Hello 4-H Families!
There are lots of fun spring time events coming up and they are all
listed in our newsletter. We also share these events in our
Facebook group if you are on Facebook, feel free to add yourself to
the Toole County 4-H Group.


Summer is just around the corner and Marias Fair Fun Time will be
here before you know it! Save the date for July 19-24th.


Fair Packets come out May 18th and are due by June 18th.


The Exhibit Building needs volunteers! If you are interested in
helping in the Exhibit Building during the Marias Fair, please come
to the annual organizational meeting in the Exhibit Building on
Thursday, May 19th at 6 pm. We will be looking at ways to continue
to make interview judging easy, talking about potential judges and
some changes to make things easier for Cloverbuds. This is a great
opportunity to join our team and develop leadership skills, too.


We are in search of a Treasurer for the Food Booth Committee. It
is not necessary to be a day chair, just someone who is
comfortable writing checks and balancing the checkbook. This is
not a busy year round position, as most things happen around Fair
time. If you have questions or you think you'd be interested, please
contact Wendy at wendy.wedum@montana.edu or 406-271-4052


As always, please let us know if you have any questions. You can
stop by the office anytime!
Kim & Jackie

Small Ag Committee Updates
The Small Ag Committee has made a few minor changes to some wording in the small animal rules.
These new rules will be included in your fair packets and will be available online.

Livestock Committee Update
Market animals (any species) that are over the maximum sale participation weight (1,680 for steers,
185 for lambs, 336 for swine, 123 for goats) will show ONLY for showmanship and will not sell.
Livestock Panel Project Update – Currently, 30% of the funds needed to purchase the new Hog, Sheep,
and Goat panels for the fair livestock ring have been received. With a pending grant and some
additional donations, having the project complete for the 2022 Marais Fair is very doable! If every
Marias Fair livestock member contributed $50, the project would be fully funded!
This new ring (with swine on deck pens) will eliminate the need for multiple set-ups and tear downs
throughout the fair, will reduce stress on animals, and be safer for exhibitors. Any and all donations
are appreciated and will be recognized publicly. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Marias Fair
4-H Livestock Committee, 1210 E. Main, Cut Bank, MT 59427. Please mail donations by June 1, 2022, to
ensure panels can be purchased in time for the 2022 Marias Fair! For more information, please
contact Katelyn at ksuta1030@gmail.com.

 

Horse Updates

We will start doing recognition of seniors at the horse show. It was started last minute last year,
but we will do a better job of it in coming years.


We will not be doing any fundraising this year. Instead we are going to see if we can work the
stripping chute at Whoop Up Days and get a small donation from the Lions Committee. If you have
something horse related in your county that could use volunteers, let the horse committee know
and we may be able to work a similar deal to help us pay for judges and other miscellaneous
needs.


We are going to move the Working Ranch Horse Show to 9:00 Judges Clinic, 10:00 show start. Still
on Tuesday of Fair.


Pony Rides will be happening again from noon until 1pm on Saturday. Depending on numbers, we
might get both arenas going.


Patterns were selected and are attached. We haven’t done WRH patterns yet though.
Adriane is working on getting ahold of PRCA people to see how elaborate they want the grand
entry/TETWP and if we are going both days of rodeo or just Saturday. We were also approached by
the Lions Club to have a bigger presence at Whoop Up, and may do a grand entry there. I am
getting more details on how elaborate they want it, but if it goes ahead, horse members from all
counties will be invited to participate.


The goal is to have at least one ride night in Shelby before fair to make sure kids and horses are all
used to the fair grounds.

 

2023 NILE Merit Heifer Program

The opportunity for kids to get started in the cattle industry is knocking, and loudly. Applications for
the NILE Merit Heifer program are now available for the 2022-2023 year.
The NILE Merit Heifer program is a live animal scholarship, meaning the recipients are given a young,
live, heifer calf. The objective is to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business and gain knowledge
about the beef industry.
Program participants are chosen based on merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal. 4-H or
FFA members who are 12-16 years old may apply. Applicants are not limited to Montana residents.
During the program duration, participants are responsible for care-taking, record keeping, breeding,
and bringing the heifer back one year later to the NILE Stock Show & Rodeo. The class of merit heifer
recipients competes for best phenotype, top showman honors, best record book, best interview and
overall top herdsman.
Applications and a link to the YouTube video must be received no later than June 30, 2022 by 4 p.m.
The 2023 recipients will be announced in late summer of 2022. Applications are available online here.
Application Requirements:
complete application
character references
written essay
3-5 minute YouTube video (should include, but is not limited to):
an introduction
facility tour
current 4-H/FFA projects
goals and objectives for the Merit Heifer
voiced by the applicant
For more information go to thenile.org

 

Livestock Committee Updates
Lamb weight limit - Maximum lamb weight limit has been increased to 165 pounds. This is more in
line with other fairs and allows those larger framed lambs to be appropriately finished. A heavier
carcass also provides the buyer more meat for their fixed processing costs.

Maximum Sale Participation Weight – Any animal weighing 12% or more above the maximum
payweight will NOT be eligible to sell in the market livestock sale. Those animals may participate in the
show but will not be able to sell.

Maximum sale participation weights are:

Beef – 1,680
Lambs – 185
Swine – 336
Goats – 123

Weigh in Deadline: Lamb/Goat deadline is May 8th.

The following 4-H members will need Livestock Quality Assurance this year:
We will have a quality assurance/food safety day TBD
Taylor Parsons     Brinlee Flesch
Ty Parsons         Morgan Riphenburg

4-H Camp
4-H camp will be Monday, June 13th through Wednesday, June 15th, similar to previous years. Camp
will be for 4-Hers in 7th grade or below (no Cloverbuds). Registration will be available on a first come,
first serve (and paid) basis until we reach 120 campers. Any remaining applicants will be on a waiting
list. Registration details will be coming later this spring. Camp will be $60/camper, due to higher food
and supply costs. The Toole County 4-H Council Event scholarship and Bret Wanken Memorial Fund
scholarship are both available, applications are available on our website or upon request.
The theme for this year's camp is "at the movies". Registration will be open from April 1st to May 13th.
Registration is now open on Z-Suite.


4-H Family Passes
Please note, 4-H Family entertainment passes will be $150/family this year (immediate family only) and
the passes will include Indian Relay Races Thursday and Friday and rodeo Saturday night and Sunday
afternoon. Fair expenses can quickly add up so we recommend budgeting now for these summer
expenses. If you receive a tax refund, earmarking part of that for summer activities, whether 4-H camp,
fair passes, school supplies, or otherwise, can be a great idea.


Swine Weight Fair Information
Remember, fair weigh-in date is Wednesday, July 20th. Fair minimum weight is 220 pounds, maximum
payweight is 300 pounds, maximum sale participation weight is 336 pounds. As a generalization, many
of the show pig types tend to gain around 1.5 - 2.0 lbs/day while a commerical type pig can be 2.0 - 2.5
lbs/day. Calculate the days until fair from when you purchase your pig to determine what an
appropriate beginning start weight would be.


Adult Volunteer Award:
Application Due June 1st
Each county may nominate one individual for each category to be considered for awards.
Nominees may qualify for more than one category. Attached please find the Power Point
Presentation on Volunteer Recognition. Questions, please contact Kelton Jensen.
https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0etOI1iTmlbuoYu

Horse Clinic for Flesch Family
Remington Campbell is planning a horsemanship clinic that is centered around the 4-H working
ranch horse program. He is going to cap it at 12 students and the fee will be $150 per student.
Anyone that wants to come watch there will be a donation box. All the proceeds of this clinic will
go to the Flesch family. He is also thinking about doing a colt starting demonstration at the end
that anyone could watch. At this time the date of this horse clinic is to be determined.

Montana Make It With Wool Contest
The Montana Make It With Wool Contest will be held in person on October 22, 2022. It is hosted
by the American Sheep Industry and only happens once a year. Contestants include sewers,
knitters, crochets, felters, and designs. First place in the Junior and Senior divisions of
participating contest, as well as the At Large Contest, for non participating states, you are invited
to participate in the National Competition.
If you would like more information stop by the office and we will give you a brochure.

Project Day
There will be no project day this year, Kim will figure out a time to do quality assurance and food safety for
those who need it.

State Horse Show: September 9-11 at Cottonwood Equine Center in Joliet, MT.
Horse Ambassador Application: Youth 14 and up and riding level 3 or above to apply.
State Horse T-Shirt Design Contest: Email Emma Tracy with entries. July 15th
State Horse Essay Contest: Registration on Z-suite. Deadline August 15th
State Horse Photography Contest: Registration on Z-suite. Deadline August 15th

Cloverbud Day Camp
Cloverbud camp will be June 9 at Williamson Park along the Marias River south of Shelby, from 10:45
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Details and a registration form will be on Z-Suite. All Marias Fair area Cloverbuds are
welcome for a day of activities, games, and lunch. Cloverbuds will be making several items they can
enter in the fair as well.

Skateboard Clinic & Contest
On June 24th and 25th there will be a Skateboard clinic and Contest. It is a free community event at the
Krysko Skate Park. If you would like any more information visit the First Baptist Church website at
www.fbcshelbymt.com/skate.

2022 Montana Livestock Shows
May 14 - Ronan Livestock Show
May 28 - 29 - Renegade in Great Falls (all species)
June 4 - Golden Triangle Preview in Great Falls (swine, lambs, goats)
June 10 - 11 - Champions Choice in Helena (lambs, goats, swine)
June 11 - 12 - Helena Jackpot (all species)
June 24 - Western Ranch Fitting and Showmanship Camp - Great Falls
June 25 - 26 - Western Ranch Jackpot - Great Falls (all species)

Beekeeping: Participants who wish to complete the Bee Keeping 4-H project can present their
displays at their county fair. The project is FREE to join and the curriculum book will be available
online. The event kicks off in Butte Saturday, May 21st at the Butte Vigilante Saddle Club &
Rodeo.

4-H'ers interested in participating can register in Z suites for the Entomology/Bee Keeping
project or register as an Independent Project.
We will be roughly following the beekeeping curriculum from Purdue:
https://www.uidaho.edu/-/media/UIdaho-Responsive/Files/Extension/4-
H/projects/beekeeping-purdue-571-level1-pdf.pdf
The project will kick off with an optional in person event in Butte on May 21st.
Meetings will be held June 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30th at 7:00pm on WebEx. We will learn about basic
bee keeping as well as hear from special guests who are experts in the industry each week.
Participants will be encouraged to develop a display and present their new knowledge as an
Independent Project for Fair.

Marias Valley Youth Rodeo Series
June 9 & 23 - July 14 & 29 - Aug 11 & 25
For directions and more information go to fsbshelbymt.org/
rodeo Bible camp
Email mariasvalleyrodeo@gmail.com or you could text (406)470-0712


Montana 4-H State Horse Photography Contest
The photo must be taken between the dates of October 1, 2021
and the time of the entry. Photos may only be submitted once
and in only one category. Must be the original work of the 4-H
member.


Photography Contest Categories
My 4-H Horse Project- show
The Registration on Z-suite opens on April 20, 2022 and closes
on August 15, 2022.

Katelyn Suta of the Longview 4-H club in Glacier County is working on redesigning the show ring in the
Seewald Barn for her Junior Leadership project. The ring will be made of Preiefert Hog, Sheep and
Goat panels which will allow for one ring to be used throughout the entire fair and eliminate the need
for multiple set-ups and tear downs throughout the fair. The ring will also have swine holding pens
attached which will allow for ‘on deck’ pens for the swine show and sale. This will reduce stress on the
animals and be safer for exhibitors as well.


Phase I of the project is complete with the Livestock Committee purchasing the swine holding pens, a
cost of $7,995. Katelyn is now fundraising for Phase II of the project, which is to raise $8,395 to
purchase the panels for the ring. Katelyn is applying for grants and is also asking local 4-H Councils,
clubs, and families to donate towards the project. The Clever Clovers and Longview 4-H clubs have
each purchased a panel ($365) and challenge the rest of the Marias Fair clubs to do the same. Any and
all donations are appreciated and will be recognized publicly.


Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Committee, 1210 E. Main, Cut
Bank, MT 59427. Please mail donations by June 1, 2022, to ensure panels can be purchased in time for
the 2022 Marias Fair! For more information, please contact Katelyn at ksuta1030@gmail.com

Project day was April 24th @ the First Baptist Church
Activity Center. Thank you to all the members who
competed in this event!
Awards:
Top Presentation: Delaney Clark
Senior Level: 1st Place- Delaney Clark
2nd Place- Kolby Davidson
Junior Level: 1st Place- Clara Blonde
2nd Place- Dylan Clark
3rd Place- Paxton Flesch
Pre- Junior Level: 1st Place- Bridger Ergenbright
2nd Place- Grace Hemmer
3rd Place- Alethea Smith
Lego Pre- Junior: 1st- Alethea Smith
2nd- Jacob Preuss
Lego Junior: 1st- Avalyn Smith
2nd- Brant Blonde
Lego Overall: Alethea Smith

 

West Butte Club had their
meeting on Sunday, April
24th and showed their
demonstrations to others
in the club!

MAY
1st- Project drop/add deadline
8th- Lamb and Goat weigh in deadline
13th Office Closed in the afternoon
16th- Fair Registration Begins Packets available in the office.
19th- Exhibit Building Meeting @6pm
21st- Sunburst Graduation
29th- Shelby Graduation
30- Office Closed (Memorial Day)


JUNE
2nd- Small Animal Showmanship in Exhibit Building @ 6:30
7th- 4-H Council Meeting @ Toole County Extension Office
5-9th- Health Rocks
13-16th- 4-H Camp
16th- Fashion Revue @ Exhibit Building
20-22nd- Range Days in Shelby
28th- Small Animal Committee Meeting @ 6:30 @ MRE


JULY
12-15th- 4-H Congress
16th- 4-H Clean-up
19-24th- Marias Fair