Hello 4-H Families!

Welcome to May! The Marias Fair will be here before you knowit!

The Marias Fair is coming up fast! Just a reminder that allmembers have to have five to seven activities from their projectbooks and two of three experiences completed before fair. Theyneed to have it checked by their leader or the Extension Office.

FairEntry Registration will open on May 15th and Fair Packets will also be ready to be picked up that day as well.

4-H Camp registration is now open on Z-Suite. You have untilMay 23rd to register. We will be in an awesome new locationand I am ready for us to have a blast. We will still have the bus pick us up in Shelby!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions. You can stop by the office anytime!

Have a great May!

Kim & Jackie

New Volunteers - Clover Academy Volunteer Orientation

New volunteers will need to complete a volunteer orientation in Zsuite. Log into your personalaccount, look on the left panel, then scroll to “Clover Academy,” and click to begin your four trainingmodules. This training takes around an hour to complete. Each module usually takes about 15minutes. We cannot finalize your leader status until this orientation is completed.

New Weight Limit for Beef

The Marias Fair Livestock Committee voted to increase the maximum steer pay weight to 1,650 poundswhich would make the maximum sale participation weight 1,848 pounds.

Shotgun Practice

Shotgun practice will start May 8th at 6pm at the Trap Club. Range Fees are $40 to the Shelby Trap Club.The Marias Fair Shotgun Tournament will be held on June 28th starting at 9am at the Shelby Trap Club.

Planning for fair

Check out the 2025 Fair Book at https://www.montana.edu/extension/mariasfair/mariasfairbook/ to seewhat potential exhibits you can take to fair! The 2025 Fair Book will be available soon. You can only enter items from projects that you are signed up for.

Fair Packets

First fair packets will be ready to pick up on Thursday, May 15 . Fair packets contain importantinformation for non-camping and camping participants so please pick up early. All Counties need toprovide volunteers for certain jobs during the fair.

Fair Registration also begins on May 15 . Register by signing in to your FairEntry account athttp://mariasfair.fairentry.com/. If you forgot your password please select the “forgot password” option.Do not create a new account. If this is your first year participating in the Marias Fair, you will need tocreate a new account. There are instructions in your packet. The deadline to register for fair and turn inall fees is Monday, June 16 . New campers - camper spot requests are time and date stamped so theearlier you turn in your request the better chance you have of getting that spot.

Food Booth Safety

Food Booth Safety Training is required to be taken every other year by members and parents who will beworking at the food booth at the Marias Fair. Please watch the training prepared by Glacier County Agent,Lisa Terry, by clicking on the YouTube link. There will be a question on FairEntry asking if you havewatched the video. This fulfills the required food booth training requirement

https://youtu.be/WhwjI-284_w

Attention Cat Members

There are a couple of new Marias Fair competitions in the felinedepartment this year. In addition to showmanship there will be a“longest whisker” and “longest tail” and a “best costume” contest. You can’t change your cat’s whisker or tail length- No Extensions!but you can be creative in dressing up your cat if he or she will allow it. We are looking forward to seeing your imagination at work!

Montana 4-H Foundation

The Montana 4-H Foundation Board of Directors serves to raise private funds to support the Montana 4-H programs. The Montana 4-H Foundation assists with the financial support of the Montana 4-H programfor youth members, volunteer leaders and Extension staff. If you are interested in serving on theMontana 4-H Foundation, please complete the following application by June 1, 2025. Link to Application:https://forms.office.com/r/Jxktghqnr3Link to Website: https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/youth-representative-application.html

4-H Congress

The Montana 4-H Congress is back! If you're a 4-H member aged 13 or older, a volunteer, or part of theMSU Extension faculty and staff, we invite you to join us for an incredible leadership opportunity on the MSU campus in Bozeman this summer. For over 100 years, 4-H'ers from across the state have gatheredfor this signature event, and 2025 will be no different.

Montana 4-H Congress provides a unique experience where youth can learn, grow, and have fun in acollaborative, safe environment. Over four action-packed days, participants will take part in:

  • State Competitive Events: Showcase your skills and talents in various contests, from public speakingto livestock judging. Visit the Congress Contest page for detailed info on the 11 statewide competitiveevents that take place during Congress on Wednesday July 9, 2025.
  • Exciting Hands-On Workshops: Delivered by MSU faculty, these workshops will cover a wide range oftopics, helping you develop practical skills and knowledge you can use for years to come.
  • Fun Social Events: From team-building games to dances, there will be plenty of opportunities to relax,have fun, and make lasting friendships.

2025 4-H Camp Registration

Dates of 4-H Camp are: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 - Friday, June 27, 2025

Camp is held at: Montana Farmers Union Arrowpeak Camp

Camp cost is: $75

Registration deadline is: May 23, 2025

Eligibility: Members enrolled in a regular 4-H Club and who are in the seventh grade or lower for the2024-2025 school year.Please complete the camp registration form here in ZSuite and send payment to your county Extension Office.

Checks need to be made payable to: Phillips/Blaine 4-H Camp OR payment can be made online and will be sent to Phillips/Blaine 4-h Camp.

Cancellation with full refund will be accepted up until May 31st. After that it will be on a case by casebasis.Please contact your local Extension Office with questions.

Archery Achievement

Congratulations to Dylan Clark on shooting his first 300!

 

MAY

1st- Project Drop/ Add Deadline

2nd- Blazing Saddles Club helping with chamber dinner

4th- Lamb and Goat weigh- in deadline

7th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria

14th- West Butte Cloverbuds demonstration Day 3:45 @ Sunburst Library

15th- Fair Registration opens on FairEntry

15th- Packets ready for pickup!

18th- Blazing Saddles Club Meeting 2pm @ Ambulance Barn

21st- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria

26th- Holiday- Memorial Day Office Closed

 

JUNE

1st- Blazing Saddles Club Meeting 2pm @ Anna Hemmer’s House

1st- West Butte Club Project, Community Service Day and Potluck

16th- FairEntry Registration closes

16th- Forms due back to the office

18th- Marias Fair Livestock Committee Meeting Marias Fairgrounds @7pm

24th- Horse Committee Meeting 6pm @ Fairgrounds

25th-27th- 4-H Camp at ArrowPeak Lodge