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A Letter From the Extension Agent


Two months until Fair!  Can you believe it?!  I am reminded as we start the summer of the 4-H slogan, “learn by doing.”  As you enter the final stages of getting your projects ready for Fair, this slogan really comes to life.  It is the opportunity for you to get your hands dirty, test your knowledge and learn as you go.  It’s the beauty of 4-H!  Sometimes things don’t go as planned though…  you put in the wrong stitch, your animal gets sick, or your cake goes flat.  However, as 4-Hers, we also learn to persevere and work through these issues.  4-Hers are problem solvers who creatively work to develop solutions to make the best better.  You are surrounded by a community of caring adults who are dedicated to helping you succeed and are resources to help get your projects to completion.  Don’t be afraid to reach out.  Best of luck and enjoy your summer! 

Sincerely,

Allison Kosto, Extension Agent MSU Extension Broadwater County

 

2025 Broadwater County 4-H Fair

Fair is around the corner! A copy of the Fair Book is attached to this newsletter email. Please take the time to look through the Fair book.  You will find the Fair schedule, classes, rules and entry instructions. Fair entries are due July 9th and are done online through FairEntry.  Enrolling in 4-H does not automatically enter you in Fair so much sure to do your entries as well.  Instructions on how to enter are on page 4 of the Fair Book.

 

Multi-County 4-H Camp

4-H Camp is June 3rd-6th near Monarch. Participants should have received an emailed letter with details, directions and a packing list. Campers need to be at camp by 3:00 pm on Tuesday and depart by 11:00 am on Friday. Please contact the Extension Office if there are any questions or concerns.

 

Market Rabbit & Poultry

If you plan to take market pens of poultry or rabbits to the Fair, they must be in your possession by June 25th and you are required to complete and turn in an identification form, due June 25th. Since there is no official tagging for these animals, we use a form. The form is included in this newsletter email and an online google form is available here.  This form is not needed for pet rabbits or poultry, laying hens or breeding projects.  It is only necessary if you plan to take a market project to Fair and sell it through the livestock auction.

 

Market Livestock Activity Requirements

To sell market livestock (including poultry and rabbits) at the Broadwater County Fair all 4-H members must complete 7 “activities” for each market project by the Fair entry deadline.  There are many different activities that qualify for points.

One option for junior members (ages 8-13) is to complete seven activities in your 4-H Project book.  Senior members (ages 14-18) are limited to three book activities, but there are still many other options!  You may also choose other activities such as attending a workshop, livestock judging, outside shows, helping a younger member or organizing a workshop.  For each of these items, you must write a paragraph about what you learned during the experience.  These educational experiences can be in-person or virtual but must pertain directly to your specific 4-H project.  

These requirements are for market livestock ONLY.  This means it is an animal that you plan to sell in the 4-H/FFA Market Livestock Sale.  If you are not selling the animal (for example pet rabbits, breeding projects, laying hens, dairy animals, etc.), then this rule does not apply to you.

 The form, books and documentation must be turned into the office by the fair entry deadline, July 9th.    No other books are due at this time.

 

Fair T-shirts

Club leaders are in the process of collecting 4-H members t-shirt sizes. T-shirts are provided for all members through a donation from AgWest. If a non-member (parent, leader, younger sibling, etc.) would like to purchase a shirt, please contact the office. Shirts are $20 each. Orders need to be in and paid for by May 31st

 

4-H Family Night – Fair Edition

There are so many questions for beginning 4-H families at Fair time…  How do I do my Fair entries?  How do I prepare for interviews?  Can I bring a buddy animal?  What do I wear?  Do I need to make a poster?  If you have some of these questions, then this event is for you!

This is phase two of the new 4-H family nights, to help beginning families learn the ropes at Fair.  It will take place on Tuesday, July 1st at 6:30 pm at the 4-H Building at the fairgrounds (189 US Hwy 12 E, Townsend) Please bring your record and project books along with any questions you have about Fair.  Contact the Extension Office with any questions. Please RSVP to the office by June 24th.


Interstate Exchange

Our 4-H Interstate Exchange group has been working hard the past year and will get to travel to Pennsylvania in June! They will be enjoying a fun filled 7 day trip that is packed with events! They will get to see Niagara Falls, go kayaking, take many different tours, and get to got to Hershey Park! The members will be staying with the families of the delegates from Pennsylvania that traveled to Montana last summer. This trip will conclude the two-year commitment that our Exchange members have made. Special thanks to the leaders- Jennifer and Todd Beatty, and all of the parents that helped these members get to this point!

 

 

Countywide 4-H Activities

 

Committee & Council Meetings

4-H COUNCIL: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 24th at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend).  Contact Karen at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.

INDOOR COMMITTEE: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 24th at 6:30 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). Contact Karen at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.

LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE: The next meeting will be Monday, June 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office.  If you have any questions or agenda items, please contact Jason Noyes at 406.949.4851. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.  

HORSE COMMITTEE: There is currently no meeting scheduled.  If you have any questions, please contact Jan Finn at [email protected] or phone (406) 266-4992 - home phone or (406) 521-0001 - cell phone.

TEEN CLUB: The next meeting is not scheduled yet.  Teen Club is open to all Middle or High School aged members. If you are not currently in Teen Club, but want to find out what it is about, please come to a meeting! Please RSVP to Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852.

 

4-H Animal Project Activities

Important Market Livestock Deadlines
Poultry & Rabbits
Posession
June 25th, 2025
Identification Form (turned in to office)
June 25th, 2025

Dog

The dog project will be meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm at the fairgrounds (189 US Hwy 12 E, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Georgia Wilde at 913.837.0061.

 

Beef

Thursday, June 19th the hoof trimmer, Drew Stewart, will be at Ferrat Ranch (191 Ferrat Lane, Toston). He will begin in the morning- specific time TBD. We do need at least 15 calves to make it worthwhile for Drew, as well as keeping the cost down. Cost is $70/animal. Commitment is a must. Rsvp required asap to Samantha. 

While you wait your turn, we will work on showmanship tips and tricks. You're also welcome to weigh your calves, tie them up in a new place, and/or do some grooming and fitting- or all of the above! Please bring your own supplies and equipment for your calves, as well as water and snacks/lunch for yourself.

More information to follow. Questions? Contact Samantha Ferrat 406-949-0869, [email protected]

 

Horse

Riding practices are scheduled for every Monday night in June at 6:30 pm at the Fairgrounds. If you have any questions, please contact Jann Finn at 406.266.4992 or Donna Richards at 406.521.0717.

 

Horse Clinic

The Horse Project has a horse clinic slated for Saturday, June 14th, 2025 at the fairgrounds. The clinician is Peggy Lucas of Manhattan. Peggy is an experienced 4-H and Open Horse Show judge and clinician, as well as being a coach and a facilities Manager. She has also actively shown in a variety of classes and events ranging from horsemanship style to cattle events.

The schedule is:

   8 - 10 AM riding

  10 - 10:15 AM break

  10:15 - 12 showmanship

The cost is $40, $20 of which is a deposit to hold rider slot. Requirement is to be a current member of the 4-H or FFA Horse Project in Broadwater County. Horseless Horse Project may audit. A waiting list with names will be available if any slots open up. Contact either Jan Finn at (406) 521-0001 or Donna Richards at (406) 521-0717

 

Rabbit

The next rabbit workshop will be held on Sunday, June 8th at 3:30 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend).  We will be working on showmanship for the fair, so bring your rabbits to this workshop! If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318.

 

Pocket Pet

The next pocket pet workshop will be held on Sunday, June 8th at 3:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend).  We will go over what the show will look like and see what other things we can do for the project. If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318

 

Dairy Goat/Meat Goat

The next meeting will be held Saturday, June 7th at 3:00 pm at the Henke’s (200 S Railroad Ave, Townsend).  We will have a mock goat show(both dairy and meat welcome), Members are allowed to bring their goats to practice. 

Dairy goat will also be holding the annual blood testing/biosecurity screening on June 7th right after our meeting (more information is attached to the newsletter email). We will also be showing how to give shots and trim hooves during this.

If you have any questions, please contact Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995.

 

Swine

The June meeting will be held on Thursday, June 19th at 6:30pm at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds (189 US HWY 12 E, Townsend). If you have any questions, contact Travis Volkman at 406.253.6160.

 

4-H Non-Animal Project Activities

 

Woodworking

There is a workshop planned for Tuesdays June 10th and 24th at 6:00 pm at Cadilac Custom Cabinets Shop (6 Hunters Trail, Townsend). Please contact Daniel Harrigfeld at 406.980.0388 for any questions.

 

Photography

The next workshop will be held on Sunday, June 22nd at 5:00 pm. Location will be determined. We will hopefully be taking a field trip and getting in some photography practice. If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318

 

Shotgun

Shotgun workshops will be held on: the 8th, 22nd and 29th of June at 4:00 pm at the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club Canton Range (96 Canton Lane, Townsend). The shotgun program is planning on using SportsYou for updates. The code to join the shotgun group is YCXY-KMZK. If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Truesdell at 406.980.0640 or Todd Beatty at 406.490.1361.

 

Statewide 4-H Opportunities


Carbon County 4-H 3D Archery Shoot

Carbon County Archery Club would like to invite all active 4-H archery members to our 3D archery range on June 22nd in Joliet! There will be 3D targets set on a wooded walking course at an outdoor range.  Target ranges are from 5 to 50 yards. Each target has 2 stakes per target, 1 for the youth division and 1 for both the Junior and Senior division.  8am & 10am Shoot times. BBQ Lunch and Awards following the conclusion of the 10am shoot time
Registration is done online. Register before May 31st for a t-shirt. Late registrations will be accepted.

 

MONTANA 4-H CONGRESS

Registration is now open for Montana 4-H Congress on July 8-11. Congress provides youth from across the state to come together on campus in Bozeman for four days and participate in an event like no other. Congress offers both youth and adults a venue in which to learn, be challenged, and most of all, have a great time with their peers. Congress has become an important tradition and is the signature event for the Montana 4-H Program.  Congress' purpose is to provide a safe and fun environment for youth to experience all that 4-H Congress has to offer including contests, workshops, entertainment, social events, and much more.

Key Highlights:

Age Requirement: Youth participants must be 13 years old as of October 1, 2024.
Chaperone Requirement: Each county is expected to provide at least one adult chaperone (age 21 or older) for every 10 youth participants. We already have at least one chaperone.
Registration: Event registration is open in ZSuite and is due June 15.
Contests Not Required: Youth do not have to compete in a contest to attend 4-H Congress. Educational workshops are offered on Wednesday for members who are not competing.  If you competed in a county contest and got a blue ribbon or better then you are eligible to attend Congress in that contest.  There are a few contests that we do not offer at the county level (livestock judging, gavel games, horse judging, etc.).  Contact the office if you are interested in competing in any of those.
Cost: The cost is $255.  Help with the cost of Congress can be requested through the Broadwater County 4-H Council utilizing the Mike Ferrat Memorial Fund.  Youth can also use their “I Challenge You” Award for this event.
 

More information can be found on the Montana 4-H Congress web site.

 

McCone County 4-H Jackpot

It's Jackpot Time in McCone County! 

We’re excited to kick off planning for our Annual McCone County Jackpot Show — open to all active 4-H and FFA members! This year’s market animal classes include:

✅ Market Hog

✅ Market Lamb

✅ Market Goat

✅ Market Beef

✅ Heifer Class

NEW for 2025: Mini Market Beef Class!

Register now using the Showman App – it's live and ready to go!

Date: Saturday, June 22nd

Weigh-Ins: 8:30 AM | Show Begins: 10:00 AM

Location: McCone County Fairgrounds

For more info: [email protected] or 406 485.2605

 

Rimrock Sheep & Goat Show

This is a goat and lamb jackpot for all Montana 4-H and FFA members. The show is on June 7th, with weigh in from 7-8 am at the Metra Park Super Barn. Entries are due by May 23rd, but late entries will be accepted with an additional fee. If you are interested, contact the office for more information.

 
State 4-H Horse Shows

The dates have been set for the state horse shows. The Working Ranch Horse Finals will be September 12-14th and the State Horse Show will be September 26-28th at the 406 Arena in Vaughn MT. Watch for registration information as we get closer to the dates!

 

Montana 4-H Foundation- Youth Representative Application​

The Montana 4-H Foundation is seeking dedicated and engaged youth applicants to serve on the Montana 4-H Foundation Board of Directors. You must be at least 14 by October 1 of the current 4-H year and be enrolled as a 4-H member the following year. The position is for youth who are enrolled/active 4-H members during their year of service, which will start at the July annual meeting. Application is done online and due June 1, 2025​. 

 

Other Opportunities

 

MSU Summer Youth Camps 

Peaks and Potentials Camp

Dates: June 15-20, 2025
Cost: Commuter with lunch only - $549 
Commuter with lunch and dinner - $629
Resident - $829
Grades: 5-7 (in Fall 2025)
Location: Montana State University, Bozeman

Peaks and Potentials summer enrichment camp allows high-potential students to explore special topics of interest and work with experts in various subject areas. Academic, recreational and social activities allow students to interact with their peers and sample campus life. Students may stay on campus or commute each day.

 Learn more about Peaks and Potentials

 

Yellowstone Writing Project's Youth Writing Camp

Dates: July 14-18, 2025
Times: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Early bird commuter $300 (through May 31)
Regular commuter $350 (after May 31)
Early bird resident $825 (through May 31)
Regular resident $875 (after May 31)
Grades: 5-12 (in Fall 2025)
Location: Montana State University, Bozeman

The Yellowstone Writing Project's Youth Writing Camp is a multi-day "unschooled" writing workshop for youth entering grades 5-12. Campers will write in multiple genres and share their writing within a supportive community of peers and licensed educators--the Yellowstone Writing Project teacher consultants.

The program includes writing on the move, writing games, and guidance and feedback throughout the writing process. Yellowstone Writing Project (YWP) teachers and junior counselors lead the camp. Learn more about Youth Writing Camp

 

Yellowstone Writing Project's Young Writer's Camp

Dates: July 15-18, 2025
Times: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: Early Bird Commuter (though May 31) - $250 
Regular Commuter (after May 31) - $275 
Grades: 3-4 (in Fall 2025)
Location: Montana State University, Bozeman

The Yellowstone Writing Project’s Young Writer’s Camp is a four-day writing workshop for kids entering grades 3-4. Campers will be immersed in creativity and will engage in activities to encourage writing across genres, writing in community, and building up writing stamina. Licensed educators (our YWP teacher consultants) will provide feedback, encouragement, and a few of their favorite writing tricks! Campers will also have the opportunity to publish their work in a group anthology. The camp will close with a writing showcase.
 Learn more about Young Writer's Camp