Blaine County

Blaine County is located in North Central Montana. The Missouri River is the southern boundary, and the Canadian border provides the northern boundary. Two small mountain ranges, the Bear Paw and Little Rockies Mountains, are located within the county. Blaine County encompasses 4,267 square miles or 2.713 million acres. Agriculture is the backbone of Blaine County, with cattle, sheep, wheat, and barley being the primary enterprises. An irrigated alfalfa/grass hay base located along the Milk River, is enhanced by irrigation supplied by the Corps of Engineers St. Mary’s diversion project. The population in Blaine County stands at just over 7,000 people according to the 2020 census. Tourism, along with hunting, contributes to the economy of Blaine County as well. Blaine County MSU Extension serves the community through a variety of programming carried out by two full-time Extension Agents and a full-time administrative/4-H assistant. Programming is concentrated in the areas of 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family Consumer Sciences, and Community Development. The MSU Extension program is supported through an annual county budget which includes a portion of the agent’s salary along with Montana State University (USDA’s) direct support of the agent’s salary. MSU also supports the program indirectly, and the county benefits with returned services for every dollar invested. This is truly a partnership between MSU, USDA, and Blaine County that provides citizens access to high quality education, and research-based knowledge from the state’s land-grant university.

ServSafe in Blaine County

Blaine County Extension agent Trent Noel conducted a ServSafe program in Blaine County. ServSafe is a state required program for restaurants and food serving establishments. One person from every food establishment needs to be ServSafe certified. The ServSafe program is an 8-hour class with a comprehensive exam at the end. Participants must get a 70% on the exam to pass and gain certification. The certification is good for 5 years after passing the test. Noel provided the class four separate times in multiple communities within Blaine County during the 2023 year. Class participants included school kitchen workers, restaurant workers & senior center kitchen employees. As of right now, all restaurants and other eating establishments in Blaine County all have at least one person that qualifies as a ServSafe manager. The Servsafe program will continue to be offered in the coming years.

Caption: Extension Agent Trent Noel Teaches a Workshop

Credit: Juli Snedigar

Pre-Teen 4-H Group Encourages Participation

Over the past several years, participation from Blaine County 4-H members in the older age group of 15+ years has continued to decrease. Members say it is not because they do not want to participate in 4-H, it is simply a result of not having time to be involved in in sports, school activities, hold jobs, and stay engaged in 4-H. Recognizing a need to have leadership and fun opportunities for experienced, but younger 4-H members, the Blaine County MSU Extension Office staff began working with 4-H youth in the 11-13 year old age group. Throughout the year, 4-H members in this group met to come up with fun ideas of things they would like to do in 4-H this year. The first activity for the group was a camping trip during the summer. 15 members participated. For many of the participants, this was the first 4-H activity they participated in that wasn’t fair and it was away from their parents. The participants learned teamwork by setting up their tents, navigating through challenges and activities designed to inspire cooperation and strategizing for the best results. Following the overnight campout, the group visited Havre Beneath the Streets. Several members had not previously toured the historic location. The future goals of the group are to continue to grow and expand leadership and learning activities as well as have fun in 4-H. Looking forward to the new 4-H year, membership has already increased, and planning is underway for activities in the new 4-H year.

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Youth Weightlifting Program in Blaine County

Blaine County Agent Trent Noel created a youth lifting program. This program is intended for all youth from 7th grade – 12th grade. Noel created a lifting routine for all kids to work different muscle groups each day of the week. Mondays the youth did chest workouts, on Tuesdays they completed back and shoulder lifts, on Wednesdays they did a cardio and conditioning circuit, Thursdays the kids worked legs and Fridays the group worked biceps, triceps, and abs. This program sparked a lot of interest among the youth. On average there were 6 youths that attended regularly. The biggest attendance Noel saw was 15. The program started in late winter of 2022 and ran all the way through the end of August 2023. Even during the most hectic weeks, the kids wanted to continue to lift. Noel was able to see noticeable increases in all the participants’ attitudes and muscle strength during the program. Noel was very excited that there was so much interest and progression through the year. Seeing the interest that this sparked, Noel will continue this lifting program in the summer of 2024.

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4-H Cloverbud Program Continues to Grow in Blaine County

Over the past several years, Cloverbud membership in Blaine County has continued to increase. With the busy schedules of leaders, MSU Extension Agents Julianne Snedigar and Trent Noel have taken on the role of serving as Cloverbud leaders. This past year, they offered monthly Cloverbud workshops in two locations in Blaine County. Workshops were held in Chinook and Turner to help accommodate families in each of these areas. It had been 5 years since Cloverbud workshops were held in the Turner area. Through the addition of the location, 9 new 4-H members were able to participate in 4-H for the first time. Three members of the Big Flat 4-H Club were also recruited to assist with the workshops. They were able to help Cloverbuds better understand the content of the material and assist with the teaching of life skills. 100% of Cloverbud participants in both locations have learned the 4-H pledge, understand the mission of 4-H, and have been exposed to a wide array of 4-H projects they will be able to participate in when they are full 4-H members. Over 50% of Cloverbuds were able to participate in the Blaine County Fair. They visited with a judge about the work they did in Cloverbuds this year. Blaine County 4-H is seeing an increased number of 4-H Cloverbud participants moving on to full membership because of the monthly workshops. The Cloverbud program in Blaine County has been a great introduction into 4-H for the participants and the program continues to grow!

Caption: Cloverbud Camp Participants Show off Birdhouses

Credit: Juli Snedigar

MSU Extension Blaine County hosts Local Government Center for a Board Training

MSU Extension Blaine County Agent Julianne Snedigar cooperated with Ashley Kent from the MSU Local Government Center to bring board training to Blaine County. Over the past several years, Snedigar noticed increased questions concerning how boards should be operating. These boards were everything from municipalities, non-profit organizations, and school boards in the area. 75 people representing over 20 different area boards attended the training. 100% of participants reported learning at least one new idea or concept at the training. 100% of the participants also reported they found at least one topic that their board needed to work on to improve. 100% of attendees reported that they would recommend the training to others as well as they would like to see similar subjects in the future. One participant also commented that their attendance and the content they learned will help their board operate more efficiently and according to the law. In the months following the training, five different participants reached out and requested materials from the training to share with others. They wanted to share what they have learned to help other boards operate more efficiently and effectively. Six months after the workshop, attendees are still talking about the things they learned and how they have been able to participate better on the boards they serve.

Caption: Board Training Attendees

Credit: Juli Snedigar

Contact

420 Ohio Street
Chinook, MT 59523
406-357-3200
https://www.montana.edu/extension/blaine/