4-H Newsletter February

February 2023

Enrollment Closed 

Hello Custer County 4-Hers, our Custer County 4-H enrollment closed February 2nd. We are excited to continue the 2023 4-H year with all of you and your projects. The drop deadline for projects is June 1. If you decide to drop a project between now and then, please come in and request a drop form from our office.  

4-H Rules 2023 

The 4-H rules document has gone through its first committee reading with recommended leader edits. At the next council meeting it will be reviewed again and up for approval. First draft is available for review on our MSU Extension Custer County Website under 4-H Rules Draft 

4-H Member in Good Standing   

You must be a member in good standing to sign your projects up for fair. Membership in good standing is indicated when you obtain your leader's signature on your fair entry form. Although fair may seem like a long way off, depending on your club contract, you could be running out of time to make sure you are in good standing. Not knowing the rules will not help you later.  

• reach out to club leaders after you join 4-H  
• attend club meetings 
• understand the rules associated with your 4-H club   

The members in good standing rules were developed within each club, based on what they felt like was equitable participation by their members. It is a way to maintain accountability amongst the membership. If you are unsure what the rules are or how to ensure you are following them, please contact your organizational leaders. MSU Extension Agents, the leaders of your clubs and your 4-H peers want you to be successful. 

4-H Fundraiser 2023 

Each year we ask our 4-H families to participate in 2 fundraisers. This raffle and working the food booth during fair. These fundraisers raise money for the 4-H council to support kids and leaders with local, state, regional and national events. Last year we were able to support all kids attending 4-H camp, Oreo, Livestock Judging, shooting sports and partially support our kids attending state 4-H congress. Funds from these fundraisers also go to purchase books and do upkeep and maintenance on our 4-H building. The fundraising committee chose to support local businesses this year, each basket is made up from purchases from our local businesses across Miles City.  

• Sales will start on March 7, 2023. Booklets of 12 tickets each. Members must sell 12 tickets or 36 tickets/family if family has more than 3 members. 
• We will be awarding $75 to our #1 ticket seller, $50 to our #2 seller, and $25 to our # 3 ticket seller.  
• A member can choose not to sell Raffle tickets and pay $120 to the 4H Council. If a member does not sell the minimum or does not pay the buy-out option, then the club leaders may elect to declare that the member is not in “good standing” which prevents Fair entry. 
• Organizational leaders- One leader per club is responsible for providing accounting of member sales and money collected. Leaders turn in Raffle receipts and money to Extension Office by Monday, March 27, 2023. 

Successful Record Books Should Be Started  

By now you should have completed your “Goals” for each of your project journals and on your “My 4-H Year” record. Below are some overall goals you should review now so your leader will be able to check “YES” on each when you turn your records in at the end of the year.  

• Enroll in and complete at least one project.  
• Set at least 3 goals to accomplish during the 4-H year.  
• Complete the “My 4-H Year” journal form.  
• Keep your journals up to date with the things you do throughout the year.  

• Participate in at least 3 activities such as judging, demonstrations, public speaking, tours, reports at club meetings, etc. and record them in “My 4-H Year”.  
• List any awards and honors you receive.  
• Complete the Projects and Financial Journal for each project.  
• If you own an animal, keep records for it and complete the appropriate parts of the Animal Record. This will vary according to the animal you have.  

Return Used 4-H Project Books to Extension 

If you have any 4-H project books that are not being used and have not been written in, PLEASE return them to the Extension Office. We re-use them to keep costs down. 

Rec Lab Registration Closes Soon

Rec Lab stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything is hands-on and fun!

This event is a 4-H member favorite: It provides an opportunity for youth and adults to enhance their leadership, communication, and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting.

Rec Lab programming provides participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp, and community leader.

This event is ideal for younger senior members to attend as a first-time state event. It allows them to form relationships with 4-H peers from across the state, broaden their skills, and widen their network. 

Rec Lab will be hosted by District 4 in Culbertson on March 17-19, 2023. Cost is $100. More information and how to register is on the State 4-H Website. 

4-H Camp Counselor Application Open  

Are you interested in serving as a Camp Counselor at 4-H Camp Needmore? Camp dates are June 12-15, 2023. Counselors will arrive the afternoon of June 12 and campers the next morning. 

Please reach out to the extension office to pick up Camp Counselor Applications. [email protected] or 406-874-3370 Camp Counselor applications are due March 15th. 

Adult Chaperones Needed for 4-H Camp  

Come for the whole week or spend a night. Drop your kids off and spend a night with us or come early for pick up and spend the evening with us. Help us keep camp awesome! Our kids love 4-H camp. The fun memories generations of 4-H kids have from camp is made possible by adult volunteers like you. We need help to keep this awesome for our next generation of campers. To be a chaperone, chaperones must complete a background check, please let us know you are interested by May 1st. 

We are Looking for Hog Barn Superintendent(s) 

The youth livestock show's success at the Eastern Montana Fair relies on the generous donation of time and effort of our volunteers. We thank all who volunteer their time to be Barn Superintendents, especially our out-going Swine Barn superintendents Jon David and Craig Harding.  

This has created the need to fill the vacant Swine Barn Superintendent position for the 2023 fair. Please consider this opportunity part of the successful program we have for our swine project members. The position entails organizing and assisting with the set-up of the barn, weigh-in at the fair, set-up of the show ring, providing leadership in the swine barn for utilization of the wash rack facility and lining exhibitors up for show day. The superintendent also assists with sale day activities and the load out of the animals for delivery to harvest facilities along with ensuring exhibitors tear down and clean up the barn at the fair's end.  

We have one of the most successful and largest hogs shows in the region and need help to continue this great program. Please contact the office if you are interested in this opportunity. 

4-H Demonstration Tips  

Demonstration day is scheduled for April 5th, 2023, at the Miles Community College 300 Rooms. Registration and more information to be out soon via the weekly e-mail. 

4-H Demonstration Day is a way to practice your public speaking outside of your club meetings. 

An illustrated talk is talking, and a demonstration is doing. An illustrated talk tells something while showing visuals, and a demonstration shows and tells how to do something. In an illustrated talk, the presenter uses pre-made charts, posters, photographs, computer programs, slides, pictures, models, and/or cutouts to support the information given. In a demonstration, the presenter may do the same, but also makes or does something to create a finished product. 

• Select a topic that you know well and find interesting. 
• Develop one main idea or topic to share. 
• Use an outline to help you organize the idea or topic into three to seven points or steps that can be explained and/or shown. 

• Secure the material and the equipment needed and organize it to avoid clutter. 
• Dress appropriately for the activity being demonstrated. 
• Check your materials and equipment before you give the demonstration. Make words on posters large enough for all to read. 
• Use a catchy introduction that will get the attention of the audience. 
• Take your time and speak clearly, looking at your audience. 

• Show how each step is done so everyone can see. 
• Keep your materials orderly, and when you are finished with something, place it out of the way. 
• Practice the demonstration with family or friends who will give suggestions for improvement. 
• Smile and enjoy yourself, but avoid chewing gum, placing your hands in your pockets, or “fiddling” with equipment. 
• Review your points or steps at the end, ask questions, and thank the audience. 

• Check with your County 4-H Extension Agent for county specific guidelines and dates 

In addition to this information more resources can be found at the Montana4-H's Communications webpage or http://montana4h.org/resources/center_newsletter/January_2020.html#Demonstration  

Shooting Sports  

The shooting sports season is progressing with success. Custer county 4-H'ers had a successful local invite with many improving their scores and setting a PR. 16 kids will be headed to state and 5 will be trying out for Jr. Olympics.  

Family and Consumer Sciences Service Project 

Calling any 6th,7th and 8th graders, make a potholder for yourself and one to donate to our Camp Needmore Kitchen Box. This service project will help grow your sewing skills, you will get to work in the CCHS FCS Classroom with students in the FCS class and volunteer leaders. April 26th, 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM Pre-Registration required. You may email the office at [email protected] or call at 406-874-3770 

Cookie Bake Off  

Will be held Wednesday March 1, 2023. Hosted by Prairie Wranglers 4-H club. Pre-registration required by February 22, 2023. Call the extension office 406-874-3370 or email [email protected] or scan the QR code above. Bake Off will begin at 4 PM in CCDHS FCS classroom. Please plan to drop your child off and return in 20 minutes to pick up/ sample cookies. The classroom is not designed for families to hang out in, and as we are borrowing it, we would like to be respectful of the space. 

Rules:  

1.  Each member must provide their own ingredients, utensils, and an extra copy of their recipe. Ingredients can be pre-measured. 

1. Cookies must bake between 325° and 375° for not more than 25 minutes.  

1.  Members must do their own measuring and mixing. There will be supervision and help with the baking. 

1. Categories may be Drop, Form, Healthy and Decorated. 

1. Cloverbuds will be judged separately and must be No-Bake Cookies. 

After the judging, the public will be invited to sample the cookies. 

2022-2023 4-H Building Cleaning Schedule  

November 2022– Prairie Wranglers 

December 2022– Powderville Pioneers 

January 2023 – Busy Bees 

February 2023 - Crow Rock 

March 2023 – Rough Riders 

April 2023 – Pine Ridge 

May 2023 – Prairie Wranglers 

June 2023 – Powderville Pioneers 

July 2023 – Kinsey 

August 2023 - Pre-Fair Set Up- Pine Ridge  

- Post Fair- Prairie Wranglers  

September 2023– Busy Bees 

October-2023 Crow Rock 

Don’t forget your special cleaning duties as well. Lists will be put in mailboxes and hung up at the 4-H building 

2022-2023 4-H Club Responsibilities  

March Schedule  

March 1 Cookie Bake Off  

March 7 Fundraising raffle begins  

March 16-19 State Rec Lab Culbertson, MT 

March 15 Camp Teen Leader Application Due 

March 27 Leaders return raffle stubs and monies to Extension Office

April Schedule  

April 3 Drawing for Fundraiser  

April 4-5 4-H Institute- Extension out of office 

April 5 Demonstration Day MCC Rooms 300  

April 23 Camp Teen Leader Training 4-H building