September 2022

New Enrollment Year Begins October 1st.

Every 4-H member must re-enroll in Z-Suites for the new year, starting October 1. Please ensure all club members and familes are informed.

National 4-H Week: October 2nd -8th.

Take advantage of this important week to highlight the remarkable 4-H youth in your communities and showcase the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people. Talk with your clubs and counies about how you plan to celebrate, and contact Christine Hodges for marketing materials at [email protected].

Fall leadership Training: October 21st - 23rd.

Join the new Ambassador Officer Team for a fun filled, action packed weekend of leadership training. Anyone interested in furthering their leadership skills and ability to impact the club, and community are welcome! This is a great time to connect with those friends you may have met at 4-H Congress or meet new people from around Montana.

Fall Leadership Training

• Fall Leadership Training in Great Falls October 21-23.
• https://montana4h.org/programs/events/fall_training/index.html
• Please have all participants registered in 4h.Zsuite by October 11, 2022. Because roll over to the new 4-H year has happened, members and volunteers need to complete their enrollment before they can register. Those that registered for the event prior to rollover need to be enrolled and update their waiver information prior to the start of the event on October 21. If you have any questions please let me know. 
• If you are an MSU Extension agent or staff member please use this link to register https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/14932. Please log out of your ZSuite county admin account before clicking the link. All volunteers must be certified 4-H volunteers to chaperone. 
• Youth members attending must have a designated chaperone. 
• Please direct questions to Brett Schomer

Leadership Academy: Online series

Members 12+, 4-H Age

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in 2022/2023.  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. 
 
These workshops provide local county leadership groups an opportunity to join (virtually) with groups from around the state as well as the Montana 4-H Ambassador Officer team, to work on skill building, planning and mentorship. 
 
Each month the officer team will be present a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop should be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H program and community. 
 
County Leadership groups should plan to meet face to face whenever possible and engage in the virtual state wide workshop together.
This time can be viewed as a leadership club meeting. County ambassadors can aid in planning and facilitating these local workshop meetings. The following agenda is currently being planned. All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00.  Zoom links for each workshop session will be emailed to county extension offices and can be shared locally. 

• November 20, 2022
• December 11, 2022
• January 8, 2023
• February 5, 2023
• March 5, 2023

Volunteer Spotlight:

In Celebration and In Memory of Jon Molitor
Jon Molitor has been involved with our 4-H Livestock program since 2014. He started as our Swine Superintendent and moved up to the Chair of the Livestock Committee in 2019. Jon was always the first one to arrive and the last one to close the gate at any event he helped with. We recently lost Jon in an ATV accident and there has been a huge hole left in our hearts and our 4-H program. He was never recognized for the gem that he was when he was with us, but should have been multiple times. He was also a very involved club leader and the ringleader for fun activities enjoyed by all club members, leaders and parents. He will be missed immensely.

Harvest of the Month

September’s Montana Harvest of the Month is herbs! Did you know, herbs contain vitamins and anti-inflammatory properties and are rich in antioxidants? Check out this Melon Mint Salad recipe card for a refreshing salad!
Link to recipe card

Montana Cruch Time

Join the state of Montana in celebrating National Farm to School Month in October by participating in Montana Crunch Time! Choose any locally grown or raised food and crunch into it on October 19, 2022! All Montanans are encouraged to participate whether at school, daycare, college, work, home, or on the go.