Market Beef Possession Deadline

Packets have been sent out to Beef Livestock Members. If you are signed up for Market Beef and did not receive your ear tag and packet yet, please contact the Extension office right away. Market Beef possession date isTuesday, January 9, 2024.

The Next 31

January 9

  • Beef Possession Deadline, Fees Double Starting at 5 p.m.

January 14

  • Beef RAte of Gain Contest, Sunday, 2 p.m., Weatherbeater

January 16

  • 4-H Council Meeting, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Courthouse Conference Room, Choteau

January 16

  • 4-H Ambassador Applications Due, Midnight

January 19

  • Late Beef Possession Ends, 5 p.m.

February 5

  • Livestock Committee Meeting, Monday, 6-7 p.m., Courthouse Conference Room, Choteau

Jenn's Agent Corner:  Beef Rate of Gain Contest and the "You've Got to be Kidding" webinar series

This fall, we were saddened by the passing of Mr. Cody Yeager.Cody was grandpa to our 4-H members Justyce, Rusch, and Casen, and father to Chelsee Yeager.Cody was also a long-time friend and supporter of 4-H.Chelsee, and Livestock Committee President, Ashle Morris, have planned a 4-H Beef Rate of Gain Contest in Cody's memory.

The date for the initial contest weigh-in is Sunday, January 14th at 2pm at the Weatherbeater arena.This starting weight for the contest will be taken using the 4-H scale, i.e., the same scale that will be used when the steers arrive at the Fair in June. (The steers' Fair weight will be the final weight for the contest.)

Joining the contest is totally optional.The entry fee is $25 per steer, which will be returned as prize money to the top 3 gainers.This could be a great selling point for your steer, at auction!

Whether or not you join the contest, you're welcome to attend the weigh-in event with your steer.(And it's okay to come even if your steer is not gentle in the halter yet.)This a great opportunity to chat with the beef superintendents (Justin and Levi) and the other beef members about steer handling and feeding, and just have some fun.If it's chilly, we may even have some hot chocolate brewing!

I also want to mention a webinar opportunity for breeding animal project members.There is a webinar series on lambing, calving, and foaling coming up on Thursday evenings, starting tonight!The lambing and kidding webinar with Brent Roeder is January 4, 2024 at 7pm, the calving webinar with Megan Van Emon is January 18, 2024 at 7pm, and foaling webinar with Rose Malisani is January 25, 2024 at 7pm.Register for the "You've Got to Be Kidding" webinar series. 

Happy New Year to all of you!

Jenn

Shelby's Agent Corner:  Attention 4-Her's Age 13+

So, your'e 4-H age is 13… now what? It’s time to experience 4-H in new ways and make new 4-H friends from across the county and state!Whether you have many years of experience in 4-H, or this is your first year, there are leadership and event planning opportunities open to you.At the county level, you can join the Ambassador team or be a Camp Counselor.If you are interested in attending your first state 4-H event, Rec Lab is a great opportunity (more about Rec Lab later in the newsletter..)

Don’t let fear hold you back from applying- be bold and just try.This is your chance to gainexperience and practice to fill out applications in the future with confidence!As a member of Teton County 4-H, Jenn and I are here to help you step up into the role of leadership and will work side by side with you, all you must do is apply!

The application for the County Ambassador Team is due on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.  Register to be a Teton County Ambassador. You can contact the extension office for a paper application.

Calling all potential camp counselors!!!Its time to apply for the summer of 2024. Apply to be a camp counselor.New for this year, junior counselors will be added to the team to work with experienced counselors to learn songs and camp traditions from the best.Junior counselors need to be 13 as of October 1, 2023.If you are between 14 and 18 and have not yet graduated high school, you can be a counselor- even if you have never been to 4-H camp in Teton County before.The camp counselor application will be due Friday, March 1, 2024.Meetings to begin planning for camp will begin Mid-March.

Montana 4-H Rec Lab 2024 - Going for Green!

April 19-21, 2024
Jefferson County School, Boulder, Montana
4-H Youth 13+

What is Rec Lab? It sounds like a funny name for a 4-H event.

Rec Lab stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything is hands-on and fun!

This event is a 4-H member favorite because it gives kids the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting. Rec Lab's programming goal is to provide participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp, and community leader.

The event has a camp feel because everything will take place in one school or location. Participants will bring air mattresses and sleeping bags to sleep on the gym floor, and attend workshops all together in the school and join lots of social and fun activities.

This event is ideal for younger senior members to attend as a first-time state event. It allows them to form relationships with 4-H peers from across the state, broaden their skills, and widen their network.

Volunteers: The idea of sleeping on an air mattress in a school gym may not be your idea of a fun weekend, but this is a great event for you too! The program is conducive to meeting people from around the state and exchanging ideas. You are sure to gain some great info and bring home motivated youth leaders.

Registration will be through Zsuite beginning in February. The cost will be around $100 to $125 per person. Participants will have the opportunity to pick from a list of workshops during registration. Please SAVE the DATE and GO FOR GREEN in 2024! Talk to your 4-H friends about attending this great event!

Applications for 4-H Ambassador Due January 16, 2024

Have you ever thought of applying to be a Teton County 4-H Ambassador? 4-H Ambassadors work with the MSU Extension staff to promote 4-H in our county. Some of the main activities of the Ambassadors include masters of ceremonies for Communications Day and other events; emceeing at Fair, and mentoring new 4-H members. (It can be as much as you make it!) The position is a combination of public relations and leadership service.

Our current Ambassador is Myles Allen. He will remain on the ambassador team but would welcome more members, as his fellow ambassadors recently graduated. The 4-H Ambassador team can set their own goals and develop a plan. We will work with you and your schedules.

The deadline to apply for 2024 is Tuesday, January 16, 2024.We will accept applications any time between now and Tuesday, January 16. 4-H members needed to be 14 by October 1 to apply.If you are interested contact the Extension office.

Greytak Calendars

Greytak Calendars are in the office! Calendars feature the artwork of Havre, Montana self-taught pencil artist Don Greytak. They are sold ($15 each) as a joint fund raiser for Teton County 4-H Council and the Montana 4-H Foundation.These calendars make nice holiday gifts! Available until sold out.

Montana 4-H Scholarships

Scholarships are available through State 4-H Foundation. Each applicant need only complete one Montana 4-H scholarship application via the application platform on or before February 14, 2024.  View and apply for Montanan 4-H scholarships.

 

MSU Extension Teton County

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.

2024    June 24-30
2025    June 24-29
2026    June 22-28

Camp Dates

2024   July 22-26

4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman

2024   July 9-12

 

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


Agents:

Shelby Jones-Dozier shelby.jonesdozier@montana.edu
Jenn Swanson  jenn.swanson@montana.edu

Assistants:

JoAnn McDowell & Jamie Smith  teton@montana.edu

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