January 4-H Newsletter

Alternatively, download a printable version of the January 2024 Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

Newsletter Drawing

Everyone who emails Allyssa ([email protected]) Friday, January 12 with the description of the page you found the snowman symbol above will be entered in a drawing to win a 4-H themed prize. The winner will be able to choose from multiple awesome 4-H items. Please include the description of the page you found the symbol, something you learned from the newsletter, and the name(s) of the 4-H’er(s) to be entered into the drawing. Congratulations to the December Newsletter Drawing winner, Boaz P. from the Big Sky Explorers 4-H Club!

Thank You!

Thank you to the following people and businesses that have donated to the Cascade County 4-H Program over the last month!

Opportunity Bank
Sheryl & Randy Knowles – In Memory of Dan Dunn
William & Holly Kessler
Michaela Hystad
Ardythe Bessette

Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications OPEN

Applications for the 2024 Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarships are now open! The scholarships are available to those who are continuing their education beyond high school. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must have been a Cascade County 4-H member at the time of their graduation. You may apply for this scholarship for up to six years after your high school graduation. More information and the application can be found at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bPmne0g2gGP9fLg. Applications and supplemental materials are due by 11:59pm on March 31, 2024.

Office Closure

The MSU Extension Cascade County Office will be closed on Monday, January 1 in observance of New Years and Monday, January 15 in observance of MLK Jr. Day.

People Partner Grants

Applications for 2024 People Partner Grants are now open! People Partner Grants are awarded by the Montana 4-H Foundation. They provide incentives and financial support to groups and individuals for programs that enhance the quality of living for people in their communities. More information on how to apply for these $500 grants can be found at Grants - MONTANA 4-H FOUNDATION (mt4hfoundation.org). Applications are due by February 1, 2024.

4-H Volunteer Development Interest Survey

Volunteer development is an important aspect of a successful 4-H program. We are interested in hearing from current Cascade County 4-H volunteers about what type of volunteer development opportunities you would like to attend. Please fill out the short survey found at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeyEK7cdYJVZKl0 to help ensure volunteer development is relevant to you!

UPCOMING CASCADE COUNTY 4-H EVENTS

Camp Junior Director Applications Open

Applications for Camp Junior Directors (JDs) are now open on ZSuite! JDs plan all aspects of Cascade County 4-H Camp and hold an important leadership role at camp. The qualify to be a JD, youth must be 13 years or older by October 1, 2023, and want to grow in their leadership skills. Applications and a $25 registration fee are due on February 21, 2024. JDs must commit to attending all camp planning meetings and the entirety of camp.

2024 Camp Planning Dates

• February 26: 6-8pm at the Extension Office
• March 25: 6-8pm at the Extension Office
• April 29: 6-8pm at the Extension Office
• June 8: JD Day at Camp Rotary
• June 9-12: Cascade County 4-H Camp at Camp Rotary

New 4-H Family Orientation

The next New 4-H Family Orientation will be held on Thursday, February 15 at the Extension Office. There will be a potluck starting at 5:30 and the orientation will start at 6:00. Register for this event on ZSuite by February 11, 2024. The information presented at this orientation will be the same as the information at the October orientation.

Communications Contest

Registration for the 2024 Communications Contest is now open on ZSuite! The Communications Contest is Cascade County 4-H’s public speaking event. This competition is open to all Cascade County 4-H Youth including Cloverbuds! Youth may compete in multiple public speaking events including prepared speech, demonstration, cowboy poetry, and career communications (job interview)! More information about this event can be found in the ZSuite event section. Registration is due Monday, January 15, 2024. Please note the date change of the event to January 25, 2024.

Foods Festival and Stir-Ups Cooking Competition

Mark your calendars! The Cascade County 4-H Foods Festival and Stir-Ups Cooking Competition will be held on Wednesday, February 7. More information and registration will be available soon!

Qualifying for Montana 4-H Congress

Youth 13 years and older by October 1, 2023 are eligible to qualify to compete in state contests at Montana 4-H Congress! Congress is an amazing event held at the MSU Bozeman campus in July. To qualify for Congress, youth must be awarded a blue ribbon at one of the following county contests.

• Communications Contest
  
  • Career Communications, Prepared or Impromptu Speech, Demonstration or Illustrated Talk, Video Presentation
• Stir-Ups
• Fashion Revue
• Quilt Show
• Livestock Judging, Horse Judging, Gavel Games (Parli-Pro), & Hippology – Talk to Allyssa about how to qualify

CASCADE COUNTY 4-H PROJECT NEWS AND UPDATES

Project Day

The next Project Day will be held on Saturday, January 13 from 9am-12pm at the MSU Extension Cascade County Office. Registration is open in ZSuite and closes on Wednesday, January 10 at 11:59 pm.

Project Day Workshops

*Subject to Change*

• January 13
  
  • Horse Career Fair, Baking Pies, Goat Soap Making (must be 13+ years old), Sewing, and Cloverbuds
• February 10
  
  • Rabbit Showmanship, Poultry Showmanship, Cloverbuds, Cat, Horse Patterns, and Sewing
• March 9
  
  • Cloverbuds, Livestock Project Marketing, Horse Packing and Safe Trail Riding, and Sewing
• April 13
  
  • Livestock Quality Assurance, Cloverbuds, Sewing, and Horse Driving (off-site)
• May 11
  
  • Baby Blanket Service Project, Cloverbuds, and Record Book Office Hours

Other 4-H Shooting Sports Events

Custer County Invitational

This invitational will offer archery and air gun events. It will take place on January 12 and 13th in Miles City, MT. For more information about how to register, reach out to your shooting sports instructor.

Bitterroot Archers Tournament

This tournament offers archery events. It will be on February 10 in Victor, MT. More information about registration will be available soon.

Choteau County Archery Invitational

This invitational will offer archery events. It will take place on February 24 in Fort Benton, MT. More information will be available soon.

Montana 4-H State Shooting Sports Invitational

This invitational will offer archery, air gun, and .22 events. It will be in Bozeman March 1-3. Ask your shooting sports instructor for more information about the state shoot.

Market Beef Weigh-In and Rate of Gain Contest

The first weigh-in for market beef will be on Sunday, January 14 at 1:00pm at Western Livestock Auction (406 Vaughn South Frontage Rd., Great Falls). Youth wishing to participate in the beef rate of gain contest must weigh in their animal at this initial weigh in. The final weight will be taken at the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show in July. The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders award the following amounts for the beef rate of gain contest: 1st-$100, 2nd-$60, and 3rd-$40.

Livestock Quality Assurance Requirement

Youth enrolled in livestock projects must participate in Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA) once as a junior (8-13 years old) and once as a senior (14+ years old) member and in their first year enrolled in 4-H livestock projects to participate in the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale. The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will be offering LQA at the April 13 Project Day from 9am-12pm. If you are not able to attend this LQA event, you may attend an LQA event in another county and turn in proof of attending that event to the MSU Extension Cascade County office.

Horse Helmet Education Requirement

Horse helmet education is required once as a junior (8-13 years old) member and once as a senior (14+ years old) member, or during the first year enrolled in 4-H horse projects. If you were not able to make it to the Project Day workshop, and are due for helmet education, please watch the video found at Every Time Every Ride 1995 - YouTube and fill out the quiz and policy form that can be attained by emailing Jody at [email protected]. The quiz and form are due back to the Extension Office by February 1, 2024. They may be turned in in-person or mailed to 3300 3rd St. NE #9, Great Falls, MT 59404.

Horse Tack Available

A gracious community member donated multiple saddle blankets and other horse tack to be used by 4-H horse members. Stop by the Extension Office to take a look and grab some of this FREE equipment!

MEETING NOTICES

Leaders Council

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Leaders Council will be on Tuesday, January 9 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx.

Shooting Sports Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders will be on Thursday, January 4 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office. Topics of discussion will include the live tournament and fundraising plans. The Shooting Sports Leaders Committee is searching for committee members. Committee members help to plan shooting sports events and instructional practices, help with fundraisers, and set project policy and procedure.

Horse Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders will be on Tuesday, January 2 at 5:30pm. The February meeting will be held Tuesday, February 6 at 5:30pm.

Livestock Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will be held on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:00pm. The February meeting will be held Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00pm.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status.