January 2021

Happy New Year! 2020 was full of challenges for many of us.  We are thankful that everyone had been patient and understanding.  Hopefully, we have all picked up new skills and tools along the way.  Some, like Zoom and WebEx meetings, we will continue to use, we just hope for a little less often!

Shooting Sports

The first meeting was on Tuesday, January 5^th at the Wilbur-Ellis Hangar.  They have asked us to not use the main entrance this year, so please use the northwest corner door each week.  We will be conducting air pistol and air rifle practice at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m.  and archery at 6:00 p.m.  Please arrive a few minutes ahead of time.  We ask that everyone please wear a mask. Those will need to be worn except for when shooters are at the shooting line.

We will be operating with approximately ½ the space we did last year so we will only be able to have 4-6 shooters at the line at one time.  This will mean that archery may take a little longer.   For those shooting air pistol and air rifle, it will largely be business as usual, with a combination of air pistol and air rifle each hour.  If your child is only shooting 1 or 2 disciplines, please let me know when you would like them to shoot, keeping in mind that all archery participants will be shooting at 6 p.m.  

We will be concluding the shooting sports season approximately the last week of February.  We realize that the youth will not have as much time to practice this year as in years past.  However, due to COVID and its factors and when it really hit Liberty County in late November/early December, we felt it was best to hold off until the new year to start.

4 County Marias Fair Archery Tournament

There will not be a physical 4 county Marias Fair Archery tournament. Each county will host their own tournament. The good news is that there will be no entry fees. The format should be similar to the normal Marias Fair tournament with 2 practice ends and then start the 10 ends that are scored with the time limit of 2 minutes 30 seconds per end. All counties’ scores must be turned in by March 9^th.   More information will be coming.

Project Books

Prairie Pals and Tiber 4-H Club members: If you ordered project books and have not yet received yours, please drop by the Extension office and pick them up. 

Montana 4-H Citizenship Seminar

The Montana 4-H Citizenship Seminar will take place virtually using Zoom. Participants will interact with 4-H members from across the State as they study the many aspects of citizenship. They will learn how to write a bill and will be part of a “mock” legislature, acting as 4-H “Senators.” Bills will be debated in committees and on the 4-H Senate Floor. 

The Seminar will be a four-week program, one evening a week, with sessions on: January 19, January 26, February 2, and February 9 from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Eligibility: 4-H members must be 13 years of age by October 1, 2020. Register by logging into your zsuite account at 4h.zsuite.org before January 9^th. The event will appear at the bottom of the dashboard for eligible members. 

For more information call the Liberty County Extension office at 759-5625.

Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarships

High School seniors and 4-H alumni enrolled in college are encouraged to apply for Montana 4-H Foundation scholarships. Applications are due April 1, 2021 and can be submitted via https://app.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarship/montanta4hfoundation. 

Horse Workshop

The Marias Fair Horse Committee will be hosting a horse-less horse workshop at the Horse Arena at the Fairgrounds on January 30th from 10AM-2PM. (Weather Permitting) This workshop is for all members who take the horse projects, horse-less horse project, and for those who are interested in taking horse someday.

This workshop will be covering horsemanship, horse care, and tack. This is a free workshop and there will be lunch provided.

If you have a horse and would like to bring it, there will an opportunity to ride after the instruction. For more information call Chad Scarborough at 406-470-0712.

Busy Buds

At their last meeting, the Cloverbuds listened to Christmas stories and made colorful angel decorations.

Montana People Partner Grants

Members and clubs are encouraged to apply for Montana People Partner grants. Grants up to $500 are available to help with service projects, etc. Applications are due February 1^st. Details are available at http://montana4h.org/programs/grants/grants.html. 

Liberty County Beef Weigh-In

Eleven Liberty County 4-H Beef members weighed in animals in December and are looking forward to participating in the 2021 Marias Fair this summer.  Hopefully, all competitions and the sale will be live this year. Thank you to the Liberty County Marias Fair Livestock Committee for all the help since Jesse was not able to be there due to COVID.

Small Animal Workshop

Glacier County leaders will be hosting a small animal project day January 18 at 2 p.m. in the old JC Penny building in Cut Bank.  Members are invited to learn showmanship and about each animal with presenters:

• Dayne Barbie – Cat
• Hadley Barbie – Dog
• Lexi Stubbs or Beretta Winkowitsch – Rabbit
• Jed Winkowitsch – Poultry
• Ken Winkowitsch – Pocket Pet

 Please RSVP to the Glacier County Extension Office (873-2239 or [email protected]) by January 13.  Session will be available via Zoom as well for anyone who isn’t able to attend in person.  Members do not need to bring their animals. 

Small Animal Barn ‘Curtain Sewing Day’

Sewing Day will be held at the First Baptist Church Activity Center at

751 N Marias Ave, Shelby on Saturday, February 6th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. We need all hands on deck! We will be sewing curtains to hang under the shelves in the chicken/rabbit barn for privacy storage during the fair. Please contact Kim Woodring at the Toole County Extension Office by emailing [email protected] or by calling: Office: 406-424-8350 or Cell: 406-229-1984.