Ravalli County 4-H
December 2021 Newsletter
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Dear Ravalli County 4-H families,
I want to extend a huge thank you for welcoming me to your 4-H program and community this past year. I have met so many great people and have gained many cherished memories. I commend your dedication and perseverance to make the best better in Ravalli County! You have shown me what a quality 4-H program looks like and I am so grateful to have been part of it. My family and I are re-locating due to my Husband’s job, so it is with this I say farewell. Although my time here was short, I had the honor to work with some amazing youth, volunteers, community partners, and office staff. Your devotion to this 4-H program is nothing short of amazing. I wish you all the best and for the upcoming 4-H year and beyond.
Continue to reach out to Jocelyn and Kimberly at the Extension office with all 4-H related questions.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Annie Bauer
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December 17 Extension Office Open House
December 23 Extension Office Closing at 3 PM
December 24 Extension Office Closed
December 31 Re-Enrollment Deadline
December 31 Year-end Financial Summary Deadline
December 31 Extension Office Closed
January 8 Beef Weigh-In
January 11 Livestock Committee Meeting
January 15 Bred Dairy Heifer Deadline
March 1 New Member Enrollment Deadline
April 1 4-H Council Education Scholarship Deadline
April 30 4-H Carnival
May 1 Project add/drop deadline
July 25-29 4-H Jr Summer Camp
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Start your 4-H year with defining your goals for the year. Use S.M.A.R.T goals to help with planning and finding success in your goals!
What is a S.M.A.R.T goal? SMART is a five-letter mnemonic designed to help write goals that are achievable.
• S – Specific; be specific in describing the goal you want to reach, having a clear and well defined goal provides the best pathway for getting where you want to go.
• M – Measurable; the goal must be measurable in order to know that you’ve reached the goal; be precise about amounts, dates or numbers in order to know that you’ve really met the goal.
• A – Attainable; be realistic and set goals that are possible to achieve, not too high and lofty but also not so easy that you are not challenged.
• R – Relevant; set goals that align with the overall direction you or the group are going, stay on track.
• T – Time based; goals have an end, set a deadline.
Setting goals is a powerful process that allows you to think about your future and what you must do to get to that future. Setting goals provides the pathway to make the dream a reality.
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Stop by the Extension Office on Friday, December 17 from 2-5 PM for some Holiday Cheer! We would love to see you there!
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4-H Enrollment
Take time today to enroll!
Deadline on the 31st
includes payment being received
in the Extension Office.
We are closed Friday, Dec. 31
for the Holiday.
Mail dues early, enroll early!
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Current Member and Leader Enrollment Reminder
Important Date: December 31
For youth who are re-enrolling in 4-H, members need to signed up with their club by December 31 to be eligible for fair exhibits. Members can drop/add projects for fair eligibility up until May 1. New members can sign up by March 1 (or next business day) and still participate with fair. Leaders must be re-enrolled prior to volunteering with the 4-H program.
Returning families:
Go to 4h.zsuite.org type in your email and password from last year (contact extension office if you forgot email or click “forgot password” if you forgot your password. By returning members name, click on more actions then create enrollment
Fill out and update required fields.
Add your club and projects (this part can be updated throughout the year)
Click add to cart to save
Re-Enrollment Deadline:
December 31, 2021 (payment due by deadline)
New Member Enrollment Deadline:
March 1, 2022 (payment due by deadline)
Dues:
$10 for returning members and volunteers
$5 for Cloverbuds
$40 for new volunteers
Checks payable to Ravalli County 4-H or call to pay electronically
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Beef Weigh In
Saturday, January 8
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4-H Beef Weigh In
Saturday, January 8, 2021
9:00am – 12:00pm
Contact the Extension office is you have not received a Weigh-In packet in the mail.
Please be in line no later than 11 AM
Location:
Sutherland Farms, 415 Spooner Creek Rd, Stevensville
Beef Superintendents: Troy Griffin, 406-207-6680 and Ashley Weigle 406-207-4433
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4-H Year-End Financial Summary Report Deadline is December 31 |
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For those clubs still out with Year-end Financial Summary Reports - you need to get your Year-end documents and 1% fee in to the Extension Office by December 31.
If you aren’t current by December 31, participation in 4-H will be suspended for the entire club until the financial end is remedied. This will affect Fair eligibility so please do not delay. For any questions on what is needed, please call Jocelyn or Kimberly right away!
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Livestock
- Please make sure to add your Level and market or breeding in your Zsuites profile
- Review the species guidelines for reference https://ravalli.msuextension.org/4hlivestock.html
- Know who the superintendent(s) are
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Shooting Sports
- Each county 4-H Shooting Sports program must be conducted under the supervision of a trained shooting sports leader.
- Archery: season runs from December-March. See below for more information.
- Small Bore: Season begins in June.
- Air Gun: Looking for Leader
- Shotgun: Looking for Leader
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Leadership
- Youth must be 13 of age on Oct. 1 of the current 4-H Year
- This project is designed to teach teens to be better leaders through educational experiences, service and practice.
- A Project plan is due to Club Leader May 1. Projects that are exhibited at the fair must include the approved project proposal and accompany member with the fair exhibit interview.
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Independent Study
- This project is available to youth who have completed the all the project levels in a project area offered through the Montana 4-H Clover
- A project plan is due to Club Leader May 1. Projects that are exhibited at the fair must include the approved project proposal and accompany member with the fair exhibit interview.
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Self-Determined
- Self- Determined projects serve as a project template for interests that are not offered in the Montana 4-H Clover or Ravalli County 4-H Clover. They are not spin-offs of existing projects.
- A Project Plan is due to Club Leader May 1. Projects that are exhibited at the fair must include the approved project proposal and accompany member with the fair exhibit interview.
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Add/Drop Deadline
Projects must be added in Zsuite by May 1 to be eligible to enter in the fair.
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4-H Age is based on October 1, 2021
- Ages 5-7 are only eligible to enroll in the Cloverbud project
- Ages 8-18 are eligible for all projects
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Advisory Council Meetings |
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It is strongly encouraged that each club sends a representative to the council meeting. This can be a club leader, senior youth member (13 or older), or enrolled volunteer. Each club gets one vote! To meet quorum, we need a minimum of 7 voting representatives. |
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Club Officer Training Resources |
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Club youth officers play a vital role in the success of your 4-H club! Each officer has responsibilities that make meetings run smoothly.
Learn more about what each role does:
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Livestock Sale Buyer’s Breakfast Coordinator
Work with livestock committee and other volunteers to source, organize, and implement the Livestock Sale buyer’s breakfast.
Teen Council Advisor
Work with county ambassadors and teen leaders to plan meetings, recruit members, plan events (4-H Fun Day, Service Project, 4th Grade Farm Fair, Competition Day help, Fair: livestock sale, awards ceremony, battle of the barns)
Dairy Cow Superintendent – A complete job description is available from the Extension Office
- Coordinate all activities of project area during fair week
- Coordinate volunteers to complete work needed to be completed in the barn and/or projects before during and after the fair.
- Ensure entry of exhibitors into appropriate weight classes and showmanship classes.
- Obtain award sponsors for project special premiums and ensure youth provide thank you notes to sponsors.
- Serve on the appropriate 4‐H Committees.
- Where applicable, coordinate both 4‐H and Open Shows.
- Know and apply 4‐H and fairgrounds policies and procedures.
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Livestock Quality Assurance |
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It was voted at the October Livestock meeting that Animal Quality Assurance Training is now mandatory every year for youth taking an animal project.
Animal Quality Assurance is a very important aspect of animal projects- especially those that go through the livestock sale. These trainings teach youth the best practices of animal care including nutrition, management, animal husbandry, and veterinary health.
Youth can attend any session, although specie specific sessions will have more information geared towards that particular project.
Sessions are being planned and a separate e-mail will be sent out when dates, times and locations are set.
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Outdoor Adventure 1
Meetings every 2nd Saturday
Date: January 8
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Meetings will be at a central, outdoor location with several hikes planned throughout the season. Meeting rain, snow or shine. Thinking snow shoeing outing! It's going to be fun!
Contact: Gabby, gabby.burns.coffee@gmail.com
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Poultry Project Meeting
2nd Tuesday of the Month
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Meeting Room across from Extension Office
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Rabbit Project Meeting
3rd Thursday of the Month
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Meeting Room across from Extension Office
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Junk Drawer Robotics 1
-Meetings every 4th Tuesday
Date: January 25
Time: 6 PM - 7 PM
Location: Meeting Room across from Extension Office
Contact: Gabby, gabby.burns.coffee@gmail.com
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Dog Meeting
Date: Thursdays
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Dog Barn at the Fairgrounds
Please contact Nicki if you are a new member planning to attend.
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March 18-20
This event provides an opportunity for youth and adults 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. This is an ideal event for younger senior members to attend a state event for the first time and begin to form relationships with 4-H peers form across the state, broadening their own skills and widening their network.
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Montana 4-H Leadership Academy |
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Members 12+, 4-H Age
Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in 2022. The leadership academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways.
- January 9 How to Make Club Meeting Awesome
- February 13 Ages and Stages for Mentors
- March 13 Successful Service Learning
- April 10 Lead with a Purpose
All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:45 via Zoom.
Contact the Extension to get the Zoom Meeting Link.
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National 4-H At Home Activities |
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Find more Holiday Inspired activities from National 4-H here:
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MSU Ravalli County Extension
Office Staff
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MSU Extension Agent
Agriculture, Horticulture
& Natural Resources
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MSU/Ravalli County Extension Office
215 S. 4th Street, Ste G
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406.375.6611
Connect on Facebook:
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Vacant
MSU Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development
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The Montana State University Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach. |
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