On the Horizon

February 3

  • Livestock Committee Meeting, Teton County Courthouse Conference Rm, Choteau, 6 p.m.

February 10

  • Rec Lab Registration Opens, Zsuite

February 14

  • Ambassador Applications Due, Fri, 5 p.m.
  • Camp Counselor Applications Due, Fri, 5 p.m.
  • Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications Due, Fri

March 3

  • Council Meeting, Teton County Courthouse Conference Rm, Choteau, 6:30 pm

March 12

  • Rec Lab Registration Closes, Zsuite

March 28

  • KMON Livestock & Poultry Judging, Great Falls

April 1

  • Swine Possession Deadline, paperwork, photos, fees, Extension Office, Tues, 5 pm

April 15

  • Lamb/Goat Possession Deadline, paperwork, photos, fees, Extension Office, Tues, 5 pm

Montana Farmer's Union $100 Sentence Grant

Once again the Montana Farmer’s Union (MFU) is offering the $100 Sentence Grant. Many clubs took advantage of this grant money last year to do positive work.  MFU has $10,000 to send to 4-H clubs in Montana. Funding is open now and will be awarded through October 1. They would be thrilled to receive an application from every club in the state.

Rock Your Record Books

You will need one non-animal project journal for each non-animal project you are enrolled in this 4-H year. We can print the pages you need at the Extension office or you can visit our webpage to get the pages yourself.

For each non-animal project journal do the following:

  • At the top of the first page fill in the 4-H Year (2024-25).
  • Add a photo of yourself working on your project.
  • Fill in your name, county (Teton), project name and how many years you have been in the project.

 

  • Your goals should already be completed. If you haven’t done this step yet, take a few minutes and do it now. Look back at the December 2024 newsletter for guidance, if needed.
    • Take some time to review the goals you have set for yourself and record anything that has happened as you have tried to reach your goals. Record setbacks and your adjustments to them as well as progress.
  • The next part is about recording the activities you do in the project as you do them.
    • It is easiest if you do this little by little as each activity occurs throughout the 4-H year.
    • First fill in the date.
      • If you know the exact date of an activity, enter that.
      • If you do not know the exact date, that’s okay, too. Just record the month and year.
    • Next, record the activity. (For example, “Gather materials for making my quilt.”)
    • Then, write what you learned. (“Buying fabric can be very expensive. Now I will always check my leftover fabric scraps and any available through our quilting group before buying new.”)

Get all your project journals filled in up to this point during February. In March we will return to your non-animal project journals and tackle the financial record portion! Keep up the good work!

Hot Tip:

How do you eat an elephant? The answer is, one bite at a time!Record books are the same. Divide any large task into many small parts, and working steadily, you can achieve it.

Agent's Corner: 
By Jenn Swanson

Hey 4-H Clubs - Are you looking for a FUN-draiser?Reserve your date to be the Clean Up Crew after a Get Your Kicks at 6 concert!

Who?Your 4-H Club (minimum of 3 families on the crew)

What?Clean up at 8 pm after the concert(takes 45 minutes or fewer)

  • take down signs, empty trash cans, pick up litter, sweep the dance floor, etc.

When?See schedule below and sign up before the dates are gone!

Where?At the Bandshell in Choteau City Park

Why?So easy to make $150 and have fun along the way!

How?Contact Jenn by email (Jenn.Swanson@montana.edu) or phone/text (406-868-4570) to reserve your Club’s date!

  • Thu Jul 10: Scratchin’ Gravel (bluegrass)
  • Thu Jul 17: Rehman Quintet (jazz)
  • Thu Jul 24: The Sterling Drake Band (roots, americana)
  • Thu Jul 31: Little Jane and the Pistol Whips (americana)
  • Thu Aug 7: Brigid and Johnny (cowboy tunes, swing)
  • Thu Aug 14: Ten Years Gone (classic rock, alternative, pop)

4-H Achievement Day!  Coming October 7, 2025

Start collecting great photos for the all-club slide show (text or email to Jenn) and each Club be thinking of 2 fun and unique awards to prent to your members!

Cultivating Leadership

by Shelby Jones-Dozier, FCS & 4-H Agent

Cultivating youth leaders is one of the many benefits of 4-H.Teton County 4-H has several opportunities for youth to take that first step towards leadership whether it’s as a club officer or a camp counselor.Another great opportunity is the Ambassador Program.This year, new ambassadors will have the opportunity to learn from our senior ambassadors: Ayden DeBruycker, Waverly Konen, Grace Toeckes, and Mikayla Toeckes.Each new ambassador will be paired up with a senior mentor to guide you along your leadership development journey.

The 2025 Ambassador Application is now open and will bedue on Friday, February 14, 2025.  Apply to be a 2025 Youth Ambassador.Contact the Extension Office if you would like to have a paper application mailed to you.

Calling All Youth Camp Counselors!

Summer may seem far away right now, but it’s not too early to start thinking about 4-H camp! The 2025 Camp Counselor application is now open and will be due Friday, February 14, 2025.Camp counselor planning meetings will be monthly beginning in March and wrapping up with an overnight retreat in June.

Camp counselors need to be 13 (4-H age) and attend a minimum of two planning meetings and the June retreat.Experience in club leadership and participation in a state level 4-H event is preferred.Attending Rec Lab and/or Congress is highly encouraged to get ideas for workshops and learn new group games.

Camp will be at the TASGA grounds in Choteau this year.Be a part of the team to develop new traditions and create a great summer experience!  Apply to be a 2025 Camp Counselor!

Many Hands Make Light Work!

Adult volunteers needed for Summer Camp 2025.

Teton County 4-H camp will be July 22- 24, 2025, in Choteau at the Teton Antique Steam & Gas Association (TASGA) grounds.We are seeking adults to volunteer in shifts to help at camp.

Please consider helping at camp, even if only for a few hours.

Let us know how you can assist by completing the survey. Complete the 2025 Adult Camp Volunteer Survey.

Mark Your Calendar for Communications Day!

Communications Day will beSaturday, April 27,at Choteau Public School.This event will include a Stir-Ups Competition and Western Heritage Persona Interviews. Club leaders, consider planning a club level Communications Day in February or March!The Communications Day application is now open and will be due Friday, March 28, 2025.  Register for Communications Day!

This competition is open to all 4-H members from Cloverbuds to Seniors.4-Hers 13 and up who win a blue ribbon will be eligible to compete at state Congress in July.For those 14 and up, Congress winners will be eligible to attend National 4-H Congress as a member of the Montana Delegation.

Learn about the different ways to compete in Communications! 

Club Commotion

Baking Project Day

A Teton County baking day was held on Sunday, January 5, with members from different 4-H clubs attending. Judy Cornell of Conservation Grains gave a milling demonstration and members conducted a pancake recipe trial. Each 4-Her received one bag of Conservation Grains Flour to use in their baking projects.

Teton County 4-H Horse Club

Teton County Horse Club members competed in the State Horse Show on September 19-21, 2024, at the 406 Arena in Vaughn.

Prairie Stars

Prairie Stars held a fundraiser on January 11-12, 2025, at the Rocky Mountain Rifle Club where a 4-H instructor shooting clinic was held. The fundraiser involved serving breakfast and lunch on both days.

4-H Council Seeking New Officers!

4-H Council is seeking a new secretary for 2025-2027.Our treasurer position will be vacant later this year and we are seeking a treasurer-in-training to work with Rachel Christensen to learn the ropes!Please contact the Extension Office to learn more.

Greytak Calendars

The 2025 Greytak calendars are at the office! Once again, they are $15 and the proceeds benefit our Teton County 4-H Council and statewide 4-H programs.

Thinking About Feed...

The 2025 North 40 discount cards (10% off) that can be used for 4-H project livestock animal feed and show supplements will arrive at the Extension office sometime soon. All cards need to be signed by the 4-H member and their club leader.Also consider checking in on feed costs and programs with our local store, Western Feed Corral in Choteau.

Monthly Online Leadership Academy

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop series on Sunday afternoons in the 2024- 2025 4-H year. Each month, the State Ambassador Officer Team will present a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have developed their own leadership abilities. The leadership academy is for Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways. The workshop content is considered beginner level for emerging leaders. Members with more leadership experience may find this to be a review and should consider mentoring younger members just starting out in leadership activities before or after these workshops. Visit the website to register for the workshop series and receive the Zoom link. Sunday Trainings at 3:00 PM: January 12, 2025,February 9, 2025, and March 16, 2025.

ompleted remotely.

As part of the event, students are asked to tell the story of agriculture through a variety of methods. For 2025, participants should focus on the topic of Agriculture in a Changing World. The prompt is intentionally broad because we want to encourage students to be creative. Examples of topics students can focus on include changes being made on their own/family farm/ranch, changes in the industry, new technology available, etc.

The prizes awarded for the competition are as follows:

• Prepared Speech (delivered in person): 1st Place - $150, 2nd Place - $75

• Newspaper Article: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50

• Radio Spot: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50

• Social Media Posts: 1st Place - $100, 2nd Place - $50

Please review the guidelines for each contest component below. Students may compete in all areas of the competition, or in just one or a few of their choosing. The newspaper, radio, and social media posts will be completely virtual, but the prepared speech will be an in-person event, to be delivered in Lewistown during the Winter Fair on January 18th (note that this is the weekend after KMON and the day after the Livestock competition at the Winter Fair).

1) Newspaper Article - completely virtual – 500-800 words, sent to event organizers by January 12

2) Radio Spot - completely virtual – 50-60 seconds long, pre-recorded and sent to event organizers by January 12

3) Social Media Posts - completely virtual – 3 posts on any appropriate platform, including a picture or video (max. 60 sec/video), and posts written using 60 words or less; sent to event organizers by January 12

4) Prepared Speech – 7-12 minutes, delivered in person in Lewistown on the day of the competition

Please feel free to email Emily Standley at standley.emily@gmail.com with any questions!

Rec Lab

What is Rec Lab? “Rec Lab” stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything at this Montana 4-H state event is hands-on and fun! This event provides an opportunity for youth to enhance their leadership, communication and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting. Rec Lab programming is designed to provide participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp and community leader.

Montana 4-H Rec Lab is open to youth 13+ years old (age as of Oct. 1st, 2024). 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. 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.

Registration will be through ZSuite and is set to open on February 10th and will close March 12th. The cost will be around $100 per person. Participants will have the opportunity to pick from a list of workshops during registration.

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.

Thank you to District 6 counties: Meagher, Gallatin, Park, Broadwater, Wheatland, Sweet Grass, and Lewis and Clark Counties for planning and hosting this event.

2025 Montana Livestock Shows

April 12               Golden Triangle Preview & Jackpot Show, Great Falls (Beef Only)

April 26               Jr. Beef Spring Fling, Deer Lodge (Beef Only)

May 3-4              Black Diamond Junior Jackpot Show & Clinic, Billings (All Species)

May 24-25          Batle of the Big Horns, Sheridan, WY (All Species)

May 30-June 1    Cow Camp Clinic, Wilsall (Beef Only)

May 31                 Champion Choice Camp, Helena (Lambs & Goats)

June 6-7               Badlands Classic Jackpot and Clinic, Glendive (All Species)

June 7                   Golden Triangle Preview & Jackpot Show, Great Falls (Swine, Lambs & Goats)

June 8                   Cowtown Classic, Miles City (Beef Only)

June 12-15           Kootenai Classic, Couer d'Alene, ID (All Species)

June 14-15           Helena Jackpot, Helena (All Species)

June 14-15           Beartooth Banner &  Buckles, Red Lodge (All Species) (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

June 15                 Yellowstone Classic Jackpot show, Billings (Beef Only)

June 21-22            The Beaverhead Breakout Jackpot, Dillon (All Species)

June 28                  Bakken Classic, Watford City, ND (All Species)

                               Western Ranch Spectacular, Billings

                                Home Run Club Lamb Futurity Market & Breeding, Billings

July 11-13              Montana Royal Junior Livestock Show, Kalispell (All Species)

July 18-19              Tobacco Root Royale, Twin Bridges (All Species)

July 19                    Fred Everson Memorial Show, Lolo (Beef, Lambs & Goats)

                                Eager Beavers Jackpot Show, Wibaux (All Species)

July 25-August 2    Montana State Fair, Great Falls (All Species)

August 5-10           Western Montana Fair, Missoula (All Species)

August 8-16            Montana Fair, Billings (All Species)

October 10-18        N.I.L.E., Billings (All Species)  

Montana Farmers Union

Dear Montana 4-H Club,

Montana Farmers Union (MFU) knows 4-H does a fantastic job of educating youth about farms, ranches, community, and creating future leaders.  We do the same thing and that is why MFU wants to send you money to support your efforts!

Simply send us a sentence stating what your club wants money for and you will receive...$100!

MFU has $10,000 to send to 4-H clubs in Montana.  Funding will be available unitl October 1, 2025.  Grant application is included.

Steps to Successful Sentence Grant Completion:

  1. Since each club can only apply once each year, the sentence for the Grant needs to be discussed and decide on as a club.  Please note, that 4-H Leaders C ouncils are not eligible for this grant application, but are encouraged to submit for a reular sponsorhsip request at montanafarmersunion.com/sponsorship.
  2. Have a 4-H member from your club write one sentence in the designated space on the application, describing what your club needs.  It can be as simple as the following examples:
    The Constantly Cooking 4-H club wants to make healthier snacks for our meetings and needs money for food.  OR As aspiring artists, the members of the Pencil and Pig 4-H club would like to purchase art supplies.
  3. Then, have a club offier and leader sign the bottom of the application.

4-H member must write the sentence below.

The below signed 4-H Member (preferably a club officer) verifies that they discussed the $100 Sentence

Grant Application as a full club and the club has voted and agreed upon the above listed sentence. At least

one officer and a club leader need to sign for verification.

 

Club Officer:_____________________(Print) _________________________(Sign) _______(Date)

Club Leader:_____________________(Print) _________________________(Sign) _______(Date)

 

Let us know who the Contact and Payee on the check should be. Preferably the check will be sent to your

club. If you don’t have a bank account for your club, a 4-H leader may be named as the Payee.

Make check payable to: ________________________________________________________________

Email address of 4-H club or payee contact:_________________________________________________

Phone number of payee contact:__________________________________________________________

County where club is located: ___________________________________________________________

The club or payee mailing address: ________________________________                                                        

                                                               ________________________________

                                                               ________________________________

 

Mail this completed application to:

Montana Farmers Union 300 River Drive N PO Box 2447 Great Falls, MT 59403

Or email a photo/scanned copy of the completed application page to:

office@montanafarmersunion.comwith “$100 4-H Sentence Grant 2024 – CLUB NAME” in the subject

line.

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 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