Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

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

Newsletter Drawing

Everyone who emails Allyssa ([email protected]) by Monday, November 13 with a description of the page you found the turkey 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 the name(s) of the 4-H’er(s) to be entered into the drawing. Congratulations to the October Newsletter Drawing winner, Foster H. from the Trouble Shooters 4-H Club!

Thank You!

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

Mountain Colors Yarn
Leslie Burns
William & Holly Kessler
Heather & James Lewis
Kory & Angie Hastings
4N Farms

Cascade County 4-H Ambassador Team

The 2023-2024 Cascade County 4-H Ambassador Team was chosen last month! The Ambassadors are a group of senior 4-H members who have demonstrated leadership in their club and the county. This year’s team members are Tristen Short – Ulm Pishkun, Leann Murphy – Ulm Pishkun, Seth Juhl – Ulm Pishkun, Kyree Morrison – Ulm Pishkun, Blake Leardini – Ulm Pishkun, and Kailey Boberg – Eden Livestock.

Office Closure

The MSU Extension Cascade County Office will be closed November 10 in observance of Veteran’s Day and November 23 for Thanksgiving.

Leadership Academy

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons from 3:00-4:00pm. 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. Local county leadership groups will have an opportunity to join with groups from around the state as well as the Montana 4-H Ambassador Officer team, virtually to work on skill building, planning, and mentorship. Each month the officer team members will present a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. Register for this opportunity at Leadership Academy - Montana 4H - Montana State University Extension | Montana State University.

Leadership Academy Dates

• November 12
• December 10
• January 14
• February 11
• March 10

Outbound International Exchange Programs

States’ 4-H Summer Outbound programs provide American 4-H youth with the opportunity to travel to foreign countries for a month-long cultural immersion experience. Delegates live with volunteer host families and engage in experiential learning about a new way of life. Delegates experience aspects of daily life that allow them to understand both their host culture and their own culture more deeply. Our network of like-minded international partners recruit host families and plan enrichment activities. 4-H youth ages 12-18 for Japan and South Korea, and ages 15-18 for Costa Rica are eligible to participate. The application deadline for all outbound programs is December 1, 2023. For more information and the application link visit Montana 4-H Outbound Programs - Montana 4H - Montana State University Extension | Montana State University. Reach out to Christine Sommers-Austin at [email protected] for more information. The Cascade 4-H Foundation has funds available to help with the cost of these trips.

2024 Travel Dates

• Japan 8-Week: June 12-August
• Argentina: June 20-July 15
• Costa Rica: June 20-July 19
• Norway: June 20-July 20
• Japan 4-Week: July 10-August 9
• South Korea: July 16-August 15
• Taiwan: July 16-August 15

*Dates are subject to slight change or modification

Project Days

Project Days will be held at the MSU Extension Cascade County office on the second Saturday of the months of November-May from 9:00am-12:00pm. Project Days are a great time for youth to attend workshops in the project areas they are enrolled as well as try something new! Project Day workshops are open to all youth apart from the Cloverbud workshop which is only available to Cloverbuds. Cloverbuds are not allowed to participate in other workshops. Register for Project Days on ZSuite! There are still plenty of spots open for workshop presentations. Please let Allyssa know if you are interested in leading a workshop!

Project Day Workshops

*Subject to Change*

• November 11
  
  • STARBASE Robotics and Engineering, STEM Tetrahedral Kite Making and Flying, Cloverbuds, Livestock Project Finances, Sewing Tote Bags
• December 9
  
  • Rabbit, Poultry, Cloverbuds, Cake Decorating, Horse, Sewing
• January 13
  
  • Rabbit, Poultry, Cloverbuds, Horse, Sewing
• February 10
  
  • Rabbit, Poultry, Cloverbuds, Horse, Sewing
• March 9
  
  • Cloverbuds, Livestock, Sewing
• April 13
  
  • Cat, Cloverbuds, Livestock, Sewing
• May 11
  
  • Cloverbuds, Livestock, Record Book Office Hours, Sewing

Meeting Announcements

Leaders Council

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Leaders Council will be Tuesday, November 14 at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx. All enrolled Cascade County 4-H members and leaders are voting members of Leaders Council. Check with your club leader to see if your club needs a representative to attend this meeting!

Foundation

The next meeting of the Cascade 4-H Foundation will be held on Tuesday, November 21 at the Extension Office. The annual meeting will begin at 6:00pm with the quarterly meeting to follow. There will be a potluck at this meeting, so please bring a dish to pass.

Horse Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders will be held on Tuesday, November 7 at 5:30pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx. We will be voting on rule and policy changes and planning the upcoming year. Please remember that if you were not present at the October meeting, you are not allowed to vote on rule and policy changes.

Livestock Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will be held on Tuesday, November 7 at 7:00pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx. We will be voting on rule and policy changes and planning the upcoming year. Please meeting, you are not allowed to vote on rule and policy changes.

Shooting Sports Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders will be on Thursday, December 7 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office. This committee is looking for volunteers to serve as committee members. For more information about serving on this committee, please reach out to Allyssa at [email protected] or Shooting Sports Coordinator, Samaria Kirby at [email protected].

4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Trainings

There are multiple opportunities available to become at 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor. Certified 4-H Instructors help to teach 4-H Shooting Sports disciplines to youth throughout the 4-H year. Reach out to Allyssa at [email protected] or 406-454-6980 if you are interested in attending a training. The Cascade 4-H Foundation has funds available to help offset the cost of attending a training.

December 1-2 in Kalispell, MT – Rifle, Pistol, Archery, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Hunting (you may get certified in up to 1 discipline)

December 8-9 in Miles City, MT – Rifle, Pistol, Archery, Shotgun, Muzzleloader, Hunting (you may get certified in up to 1 discipline)

December 15-16 in Belgrade, MT – Advanced Training for Rifle, Pistol, and Archery

Spring 2024 – Basic and Advanced Trainings for Western Heritage, Muzzleloader, and Hunting

Livestock Show and Sale

Save the date! The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale will be held on July 12-14 at the Montana ExpoPark’s Livestock Pavilion.

Jacob Olvera Schott Memorial Market Beef Interview

The family of Jacob Olvera (Schott) are offering a memorial award to a 4-H member enrolled in a market beef project. The memorial award is to go towards purchase of a steer for the 4-H market beef project. 4-H members will interview on Tuesday, November 28 starting at 5:30pm at the MSU Cascade County Extension office. 4-H members must verbally provide information on how they will train the steer, feed the steer, provide shelter, and any other information about their 4-H market beef project. Register on ZSuite for an interview and a chance to get up to $1500 for a purchase of a steer.

Beef Nutrition and Feeding Workshop

Join Western Feed Corral personnel to learn about beef feeding and nutrition! This FREE workshop will take place at WFC on Thursday, November 9 at 5:30 pm. Email Allyssa at [email protected] if you are interested in attending.

Livestock Breeding Projects

Livestock Breeding Projects have begun. If you need a new or replacement Breeding Project Book, please let Jody know at [email protected]. New Breeding Project members will receive their project book when other project books are available at the Extension Office and will be notified via email when their books are available for pick up.

Market Beef Intent to Enter Forms

The Market Beef Intent to Enter form is completely on ZSuite this year. Directions on how to fill out the intent on ZSuite were emailed to all market beef families. You may get another copy by emailing Jody at [email protected].

Steers must have the assigned ear tag from the Extension Office in the animal’s left ear in the accompanying picture. There is a $10 entry fee for each market animal if you pay with a check. Payments through ZSuites will be $11.12 for each market entry.

4-H members may intent to enter multiple animals per species. It is highly recommended that families intent one extra animal in case of unforeseen circumstances such as animal death, sickness, or injury. Animals that are not intented will not be allowed to be used a replacement animal at the show and sale. Fill out the Animal Information - 2 section on the registration with your replacement animal information for ONE family member.

4-H members may enter and sell a maximum of two species at the sale. Species options include market beef, market goat, market sheep, market swine, poultry meat pen, and rabbit meat pen. 4-H members cannot sell two hogs or two steers.

The Beef Intent to Enter Form must include a full body photo of the animal showing the ear tag so that it can be read and is due Wednesday, January 3, 2024, to the Cascade County Extension Office. Late entries will be issued a $15 late fee per animal. Totals with the late fee added will be $25 if paid in person at the Extension Office or $26.57 on ZSuite. No beef intent to enter forms will be accepted after January 10, 2024. You will be unable to show and sell if you do not turn in a market beef intent to enter form and pay your intent fee by January 10, 2024.

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.