PDF of newsletter

 

A Letter From the Extension Agent

Part three in a series on parliamentary procedure.  

The purpose of a main motion is to bring an idea or activity to the club for discussion and vote.  You can only discuss one main motion at a time.

To start a motion use the words, “I move to/that…” followed by your proposed action item.  It is not correct to say, “I motion to” or “I so move.”

Once a motion is made, then the president asks for discussion on the motion. This is your chance to discuss the pros and cons of the motion as well as to ask questions and refine details.  If the club needs to make changes to the motion, they should use a process called an amendment which we will discuss next month.

When done with discussion, the president will ask for a vote.  If the motion passes, then the club will take action on the item.  If it fails, then no action is taken.

Sincerely,

Allison Kosto, Extension Agent- MSU Extension Broadwater County

 

Countywide 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting

There will be a meeting for shooting sports leaders of all disciplines on Wednesday, February 12th at 6:30 pm at the Extension Office.  At the meeting, leaders will have a chance to meet the new overall 4-H shooting sports coordinator, Sean McLaughlin, and discuss ways the county can work together to improve and enhance the entire shooting sprots program.

 

County Contest Extravaganza– “Chinese Challenge 2025- Year of the Snake”

County 4-H Contests are scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, March 16th. The exact schedule will be determined after entries are received. This event is a fun way for you to share your knowledge, learn new skills and be recognized for your hard work. Contests are related to communications, cooking, sewing and quilting. You don’t have to be enrolled in a certain project to participate. Senior members (13-18 years old) can earn a trip to compete at Montana 4-H Congress. See page 6 for a list of county contests and descriptions so you can start preparing your entry. Registration books are attached to this email.  Registration deadline is Tuesday, March 4th by 5pm.

 

4-H Fruit Sales Fundraiser

Crow Creek, Elkhorn, Old Baldy and Radersburg will be selling fruit as a fundraiser this year! Check with your club leader to see your club’s status. Order forms will be available soon and are due to your club leader on February 15th. If you are interested in ordering and your club is not selling, please contact Andrea Dabling 406.600.6799, Jenny Shumway 406.640.2838, Brittany Des Chene 406.224.2231, Daniel Truesdell at 406.980.0640, Dannielle Douglas 406.465.3318 or Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995 

 

Multi-County 4-H Camp

Save the date for June 3-6th for 4-H Camp near Monarch. 4-H camp is open to members currently in grades 3-6th. Registration will be done through Zsuites. Watch for more information when registration is open! Counselors will be notified by early February and are encouraged to attend a Counselor Training on Sunday, April 13th.  

 

The office will be closed on Monday, February 17th for President’s Day. 

 


Stay Connected with Sports You!

We are trying something new by offering members and parents to join us with Sports You. Sports You is a data-secure, school-safe, US owned and operated messaging platform. It can be used via a web browser or an app. We intend to use this to push out reminders and post documents. It is not mandatory to join, but if you think this will help your family stay connected with what is happening county wide, then please do! See the attachment with this email for instructions on how to join.

 
4-H Interstate Exchange Fundraisers

Spaghetti Dinner

The Broadwater 4-H Interstate Exchange is fundraising to travel to Pennsylvania this summer. One upcoming way to support their efforts is to attend their Family Valentine’s Spaghetti Dinner. It will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM at the 4-H Building, Broadwater County Fairgrounds. Tickets are just $10 each, which gets you a delicious dinner (spaghetti, bread, salad, dessert, and beverage) and access to a great silent auction AND live music by Dusty Tones. To-go plates and gluten-fee options will also be available. You can purchase your tickets at Opportunity Bank, the Townsend Mercantile, and from any 4-H Exchange Member. There will be limited tickets available at the door.

 

Gaggle-A-Friend!

Another creative fundraiser is “Goose Gaggling”—a playful twist on the classic pink flamingo flocking idea, but with geese!

Here’s how it works: For a small donation, adorable plastic geese will “roost” in someone’s yard for the day. In the evening, the geese will “migrate” to another yard, continuing their journey. If you find geese in your yard, there’s no cost to have them removed. However, for an additional donation, you can choose the next “lucky” friend to receive the flock!

This lighthearted fundraiser is all in good fun and helps support a great cause. Let’s keep the geese moving and help the Broadwater 4-H Interstate Exchange reach their goal!

Donations are accepted via cash or checks payable to Broadwater 4-H Interstate Exchange, 416 Broadway, Townsend, MT 59644. If special payments need to be arranged, please contact Jennifer at (406) 490-1362.

Also… If the idea of geese turning your property into their personal hangout doesn’t sound appealing, we’ve got you covered—literally! Our 'Anti-Gaggling' Insurance is available for just $25 per policy. The form is attached, so you can keep those feathered freeloaders at bay! To order ‘Anti-Gaggling’ Insurance, please contact Jennifer Beatty at 406.490.1362.

 

Show Rite Feed Presentation

Little Creek Feeds is sponsoring a feed workshop with Show-Rite Feeds on Friday, February 21st at 6:00 pm.  Little Creek Feeds is located at 310 South Front Street in Townsend.  They will be doing a taco feed and giveaways in addition to sharing information about their feed line.  All livestock species are welcomed.  NOTE: This is not a 4-H organized program.  Contact Justin Nelson at Little Creek Feeds at 406-266-0030 with any questions.

 

 

Countywide 4-H Activities

 

Committee & Council Meetings

4-H COUNCIL: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 25th at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). Contact Karen at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.

INDOOR COMMITTEE: The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 25th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). Contact Karen at 406.949.4852 if you have any questions or agenda items. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.

LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE: The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 4th at 7:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend).  If you have any questions or agenda items, please contact Jason Noyes at 406.949.4851. Agenda items must be submitted by noon the Friday prior to the meeting.  

HORSE COMMITTEE: There is currently no meeting scheduled.  If you have any questions, please contact Jan Finn at [email protected] or phone (406) 266-4992 - home phone or (406) 521-0001 - cell phone.

INTERSTATE EXCHANGE CLUB: The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 24th at 6:30pm at the Extension Office. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Beatty at 406.490.1362 or Todd Beatty at 406.490.1361.

TEEN CLUB: The next Teen Club meeting will be Thursday, February 6th at 6:30pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). Bring your ideas for this year’s community service project. Teen Club is open to all Middle or High School aged members. If you are not currently in Teen Club, but want to find out what it is about, please come to a meeting! Please RSVP to Karen Noyes at 406.949.4852.

 

4-H Animal Project Activities

 

Horse

The first horse workshop of the year will be on Thursday, March 27th at 6:30pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). This will be a tack check and member introductions. Please bring your saddle (including cinch) and bridle. Riding practices will begin in April. If you have any questions, please contact Jann Finn at 406.266.4992 or Donna Richards at 406.521.0717.

 

Beef

The next market/breeding workshop will be on Sunday, February 23rd (NOTE- DATE CHANGE!) from 2-4pm at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds (189 US HWY 12 E, Townsend). This workshop will explore and learn about genetics, EPDs and have a 'mock' production sale live auction! Please bring your record books, notebook/paper & a pencil/pen. If you have any questions about the beef project, contact John Ferrat at 406.949.7911 or Samantha Ferrat at 406.949.0869.

 

Rabbit

The next rabbit workshop will be held on Sunday, February 2nd at 3:30 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend).  We will be going over rabbit breeds. No rabbits at this meeting please. Rabbit workshops are planned to be held monthly on the first Sundays at 3:30 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318.

 

Dairy Goat

The next dairy goat meeting will be held Saturday, February 1st at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office. Meetings are planned to be held monthly on the first Saturday at 5:30pm. Locations will change throughout the year. These meetings are also open to Meat Goat members. If you have any questions, please contact Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995.

 

Swine

There are monthly meetings planned January through June for the swine project. The February meeting will be held on Thursday, February 13th at 6:30pm at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds (189 US HWY 12 E, Townsend). If you have any questions, contact Travis Volkman at 406.253.6160.

 

4-H Non-Animal Project Activities

 

Cloverbuds

The Cloverbuds will be meeting on Sunday February 16th at 3:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). These meetings are planned for third Sundays at 3:00 pm from January to May. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Lancello at 406.860.5355.

 

Sewing

The next sewing workshop will be Saturday, February 1st at 9:30 am at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). If you are planning on participating in the sewing project next year, please attend! Sewing workshops are planned for the second Saturday of the month until April. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Holland at 406.266.3473

 

.22 Rifle

The group has been divided into two shooting groups. Group A will meet on the first and third Mondays, Group B will meet on the second and fourth Thursdays at 6:30pm at the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club (96 Canton Lane, Townsend). For February: Group A meets on the 3rd and 17th and Group B meets on the 13th and 27th. If you do not know which group you are in please contact John Pavao. If you have any questions, please contact John Pavao at 406.422.9590.

 

Cake Decorating

The February workshop will be on Friday, February 14th at 5:30pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Roxanne Six at 406.980.1204.

 

Archery

Archery workshops will be starting on Tuesdays, February 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th at 6:00 pm at the 4-H Building at the Fairgrounds (189 US HWY 12 E, Townsend). Archery workshops will be every Tuesday until March 11th. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Noyes at 406.949,4851

 

Photography

There will be a photography workshop on Sunday February 16th at 5:00 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). Please bring your cameras to this workshop. If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318.

 

Vet Science

Save the date for a vet science workshop on Tuesday March 4th. More details to come in the March newsletter.

 

Statewide 4-H Opportunities

 

 

Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Schedule 2024-2025

4-H Shooting Sports Matches 2025

Great Falls  12/24-2/28/25  Cascade County Postal [email protected]

Victor   2/8/2025   Bitterroot 4-H Archers Inv. [email protected]

 Hope Earp – 406-961-4615

Great Falls   2/15/2025        Cascade County Invitational [email protected]

Ronan  2/15/2025  Fred Grant Memorial invitational [email protected]

Billings 2/15/2025 Yellowstone County registration through zsuites

Fort Benton 3/1/2025  Chouteau County Archery Inv. [email protected] 

Dillon 2/22/2024 Beaverhead County Invitational [email protected] 

Bozeman  3/7/2025 – 3/9/2025 State Shooting Sports Inv.  [email protected] 

Grand Island, NE 6/22/25-6/27/25  National Shoot    [email protected]

Qualifiers 2025

Bozeman 3/7/2025 - 393/2025 State Shoot   [email protected]     

Livingston   TBA         Archery Pre-Qualifier [email protected] [email protected]

Livingston TBA         Archery Qualifier [email protected] [email protected]

Logan TBA Shotgun qualifier  [email protected]

 

State Shoot Information

The 30th Annual Montana State 4-H Shooting and Archery Sports Competition is scheduled for March 7-9th in Bozeman. This is open to all 4-H Shooting Sports members. Registration is open and done through Fair Entry. More information on the state shoot can be found on the state shoot event website. 

​

2025 4-H Shooting Sports National Quiz Bowl

The 2025 4-H Shooting Sports National Quiz Bowl registration portal is now open. Quizzes this year are comprised of 50 new questions for Intermediate/Seniors and 25 new questions for Juniors as a mix of General 4-H, STEM, Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, Archery, Hunting Skills, and Western Heritage - hosted on a brand new, exciting, hopefully trouble free, platform. Please find more information 

 

Important Upcoming Dates
·         Leadership Academy - Sundays at 3:00 PM​

o    February 9, 2025​

o    March 16, 2025​

·         Montana State Shooting Sports Event – March 7-9, 2025

·         4-H Rec Lab – March 28-30th

·         Youth State Award Deadline – May 1, 2025​

·         Montana 4-H Congress (Pre-Congress) - July 6-8 and 8-11, 2025

 

Monthly Online Leadership Academy 

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop series on Sunday afternoons in the 2024-2025 4-H year. Each month, the Ambassador Officer Team will present a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have developed their own leadership abilities. This workshop can be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on skill building, planning, and mentorship. The leadership academy is for Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways. The workshop content is considered beginner level for emerging leaders. Members with more leadership experience may find this to be a review and should consider mentoring younger members just starting out in leadership activities before or after these workshops. Visit the Montana 4-H websiteto register for the workshop series and receive the Zoom link. Following Sunday Trainings at 3:00 PM: February 9, 2025 and March 16, 2025

 

Scholarship Opportunity

Montana 4-H Foundation is happy to inform you that we are now accepting applications for higher education scholarships. Applications are due February 14.  There are multiple scholarships available. To begin the process, please review all scholarship eligibility and criteria on the Montana 4-H Foundation website.

 

2025 Rec Lab March 28-30th  

Montana 4-H Rec Lab is taking place on March 28-30 in White Sulpher Springs.  Registration will open in February through ZSuites so watch for more information soon. Youth participants must be 13+ as of October 1, 2024. Adult chaperones must be as least 21 years of age.

What is Rec Lab? Rec Lab stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything is hands-on and fun! This event is a 4-H member favorite: It provides an opportunity for youth and adults to enhance their leadership, communication, and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting. Rec Lab programming provides participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp, and community leader. This event is ideal for younger senior members to attend as a first-time state event. It allows them to form relationships with 4-H peers from across the state, broaden their skills, and widen their network. 

 

Other Opportunities

 

People Partner Grants - Montana 4-H Foundation

These grants, up to $500, provide incentives and financial support to 4-H clubs, groups and individuals for programs that enhance the quality of living for people in their communities. Applications should meet the following criteria:

•    Youth should be involved in determining, planning, conducting, and evaluating the project.

•    The project will make it possible for people to accomplish something educational and worthwhile that helps them reach a higher quality of life.

•       There is community support and acceptance of the project, as evidenced by “partners” listed in the grant application, additional funding sources, and resource persons and agencies involved.

•    The project has lasting benefits.

Applications can be found on the Montana 4-H Foundation website and the deadline is February 14th. Paper applications will not be accepted.

 

MontanaFair Junior Livestock Show 

The event will be August 8th-16th in Billings. Animals participating in this show must be tagged on the following dates: Swine/Sheep/Goat on Saturday, May 3rd from 8:00-11:00 am.  Both tagging events are at the Public Auction Yard in Billings. For more information, contact the Extension Office.

 

MSU Science Night

Dates: February 6, 2025
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Audience: Open to the public
Location: Montana State University, SUB Ballrooms

Join us for a fun evening of hands-on educational activities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Hang out with MSU students, meet MSU scientists and engineers, and circulate at your own pace through a variety of engaging demonstrations and experiments in a science festival atmosphere. The evening will help kids and adults learn more about science in a fun and easy-to-understand format. Many scientific topics and disciplines will be represented, including science related to space, Yellowstone and the polar regions. An adult must accompany children. MSU Academic Technology and Outreach hosts MSU Family Science Night with support from Montana NSF EPSCoR and the Montana Nanotechnology Facility (MONT). MSU Science Night is free and open to the public. Advance registration is not required.

Parking Information:

Free parking is available after 6:00 p.m. in Bobcat lots 3, 11, 13, 15, 20 and 25.  Lot 15 is the large parking lot next to the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Paid parking is available in the Parking Garage for $5.00 for 0-60 minutes and $2.50 for each additional hour.

 

 

What are the County Contests? 

Here are the descriptions of each of the contests being held at the County Contest Extravaganza! Read through them and decide which contest you want to enter!

Communications—This contest recognizes the importance of developing high level communication skills as an essential life skill. Here you have an opportunity to practice and demonstrate communication skills through a variety of different methods. The following are components of the contest:  illustrated talk, commercial, impromptu speech, demonstration, video, career communications and prepared speech. You may participate in one or multiple components of the contest. Each component of the contest has a unique set of rules, so be sure to review them before participating.

Fashion Revue— This contest emphasizes skill development in selecting, constructing, accessorizing and modeling garment(s).  You also develop skills in communication, self-confidence, poise and decision making. There are two categories of the contest.  The traditional category is where you bring a new garment that you made.  Items can be sewn, hand-knitted or crocheted. The refashioned category is where you take an existing clothing item and repurpose it into a significantly wearable garment or look. Participants interview with a judge in addition to modeling the item.

Hooked on Cooking – This is an opportunity for members to demonstrate cooking skills. It is open to junior members (8-13 years old) as individuals or teams. The contest emphasizes having fun while cooking and developing skills for safe, nutritious and proper presentation of food. Each year is a new theme and participants create a meal and place setting and interview with a judge. 

Stir-Ups— This is an opportunity for participants to showcase cooking skills and nutritional knowledge.  It is open to any members who are 13 years old or older as individuals or teams. Participants will prepare an appealing, nutritious meal and participate in an interview with the judge.  Each year there is a new list of possible ingredients. Participants must use specific ingredients from the provided list to come up with your own creation.

Quilting —Participants in this contest demonstrate the principles of design and an understanding of the techniques required to construct a quilt or quilted item.  Participants will interview with the judge while he/she looks at the construction of the quilt.