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A Letter From the Extension Agent
 

This month, I’d like to recognize and congratulate our two graduating seniors!  Graduating from Broadwater High School is Emily Bird who has been in 4-H for nine years in the Toston Blue Ribbon 4-H Club.  Jeffry Klompien is completing his homeschool program.  He is a four year member of the Rocky Mountain Rough Hands 4-H Club.  Both members have been highly active and successful with their livestock projects throughout their 4-H career.  

Congratulations to you both!  We wish you the very best in your future endeavors! It has been my pleasure to work with you in the 4-H program and watch you grow into young leaders. I have no doubt you will go far in whatever you decide to do! Once again, congratulations! 

 

Sincerely,

Allison Kosto, Extension Agent- MSU Extension Broadwater County

 

 
Market Swine Tagging

IMPORTANT:  It is your responsibility to get tags from the Extension Office and to turn in the tagging form by May 1st.  Every hog tagged must be assigned to a designated 4-H/FFA member. Fair entries must match the tagging form and all animals who are housed in the Livestock Building at Fair must be entered in the Fair. Tagging forms are attached to this email, available at our Broadwater County 4-H website, or can be submitted via google form. Contact the Extension Office or Hugh Braaten at 406.439.8873 if you have any questions.

 
Multi-County 4-H Camp

4-H Camp is June 4-7th near Monarch. Camp registration is open now through Zsuites.  4-H members in grades 3-6 are eligible for camp. Campers, counselors and chaperones must register by May 6th as well as submit payment and medical forms to the office. We have many fun, interactive activities planned to challenge you and help you learn as an individual. New this year we are incorporating workshop tracks into camp. These will be in-depth workshops that will take place over the course of a day. Topics for the tracts are STEM Space Explorers, Outdoor Adventures, A Creative Cleanup: Noxious Weeds, and Making Art and Craft. The registration fee for Broadwater County 4-H campers is $70 and counselors are $50, thanks to a contribution from the 4-H Council.  

 

Project Add/Drop Deadline

Don’t forget to add or drop projects by May 1st! You can do this online through Zsuites or through the Extension Office. Project meeting and workshop information is only sent out to the members who are currently enrolled in a project. Make sure that your project list in Zsuites is accurate so that you don’t miss out on any information! Also, remember that you are only able to enter into Fair for the projects you are enrolled in as of this deadline.

 

Market Lambs and Meat Goats

IMPORTANT:  All Market Lambs and Meat Goats must be in your possession by May 15th.  The weigh-in and tagging date has been changed to Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00 pm at Galor Genetics (8393 US HWY 287, Townsend). All market lambs and goats are required to attend the tagging. If you cannot attend, then you must make arrangements for someone else to bring your animal. No exceptions.  Breeding animals are welcome to get weighed but are not required to attend. Also please be prepared to share information about your animal including breed, breeder and date of birth.  If you have any questions, contact the Extension Office or Tancy McDaniel at 406.980.0456.

 

2024 Broadwater County 4-H Fair

Believe it or not, we only have 3 months until Fair! This may seem like a long time, but it will be here before we know it! A copy of the Fair Book is attached to this newsletter email. It can also be found on our Broadwater County 4-H website.. In the Fair Book, you will find the Fair schedule, classes, rules and entry instructions. Now is the time to start planning your fair entries! Online fair entries will open May 16th and close July 9th.  No late entries accepted.

 

Fair T-shirts

Club leaders are in the process of collecting 4-H members t-shirt sizes. T-shirts are provided for all members through a donation from AgWest. If a non-member (parent, leader, younger sibling, etc.) would like to purchase a shirt, please contact the office. Shirts are $20 each. Orders need to be in and paid for by May 31st.

 

Countywide 4-H Activities

Committee & Council Meetings
 4-H COUNCIL:  The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 21st at 7:00 pm at the 4-H building (at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds, 189 US Hwy 12 E).  Please note this meeting is a week earlier from its normal date due to eighth grade graduation and is in a different location. 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 Tuesday, May 21st at 6:00 pm at the 4-H building (at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds, 189 US Hwy 12 E). Please note this meeting is a week earlier from its normal date due to eighth grade graduation and is in a different location.  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, May 7th 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.  

 

4-H Animal Project Activities

 

Carcass Ultrasound Workshop – May 1st

Broadwater County 4-H & FFA members have been invited to attend a multi-species workshop hosted by Gallatin County 4-H. Chuteside Veterinary Service of Three Forks is hosting an All-Species Carcass Ultrasound Workshop on Wednesday, May 1st at 6:30pm @ Headwaters Livestock Auction (25 Wheatland Road, Three Forks)

Any and all 4-H and FFA members from Gallatin and Broadwater counties who might be interested are welcome to attend.

 

Market Rabbit & Poultry

If you plan to take market pens of poultry or rabbits to the Fair, they must be in your possession by June 25th and you are required to complete and turn in an identification form, due June 26th. Since there is no official tagging for these animals, we use a form. The form is included in this newsletter email and an online google form is available.  This form is not needed for pet rabbits or poultry, laying hens or breeding projects.  It is only necessary if you plan to take a market project to Fair and sell it through the livestock auction.

 
Market Livestock Activity Requirements 

To show and sell market livestock (including poultry and rabbits) at the Fair all 4-H members must complete seven (7) “activity points” for each market project by the Fair entry deadline. There was a major change last year that sets a limit on the number of activities that senior members (ages 14-18) can complete from their project book.  Senior members are now limited to a maximum of three activities from the book.  So if you are a senior member, then you need to plan ahead to make sure you have enough points!  The updated form is attached to this email.

Junior members (ages 8-13) can complete all seven activities from the project book or choose from a variety of other options. Both juniors and seniors can also do other activities such as attending a workshop, livestock judging, outside shows, helping a younger member or organizing a workshop. Details are on the form. The activities must be fully completed, dated and signed off by your helper. For each of these items, you should write a paragraph about what you learned in that educational experience. Please use the form to document your points. The form, books and documentation must be turned into the office by the fair entry deadline, July 9th.    No other books are due at this time.

Dairy Goat

The next Dairy Goat workshop is scheduled for Saturday, May 3rd at 5:30pm at the Henke’s home (200 S Railroad Ave, Townsend).  Meat goat members are welcome as well. Any member wanting to do a demonstration at one of the meetings is welcome to do so. If you have any questions, please contact Danyel Henke at 406.980.0995

 

Rabbit

The next rabbit project meeting will be Sunday, May 5th at 3:30 pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend) If you have any questions, please contact Dannielle Douglas at 406.465.3318.

 

Sheep

There will be a sheep project meeting on Saturday May 11th at 1:00pm at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Dave Merritt at 406.539.5838.

 

Dog

The dog project will be meeting on Thursdays in May, June and July. Obedience will meet at 6:00pm and Agility at 7:00pm at the Roping Barn (Indoor barn at the Broadwater County Fairgrounds). If you have any questions, please contact Georgia Wilde at 913.837.0061

 

Horse

Riding Workshops

Horse riding practice will be on Mondays, May 13th and 27th at 6:30 pm at the Fairgrounds. Riding practices will either be in the indoor barn or the outdoor arena, depending on weather and temperature The rest of the dates for riding practices are: June 10, 17 & 24, July 1, 8, 15 & 22 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either Jann Finn at 406.266.4992 or Donna Richards at 406.521.0717

 
Swine

The next Swine workshop is Monday, May 20th 6:30 pm at the Livestock Pavilion at the fairgrounds. This will be a hands-on showmanship meeting. To get the most out of this meeting you will be able to bring your pig and work it in the showring if you have basic control of it.  If you have not walked your pig outside of its pen, please don’t bring it. They don’t have to be totally broke but you need to have some control over them. There will be an opportunity for senior members to give short presentations on different aspects of daily care and show prep if they would like extra points.  If senior members would like to do this, you must talk to Hugh by April 30th to discuss topics. If you have any questions, please contact Hugh Braaten at 406.439.8873.

Meat Goat

The next meat goat meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 19th at 2:00pm at the McDaniel Ranch (168 Lower Confederate Rd, Townsend). If you have any questions, contact Tancy McDaniel at 406. 980.0456.

 

4-H Non-Animal Project Activities

 

Cloverbuds

The next Cloverbuds meeting will be held on Friday, May 10th at 1:00pm at Heritage Park (200 block S. Pine Street, Townsend). Cloverbuds is the project for our 4-H members aged 5-7. 4-H members who are 8 can choose to take Cloverbuds as their project or to be a full 4-H member and take any of the other 4-H member and take any of the projects available. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jessica Lancello at 406.860.5355.

 

Sewing

The next sewing workshop will be Saturday, May 18th at 9:30 am at the Extension Office (416 Broadway, Townsend). There will also be a special sewing/quilting opportunity on Friday, May 31st at 5:15 pm at the Extension Office. See the details on page 6 of this newsletter.  If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Holland at 406.266.3473

 

Woodworking

Woodworking workshops are scheduled for Tuesdays, May 7, 14 and 21st at 6:00pm at the Cadillac Custom Cabinets shop (6 Hunters Trail, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Harrigfeld at 406.980.0388

 

.22 Rifle Workshops

The .22 rifle project will meet at the Broadwater County Rod and Gun Club Canton Range (96 Canton Lane, Townsend). The members are divided into two groups. Group A will meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays, and Group B will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 6:30-8pm.   Participants must be age 9 or older to enroll in the project.  Participants will learn firearm safety (first and foremost), firearm nomenclature, shooting skills, shooting positions, and much more.  Participants will shoot almost every meeting starting after the third meeting.  Parents are encouraged, but not required, to remain on-site during the meeting. The gun club provides .22 rifles for participants that do not have a rifle, or participants can bring their own. Scopes and semi-auto rifles are prohibited. Contact John Pavao at 406.422.9590 if you have any questions.

 

Hunting/Wildlife

The next workshop will be Saturday, April 6th at 3:00 pm at the Henke’s home (200 S Railroad Ave, Townsend) Topics will be cold weather hunting, hunter orange, mapping your hunt, ballistics and many more. If you have any questions, please contact Brandon Henke at 406.980.0992

 

Shotgun

Workshops for Shotgun will be on Sundays May 5th and 19th at 4:00pm at the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club (96 Canton Lane, Townsend). If you have any questions, please contact Daniel Truesdell at 406.980.0640 or Todd Beatty at 406.490.1361.

 

Statewide 4-H Opportunities

 

Montana 4-H State Award for Youth

The Montana 4-H State Awards program is in place to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of 4-H members who have reached a standard of excellence in a project area. State Award winners have gone above and beyond regular project work with a focus on leadership, communication, and community service.

State Award recipients are recognized during the Banquet at Montana 4-H Congress in July and are eligible to attend National 4-H Congress in November.

Applications and more information are due May 1st.

 

4-H Congress July 9 – 12 – Save the Date!

Montana 4-H invites all members 4-H age 13 and older to the Montana 4-H Congress event on the Bozeman campus of MSU. Congress provides youth from cross the state an opportunity to come together on campus in Bozeman for four days and participate in an event like no other. Congress offers both youth and adults a venue in which to learn, be challenged, and most of all, have a great time with their peers. Montana 4-H'ers have been attending an event like Congress for decades. Congress has become an important tradition and is the signature event for the Montana 4-H Program.  Congress' purpose is to provide a safe and fun environment for youth to experience all that 4-H Congress has to offer including contests, workshops, entertainment, social events, and much more. Watch for more information in the spring!

 

4-H and Open Horse Show Opportunity

Members in your county are invited to the Rockin’ the Project 4-H and Open Horse Show to be held Saturday, July 20 in Billings, MT.

An entry form with additional event information is attached to this email. Questions can be directed to Yellowstone County 4-H leaders Rhonda at 406-598-6999 or Kayla at 307-251-4931.

 

4-H Hosting Opportunities

Our state has the unique opportunity for youth and families to grow and experience another culture by hosting an international delegate through the 2024 Summer and Academic Year International Exchange Programs with States’ 4-H! We are seeking host families with a youth within 3-4 years of age and same gender of the youth delegate. 

Short-term Summer Hosting Opportunities (~4 weeks):  

·Japanese Delegation in MT July 22-August 17, 2024: We have 16 female and male youth, ranging from 12-17 years of age, and 1 adult chaperone to match with host families. 2024 Summer Host Family Application 

Academic Year Program (AYP) Hosting Opportunities (~10 months):

·~mid-August 2024 to mid-June 2025: We have 1 Korean and 1 Japanese youth to match with a host family. 2024-25 AYP Host Family Application .  

Specific information on the ages of both the short-term and the AYP youth can be shared with families who have a strong interest in hosting!  Contact Christine at [email protected]  or 406.994.3504 for more information.

 

Other Opportunities

 

MontanaFair Junior Livestock Show 

The event will be August 9th-17th in Billings. Animals participating in this show must be tagged on the following dates: The final tagging is for Swine, Sheep and Goats on Saturday, May 4th from 8:00-Noon. Tagging events are at the Public Auction Yard in Billings. For more information, contact the Extension Office.

 

The Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp

The Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp on July 14-19 is now taking registrations. For 38 years, the Montana Natural Resources Youth Camp has provided youth an opportunity to study in an outdoor classroom. Campers learn about forests, streams, soils, geology, rangeland, wildlife, and recreation and spend half-day rafting the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge. In between the field sessions, professionals who volunteer from various natural resources-based agencies and industries, specialty evening programs, guest speakers, and hands-on learning through discovery and campfires provide for a lasting summer camp experience.

More information about the camp can be found on the MSU Forestry website . 

There are many scholarship opportunities available to cover camp fees and/or transportation costs.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact Christina Oppegard, Camp Director, at MSU Extension Forestry (406) 243-2773 [email protected].  

 

Montana Columbia Sheep Breeders Association- Starter Flock Program

The Montana Columbia Sheep Breeders Association is excited to offer a starter flock program to youth ages 11 – 16 interested in raising registered Columbia Sheep. Selected recipients receive a gift of 4 registered ewes to begin their adventure. With the help of family and the guidance of a nowledgeable sponsor member of the association, this program is a stepping stone towards success for our young breeders.  Information and application is available at the Montana Columbia Sheep Breeders website. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 1.

 

American Quarter Horse Association Youth Excellence Seminar

The Youth Excellence Seminar, or what is more fondly known as YES is a 3 day educational and fun-filled conference that welcomes equine-loving youth ages 10 to 18. Some fun and educational activities we have are listening to inspiring speakers, leadership development workshops, making new friends from all across the US, a community service activity, and so much more. This year, YES will be held from July 9-11 in Amarillo, TX. Our theme is "We're All In". Which for us is the celebration of what makes each youth member unique, from the color of their horse or the class they ride in, is the community they all value. A community that embraces diverse backgrounds and interests, treats everyone with respect, and provides a welcoming atmosphere in a place where all members thrive.

Registration and Hotel Accommodations have been posted and can be found on the YES AQHA page.

 

Sedan Cow Camp and Show

The Sedan Cow Camp and Show will be held June 1-2 in Wilsall. This camp was started by two young cattle enthusiasts to assist members in the 4-H/FFA Beef project to acquire the essential skills for success. Their  program is a two-day workshop. The first day begins by discussing feed routines and gradually move into topics like washing and daily care of beef projects. We then transition to clipping and fitting and conclude the day with lessons on showmanship and show ring etiquette. Throughout the day, there are breakout sessions for parents to learn important skills, such as helping with show day stress and goal setting. On the second day, participants have the opportunity to apply the skills they learned in a real show setting and receive valuable feedback from an industry judge. The day kicks off early in the wash racks, with the sound of blowers and clippers filling the air. Last year, we featured three Showmanship classes, a Breeding Heifer Class, and four classes of market steers. It's a hands-on experience where participants can showcase what they've learned and gain practical insights.

 

 

National Food Challenge

The National Food Challenge is scheduled for October 1, 2024 in Dallas Texas. This challenge provides a place for youth to compete at the national level. Additionally, the event helps youth develop and exhibit nutrition, healthy food preparation, food safety, communication, and teamwork skills through culinary experience. National Food Challenge participants learn to prepare safe and nutritious foods and make healthy decisions which may decrease their risk of chronic disease now and in the future.

Attendees at the National 4-H Food Challenge will experience unique learning experiences while participating in the program. Learning experiences will focus on, but not be limited to, nutrition, food purchasing, food preparation, food safety, and careers. These experiences will occur through presentations by professionals, self-guided tours, educational resources and displays, and hands-on engagement with food preparation.

Registration fee is $125.00 and entries are due by August 12th. If you are interested in more information, please contact the office. 

 
Sewing/Quilting Community Service Opportunity

The Broadwater County Fair Board has asked the 4-H sewing and quilting members to help out with a project! This can also be a community service project for any other 4-H member who has some sewing and quilting experience! Come and help Friday May 31st at 5:15 pm at the Extension Office. Bring pins, sewing machine if you have it! Contact Sarah Holland at 406.266.3473 for more information.

 
Registration Open for MFU Camp at Arrowpeak

Registration is now open for MFU Camp at Arrowpeak, with several camps running over the summer months. The popular camps are low-cost and feature learning about agriculture and cooperatives. Several seasonal staff positions also are open for MFU Summer Camps at Arrowpeak, visit the employment page for more details. 

There are multile dates for Mini-Junior, Junior and Senior Teen aged kids. For more information on camp dates, deadlines and fees, visit the MFU Camp website.