On the Horizon

August

  • Record Books Due, check with your club leader for deadline

August 5

  • Livestock Committee Park Meeting, 6-7 pm, Fairfield City Park

August 14

  • Registrations Due for Western Heritage State Competition, contact your shooting sports

    leader or the Extension office for more information

August 24-25

  • 2024 MT 4-H Western Heritage Project State Competition, Missoula

September 13

  • MT 4-H Working Ranch Horse Finals, 406 Arena, Vaughn

September 15

  • Application Deadline for 2024 Heifer Grant, Montana Hereford Association, scroll for more information

September 19-22

  • State Horse Show, 406 Arena, Vaughn

September 30

  • Treasurer’s Books Due, Monday, Extension office

Record Books Due August 15, 2024

Agent's Corner:  Hometown Proud!
by Jenn Swanson

Thank you to all of our creative and hardworking 4-H families for putting on a wonderful circus-themed and crazy fun rural Fair.We had beautiful and interesting exhibits and a very lucrative livestock sale.We truly live in one of the last, best places.

But very best of all is this report I heard from a variety of people (including our auctioneer, our ultrasound judge, a livestock judge, and two livestock buyers) - that our kids are tops in the state for politeness and friendliness.That right there is the good stuff that makes this all worthwhile.

Regarding the market animal projects, you may have seen the email with the carcass contest results.Here’s a bit of additional information on the merit criteria. (Hint – this is a good thing to save for next year, so you know what you’re aiming for!)

Montana 4-H Steer of Merit* BEEF carcass quality contest:Steers of merit have a...

  • ...calculated hot carcass weight (HCW) of 700 to 1000 pounds (calculated from live weight using a standard dressing percentage of 60%),
  • ...quality grade of “Choice minus” or better (based on intramuscular fat score),
  • ...ribeye area between 11.5 and 17.5 square inches, and a
  • ...cutability score of 51% or higher. (Cutability is calculated using HCW, backfat, kidney-pelvic-heart fat [KPH] and rib eye area. A KPH of 2.5% is used for all ultrasound contestants.)

Among the three (3) Teton County exhibitors meeting all Steer of Merit* criteria, further ranking by price per hundred weight (based on quality grade) and cutability was applied.

  • Grand champion:Maci Brooks* (breeder Adam DeBruycker)
  • Reserve champion: Casen Yeager* (breeder Casen Yeager)
  • 3rd place:Seeley Neal* (breeder Mark DeBruycker)

Montana 4-H Symbol of Excellence* SWINE carcass quality contest:Swine of Excellence have a...

  • ...calculated hot carcass weight (HCW) between 160 and 220 lbs (calculated from live weight using a standard dressing percentage of 73%),
  • ...backfat thickness at the 10th rib between 0.4 and 0.8 inches,
  • ...loin muscle area between 6.5 and 10 square inches,
  • ...National Pork Producers Council (NPCC) calculated percentage of fat free lean meat (%FFL) of at 52.5% or higher, and
  • ...no live abnormalities observed at time of ultrasound

Among the eight (8) Teton County exhibitors meeting all Symbol of Excellence* criteria, further ranking by %FFL was applied.

  • Grand champion:Katy Morris* (breeder Braaten Show Pigs)
  • Reserve champion:Owen Morris* (breeder Braaten Show Pigs)
  • 3rd place:Kamber Bender* (breeder RAR Genetics)
  • 4th place:Colton Jordre* (breeder Rick Abbas)
  • 5th place: Ronnie Pearson* (breeder Kaare Pearson)
  • 6th place: Caleb Bender* (breeder Four T Farms)
  • 7th place: Knox Pearson* (breeder Kaare Pearson)
  • 8th place: Iris Carlson* (breeder New Rockport Colony)

Montana 4-H Certified Lamb of Merit* LAMB carcass quality contest: Lambs of merit have a…

  • ...live weight between 110 and 165 pounds,
  • ...backfat thickness between 0.15 and 0.25 inches, and a
  • ...loin eye area of 2.5 square inches or larger.

Among the five (5) Teton County exhibitors meeting all Lamb of Merit* criteria, further ranking by percentage boneless retail cuts (%BRC) was applied.(The %BRC is calculated using HCW, backfat, and loineye area, assuming a body wall thickness of 0.8 inches.)

  • Grand champion: Kolman Lobdell* (breeder Rockport Colony)
  • Reserve champion:Waylon Little* (breeder Courtney Frank)
  • 3rd place:Addy Scott* (breeder Dawn Kelly)
  • 4th place:Bryden Bradley* (breeders Bryden Bradley and Dawn Kelly)
  • 5th place:Charlie Long* (breeder Dawn Kelly)

Montana 4-H Goat of Merit* GOAT carcass quality contest:Goats of merit have a...

  • ...body conformation classification of “Selection 1” (“Selection 1” = thickly muscled throughout the body with a bulging outside leg, rounded back strip, and a moderately thick outside shoulder), and a
  • ...cutability score of 54% or higher.(Cutability is calculated on body weight, loin eye area, and body wall thickness.)
  • Grand champion:Kaylie Bender (breeder Kaylie Bender)
  • Reserve champion:Nick Miller (breeder Smoke Ridge Goats)

Congratulations to everyone on another great Fair!!

Old Agency Rocked the Park!

The Old Agency 4-H Club took advantage of the opportunity weadvertised in the last newsletter and signed up to be the clean up crew for two of the Get Your Kicks at 6 summer concerts. Two 4-H families (Longs and Greyns) cleaned up in the Choteau city park after the July 11 concert and two families (Christensens and Andersons) cleaned up after the July 18 concert.For their efforts, which took less than an hour each time (from roughly 8 to 9 pm), Old Agency earned a total of $300.Way to go, Old Agency!!

Agent Corner:  Congress and Camp News
by Shelby Jones-Dozier

July was full of activity for our 4-Hers! Early in July, state Congress on the Montana State University campus in Bozeman gave our senior level 4-Hers the chance to compete, learn new skills, and make new friends. Andrew Major did a great job representing Teton County with his second-place win in the Stir-Ups competition. He will be traveling with the Montana Delegation to National Congress in the fall.

All 4-Hers who are 13 by October 1, 2024, are eligible to attend state Congress in July of 2025. Certified volunteers are encouraged to attend, take part in the activities, and meet other certified volunteers from across the state.

Camp was a great opportunity for the youth counselors to practice their leadership skills and have fun with the theme Intrigue at the Circus. Spies and Circus provided a great opportunity for games, workshops, and hilarious skits. Camp is not possible without the hard work of the youth counselors who plan and run all the activities to make camp special. Senior leaders, Mikayla Toeckes and Ayden DeBruycker, demonstrated strong leadership skills putting their multiple years of counselor experience into practice. They had to make many decisions quickly to adapt to the very hot weather. Jackson and Grace Toeckes were essential members of the team, leading activities and songs- not to mention building excitement to “find the missing H’s.” Andrew Major blew us away with his musical abilities on the piano during the opening skit on the first night.

New this year was the introduction of junior counselors. Jessica Toeckes, Annie Diekhans, and Claire Pfeifle took on the challenge of designing and carrying out workshops and excelled. Very quickly they learned skills needed to demonstrate new skills and hold the attention of their audience. This crew is on the way to becoming highly experienced senior camp counselors!

We also have a group of dedicated adult volunteers who made this year’s camp possible. Deanna Burgmaier was our camp nurse and did a great job making sure medications were given on time, band-aids were plentiful, and ice packs were cold and ready to go when the Ga-Ga Ball hit the court. Not only was she our nurse, but she also worked closely with her granddaughter Annie to lead several high-quality hands-on activities. Heather McCartney-Duty was a dedicated adult chaperone who was ready to lend a helping hand with any camper. Susan Anderson and Cynthia Rice did a fantastic job keeping everyone fed, happy and hydrated. They had a great idea to incorporate regular popsicle breaks into the day to keep our campers cool. Temperatures soared near 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday. Thankfully, with a few changes to the schedule, we were able to keep everyone hydrated and safe in the heat.

If your kids enjoyed camp, please consider being an adult volunteer for summer camp 2025! The dates will be Tuesday, July 22 – Thursday, July 24, 2025. The more adults we have present the better-quality camp we can provide for our youth. This year we did not have enough adults and those adults who were present were stretched thin and exhausted. With more involvement from our certified volunteers, the better the overall camp experience for everyone, including the adults. Create a new family tradition by including summer camp in your family’s plans for summer 2025.

Record Books Due

All 4-H members in Teton County must submit their 4-H record books to be reviewed for completeness.4-H members and their leaders can nominate their 4-H record books to be judged for quality.

Review for Completeness

  • Record books will be reviewed for completion by leaders at club level.A book will be reviewed for completion by a non-related certified volunteer. If there is not a non-relative within the club, then the books would be submitted to another club leader or the Extension Office for completion review.
  • All record books will be reviewed for completeness according to state guidelines.
  • Club leaders may opt to give ribbon placing/stickers at the club level to designate quality or may simply designate the book as reviewed and complete.
  • A listing of members completing records will be due to the Extension Office by September 1 of the current year. All organizational leaders and 4-H members are encouraged to meet this deadline.
  • Record books may be requested of members at any time by the Extension Office to verify completion.
  • All 4-H members must complete their record books according to the completion checklist in order for the member to exhibit or sell any item the following year at the Teton County 4-H Fair.
  • Record books are used to determine years completed in 4-H. The number of years a 4-H member has completed may affect scholarship eligibility and selection.

Quality Judging

  • Leaders reviewing record books for completion may select top quality records to be submitted to the county level for quality judging.
  • The three books with the highest quality for each age division (Pre-junior 8-10, Junior 11-13, Senior 14-18) in each club will be reviewed at the county level for further awards.
  • The top three books in each age division per club will be due to the Extension Office by the third Tuesday in August for review by the record book committee.
  • The Record Book Quality Criteria (available on website) will be used as the scoring matrix for quality judging. This criterion may also help 4-H members understand what constitutes a high level record book.
  • County awards will be determined from the pool of submitted record books and will be judged by age division. Awards will be designated per age division.

Why Have 4-H Record Books?  Record Books...

  • Encourage members to set goals and develop plans to meet those goals as well as document how they have adapted to challenges and obstacles. Members can reflect on their achievements and growth during through 4-H involvement.
  • Give members an opportunity to reflect on their yearly work. The books document the member’s skill development and their learning experiences from one year to the next.
  • Teach important life skills: goal setting, organizing, planning, solving problems, keeping track of money and written communication.
  • Help youth process what they have learned, solidifying the experience.

Members Who Keep Good Records...

  • Learn how to set goals and evaluate their success
  • May receive county, state and/or national recognition
  • Have an invaluable personal record/memory book (this has proven to be very helpful as older youth apply for awards including college scholarships and complete resumes’ and job application)
  • Have learned a skill that will be needed throughout life

NRA Grant Enhances Teton County 4-H Shooting sports Program

by Loren Tacke

The Teton County 4-H shooting sports team has received a significant boost with the recent acquisition of a $9,000 grant from the National Rifle Association (NRA). This grant, secured through the efforts of Teton County shooting sports coordinator Loren Tacke, marks an important moment for the team as they aim to expand and enhance their offerings.

The Teton County 4-H shooting sports program has seen a remarkable surge in participation over the past year, growing from 15 to over 40 active members. Comprising students aged 9 to 18 from various communities including Augusta, Choteau, Fairfield, Greenfield, Power, and Simms, the team has become a building block for young shooters in the region.

Loren Tacke, who initiated the grant application process last November, emphasized the grant's focus on "Building for the future." This vision has materialized in the form of crucial equipment upgrades, addressing the increasing demand for newer and more reliable firearms among participants.

"With the support of the NRA grant," Tacke noted, "we were able to acquire 9 new air rifles, 5 new pistols, and essential consumables such as pellets and targets." These acquisitions have replaced outdated firearms that were no longer functional and difficult to maintain due to scarcity of replacement parts.

The grant has not only helped with the immediate equipment needs but also allowed the Teton County 4-H shooting sports team to grow and expand its program in the future. As interest in shooting sports continues to grow among youth in the area, these enhancements are expected to build training opportunities and competitive readiness for years to come.

Looking ahead, Tacke expressed optimism about the program's future prospects. "This grant ensures that we can provide a safe and positive shooting environment for young shooters to develop their skills and sportsmanship”.

The Teton County 4-H shooting sports team remains committed to promoting responsible firearm use and fostering a supportive community for youth interested in competitive shooting. With the NRA grant as a cornerstone, the team is set to build on its recent successes and further develop a passion for shooting sports among the next generation.

The Teton County 4-H shooting sports team would like to thank the NRA for its generous donation to the program.

For more information on the Teton County 4-H shooting sports program, including how to get involved, contact the Teton County 4-H extension office at (406) 466-2491.

Montana Hereford Association 2024 Heifer Grant

This year the MHA will award two indivisiual with a $500.00 grant to purchase a Hereford heifer.  The heifer must be purchased from a current MHA member.  The purpose of this grant is to help indiviuals who want to purse raising cattle and supporting the Hereford breed.  Contact the Teton County MSU Extension Office for application information or find the application packet at www.montanahereford.org.  The application deadline is September 15, 2024.

 

MSU Extension Teton County

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.
2025    June 24-29
2026    June 22-28

Camp Dates

2025   July 22-24

4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman

2025   July 8-11
2026   July 7-10

 

MSU Extension Teton County
P.O. Box 130
Choteau, MT 59422
406-466-2491


Agents:

Shelby Jones-Dozier [email protected]
Jenn Swanson  [email protected]

Assistants:

JoAnn McDowell & Jamie Smith  [email protected]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service 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. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cody Stone, Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717