Opening Program 6:00 PM Friday evening

Wrap up program after breakfast approx. 10:30 AM Sunday morning.

All meals Saturday and Sunday are included.

Dinner Friday night is on your own, but we will have an onsite option for dinner if you choose. Lodging is included

Please contact your MSU County Extension office for specific registration requirements and deadlines!

 

Leadership Academy

There are also plans to continue the Leadership Academy this winter/spring and Montana 4-H has those dates and workshop topics set. For more information visit the Montana 4-H website..

Save these Dates:

January 9: How to make club meetings awesome!
February 13: Ages and Sages for Mentoring youth
March 13: Successful Service Learning
April 10: Lead with Purpose

Other Opportunities


Montana Make It with Wool Contest

It is time to start preparing for the Make It with Wool contest to be held this Fall. Get out your favorite pattern and start hunting for that perfect wool fabric. Wouldn’t it be great to make a wool outfit for the contest and then already have an outfit finished for your sewing project next 4-H year?

Our District contest is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th in Great Falls. Winners at the District level are eligible to attend and compete at the Montana Make It With Wool competition in Billings on December 3rd and 4th.

Contact the office for more information.