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4-H FAIR EDITION

A Letter from the Extension Agent

It’s Fair month!  Who is excited?!  What a difference a year makes!

A favorite quote is “4-H is about more than ribbons and awards.  It’s about the people, the experiences, the lifelong skills, the memories, the county fair.  It’s about being a role model, giving back and making the best better.”  

We all want that purple ribbon and it’s easy to get swept away in the competition and the excitement of Fair. However, in 20 years you likely won’t remember what ribbon you won, but you will probably still remember the experience that you had and the friends you made.  These are the memories that can last a lifetime.  

We all have good days and bad days.  Animals do too.  Even if you don’t get the ribbon you worked so hard for and things don’t go your way, don’t let that stop you from having the best Fair and preserving those lifelong memories and skills.  Best of luck to each and every one of you!  I look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

Sincerely, Allison Kosto -Extension Agent, MSU Extension Broadwater County

The Extension Office will be CLOSED Monday, July 5th for observance of Independence Day. 

Fair Entries

Fair entries are due Tuesday July 6th by 11:00 pm. Fair entries are done online through the FairEntry website.  Page 4 of the 4-H Fairbook contains detailed instructions for how to enter the Fair. Please use the Fairbook as a reference to determine your entries and understanding rules. It has been emailed and posted online. If you have any trouble or questions, please do not hesitate to call the Extension Office.

 

Market Livestock Activity Requirements

To show and sell market livestock at the Fair all 4-H members must complete seven (7) “activity points” for each market project by fair entry deadline. One option is to complete 7 activities in your 4-H project book. The activities must be fully completed, dated and signed off by your helper. However, you may also choose other activities such as attending a workshop, livestock judging, outside shows, helping a younger member or organizing a workshop. For each of these items, you should write a paragraph about what you learned during that educational experience. Please use the provided form, which has been attached to the email newsletter to document your points. The form, books and documentation must be turned into the office by July 6th.  

This rule applies to market livestock ONLY. This means animals sold at Fair and intended for slaughter. For all other animals (dog, horse, pet rabbits, laying hens, breeding animals, etc.) and indoor projects, this rule does not apply to you. No other books are due at this time. 

Fair T-Shirts

If you would like a Fair t-shirt, but are not planning on exhibiting at the Fair, please send your t-shirt size to the Extension Office by July 6th. This includes Cloverbuds! Thanks to a donation from Northwest Farm Credit Services, t-shirts are provided to all 4-H members at no cost. T-shirts are available for family members and leaders for $15 each, and orders must be made to the office by July 6th. Payment prior to Fair is appreciated!

Setup & Cleanup

Fair setup is on Monday, August 2nd at 6:00 pm. All exhibitors are required to attend. One group will decorate the 4-H building for indoor exhibits and the other will setup the livestock barn. Cleanup is Monday, August 9th at 9:00 am. If you are unable to make it, a representative who can do the work may come in your place. If no one shows up, you will receive a $75 fee for each time deducted from your sale check.

DID YOU KNOW?! - How To Get An Indoor Award At Fair

The Indoor Committee uses a point system to determine indoor Fair awards based on the ribbons that you receive. A purple ribbon is worth 4 points, blue is 3 points, red is 2 and white is 1. 

Certificates are given to the top 4-H junior and senior exhibitor in every project. Points are given for up to 5 entries/ribbons in every project. The more entries you do and the better you do, the more points you will get.

Medals are given in every 4-H project category for juniors and seniors. The project categories are listed both in the 4-H Clover and Fairbook. An example of a category is “Engineering and Technology” which includes the projects Aerospace, Bicycle, Electricity, Robotics, Small Engines, Welding and Woodworking. In this area, exhibitors receive points for the top 3 entries/ribbons in each project. All the projects in the category are added together and the exhibitor with the most points in the category will receive a medal. The more projects you do within a category, the greater the probability you will get a metal. Quality is important too!

An overall award is given to the top junior and senior indoor exhibitor. This award uses the top 3 entries/ribbons in every indoor project (including animal educational displays) for the overall award. This is another area where a greater number of indoor projects may yield a great likelihood of achieving the award. Quality is important too!

Indoor awards are a little complicated so if you have any questions, contact a member of the Indoor Committee or the Extension Office. 

Indoor Auction

Indoor exhibitors are welcome to participate in the 4-H Indoor Silent Auction at the Fair. It is open to any member (including Cloverbuds) who exhibits a usable item such as: leathercraft, woodworking, sewing, quilting, photos, etc. All proceeds to go to the member. There is a two-item limit. Consignment forms are due Tuesday of Fair week. Food and animal items may not be sold. Photos cannot be framed for judging, but frames can be added after judging for the auction. Frames and matting will be sold with the photo.

4-H Record Books

All members selling market livestock are required to participate in an interview during Fair setup on Monday. An interview schedule will be sent prior to the Fair. Bring an up-to-date record book to the interview. Your interviewer will want to hear about everything you learned in your project, and they will ask you questions! A description of the record book forms is on the right. Forms are available on the county webpage or from the Extension Office.  You can also use ZSuites to complete your record books.  If you choose this option, print out a hard copy to bring to your interview.

If you are not selling market livestock, your record books aren’t due at Fair.  However, this is still a good time to get them up-to-date and become more prepared to answer the judge’s questions at Fair. All record books are due to your club leader by September 15th (or an earlier date set by your club).

4-H Parade Floats

All 4-H Clubs are invited to participate in the parade. This year, each club will be making plans for their own float. Contact your club leader if you have any questions.

Livestock Buyer’s Dinner Contribution

Each family is asked to contribute $20 per family for the dinner, which can be paid on setup night to the Livestock Committee.

Camper, Trailer and Car Parking Changes

We are getting a tent for the show ring again this year, which is great news! However, this does put a bit of a crunch into the space available at the Fairgrounds. We have to make sure that the public has plenty of room to park, and there will be more vendors and entertainment set up than there were last year. This means that there will be certain restrictions on 4-H campers, stock trailers, personal vehicles, etc. All families will get a copy of the allowed parking areas in their fair packets. Please follow these rules, otherwise we may not be allowed to have an outside tent again next year. We are looking for someone to monitor the grounds during Monday nights barn set up and Thursday mornings animal arrival and weigh-in. This person would be making sure that everyone is parking in the allowed areas. Please let us know if you are interested in this or know someone who might be.

Record Book Forms

Forms can be found on the county webpage on the 4-H Forms & Resources section or from the Extension Office. You can also use ZSuites to complete your record books and simply print a copy at the end of the years.

Types of Forms:

My 4-H Year: One form required each year at the front of your record book. This form summarizes your general 4-H activities & achievements. You can also record non-4-H activities.

Animal Project Journal & Financial Record: Use one form for each animal project (i.e. market lamb, breeding beef, rabbit, horse, etc.). This helps track project specific activities, feed records, financials, & health care.

Non-Animal Project Journal and Financial Record: Use one form for each indoor project (i.e. sewing, foods, leadership, leathercraft, etc.). This helps track your project specific activities & financials.

Cloverbud Record Sheet: 1 set per year for each Cloverbud. This is a journal of your 4-H activities. 

4-H Story: Optional for year-end completion but required to be eligible for awards. This is your opportunity to be creative & share a favorite experience from the 4-H year. This can be completed after Fair.

Record book covers are available from the office. Contact the office or club leader if you have questions.

Have you wormed your animal recently?

If not, it may be time to do it again! Keeping your animal free of internal parasites makes them healthier and happier and minimizes their spread when they encounter other animals at places such as Fair. Make sure you read the label and adhere to all withdrawal times. This is your legal responsibility to make sure there are no drug residues in your animal at slaughter. Don’t wait too long to give your wormer or it may be too late! Many wormers have a 30 day withdrawal time so aim to do it around July 1st!        

COUNTYWIDE & COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Decorating, Indoor Committee, and 4-H Leaders Council

On Tuesday, July 27th, there will be 3 meetings held in the Extension Office Meeting Room. At 5:00 pm, the indoor decorating committee will meet to put together decorations for the indoor building. At 6:00 pm, Indoor Committee will meet. At 7:00 pm, 4-H Council will meet. For questions, contact Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852 or Terri Howey at 406.581.6295. 

 Livestock Committee

The next meeting will be Tuesday, July 6th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office. The committee will be review livestock books and hold a regular meeting. Dinner is provided for anyone who comes to help! Please contact Jason Noyes at 406.949.4851 if you have any questions or concerns.

Shotgun Workshops

There will be three shotgun workshops scheduled for Tuesdays, July 13th, 20th and 27th at 6:00 pm at the Broadwater Trap Club (96 Canton Lane, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Todd Beatty at 406.490.1361.

Teen Club

The next meeting of the Teen Club will be Thursday, July 8th. They will be delivering the donations and taking a tour of the Cancer Support Community in Bozeman. If you have any questions, contact Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852. 

Congratulation Crow Creek Clovers club for winning the teen club donation drive! 

Woodworking Workshop

There will be a woodworking workshop on Saturday July 10th at 2:00 pm at the Kockler’s shop (130 Hilltop Vista Loop, Three Forks). You will be building a miter box, shadow box and/or tool box and learning to use basic tools and a hand saw. Please wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Bring a hammer and hand saw if you have one that you like!  Other materials will be provided. If you have any questions, contact Renee Kockler at 406.220.2820. 

Welding

There will be a welding workshop Friday, July 9th at 6:00 pm at the Kockler’s shop (130 Hilltop Vista Loop, Three Forks). Bring your project ideas and materials. Welding machines and rods will be available. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Kockler at 406.533.8774. 

Dog Project

Just a reminder that all project members must sign the Dog guidelines form and pay a $20 participation fee to attend workshops. There are four workshops scheduled for July.  Except where noted, all workshops take place at Sorenson’s Barn (200 Flynn Lane, Townsend)

·         Thursday, July 8th, 6:00- 7:00 pm. Agility only.

·         Thursday, July 15th, 6:00-7:00 pm. All Welcome! No Dogs, Herding Demonstration.  Different location - 201 Flynn Ln.

·          Thursday, July 22nd, 6:00-6:45 is Obedience and from 6:45-7:45 is Agility 

·         Thursday, July 29th , 6:00-7:30. All members. Games and equipment load up for Fair! 

For any questions, please contact Juliet Flynn at 406. 439.1471.

 Swine Workshop

There is one more swine workshop scheduled for Thursday July 8th at 6:30 pm at the Fairgrounds. Contact Hugh Braaten at 406.439.8873 if you have any questions.

Dairy Goat Workshops

There will be two Dairy Goat workshops this month on Wednesdays, July 7th and 21st at 6:00 pm at the Fairgrounds. The workshop on the 7th will be practicing walking in the ring, meat goats are welcome to come to this workshop as well! For more information or if you have any questions, contact Brandon or Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995.

Horse Riding Practices: 

We will be riding Mondays, July 12th, 19th and 26th at the Fairgrounds. This year, Level 1 will ride from 6:00-7:00pm and Level 2 and up will ride from 7:00 to 8:00pm. Once the weather starts to cooperate, riding practices will be in the outdoor arena.  If you have any questions, contact Donna Richards at 406.521.0717 or Jan Finn at 406.266.4992. 

4-H Foundation Scholarship Award Winners

Broadwater County had two past 4-H members receive a 2021 Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarship.  This is an amazing representation for Broadwater County.  Congratulations Taylor Noyes and Tyler Noyes!  Way to go!

Statewide 4-H Opportunities


McCone County Jackpot Show

The show will be held July 11th at the McCone County Fair Grounds in Circle, MT. Registrations are due by July 3rd. This is for Hog, Goat, Lamb and Beef. For more information, please contact the office.

Montana State 4-H Horse Events

Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Montana State 4-H Horse Events this year. Registration packets will be available soon. Blocks of rooms have been reserved for best rates available for both events.

When you compete at one or both events, you can make new friends, learn valuable skills though educational opportunities, join in fun activities, and win great awards and prizes. If you have any questions, please reach out to your County Extension Office with questions or visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MT4HStateHorseEvents/  to stay updated. Here are a few important dates:

·         Working Ranch Horse Finals- August 28-29: 406 Arena in Vaughn, MT

·         Montana State 4-H Horse Show- September 24-26: Cottonwood Event Center in Joliet, Mt.  Registration for Events Opens June 1st

·         Information on a Photo Contest (of your 4-H Project Horse) to be exhibited at September Horse Show.

Montana Make It With Wool Contest

It is time to start preparing for the Make It With Wool contest to be held the Fall. Get out your favorite pattern and start hunting for that perfect wool fabric. Wouldn’t it be great to make a wool outfit for the contest and then already have an outfit finished for your sewing project next 4-H year? Contact the office for more information.