January 4-H Newsletter

Alternatively, download a printable version of the
January 2023 Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

Newsletter Scavenger Hunt 

Everyone who emails Allyssa ([email protected]) Monday, January 16 with a description of the page containing the snowflake symbol above will be entered in a drawing to win a 4-H themed prize. The winner will be able to choose from multiple awesome 4-H items. Please include the description of the page you found the symbol, something you learned from the newsletter, and name(s) of the 4-H’er(s) to be entered in the drawing. Congratulations to the December Newsletter Drawing winner, Sapphire S. from the Trouble Shooters 4-H Club!

Thank You!

Thank you to the following people and businesses who donated to the Cascade County 4-H Program over the last month!

Greg and Erin Doyon
Nadine Preston and Family
Great Falls Police Protective Association
Farmers Union Insurance
Scheels
The Zeller Family
Chris and Brenda Canine
Vicki Johnson
William and Holly Kessler

Camp Junior Director and Chaperone Applications Open

Camp Junior Director and Chaperone Applications are now open on ZSuite! Junior Directors (JDs) plan 4-H camp with the assistance of camp chaperones, the camp director, and the 4-H agent. JDs are responsible for arranging ceremonies, equipment, and creating workshops for camp. Each JD will have a primary leadership role in the pre-planning stages of camp and at camp itself. As part of the leadership team, JDs share in the overall responsibility for the success of camp. Camp Chaperones are certified Cascade County 4-H Leaders who are interested in serving in a chaperone capacity at camp. Responsibilities include kitchen duty, cabin chaperone, and overseeing camper safety.

Important Camp Dates

Camp Planning: February 28, March 28, & April 25
Camp Clean Up: May TBD
JD Day at Camp: June 10
Camp: June 11-14

Office Closure

The MSU Extension Cascade County office will be closed Monday, January 16 in observance of Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Day.

Foods Festival & Stir-Ups Cooking Competition

Registration is now open for the Foods Festival and Stir-Ups Cooking Competition on ZSuite! This free event will take place at the Extension Office on January 23 starting at 5:15 pm. Registration is due by January 18 at 11:59pm.
The Foods Festival is a fun event for youth interested in the Foods and Nutrition projects. Youth can compete in either the cake decorating challenge, daily foods, table setting, or baked foods competitions. Regular members will talk with a judge about their entry and receive a ribbon placing. Cloverbuds will also talk to a judge, but they will receive a participation ribbon.
Stir-Ups is a cooking competition where youth create their own recipe for a predetermined dish. This year’s dish is soup! Youth have one hour to cook their dish, clean up, and give a presentation to the judges about their dish. Youth are judged on the taste and presentation of their dish, their ability to cook and clean up in the time provided, their ability to follow food safety rules, and their presentation. This is a Congress qualifying event for youth 13+ in 4-H years!

Small Engines Project Instruction

Small Engines Project Leader, Tim is once again offering Small Engines project help this year. The proposed project meeting time is the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm. Please contact Allyssa if you are interested in the Small Engines Project.

New Family Orientation

Registration for New Family Orientation is now open in ZSuite! Orientation is scheduled for February 13 at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. Registration is due by February 8. The potluck will start at 5:30 pm. This event is open to all 1st year families and newer families that did not attend November’s orientation. We will talk about the structure of Cascade County 4-H, introduce important events, and hand out some 4-H materials and swag.

Communications Contest

Registration for the Communications Contest is now open on ZSuite. Registration is due by February 6 at 11:59 pm. Youth are able to choose to compete on either Wednesday, February 8 or Thursday, February 9. The contest is open to all Cascade County 4-H’ers including Cloverbuds. This contest offers a great opportunity for youth to work on their public speaking and presentation skills. Youth 13 years and older who receive a blue in any contest except Cowboy poetry will qualify to move on to the state level at Montana 4-H Congress in July. More information about the contest can be found in the events section of ZSuite.

Fashion Revue and Quilt Show

Calling a who sew! The Fashion Revue and Quilt Show will be held at the Extension Office on April 20, so mark your calendars and start sewing!

Project Day

Registration for the February 4 Project Day will open on January 20 on ZSuite. Project Days are held on the first Saturday of the month through May.

Upcoming Project Day Workshops

Workshops are subject to change.
February 4 – Cloverbuds, Astronomy, Crochet, Cake Decorating, Livestock AI, Horse, and Sewing
March 4 – Cloverbuds, Astronomy, Poultry, Cooking, Livestock Carcass, Horse, and Baby Blanket Service Project
April 1 – Cat, Cloverbuds, Astronomy, Livestock Meat Cuts and Cooking, Horse, and Sewing
May 6 – Star Base STEM, Poultry, Record Book Office Hours, Goat Milking and Cheese Making, Cloverbuds, and Sewing

Montana 4-H Leadership Academy

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in 2022/2023. The leadership academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways. Each month the Montana 4-H Ambassador officer team members will be presenting a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop should be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H program and community.
Cascade County 4-H Ambassadors will be holding in person watch parties at the Extension office from 2:30-4:00. Snacks are provided! If you would like to join the Zoom meeting with the State Ambassadors, email Allyssa at [email protected] for the link.

Leadership Academy Dates

January 8
February 5
March 5

Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute

The Montana 4-H Leaders Council is excited to announce the Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute will be held in Billings, February 17-19, 2023. The Institute will feature educational and fun workshops, networking opportunities, and an amazing keynote speaker from Utah Extension. The Cascade 4-H Foundation has funds available to help cover registration, lodging, and travel costs. Register on ZSuite at https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/16964.

Scholarship Opportunities

Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship

Applications for the 2023 Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship are open. Applicants must be or have been Cascade County 4-H members at the time of their high school graduation or equivalent; eligibility extends up to six years after high school graduation or equivalent. The application can be found at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1RYbZ9TWMrQRrHE. Applications and supplemental materials are do by March 31, 2023, at 11:59pm.

Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarships

The Montana 4-H Foundation is now accepting applications for higher education scholarships. Please note the due date has been changed this year to February 14, 2023. To begin the process, please review all scholarship eligibility and criteria at https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/scholarships.html.

Mandatory Volunteer Leader Training

New this year, all Montana 4-H volunteers, new and returning will be required to complete an online training on ZSuite. Returning volunteers will have until September 30, 2023 to complete this training. If you do not complete the training by then, you will not be eligible to re-enroll for the 2023-2024 4-H year until the training is complete. New volunteers must complete the training before they will be marked active in ZSuite. Like anything on ZSuite, it is much easier to complete on a desktop or laptop computer rather than your cell phone.

Leaders Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Leaders Council will be held on January 10 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office and on Webex. Meeting info was sent out via email in December.

Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders will be held on Thursday, January 5 at 6:00 pm. Topics of discussion include the 2023 Live Tournament, discipline updates, and trailer graphics.

Montana 4-H State Shooting Sports Invitational

Mark your calendars! The 2023 Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational will be held March 3-5 in Bozeman. Visit with your Shooting Sports Instructor if you are interested in the state shoot.

Livestock Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will be on Tuesday, January 3 at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office. Agenda items include planning county livestock show and sale, market beef weigh-in, and clinics.

Jacob Schott Memorial Recipients

Five 4-H members interviewed with Wade and Marisol Schott and Rose Malisani last month. Each 4-H member will receive money to go towards their 4-H market beef projects. Congratulations to Lyle Grossman, Eden Livestock; Reagan Jassen, Tiger Butte; Kally Konesky, Eden Livestock; Kinlee Loch, Ulm Pishkun; and Leah Mackey, Eden Livestock! A special thank you to Wade, Marisol, Amayrani, and Nayelie Schott for your generosity in supporting 4-H youth. We are so appreciative of your kindness!

Central Montana Tarentaise Recipient

Gianna Lee, Ulm Pishkun, was selected as the recipient of a steer from Central Montana Tarentaise. Gianna’s steer was delivered in early December from the Lords Family. A big thank you to Turk Lords for his wonderful donation to help a 4-H member get a let up!

Poultry Health at the January Project Day

Desiree Roth will teach 4-H members about poultry health and care. She will explain how to keep them healthy and what to do when your bird is ill.

4-H Beef, Sheep, Goat, and Swine Selection and Feeding Workshop

The 4-H Beef, Sheep, Goat, and Swine Selection and Feeding Workshop will be on Saturday, January 14 at the MSU Cascade County Extension Office from 9:00-11:00am. 4-H members in Cascade, Meagher, Judith Basin, and Teton Counties are welcome to attend. 4-H members will learn how to select and feed their market animal project for success and ultimate gain. Registration closes on January 13 at noon. Register by logging into ZSuite. Speakers include Courtnee Clairmont, CHS; Makayla Paul, MSU Meagher County Extension; Tyler Lane, MSU Chouteau County Extension; and Rose Malisani, MSU Cascade County Extension.

Selection and Feeding Workshop Schedule (subject to change)

• 9:00-9:45am – Livestock selection for beef, sheep, goat, and swine
• 9:50-10:20am – Breakout Sessions
  •  Sheep and Goat Feeding
  • Beef Feeding
  • Swine Feeding
• 10:25-10:55am – Breakout Sessions
  • Sheep and Goat Feeding
  • Beef Feeding
  • Swine Feeding

Market Beef Weigh-In

The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders award the top three steers with the highest average daily gain. First place is awarded $100, second $60, and third $40 at the 2023 Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale. The first weigh-in will be Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Western Livestock Auction (406 Vaughn S. Frontage Rd., Great Falls, MT 59404) from 1:00-3:00pm. Times are strictly followed! 4-H members do not have to be present on January 15. The second weigh-in will be at the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show on Thursday, July 6, 2023. Monies will be awarded on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Register by logging into ZSuite.

Livestock Show and Sale

Mark your calendars! The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale will be July 6-8, 2023, at the Montana ExpoPark’s Livestock Pavilion.

Horse Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders will be on Tuesday, January 3 at 5:30pm at the Extension Office. Agenda items include planning for upcoming 4-H horse events such as project days, clinics, and Horse Camp.

Horse at the January Project Day

Veterinarians, Elizabeth and Peter Jennings will present about horse diseases, vaccines, blood drawing, and horse health. The time is 10:30am-12:00pm and will be very informative and educational. We’re hoping for good weather to have a horse available to draw blood and have a hands-on demonstration.

4-H CALENDAR

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status.