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A Letter from the Extension Agent 

I think I say this every year, but can you believe that the new 4-H year is here?!  It’s that time again! There are already many activities starting, so I encourage you to re-enroll quickly. Enrollment is an annual process that everyone must complete to let us know that you plan to do another year in 4-H.  It’s also your opportunity to start fresh with new projects and goals for the year.  I would encourage you to think about trying a new 4-H project this year.  Have you ever wanted to learn to quilt?  Tie a fly?  Decorate a cake?  Now is your chance!

It's also important for leaders to let us know if you plan to continue another year.  We’ll be evaluating our volunteer needs in the upcoming months to fill potential holes for 4-H project leaders, committees and other activities. We already know we’ll need leaders for Cloverbuds, Sheep, Cat and Indoor Committee members.  If you are interested in volunteering, I would love to talk to you!  I’m looking forward to another great year!

 

Sincerely, Allison Kosto - Extension Agent MSU Extension Broadwater County

 

Re-Enrollment

The New 4-H year starts October 1st.  Instructions on how to enroll are included with the 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 have any questions, contact the office.

 
Elkhorn Clovers 4-H Club is back!

The exciting news is that the Elkhorn Clover 4-H Club is active again!  Thank you to Daniel and Brandi Truesdell for stepping up to get the club back on track.  Daniel and Brandi are also club leaders for Old Baldy which they will continue as well.  They are temporarily working with both clubs.  There still is a strong need for new clubs in the county, and we are constantly seeking out potential leaders.  Contact Allison in the Extension Office if you are interested or want more information!

 

NEW – 4-H Leader Training Required

Starting with the new 4-H year, all 4-H volunteer leaders will be required to complete an annual training.  The training will be done online through ZSuites.  Leaders can start taking the training October 1st and have one year to complete the training.  The purpose of the training is to help provide leaders with basic information about 4-H.  The Montana 4-H Council is offering a special incentive to help leaders complete the training during enrollment.  If you complete the training in October, your name will be entered into a drawing for three $50 gift cards.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office.

 
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 21st to the office. The form will be available to pick up when you pick up your October bank statements.

 

4-H Achievement Night

The annual Achievement Night has been set for Sunday, November 6th at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds.  We will be celebrating with ice cream sundaes at 6:00 pm and the program will start at 6:30 pm.  Come to receive your awards and celebrate our achievements. New members you are invited too! Come and see what you have to look forward to at the end of the year!

                  

National 4-H Week

Help celebrate the 80th National 4-H Week October 2nd-8th! This year’s theme is “Opportunity 4 All”. Check out the national toolkit on the national 4-H page. .  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.

 

Greytak Calendars

Greytak calendars will be available to purchase from the office after October 20th. Calendars are $15.00 each and make great Christmas gifts! Exact cash or checks made out to 4-H Council please.

 

Countywide 4-H Activities


Committee & Council Meetings 

4-H COUNCIL: The next meeting will be Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 pm.  The meeting will take place at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). We will be electing officers for President and Vice-President for 2 year terms and Secretary for a 1 year term.  Contact Karen Noyes 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 Tuesday, October 25th at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). We will be electing officers as well as starting to discuss need for project leaders and fall workshops.  Contact Karen Noyes 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 Tuesday, November 1st 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. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.

HORSE COMMITTEE:  The next meeting will be Wednesday, November 9th at 5:00 pm at the Extension Office (Flynn Building, 416 Broadway, Townsend). Any horse project members and parents are welcome to attend. If you have any questions or agenda items, please contact Jan Finn at 406.266.4992 or [email protected]. Agenda items must be submitted by the Monday prior to the meeting.

TEEN CLUB: The Teen Club will be meeting on Thursday October 13th at 6:30 pm at the Extension Office. We will be making plans to help with achievement night. 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 this meeting! Please RSVP to Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852.

 

4-H Animal Project Activities

 

Livestock Judging

There is a series of livestock judging practices scheduled for this fall.  Meeting will be on Monday evenings at the Braaten’s home (3835 MT Hwy 284, Townsend) through November. The start times will vary depending on daylight. There will be discussion on the evaluation of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats.  We will prepare members to represent Broadwater County in competitions around the state.  Members will have the opportunity to compete in four contests this fall.  The skills learned will help them in their livestock projects. If you have any questions, contact Hugh Braaten at 406.439.8873.

 

Beef ‘Kick Off’ Meeting

There is a Beef project (market and breeding) kick off meeting scheduled for Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 pm at the Ferrat Ranch (191 Ferrat Lane, Toston). If you are interested in the Beef project at all, this is a great meeting to attend to ask questions. They will be getting to know the project members for the year and talking over a yearly plan. If you have any questions, please contact Samantha Ferrat at 406.949.0995

 

Swine Project Meeting

There will be a swine meeting on Tuesday, November 15th at 6:30pm at the 4-H Building (189 US Hwy 12 E, Townsend) This meeting will be focusing on planning out your project year. It is highly encouraged that parent’s attend this meeting along with the members. If you have any questions, please contact Hugh Braaten at 406.439.8873.

 

Dairy Goat Workshops

There will be a meeting on Saturday, October 15th at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). The rest of the monthly meetings will be on the first Saturday of each month at 5:30 pm. Meeting places will vary and will be announced before each meeting. Meat Goat members are also welcome! There are many subjects planned to be covered this year including: barn setup, shots, worming, eating habits, milking, disbudding, imprinting, milk products, testing, diseases, and showmanship. If any member would like to give a demonstration at a meeting, this can be scheduled. If you have any questions, please contact Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995.

 

Poultry Workshop

There will be a poultry workshop on Saturday, November 5th from 10:00-11:30 am at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). This workshop will be all about market poultry selection and raising. We will cover how to select market turkeys, chickens and ducks. There will also be discussion about raising and feeding to maximize growth and good health. If any member wants to do a demonstration for a project point, please let Alice know. If you have any questions, please contact Alice Kroeger at 406.547.4343.

 

4-H Non-Animal Project Activities

 

Sewing Workshops

The next workshop will be held Saturday, October 8th at 9:30am. Sewing workshops are generally held the second Saturday of the month at the Extension Office. If you have any question, please contact Sarah Holland at 406.266.3473

 

.22 Rifle Workshops

The .22 rifle project will meet at the Broadwater County Rod and Gun Club Canton Range (96 Canton Lane, Townsend) on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., starting on Thursday, December 8, 2022. Participants must be age 9 or older.  Participants will learn firearm safety (first and foremost), firearm nomenclature, shooting skills, shooting positions, and much more.  Participants will shoot almost every meeting starting after the third meeting.  Parents are encouraged, but not required, to remain on-site during the meeting. The gun club provides .22 rifles for participants that do not have a rifle, or participants can bring their own rifle to the meetings. Scopes and semi-auto rifles are prohibited. Contact John Pavao at 406.422.9590 if you have any questions, if you would like to help out, or if you know of kids that may be interested in joining this project. 

 

Statewide 4-H Opportunities

Fall Leadership Training

The Fall Leadership Training is scheduled for October 21-23 in Great Falls​. This training is open to all 4-H members aged 14 on or before October 1, 2022 and have an interest in leadership skills and having an impact on their community. ​

This training is hosted by the State Ambassador Officer Team​ and will offer workshops about teamwork, leadership styles, promotion, planning, service learning, mentorship and more. ​All of these workshops will be fun, interactive and planned by peers. ​Registration is available ONLINE through ZSuites. Registration is due October 11th. The cost is $175.  “I Challenge You” scholarships can be used for this event.  Assistance may also be available from the 4-H Council and Clubs. More information can be found on the Fall Training Page. 

 

Leadership Academy

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshops on Sunday afternoons in 2022/2023. The leadership academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their ow leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways. Local county leadership groups will have an opportunity ro joind with groups around the state as well as the Montana 4-H ambassador Officer team vitually and in-person when possible, to work on skill building, planning and mentorship. Registration is online here and is open to 4-H members ages 12+. The dates for the leadership academy workshops are: November 20th, December 11th, January 8th, February 5th and March 5th and they are scheduled from 3:00-4:00 pm.

 

Montana 4-H Foundation

The Montana 4-H Foundation Board is looking for a youth representative to add to their board.   
The youth representative will incur very little cost as travel for this position is reimbursed.  They will gain insight into nonprofit boards and they will give their energy and ideas. There are about four meetings a year, and we will try to make all of them available by video connection.  They may also be on a committee and have a few committee meetings. Click here for the application and more information. 

 

 

Other Opportunities

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

This event is back to in person after a two year break! The breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, October 20th at 6:30 am at the Watson Event Center (290 Litening Barn Rd, Townsend). This is a great opportunity for the older 4-H members to perform a community service and help them set up and clean up after the event. Please RSVP to Paul Kroeger at 406.439.1042.

 

STOKE 

The STOKE (Science, Technology, Outdoors, Knowledge, Entrepreneurship) organization has some programs lined up for Fall 2022. Even though this is not a 4-H organization, many of the programs they run can count as 4-H learning activities if they apply to your 4-H project! Here is the Fall lineup:

Cooking Class: Make It From Scratch – Learn science, technology and entrepreneurship while preparing, cooking and serving healthy delicious meals. Learn about measurements, nutrition, the proper use of cooking tools, and kitchen & food safety. Open to students in grades 6-12 (only 1 space left). Mondays and Fridays September 19-December 19 4-6pm. Contact Tina Homann at 406.360.4408.

Afterschool Adventures Outside – Recreational activities to include hiking, swimming, fishing and fly-tying, stand up paddleboarding, rock climbing, biking and field trips to explore our beautiful backyard and the natural wonders of Montana. Open to students grade 6-12 (limited to 15 participants). Wednesdays starting September 21st 4-6pm. Contact Maizie Houghton at 805.708.3119

Pottery Grades 3-5 – Play with Clay! Learn the basics of working with clay and use your imagination to create masterpieces. Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:45-5:30pm starting September 20th. Contact Teddy Lewis 406.439.9345

Pottery Grades 6-12 – Create bowls, boxes, and creations of your imagination. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 3:45-5:30pm starting on September 19th. Contact Teddy Lewis 406.439.9345

Snapology– Developing Engineers: Mechanical Masterminds: for this session you will be building real world motorized machines. (limited to 20 students). Grades 3-5th Tuesdays for 6 weeks starting on September 13th and grades 6-8th on Thursdays for 6 weeks starting September 15th.  Contact Amanda Domino at 406.459.7379.

There is a STOKE registration form that needs to be filled out, and additional registration is needed for the Snapology program. 

 

4-H Rally at Heritage Park

The Radersburg Rattlers are hosting a 4-H rally at Heritage Park on Sunday October 9th at 2:30pm.  They are planning on making posters to help spread the word about 4-H and would like to invite all clubs to participate! They are also planning some games and activities. For more information, contact Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995.

 

Meet at the Corn Maze!

The Old Baldy 4-H club would like to extend an invitation to all clubs to meet them at the Edgewater Farms Corn Maze on October 15th at 4:00pm. They have arranged a group pricing discount so that admission is only $8/member. Take advantage of getting into the maze at a discounted price and meet up with your fellow 4-H’ers!