New 4-H Family Orientation Information
Welcome 4-H Families Feberuary 5th, 2024
Current Custer County Demographics
- 240 Kids in the 4-H Program
- 31 Leaders- Comprise 4-H Leaders Council
- 8 Clubs and Teen Council
- 129 Projects and Project Levels
- Highest enrollment project- Shooting Sports- 90 Kids
- Followed by Market Swine 60 kids
- Office comprised of 2 agents, 1 administrative assistant and attempting to hire another agent.
4-H programming is made possible by 4-H Volunteers and parents taking an active role.
Communication
- Weekly 4-H e-mail, we use what is listed in z-suite
- Monthly club meetings
- Periodic county newsletter
- 4-H Leaders
- Extension Office
4-H Year
County Events, each year a club hosts a county event, these events rotate each year, so that a club doesn’t have to continually host the same event.
|
Event |
Month |
Club Hosting |
|
Candy Making Workshop |
January |
Teen Council |
|
Cookie Bake –Off |
February |
Powderville Pioneers |
|
Demonstration Day |
March |
Busy Bees |
|
County Wide Activity |
April/May |
Prairie Wranglers |
|
Small Animal Showmanship Clinic |
July |
Rough Riders |
|
Large Animal Showmanship Clinic |
July/Early August |
Crow Rock |
|
County Wide Activity |
September/October |
Kinsey |
|
Achievement Night |
October |
Pine Ridge |
Your 4-H Year depends on Projects
- Shooting sports starts in November and lasts until Spring, then is pretty wrapped up through summer-time, unless competing in national events.
- Shooting sports age is 4-H age 10 (9 as of October 1st)
- Market beef animals are brought to weigh in winter. This year's weigh in date was 12/17/23
- Ownership date for Hogs, Sheep and Goats is June 1st, weigh in date will be June 2nd 6:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
Regional and State Events
- Regional events also happen through-out the year, 4-H camp for ages 9-12 happens at Camp Needmore the 2nd week in June. Teens also attend as camp counselors
- Our OREO camp for kids in 7th and 8th grade. 4th week in June, Cody, WY- White water rafting and rodeo.
- The 2nd week in July we have our annual 4-H congress where teens who compete and win at a county level in demonstration day and livestock judging, come to compete at a state level. Teens also attend leadership and skill building workshops.
- Teens in teen council, offer a variety of workshops and volunteer throughout the year, and attend a teen trip in late June.
Deadlines
- Deadline for new 4-H Members - February 2nd
- No 4-H member will be allowed to participate in the fair if enrolled after February 2nd
- June 1st is the deadline for dropping and adding projects for the year.
- Fair Sign up (Last Friday in July).
- Record Books due September 10th, Friday before if it falls on a weekend.
- Things to remember, clubs have additional rules to county, you must be a member in good standing to sign up for fair.
Fundraising
- Two major fundraising events happen throughout the year we require all 4-H members
to participate in.
- 4-H Raffle Beginning March 1, must complete minimum sale requirement in order to be a member in good standing and compete at fair.
- Work with your club to work shifts in the 4-H Food Booth during fair time.
- Purpose
- 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 kids attending 4-H camp, 4-H congress, livestock judging, shooting sports.
- Funds from these fundraisers also go to purchase project books, upkeep and maintenance on our 4-H building.
Record Books
- Why have 4-H record books?
- 4-H Record Books serve a variety of purposes in the Montana 4-H program.
- 4-H Record Books give members an opportunity to REFLECT on their yearly work. They document their skill development and their learning experiences in a written report. 4-H members measure their achievements and growth in their total years in 4-H.
- 4-H Record Books encourage members to set goals, pursue strategies to meet those goals, and to shift gears in the face of challenges and obstacles.
- Completing a 4-H Record Book is a process where 4-H members record project and club work. Records management is a competency skill to identify, create, classify, archive, and preserve records. The 4-H Record Book teaches 4-H members these skills through a standard format.
- Make Record Books Valuable
- Use Record Books OFTEN as a tool for sharing and reflection!
- Set goals early and set aside time at the end of the year to reflect on those goal. Focus on the reflection, not “success”.
- Educate on the difference between “What I Did,” and “What I Learned." What I Did –Literally, what you did. What I Learned –The reflection portion. What did I actually learn from this experience.
- Make this a priority.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Extension Agent-
- Planning – Program development
- Organizing – Resource development and coordination of program.
- Staffing – Recruit, train and advise volunteers.
- Supervising – Support, motivate and recognize volunteers.
- Evaluating – Access needs, evaluate program and communicate
- Organizational Leader-Guide the overall organization of the club, help it function smoothly and maintain communications among the member families, the club and the county. Be the primary club contact person with the MSU Extension county staff. Time commitment 10-15 hours per week
- 4-H Parent/Supportive Adult-To assist and support their child and other children in the 4-H club or group. Through
the experiential learning (hands on) process, the children in the 4-H club or group
will gain knowledge and skills to positively and successfully respond to life’s varying
situations.
