April 2022 Newsletter (Printable PDF)

Dear 4-H Families,

April 17th through April 23rd is National Volunteer Appreciation week. We would like to take the time to recognize and thank all 38 of our Carter and Fallon County 4-H Volunteers.

Make sure to thank any 4-H Volunteers that you see this month. Our 4-H Volunteers are the best in the world and they impact so many lives by the giving of their time. 

Jaden’s last day was March 15th and we wish her luck with her future endeavors. With that being said there may be times that the Baker Office has to be closed and the office day in Ekalaka may need to be adjusted. We thank you in advance for having patience with this transition.

The Montana State University Extension Service is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach.

What’s a Future Generation Leader?

WRS is teaming up with Northern Ag Broadcasting in search of the next generation’s leaders. We want to showcase the youth in our communities across Montana that raise the bar for all of us and have a great impact on the community

  • kids working hard on and off the ranch
  • kids who help out in the community
  • kids who take on leadership roles in their school.  

Qualifications for a Future Generation Leader: 

  • Must be 21 years of age or under 
  • Hardworking 
  • Leadership qualities

The Future Generation Leader of the month will receive $500 gift card to Western Ranch Supply, they will also be posted on both Western Ranch Supply and Northern Ag Broadcasting  websites and social media. 

To nominate a youth please go to https://westernranchsupply.com/future-generation/?redirect_mongo_id=62112bbc0cd534001ebe82c1&utm_source=Springbot&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=62112bbc0cd534001ebe82c2

FALLON COUNTY SHOOTING SPORTS SHOTGUN

Requirements:

  • Member must be 9 years old or older by October 1, 2021.
  • Member must have successfully completed Air Rifle.
  • Member must be enrolled in the shotgun project.
  • $20.00 fee– this will cover the expense of one box of shells and targets.

For more information on this project or to enroll contact the MSU Extension Fallon-Carter Counties Office at  406-778-7110.

 4-H Camp Needmore June 7th-9th, 2022

Who attends:

3rd-6th Graders from Custer, Dawson, Fallon-Carter, Garfield, McCone, Powder River, Wibaux, Prairie, & Rosebud-Treasure Counties

Travel Arrangements:

Travel to and from Camp is the responsibility of parents and/or clubs from each county.

Camp Activities:

Campfires, singing, repelling, crafts, dancing, nature hike, and LOTS OF FUN!

Registration forms are available at the Extension Office and on the Extension website.

Would you like to win a free heifer and start your own cow herd? Then the NILE Merit Heifer Program is exactly what you need.

Applications Due: June 30th, 2022

For more information on the application process or for an application please contact the Fallon/Carter Extension Office at (406) 778-7110 or go to the NILE Merit Heifer Program webpage at www.thenile.org

FALLON COUNTY HORSE JUDGING CONTEST

Monday, May 9th, 2022

Registration:4:00 pm

Judging:4:30 pm

All 4-H and FFA youth are welcome! This judging will count as a County Event and participants do not have to be in a horse project.

For more information or questions, contact the Extension Office.

YOUTH NEEDING AQA

Carter                                          Fallon

Daniel Hall                                  Blake Enos

Elizabeth Hall                             Leo Enos

Preston Jensen                           Mila Hurley

Heidi LaBree                                Morgan Hurley

Cortland O’Connor                     Kaeden Oberlander

Tiernan O’Connor Tylee Rieger

Royce Tooke Gage Scherman

Tucker Tooke Logan Scherman

Turner Tooke Sidny Scherman

Sean Wolentz Claire Schumacher

Jenry Walker Sophia Schumacher

Judd Walker

Animal Quality Assurance (AQA) will be held each year in each county to be attended by first year 4-H and FFA members in market or breeding animal projects. The members must continue to complete the AQA requirement every other year to participate in livestock projects and show at the fair.

Planned AQA workshops are as follows: rabbit/poultry and a general all species. Will be posted as soon as dates are set.  If you have any questions on AQA options please contact the Extension Office.

SWINE TAGS

Swine Tags are available at the office, please stop by and pick them up. Swine need to be tagged and a photo of the tag in the pigs ear needs to be sent to the office before June 1st.

CARTER COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL JANUARY MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by President Mikel Fruit. The pledges were recited. The minutes from the September 21, 2021, minutes were approved as read. Sharon Higgins gave a financial report.

The Extension Report:  There are currently 47 members enrolled in 4-H.  Nine are in Cloverbuds.

Alivia Foxley needs to watch the Horse Helmet video. These members need to do AQA, Elisabeth and Daniel Hall, Preston Jensen, Heidi LaBree, Courtland & Tiernan O’Connor, Royce Tooke, Tucker and Turner Tooke, Sean Wolenetz, Judd & Jenry Walker.

Old Business: 

There were 34 steers weighed in and averaged 742 pounds.  Jake Eshelman will charge $2.00 per inspection. We discussed the livestock sale.  Rachel DeFord made a motion to do the random sale order draw, again this year.  Sharon Higgins seconded the motion and the motion passes.   There needs to be changes made to the sale flier, by adding sale order numbers and ribbon placing.  Also, make it so kids with cakes can go out into sale ring.  These people were suggestions for announcer to personalize sale, Les Kreitel, Clay Smith, Mike Williams, and Beau Kuhbacher.  There weren’t any more ambassador applications turned in.

New Business:  The members can have a market animal and an alternate. We discussed the record book reviews and requirements. Read and review the constitution and we will discuss at our next meeting.  Sharon Higgins cast a unanimous ballot for all officers to remain the same.  Rachel DeFord seconded the motion and the motion passes.  Officers are President, Mikel Fruit, Vice President, Rachel DeFord, Secretary, Cam LaBree, and Treasurer, Sharon Higgins.

We discussed the Event Center Usage Agreement.  Amanda Williams will meet with Commissioners to ask if all of 4-H and Extension can be under one agreement and if they will waive the $250 deposit fee. Rec Lab will be in Hobson, MT on March 18-20, 2022.  Kodie Olsen and Amanda Williams are both attending. Cam LaBree and Mikel Fruit will research picnic tables, and other options to use the rest of the Outdoor Education donation money from the Search and Rescue. 2022 Fair Theme:  Carter County Fair:  Where the West was Won!

2021-22 Carter County Committees:

Congress Selection:  Thebea Thomas, Melissa Johnston, Jenny Schallenberger, Mikel Fruit.

Budgeting:  Mikel Fruit, Sharon Higgins, Rachel DeFord, and Cam LaBree

County Events:  Fashion Review and Small Projects Judging:  Puptown Wranglers

     Communications and 4-H Foods Festival:  Gumbo Gophers

     Joint 4-H/FFA Livestock Committee:  Mikel Fruit, Cam LaBree, Seth Whitney

                        Bella Jensen, Sage DeFord, Heidi LaBree

        AQA/Horse Helmet:  Kodie Olsen

Trophies:  Sharon Higgins, Crystal Higgins, Misty Johnston

Calendar:  Sharon Higgins, Rachel DeFord

Outdoor Education:  Mikel Fruit, Cam LaBree

Please visit website for full minutes

CARTER COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL MEETING

Thursday, April 21st, 2022– TBD- 3rd Floor Meeting Room

Agenda Items: Rec Lab Report, Shooting Sports Invitational Report, Fair Book Changes, Goat and Sheep weigh-ins & AQA Workshop,  All Events Day, 4-H Camp, and OREO Trip.

Everyone is welcomed to attend this meeting and add to the discussion. If you have any questions please contact the Fallon/Carter Extension Office at (406) 778-7110 or Mikel Fruit, Council President.

FALLON COUNTY JOINT LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE MINUTES

Mark called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm. The pledges were led by Breannah. The October minutes were read. Roddy made a motion to accept the minutes as presented and Albert second. Motion passed.

Extension Report: Kodie presented the committee with a list of livestock members and asked them to review it to make sure that all members are in the correct livestock projects.

Old Business: Amanda let the members know that if they choose to do activities that are not from the project manual, they will need to write a paragraph explaining the activity that they completed and what they learned. It was asked if the member could come in and interview with Amanda on their project instead of writing the paragraph and Amanda said that she would accept it. Kodie asked the committee for ideas for buyer’s gifts and bring them to the April meeting.

New Business: The Fallon County Fair them will be “Footloose at the Fallon County Fair”. Kodie asked the group if they would like the office to ask Elin if she would do the ultrasound at fair. The group agreed to ask Elin and liked the schedule from last year. Kodie let the group know that we are currently missing 87 grand/ reserve metal signs. She presented the group with a quote from Sew What on vinyl signs. It would be roughly $1800.00 to replace the 236 signs. The group asked Kodie to get a quote from Baker Metal for just the metal and we could use the office’s cricket to cut the vinyl lettering and suggested looking into flashing. Kodie passed out a handout of the fair book revision committee recommendations. After reviewing the changes Wanda made a motion to recommend to the council to adopt the revisions with the addition of adding 30-90 days old & weaned to the swine litter, Stephanie seconded the motion, and the motion passed. Amanda presented the group information on what other fairs are doing with minimum and maximum weights for market animals. Amanda asked the group to take it back to their clubs for discussion and we would revisit it at the April meeting. Kodie asked the group for their thoughts on adding 6 pens to the back of the showring so that exhibitors could pen their animals for showmanship, and these could be used to call back animals. There was discussion and the group agreed that we should move forward with this addition. Mark said that he would arrange for metal if we could talk to someone about constructing them. It was suggested that we talk to the FFA welding classes to see if they would be interested in constructing the pens.

Other Business: Mark let the group know that the fair board had approved to pay for an on-call veterinarian to be present during fair. Mark asked the group if the group will stand behind the veterinarian if they decide to send an animal home. The committee agreed on standing behind the decision of the veterinarian. Amanda informed the group that St. Onge is willing to set the premium price for the livestock sale again this year but would not like to set a price for any miniature market beef. There was a small discussion on if we would need to use their auctioneers. Kodie explained that last year they said if we had our own auctioneers that would be fine but if we needed an auctioneer, they would provide one.   Albert made a motion to adjourn, Roddy seconded the motion and the motion passed.

Please visit website for full minutes

FALLON COUNTY LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday, April 11, 2022– 5:30 p.m.– Library Basement

Agenda Items: AQA report, Livestock Buyer Gift Ideas, Sheep/Goat weigh-ins, Livestock Sale items– Auctioneer, Swine Option ect, Livestock Signs, and Maximum Weights.

For more information on any of these agenda items, contact the Extension Office or Mark Kirschten, Livestock Committee President.

FALLON COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL JANUARY MINUTES

Call to order by Christina at 5:35 pm.  Pledges were read. Reading and approval of minutes from October Council meeting. Roddy moved to accept minutes and Stephanie seconded; all approved. Treasurer's report: All signatures are up-to-date on accounts. Wanda made a motion to allow Amanda to sign checks under $300. Toni seconded. Motion passed.

County Extension Update- Enrollment 2021-22 Report: We are up 19 new members so far this year; she handed out an informational sheet.

Reports

Publicity/Ambassadors (Ambassadors) – Kodie challenged them to do a workshop- they are working on each of their own. They will oversee small projects judging this year and Cole is taking the lead on that.

Fair Book Revisions– Wanda moved to change the poultry to just 1 for each class; Stephanie seconded; motion passed. Wanda moved to accept the changes to the fair book that the committee suggested. Roddy seconded; motion passed

Livestock Committee – Wanda asked Amanda to clarify minimum and maximum weight-discussion took place on setting the weights for fair; clubs will discuss and bring back to council in April; Signs from Baker Metal will cost $1500 and the flashing will need to be bent and was not suggested-Shawn will ask Circle R about trim pieces that may work better-the vinyl ones will probably not work for rabbit cages as they will chew on them- we will see what they come back with.

Food Booth – Stephanie gave report on food booth meeting; discussed getting a new ice cream machine $14, 698.23 and new fridge/freezer (or renting one from blue rock); at April meeting we will decide on ice cream machine, and we will be looking for options for fridge and freezer in the meantime; we are also looking for another donut machine;

Fruit Sales – Roddy gave report-MinnTex is the only option we have this year; fruit prices are up a little bit; Sales will start on Feb 1st and end on the 25th.

County Events – Country Cousins are doing food festival are probably going to be the end of February or the 1st part of March; Horse judging date is set, and Wanda will let Kodie know when it is; Spring Livestock judging will be June 1st put on by Country Pals;

Old Business- Extension Approved Activities – level 2 and 3 are required to have 5 activities, they don’t have to be from the book but do have to be approved by the office; a paragraph or presentation on what they do to Amanda; Amanda will initial record book or paragraph with her initials included in book;

New Business- Sponsorships – Midrivers they are going to sponsor $900 toward our tshirts for fair…our tshirts were $1125 last year; Quality Transportation and QT will sponsor breakfast again this year. Leader’s Screening Fees – it is $30 to re-enroll leaders that take a year off; Kodie suggested only paying for the 1st time they enroll and not pay for the 2nd re-enrollment, it would be on them

Please visit website for full minutes

FALLON COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL MEETING

Monday, April 18, 2022– 5:30 p.m.– Exhibit Hall

Agenda Items: Rec Lab Report, 4-H Camp, OREO Trip, Add/ Drop Packets, Breakfast Tickets, Committee Reports, Carter County Shooting Sports Invitational Report, Fair Book Changes, Bulls, Broncs, and Barrels Report, Fruit Sales Report

For more information on any of these agenda items, contact the Extension Office or Christina Gaub, 4-H Council President.