March 1 4-H Enrollment and Dues Deadline

Rec Lab Registration Deadline

Nile Scholarship Deadline

March 3-5 State Shoot

March 10 Silver Bow Shoot

March 13 BCD Scholarship Deadline

March 15 Bitterroot Stockgrowers Scholarship Deadline

March 17-19 Rec Lab

March 18 4-H Fundraiser Annual Tack Swap

March 19 QA Event

March 20 4-H Advisory Council Meeting

March 21 Virtual Career Night

Competition Day

April 1-2 4-H Archer Practicum

Deadline for Ravalli Education Scholarship

April 8 Foul Weather 3D Archery Shoot

April 16 Lamb Sale

April 17 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting

April 22 Shotgun Qualifier

April 23 Muzzleloader Qualifier

April 29 Lewis and Clark Spring Trap Shoot

4-H Carnival

When:

Mondays at 6:00PM

January 23, 2023

March 20, 2023

May 15, 2023

July 17, 2023

Sept. 18, 2023

Where:

Victor Fire Hall, 2383 Meridian Rd, Victor, MT 59875

When:

Mondays at 6:00PM

Feb. 20, 2023

April 17, 2023

June 19, 2023

August 14, 2023

Sept. 25, 2023

Oct. TBD

Where:

Victor Fire Hall, 2383 Meridian Rd, Victor, MT 59875

Deadline March 1, 2023

Outdoor Adventure 1

Next meeting TBD

Contact: Gabby, gabby.burns.coffee@gmail.com

Teen Leader Coordinator

Camp Coordinator/Director

Dairy Superintendent

Corner Cafe Director

Welcome to Ravalli County 4H Horse for 2023!

I'm Kim Jones, the Vice Chair of the Ravalli County Horse Program and the County Leader for Working Ranch Horse. I felt it important to reach out to all currently signed up members to welcome you and to invite you to our upcoming Horse Events. 

Tuesday March 14, 2023 at the Hamilton House in Victor @ 6:00 pm.

Horsemanship clinics at my farm and have set up a sign up for members to attend. We will have a few horse leaders there with the kids and will be working on showmanship, horsemanship, dressage and jumping. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4DA9AD28A4FD0-4hhorsemanship

Please let me know if you have any questions and you can include my name and phone number in the newsletter to have people contact me for more information.  

Thanks! See you Fri. Talitha 

Judge livestock with Ravalli County 4-H. Livestock judging contests are available throughout the year and across the state. 

Join the Ravalli County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. All 4-H ages are welcome..

Upcoming contests include Montana Ag Expo in Bozeman in November, KMON in Great Falls in January, Missoula County Invitational in Missoula in April, and possibly State 4-H Congress in Bozeman in July. Contact project leader Ben Meyer at 239-1213 or meyer.ben.a@gmail.com. 

Registered Nigerian Dwarf Goats for 4-H projects for sale contact Jennifer Bush travjenbush@gmail.com

Boer kids available now for 4H market projects and Dairy kids arriving in May for 4H projects in Corvallis. Jessica

www.goatsgalorefarm.wix.com/goatsgalorefarm 

Bob needs a new home. Contact the Extension for further details. 406.375.6611

Steers for sale that have been worked with. Many have been led and tied and are gentle for all stages of 4Hers and showmen. Isabelle Lowry would enjoy the opportunity to work with 4-H'ers to help them with a successful project this season. Some select heifers that would be great to show and then breed are also available for sale. 

Kimberly Lowry / Broker Associate, Licensed in MT

klowry@fayranches.com / 406.490.4323

Fay Ranches, Inc.

800.238.8616 / fax 406.586.4020

Helena, MT 59722

www.fayranches.com

Miller Farms, right outside of Livingston has 4-H swine available for sale They raise 4-H pigs for all fair dates in Montana. July-Sept. Our pigs are a three way cross, Hampshire, Yorkshire and Duroc. People call us, send us a deposit to hold the pigs they want and pay the balance when they come pick them up from our farm.

Available by the end of March or first of April. Our contact number is 1-406-220-2122. They can also see our ads on Craigslist sites across the state. We are a first come, first served farm. As soon as we receive deposits on pigs the purchaser's name goes on a list. Please send our name and phone number out to the various 4-H leaders around the state.

Thank you. 

Cindy Miller

Livingston, Mt. 59047

Quality Assurance Save the Dates:  

Sunday, March 19, 2023, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Corvallis Grange 130 Dutchhill Road Hamiliton, MT 59840. Hosted by Bitterroot Stockgrowers. There will be a guest speaker, either a vet or nutritionist. All species welcome.  

Sunday, April 16, 2023, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Victor Fire Hall 2383 Meridian Road Victor, MT 59875. Hosted by Bitterroot Stockgrowers. There will be a guest speaker, either a vet or nutritionist. All species welcome.  

Please feel free to contact your organizational leader, barn superintendent, 4-H Extension Office or myself if you have any questions. 

Ravalli County Livestock Committee is now accepting superintendent applications for 2023:

Dairy Superintendent

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in 2022 and 2023. The Leadership Academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their local 4-H program in new ways. 

Local leadership groups will have an opportunity to join with members from around the state as well as the Montana 4-H Ambassador Officer team, virtually, to work on skill building, planning and mentorship. 

Each month the officer team will be presenting a different workshop topic that they found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop can be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H program and community. 

County Leadership groups should plan to meet face to face whenever possible and engage in the virtual statewide workshop together. However, participants are welcome to join the online workshop as individuals. 

This time can be viewed as a leadership club meeting. County ambassadors can aid in planning and facilitating these local workshop meetings.  All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. 

November 20: Connection with Cloverbuds

December 11: What Makes a Leader

January 8: Power of Positivity 

February 5: Tools for Facilitation

March 5: The Butterfly Effect on Leadership

Visit the webpage for complete descriptions: https://www.montana4h.org/programs/youth_leadership/academy.html

To receive the zoom meeting link and info for this workshop series please complete the short registration by clicking the "Register Now" on this montana4h.org page 

Once the form is complete an email containing the zoom meeting link for all 5 workshops will be sent automatically. 

Have you ever thought about being a zoo keeper, a chef, a police dog trainer, doing livestock embryo transfer, an electrician or even being a doctor? Then this event is for YOU! Join us to explore a variety of career options and get your questions answered about what degree do you need, should you do an internship, what you need to do in high school to get ready for a career and much more! We will have door prizes we are giving away and lots of fun to be had throughout the evening. Join us March 21 at 6pm (MST) for a fun evening of exploring careers. For more information and to register for this free event go to: https://wyoming4h.org/virtual-career-night/ 

Celebrate Women's History Month

Happy Women's History Month! Iowa 4-H Alum Gabby Neddermeyer shares a little about the important women in her life.  

Join us as we celebrate the women of 4-H and female leaders. Share your story & tag us @national4H. 

WATCH VIDEO

 Know an inspiring 4-H youth?

Encourage them to enter for the opportunity to win a $5K scholarship, tailored professional mentoring, national spokesperson/speaking opportunities and MORE! Apply now to become a 4-H Youth in Action winner. HURRY, the application deadline is March 27^th.

 APPLY TODAY 

Women's History Month Collection 

Celebrate Women's History Month with items from our Girl Power Collection!

 GIRL POWER 

Experience Washington D.C. Like Never Before

Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF) is National 4-H Council's premier leadership and civic engagement experience for high school students. Using the nation's capital as its classroom, CWF connects young leaders nationwide to gain the skills and experiences to become effective change agents.

LEARN MORE

 Find your creative 4-H spark with JOANN

Wherever your imagination takes you, let our amazing partners at JOANN help. You can support 4-H'ers with a trip to JOANN by donating at the register through May 1^st.

LEARN MORE

National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships: June 25-30, 2023

1. The Shiloh Rifle Raffle Tickets are available. Counties will receive half of the money turned in from tickets sold. The other half will go to the Midway Foundation to support the Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Program.  Please see the attached poster. If your county would like to get tickets, please let me know and I will mail them to you.
2. Due to scheduling conflicts and low numbers, the Circle training will not be rescheduled. We will look to have a training in Eastern Montana next fall.
3. There are two more Shooting Sports Leader Trainings scheduled for the spring. Please see the attached information.
4. Billings – March 31 – April 1, 2023. Disciplines offered are Archery, Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, and Coordinator.
5. Manhattan Wildlife Association – Logan – April 21 – 22, 2023. Disciplines offered are Western Heritage, Muzzle-loading, and Shotgun.
6. For all of the County Invitationals, please see the Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Events page. All information is included.
7. The State Shoot is scheduled for March 3-5, 2023 in Bozeman. The registration is now open. Please go the Shooting Sports Events Page to access the registration process and information. I am attaching the General Rules and the Match Program.

International Hosting & Exchange Opportunities for 2023-2024

Family Hosting Opportunities short-term and long term

• 13 Japanese Youth Delegates & Chaperone (~4 weeks in July/Aug)
• 2 Norwegian Youth Delegates (~4 weeks in end of June-end of July)
• 2 Japanese Youth Delegates for Academic Year Program (~Aug-June)

Outbound 2023 Summer Programs are 4 weeks (or 8 weeks - Japan only)    

·                    Argentina

·                    Costa Rica

·                    Finland

·                    Norway

·                    Romania

·                    Taiwan

·                    Korea

·                    Japan

The Montana 4-H Center is encouraging our high school youth to attend the 2023 National 4-H Citizenship Washington Focus either June 11-16 or July 2-7, 2023 in Washington D.C. at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Using the nation’s capital as their classroom, CWF connects young leaders from across the country to gain the skills and experiences to become effective change agents! CWF on the National 4-H Council website: https://4-h.org/parents/citizenship-washington-focus/#!register

When: Week 1: June 11-16 or Week 4: July 2-7; (Please see the 2023 CWF schedule attached or refer to the CWF website link above)

Where: Washington D.C. at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, MD

Eligibility: Current 4-H members must be 14-19 years of age

Chaperones: We will have a 1:10 chaperone to youth ratio

Cost: $1,295/person registration for double occupancy which includes guest room, meals (excluding the two state-organized meals), DC area site visits, and program materials; plus approximately $200/person for the DC area Transportation Package; and the round-trip flight from MT to Washington DC. The approximate total cost will range from ~$2,000 - $2,500 depending on flight costs.

Accommodations/Registration: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, MD with double occupancy. Note: The Montana State 4-H Center will register and make the guest room reservations for the Montana delegations.

Transportation: The Montana State 4-H Center will arrange the purchase of the flights. Note: Airport(s) will be determined by the best flight cost and chaperone availability as all youth will travel with a chaperone.

Montana Delegate Application and Deposit: Please complete and send in the attached application (or use the link to the application below) along with an initial $650.00 deposit by February 13 or earlier to c.sommersaustin@montana.edu or Christine Sommers-Austin, PO Box 173580, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Susan Dufner Scholarship: This scholarship is awarded to a current 4-H member, age 17 or older (by the time of travel), that is attending a 4-H citizenship event in Washington D.C. The award will be applied to the total fees for this event. Please find the attached application (or use the link to the application below).

Welcome to the March 2023 issue of our Helping Parents Heal Newsletter!

Whatever rejoicing we experience when a child is born, that same rejoicing is magnified beyond the veil when someone dies and is welcomed home. Birth and death are two ends of mortality, but they are only mile markers in our larger journey.~Jeff O'Driscoll, 'Not Yet: Near-Death Experiences & Lessons Learned'

Hello, Shining Light Parents (https://www.suzannegiesemann.com/shining-brightly-so-that-others-may-heal/) ! For all parents and siblings of children who have transitioned, we understand your journey and we walk the same path. We are grateful that you have found us. This newsletter is a space that allows us to share our amazing children.

We are here for you. Please remember to reach out to our Caring Listeners if you need a supportive parent to speak to. You can reach all of our Caring Listeners by clicking

here (https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/caring-listeners/) .

We would like to take a moment to thank all of you for being a part of our support group. Our Facebook group now has over 24,500 members, and we have 165 volunteer Affiliate Leaders and Caring Listeners. We know that our kids have brought us together and that they are happy that we have found each other. You are all part of our extended family. Thank you for your compassion and for the continued support you provide. Together, we will help each other heal!

If you are in the Phoenix area, please join us on February 19th from 1-3 pm at Unity of Phoenix as we welcome Helping Parents Heal Board Member and author of 'Quinton's Messages' and 'Quinton's Legacy,' Ernie Jackson. Please click

here (https://www.facebook.com/events/5382869931789289) to learn more. We would love to see you there.

Ernie and Kristine Jackson

With love and light,

-Elizabeth Boisson, President and Co-Founder of Helping Parents Heal, Newsletter Editor, and Phoenix/Scottsdale Affiliate Leader

Please visit our website, www.helpingparentsheal.org, to find out more, as well as to add your child's tribute, to sign up for our newsletter and to opt-in to support Helping Parents Heal through the Amazon Smiles (http://smile.amazon.com) program.

Watch Our AWESOME Second Helping Parents Heal Conference Video by Rick Wilcoxson by clicking here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2QsrxJAiow) .

Please purchase Helping Parents Heal T-shirts, mugs, hats and more at our HPH Online Store! Every penny is used to help more parents and families heal, as well as to finance our next conference! Thank you for shopping by clicking

here (https://www.helpingparentshealstore.com/).

NILE Foundation Scholarship Program continues!

A new year brings new opportunities for youth in agriculture! The NILE Foundation is now accepting applications for scholarships for the 2023-2024 academic year.

For over 30 years, the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) has awarded scholarships to deserving FFA and 4-H students who have been leaders in their respective programs, excelled in the classroom, participated in NILE events and are actively involved in their communities.

“Supporting youth in agriculture is a key component of the NILE Foundation’s mission,” says Leah Morgan Clark, General Manager of the NILE. “It is critical that we continue to provide financial assistance to the next generation of agriculture leaders so that they may pursue higher education and reach their personal and professional goals.”

Scholarships will be awarded and announced in April 2023. Similar to previous years, the NILE Scholarship Committee will be awarding five levels of scholarships:



·    High School One Time Scholarship - Awarded to high school seniors that meet the qualifications listed in the guidelines. 

·    Rolling Scholarship - The rolling scholarships will be offered to a select group of High School Seniors who will have the opportunity to renew the scholarship yearly, up to four years of their secondary education. Recipients of rolling scholarships will be chosen from the pool of applicants that are current seniors in High School.

·    Secondary One Time Scholarship - A one-time grant, for students already enrolled in College or a Vo-Tech school meeting the qualifications.

·    Shining Star: All qualified applicants are eligible. This scholarship is for an applicant that stands out in the crowd.

·    NILE Legacy Award - Offered to students that have been very active in various NILE events from the time they were young!



·    Needle In The Haystack – This scholarship will be randomly drawn for during the NILE Foundation's Stetson and Stilettos on May 5, 2023. All scholarship applicants will be eligible - must be present to win.

Scholarship applications and guidelines can be found at www.thenile.org, or by contacting the NILE Office at (406) 256-2495. Applications must be received no later than March 1, 2023. No hard copies will be accepted; please email applications to shelby@thenile.org. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Each year the NILE touches the lives of nearly 10,000 youth and provides over $55,000 in cash and live animal scholarships. Major highlights of NILE Youth Programs are the NILE Merit Heifer Program, 4th Grade Ag Education, Jr. Fed Livestock Show, Scholarship Program, and Internship Program. Live Animal scholarships are donations of heifers to kids in the Merit Heifer Program.

The NILE Foundation was established in 2009 as a supporting arm of the NILE organization, which is dedicated to the promotion of livestock, agriculture education, and respect for the western culture. It is funded through generous donations and the NILE Foundation's annual fundraiser.

Scholarship Application

There will also be the first annual Montana Small Pork Producer Conference on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the Montana ExpoPark’s Family and Living Center. The conference is a collaboration between MSU Extension and MPPC to bring education on raising hogs, marketing, genetics, veterinarian care, pork protein, pork nutrition, etc. and is possible through the MSU Extension Innovation Grant. The conference is geared toward Montanans who have a small hog production, 4-H hog breeding project, FFA SAE hog project, Extension agents, FFA advisors, and anyone interested in small pork production. All agents are welcome to attend! Invited speakers and topics are:

• Randy Shipley; Shipley Swine Genetics
• TS Laurens; Redneck Meats
• Anna Forseth, DVM; National Pork Producers
• Jared Long; Long’s Livestock
• Central Avenue Meats
• Discounts Meats
• Pork appetizer stations by local Montana chefs

Montana 4-H Center Positions Announced

Extension 4-H Specialist, Agriculture & Natural Resources

• https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/34984

Extension 4-H Specialist, College & Career Readiness:

• https://jobs.montana.edu/postings/34994

Montana 4-H Rec Lab Registration

​

Rec Lab registration closes March 1 at 11:59 PM

All participants must be registered in Zsuite by this time.

Please refer to Inga Hawbaker's email on 2/28/2023 and approve all reregistered participants in Zsuite. Use this help sheet for reference.

https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/rec_lab/EventRegistrationApprovalandPaymentProcess.pdf

All chaperones should be familiar with the state event guidelines prior to chaperoning a state event. Please pass this on to chaperones.

https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/documents/resources/state_event_guidelines.pdf

Ag Network: Volunteers & Members of the Month

• Nominate a Youth Here: https://forms.gle/EbtccAkk6XE3ZWKX6
• Nominate a Volunteer Here: https://forms.gle/z6qTGfjZEZUxAksg9

Shooting Sports News

• State Shoot: March 3-5, 2023 in Bozeman. We can only take checks payable to Montana 4-H Center mailed to PO Box 173580, Bozeman, MT 59717 Attention: Scott Francis. We also need volunteers to assist with archery. Please share this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C48A4A72DABFF2-2020 The match results will be posted next week after scores are verified.

• Shiloh Sharps Tickets. $20.00 each or 6/$100. Half of the money goes to the county that sells them. The other half goes to Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Midway USA account. Contact Scott Francis for more information.
• 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships, Grand Island, Nebraska. June 25 -30, 2023.
• Shooting Sport Leader Trainings:
• Billings: March 31 & April 1, 2023
• Logan: April 22, 2023
• Check out the 4-H Shooting Sports Page for more information here: https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/shooting_sports/shooting_sports_training/index.html.
• Qualifiers
• Archery Practicum & Qualifier: Livingston- April 2, 2023 & May 7, 2023
• Shotgun Qualifier: Logan- April 22, 2023
• Muzzle-loader Qualifier: Livingston- April 23, 2023
• Check out the 4-H Shooting Sports Page for more information here: https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/shooting_sports/shooting-sports-event.html

International Hosting Opportunities

​​

Experience cultural exchanges firsthand and broaden your global experience!​

Montana families have the opportunity to host the following 4-H youth:​

• 2 Norwegian Delegates for approximately 4 weeks, arrive end of June 2023
• 13 Japanese Delegates for approximately 4 weeks, arrive mid-July 2023
• 2 Japanese Delegates for the Academic Year Program (AYP) arrive in mid-late August 2023 through early June 2024

Apply to Host: https://www.states4hexchange.org/apply/host/

Contact: c.sommersaustin@montana.edu for more information

End of Year Financial Information

Assessment Sheet have been emailed out, if you have not receive it, please contact elisa.henry@montana.edu or 406-994-3501. Assessment sheets are due March 1, along with the 1% fee, if you are under the 4-H Foundation umbrella. Thank you all that have returned them!

Leadership Academy

Last Leadership Academy is on Zoom at 3:00 PM Sunday March 5

Montana 4-H Congress 2023

Registration will open May 1​

Registration Deadline is June 15​

Event MSU Bozeman Tuesday July 11- Friday July 14​

Pre-Congress and Officer Selection Sunday July 9 - Tuesday 11​

State Contests Wednesday July 12​

https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/mt_4h_statecontests/index.html

Montana 4-H (state level) does not have a rule that youth participants must compete in a contest. ​Counties may have these rules, but please make sure you are encouraging participation, not limiting it.

Please promote this high impact event to 13+ youth member and their families at spring county events and start recruiting chaperone now. ​One way might be to ask youth that have attended to do a presentation at club meeting or county events. Peer to peer promotion seems to be the most effective.

Youth State Award

Deadline is May 1, 2023. Members apply in a project area they have mastered and "gone above and beyond" regular project expectations. Communication, Goals/Learning, Leadership and Service are the 4 categories. PLEASE reach out to youth in your county that may fit this criteria. Share with Organizational and Project leaders that may know of youth that fit this criteria. https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/awards/state-awards.html​

​

Leadership Plan of Action

Due June 1 ​

https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/youth_leadership/plan_of_action.html​

​

County Ambassadors interested in applying to be State Officers Applications due June15. ​https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/youth_leadership/officer_team.html

Retail Roundups at the Register:

• JoAnn’s is going until May 1st
• Announcement about Murdoch’s coming soon….

Clover Communication Resources

Online resources, such as grab and go lessons, contest examples, and scoring rubrics. Interactive lessons for Club Leaders, Extension Agents & Junior Leaders.

Ideas

• Using the online videos & scoring matrix & let youth be the judges
• It will help them understand the scoring better
• Use the grab & go ideas for a camp or club lesson or share with your older 4-H members so they can lead

https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/projects/additional_resources_enrichment/communications.html

Kimberly Richardson

MSU Extension Agent

Agriculture, Horticulture and Natural Resources

Vacant

MSU Extension Agent

4-H Youth Development

Taylor Edmunds

Administrative Assistant

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension 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 of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.