Ravalli County 4-H

January 2023 Newsletter

January 4 Registration Deadlines

January 7 Beef Weigh In

Lewis and Clark Shooting Sports Invitational

January 10 Horse Committee Meeting

January 12 Cowboy Poetry

January 13-15 Stockgrowers Expo and Banquet

January 15-17 Citizenship Seminar

January 16-17 Legislative Breakfast

January 18 Livestock Judging Contest

January 19 Symbol of Excellence Award Ceremony

Quality Assurance Bitterroot Stockgrowers

January 23 4-H Advisory Council Meeting

January 25 Horse Program Snippet

January 28 Horse Project Awards Banquet

Livestock Judging Contest

February 3 Beef Producers Livestock Judging Contest

February 4 Carbon County Archery Shoot

February 6 Goat Quality Assurance Opportunity

February 7 Horse Committee Meeting

February 9 Cowboy Poetry

February 11 Cowboy Ball

February 14 Foundation Scholarship Deadline

February 17-19 Volunteer Institute

February 20 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting

2023 4-H Advisory Council Meetings

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

2023 4-H Livestock Committee Meetings

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

2021-2022 Year End Financials

Thank you to those clubs who have completed and submitter their end of the year paperwork. If you have yet to do this please complete your end of year financials and submit them to the extension office. If you have questions regarding year end financials for 4-H clubs click the dollar sign for more information.

$


County-Wide Projects


Outdoor Adventure 1

Next meeting TBD

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








Junk Drawer Robotics 1

Meetings every 4th Tuesday

Date: TBD

Time: 6 PM - 7 PM

Location: Meeting Room across from Extension Office

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



Poultry Project Meeting

2nd Tuesday of the Month

Date: Beginning 12-13-2023

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: Commissioners Meeting Room and WebEx

Contact: Virginia Chaffin, 406-381-8458 or chaffinv17@gmail.com


Cowboy Poetry Project Meeting

Good morning, all! Cowboy Poetry starts this Thursday, January 12th! We will meet at 7:00 pm in The Gallery (Back Room) at Coffee Cup. We will meet 4 times this year: January 12, February 9th, March 9th and April 13th. Please let me know if you would like to participate so I can get a binder ready for everyone. Cowboy Poetry is a fun way to spark your imagination, tell a story, and hone your writing skills! My phone number is 406-369-1588. Call or text to sign up or request further information.


PS I’ll treat everyone to pie at the meetings!

Contact: Dominic, 406-369-1588


Rabbit Project Meeting

3rd Thursday of the Month

Date: TBD

Time: 6:30 PM

Location: TBD

Contact: Katie Freeman, 406-210-0814 or junkbunny3@aol.com


Ranch Horse Project Meeting

Date: TBD

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Contact: Kim Jones, 530-701-9497


Dog Project Meeting

Date: Every Thursday

Time: 5:30 PM

Location: Dog Arena at the Fairgrounds

Project and WebEx

Contact: Nicki Arndt, 406-369-0707, positivechangesllc@yahoo.com


Cake Decorating Project Meeting

4th Sunday of the month

Date: TBD

Location: TBD and Team Reach

Time: TBD

Contact: Crystal, 406-239-4034 or crj.mt14@yahoo.com

Volunteers Needed

Teen Leader Coordinator

Camp Coordinator/Director

Dairy Superintendent

Horse Project Updates

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. 


*January 14th at 1:00PM at the Ravalli County Fair Grounds: Equine Care 101. This is a complimentary seminar, hosted by the Bitterroot Stockgrowers, for those who are new to the area or seeking basic guidance and tips on the basics of equine care. Elena Combs, veterinarian from Tammany Vet Clinic, will be the guest speaker on nutrition, maintenance, seasonal care and conclude with a Q&A. This *may* be considered a Quality Assurance seminar, for those of you who need one for other livestock - we would need to verify that though. The 4-H office has also sent out a request for help to set up for the Stockgrowers Banquet immediately following the seminar. I will be there to help set up.


*January 28th at 5:00pm at the Grange at Woodside: Annual Horse Banquet and Potluck. This is our annual banquet to honor our kids who participated in 4-H Horse in 2022. All are welcome. Bring a dish & join us!


*February 7th at 6:00pm at the Hamilton House in Victor: Our Monthly 4-H Horse Meeting for Ravalli County. This is where we plan activities and discuss all upcoming memberships, events, learning opportunities, fair, etc. for your kiddos. Our main focus this meeting will be for Our Annual Fundraiser at the Cowboy Ball.


*February 11th at 3:00pm at the First Interstate Building at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds: 4H Horse Annual Fundraiser. Please sign up to bring desserts and participate, as this is how we earn money to pay for extra expenses for horse. The patrons at the Cowboy Ball always love to see our youth at this event, serving and visiting, so make sure you sign your kiddo up for a shift! You can click on the following link to sign up: Cowboy Ball 2023




Tuesday January 10, 2023 at the Hamilton House in Victor @ 6:00 pm.

Tuesday February 7, 2023 at the Hamilton House in Victor @ 6:00 pm

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


4-H horse members highly encouraged to attend. Members need to attend to help with planning of the Cowboy Ball dessert fundraiser. 





2022 4-H Horse Show Award Banquet

Date: January 28, 2023 

Location: Corvallis Grange

Time: 5:00 PM

Come celebrate the accomplishments of you and your fellow 4-H peers at the annual 4-H Horse awards banquet! Please bring a main dish and a side dish or dessert to share. This will be a potluck style. 


4-H Horse is looking for 4-H Horse members to volunteer as part of our biggest fundraiser event, the Cowboy Ball, February 11, 2023. Please think about signing up to volunteer for a shift selling baked goods at the event and desserts to donate. 

For more information on how you can participate and help please reach out to one of the following 4-H horse members:

- Ashley Lee 406-381-3541

- Kim Jones 530-701-9497

- Talitha Hallock 406-304-0224



Good afternoon! MSU MAES and Department of Animal and Range Sciences are offering some more Equine Educational Snippets this spring semester and the first one will be Wednesday January 25th 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Bob Miller Pavilion. Jenny Trainor is going to be the presenter for this one. Below is her bio and a little information about the topic she will be covering. Will you please send this information out to all who you think might be interested? 

 

How will you both get the word out? I ask, in case we need to post it in other places you don't hit or send out via email to more groups. Let us know what else you need from us.  

 

Jenny Trainor

Licensed Parelli 3 Star Instructor

 

Jenny was born in Oregon, the daughter of a veterinarian with a bird dog hobby. The horse of choice at these field events was gaited for comfort and endurance, so Jenny started riding lessons at the age of five with Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Famer, Diane Gueck. Diane, a native of England, believed all students should understand the gaits and footfalls of all breeds.  Jenny was soon the Amateur Juvenile rider for many of the clients TWH, Saddlebreds and National Show Horses. As a teenager and young adult she won 4 World Championships on different horses at the TWH Celebrations in Tennessee while she rode her personal horse, a quarter horse x Arab, bareback on the trails at home.

Jenny earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at Montana State University 1996. In 2002 She was working at a biotech company in Colorado, she was part of a TWH breed demonstration in Denver at the Horse Exhibition that also featured the Parelli Savvy Team. There her journey toward Parelli professional began! She gained instructor status in 2008 with her Walking Horse partner. Currently She teaches clinics all over the United states Teaching Parelli Natural Horsemanship, and Gaited horse clinics utilizing the Principals of Parelli Natural Horsemanship applied to gaited horses as well as has a virtual course that helps people in other countries with their gaited horses. She also still competes regionally and at the International and World Championships for the Tennessee Walking horse.

Snippet 

What is your horses' Horsenality™?

Horsenality is the term that Pat Parelli coined to refer to understanding horses through their basic personality types. A combination of the words "horse" and "personality," Horsenality™ is a convenient way to talk about horse behavior in conjunction with the Parelli Natural Horsemanship method. One of the goals of the Parelli program is to help horse owners understand their horse's individual personality and to educate people about how to teach their horses in the ways that are most effective for each personality type.

The Horsenality™ system helps students quickly identify a horse's innate character. Students can then create instant rapport and achieve great results by knowing what's uniquely important to that individual horse. This approach to understanding horses helps horses -- and their owners -- become more balanced, centered and confident.

Bring a pen and Paper and we will figure out your horses personality no matter what breed they are and Jenny will give you some tip's to help your relationship grow! 

Livestock Judging Opportunity

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. 1st event is January 18, 2022 in Great Falls, MT.


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

Goats for 4-H Projects

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

Steers and Heifers for 4-H Projects

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

Beef Weigh In

When:

January 7, 2022

8:00am to 12:00 noon


Where: Sutherlin Farms

415 Spooner Creek Lane

Stevensville, MT 59870


Packets with all the information will be mailed to all 4-H Beef project members.



Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance Save the Dates:  


There will be 4 quality assurance meetings offered. Livestock members must attend Quality Assurance to be able to sell at the fair. All species are welcome to attend any of the quality assurance meetings. A few will be more species specific as indicated below.  


Monday, February 6, 2023, 6:00 p.m., Victor Fire Hall - Goat & Sheep


Sunday, February 19, 2023, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: TBD. Hosted by Bitterroot Stockgrowers. Animal Selection and Basic Care will be covered. All species are welcome.


Sunday, March 19, 2023, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: TBD. 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: TBD. 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. 



Superintendent Vacancies

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


Dairy Superintendent

MT 4-H Leadership Academy

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. 

MT 4-H Volunteer Institute

Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute 

Billings, MT February 17-19, 2023

The Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute is open to all 4-H volunteers in Montana. Registration cost is $75 and we will be at the Double Tree Hotel downtown. The institute will be a great opportunity to learn from other volunteers and Extension Agents, network, and celebrate the accomplishment of volunteers across Montana. 


Here is the link to register for the Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute. The Institute will be in Billings February 17-19, 2023. The link for the hotel room block can be found in the registration description. The Montana 4-H Center will invoice counties after registration has closed for registration cost.

 

Link is for volunteers and can access on their dashboard.

System Registration Link (must be logged into ZSuite to go to the registration page):

https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/16964


Shooting Sports

4-H Shooting Sports Trainings

  • Billings: Spring 2023
  • Logan: Spring 2023

Forms can be found soon on the Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Page, will be updated soon!

Montana 4-H State Shoot: March 3-5, 2023

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 and Exchange Opportunities

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

Citizenship Seminar

The 2023 Montana 4-H Citizenship Seminar will take place from January 15-17, 2023 in Helena at the Delta Colonial Hotel. This citizenship-in-action seminar is designed to educate Montana youth about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.  

When: The seminar will begin on Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m. and end on Tuesday, January 17 sometime in the early afternoon around 1:30 p.m. 

Where: Helena, Montana – Seminar activities will take place at the Delta Colonial Hotel in conjunction with Legislative Breakfast, the Bill Hamilton Building as well as the state capitol complex. 

Eligibility: 4-H members must be 13 years of age by October 1, 2022. Delegates will also attend the Legislative Breakfast on Tuesday, January 17.  

Chaperones: Each delegate must have a designated (adult) chaperone. Counties may combine with other counties to reach a desired 1:10 ratio of adults to youth. Chaperones will be asked to participate in the seminar by acting as lobbyists during the legislative process. Any adults with special skills or interests please email c.sommersaustin@montana.edu if you would like to assist in any way. 

Accommodations: Each individual/county must make their own guest room reservations. A block of rooms is reserved at the Delta Colonial Hotel (2301 Colonial Drive, Helena) under 'Montana 4-H Citizenship Seminar' by calling (406) 443-2100. The block will be open from November 28, 2022 – January 1, 2023. The rate is $107.00 per room plus tax (single/double occupancy) or $123.00 per room plus tax (triple/quad occupancy). 

Fee: There is a $85 registration fee per youth and adult to offset the seminar program costs. The Montana 4-H Foundation contributes $3,000. The program fee includes all meals for both Montana Citizenship Seminar and the Legislative Breakfast. 

Registration: Youth and adults log into your ZSuite Profile and register under Events starting November 28, 2022 – January 2, 2023. Please check with your county office to confirm the amount before paying.  

Transportation: Transportation to and from the seminar and shuttling youth delegates between activities is the county’s responsibility.  

Legislative Bill: Each delegate is expected to sponsor one “bill” suitable for the 4-H Legislature. This should be submitted, electronically, to Christine Sommers-Austin c.sommersaustin@montana.edu by January 2, 2023. The bills will be reviewed and grouped by topic area into committees prior to the seminar. Please see the template included with this email and in the ZSuite registration for information on how to write a bill.  

Service Project: Each delegate and county will have the opportunity to contribute to a service project that is yet to be determined.  

History Bowl: Each delegate will have the opportunity to compete in the Montana History Bowl. The first round of the History Bowl will be a written form given on Sunday, January 15 during the seminar's check-in to determine the participates who will compete in the second and final rounds throughout the event.  

Checklist: Please complete the following by the January 1 and January 2, 2023 deadlines 

_____ Reserve your hotel room by January 1, 2023 or earlier

_____ Registration through ZSuite by January 2, 2023 or earlier

_____ Check with your county office to confirm amount before paying

_____ Email your mock legislative bill to c.sommersaustin@montana.edu by January 2, 2023 or earlier

 

Thank you. We look forward to a phenomenal experience learning and growing with all of you!

Legislative Breakfast

  • Application for Youth Speaker due on November 27
  • $50 county donation received by January 4 (Invoice can be found here: https://montanansfor4h.wixsite.com/legislativebreakfast/registration
  • Registration deadline in ZSuite is January 4
  • Practice Dinner: Monday, January 16 & Breakfast: Tuesday, January 17 in Helena
  • ***Please Note if you have youth that register for Citizenship Seminar event, they DO NOT need to register for legislative breakfast, it is already included.***

The 19th Biennial Montanans for 4-H Legislative Breakfast is fast approaching and it is imperative that we get the word out to members, volunteers, and 4-H advocates.

The Legislative Breakfast is a statewide Montana 4-H event hosted by The Montanans for 4-H. This event depends on local county participation to bring informed youth and adult participants together with state legislators to communicate the impact 4-H has on their community and our state. This event is open to active 4-H members and volunteers that are interested in citizenship and sharing positive information about 4-H with statewide lawmakers. Participants will also be encouraged to contact legislators prior to the event and personally invite them to attend the breakfast.

The event includes a breakfast with legislators Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 6:30 AM and a practice dinner and training workshop Monday, January 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Both events will take place in the ballrooms at the Delta Hotels Helena Colonial Inn in Helena, MT.

Participants are highly encouraged to attend the Monday evening dinner as this event serves as a practice run for the Legislative Breakfast. A workshop hosted by the Ambassador Officer team will follow the dinner for youth participants to practice their communication skills when speaking with their legislators.

Please include an invitation to participate in this event in county newsletters and correspondences with families and volunteers. The event is open to all 4-H members and volunteers of all ages. 4-H members must be chaperoned by an adult.

Registration

Registration is required to participate in this event. The deadline to register for the event is January 4, 2023. Registration can be found in ZSuites.

The cost to attend the Breakfast is $30 (this fee is subject to change based on negotiations with the Hotel).

The cost to attend the Monday night dinner is $25. It is highly encouraged in order to be prepared for the breakfast event.

Lodging arrangements are to be made by the participants. There is a block of rooms reserved under “Montanans for 4-H Legislative Breakfast” at the Delta Hotel for $103 plus tax for a double queen. Also at the Fairfield Inn under “Mary Beth Walsh” for $124 plus tax.

This information can be found on the registration page.

County Council/Foundation Support

The Montanans for 4-H Committee requests a donation from each county of $50 to cover the cost of the meal and a ‘thank you for supporting 4-H’ gift for legislators and invited guests. Please download the county invoice here and return the completed form and payment to the Committee Treasurer by no later than January 4, 2023 deadline. Download Invoice here. 

Youth Speakers

The committee is looking for youth speakers to share their "4-H: An Opportunity for All" story with legislators and guests at the breakfast. To be considered for this opportunity members should complete the very short application with a 2 minute video here by Sunday, November 27, 2022. Application form here. 

We would appreciate it if county agents and or volunteers can encourage members they feel could fill this role to apply. We are looking for two speakers, one age 10-12 and one age 13-16. This is a tight turn around and we appreciate your help in finding a youth speaker that can share the impacts of Montana 4-H firsthand.

Youth speakers are required to attend both the Monday night dinner and breakfast in person and be able to speak to a group of approximately 400 people for 3-5 minutes.

  • We appreciate your efforts in sharing this event information with your 4-H community. Please feel free to reach out to the committee with any questions. 

Foundation Scholarships

Greetings High School Seniors! 

Montana 4-H Foundation is happy to inform you that we are now accepting applications for higher education scholarships. Please note the due date has been changed this year to February 14, 2023.  This deadline will provide more time to review and score applications, inform county agents, and notify all applicants of results prior to school graduation dates. 

 

To begin the process, please review all scholarship eligibility and criteria on the Montana 4-H Foundation website.  https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/scholarships.html

 

To apply you will need an electronic copy of your transcripts and letters of recommendation. Be sure to gather those in advance.

Montana Symbol of Excellence

The annual conference for MPPC will be on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at the Great Fall Civic Center (2 Park Dr S, Great Falls, MT). SOE winners will be recognized and awarded at the lunch on January 19, 2023.


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


From the State 4-H Office Connection


Montana 4-H Rec Lab

Proposals from teens, volunteers, and Extension staff welcome!


NEW NATIONAL EVENT: IGNITE BY 4-H​

Dates: March 9 - 12, 2023 & February 7 - 10, 2024​

Location: Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC​

2023 Registration Rates: $950 per person (youth or adult)​

https://4-h.org/parents/ignite-by-4-h/

Registration Includes: ​

  • High-impact programming featuring national experts and leaders along with opportunities for career exploration, local action planning and building connections with teens from across the country.  ​
  • Room and board (based on double occupancy for both youth and adults) ​
  • All meals and breaks (excluding state-organized meals and events) ​
  • Support from trained collegiate facilitators and Program Assistants​
  • DC area site visits and all program materials 


Montanans for 4-H Legislative Breakfast: January 16-17, 2023

  • Application for Youth Speaker has been extended to December 11, 2022
  • $50 county donation received by January 4 (Invoice can be found here: https://montanansfor4h.wixsite.com/legislativebreakfast/registration
  • Registration deadline in ZSuite is January 4
  • Practice Dinner: Monday, January 16 & Breakfast: Tuesday, January 17 in Helena
  • ***Please Note if you have youth that register for Citizenship Seminar event, they DO NOT need to register for legislative breakfast, it is already included.***

The 19th Biennial Montanans for 4-H Legislative Breakfast is fast approaching and it is imperative that we get the word out to members, volunteers, and 4-H advocates.

 


Citizenship Seminar 2023: Delta Hotel in Helena

Montana Citizenship Seminar is designed to inspire 4-H youth as they learn about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Youth delegates gain hands-on experience with legislative process by participating in a mock legislature, create and debate bills, work with other youth from across the state, meet with elected officials, tour the capitol, and participate in a service-learning project. Citizenship Seminar is traditionally held in Helena in the years when the legislature is in session. Youth delegates share their 4-H experience with current legislature during the Legislative Breakfast, which is hosted on January 17 by Montanans for 4-H. 

  • Registration in ZSuites-Deadline January 4, 2023
  • Individuals will make their guest room reservation under the Seminar block and work with their county
  • Each youth will write a Bill about something that they are interested-deadline TBD
  • Citizenship Seminar: January 15-17, 2023


Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute 

Billings, MT February 17-19, 2023

The Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute is open to all 4-H volunteers in Montana. Registration cost is $75 and we will be at the Double Tree Hotel downtown. The institute will be a great opportunity to learn from other volunteers and Extension Agents, network, and celebrate the accomplishment of volunteers across Montana. 


Agents, please take the time to think of 5 people to personally invite to this event that you believe would benefit. 


Thank you for those who submitted a workshop proposals!


International Hosting & Exchange Opportunities for 2023-2024

Delegates live with host families and experience aspects of daily life that allow them to more deeply understand both their host culture and their own culture. 

  • Costa Rica: June 21-July 20, 2023
  • South Korea: July 17-August 15, 2023
  • Japan 4 week: July 12-August 10, 2023
  • Japan 8 week: June 14-August 10, 2023

For more information regarding these programs and for application access, please contact Christine Sommers-Austin at c.sommersaustin@montana.edu or (406)994-3504. Montana's application deadline for 2023 summer outbound exchanges is December 31, 2022.


Leadership Academy: Online series

Members 12+, 4-H Age

Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in 2022/2023. 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. 

 

County Leadership groups should plan to meet face to face whenever possible and engage in the virtual state wide workshop together.

This time can be viewed as a leadership club meeting. County ambassadors can aid in planning and facilitating these local workshop meetings. The following agenda is currently being planned. All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00. Zoom links for each workshop session will be emailed to county extension offices and can be shared locally. 

Visit the webpage for complete for 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. 

  • December 11, 2022
  • January 8, 2023
  • February 5, 2023
  • March 5, 2023


4-H Shooting Sports Trainings

  • Billings: April 2023
  • Manhattan Wildlife Association: Location TBD/May 2023

More information can be found at: Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Page

Montana 4-H State Shoot: March 3-5, 2023

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


Montana 4-H Foundation: 

Greytak Calendars

The Montana 4-H Foundation is selling the 2023 Don Greytak

4-H Calendars! Extension Offices and 4-H Clubs are able to order calendars at $10 and sell them for $15. Many county councils/clubs use calendar sales as a fundraiser. 

If placing a fundraising order is not in your plans this year, we have created an online purchasing website that you can share with those looking for the calendars. Our office will ship directly to individuals. I have also attached a flyer that you can post. Your assistance in selling calendars help us raise funds that support 4-H on a statewide level. We truly need and appreciate your help marketing these calendars.  


Staff Development of Innovative Programing Grant:

We have received grant applications from Judith Basin, Glacier County, and Liberty County and it is looking like funds will still be available so if you would like to apply for a Staff Development of Innovative Programming Grant, the next deadline is April 1, 2023. Applications here:  https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/grants.html

 

Scholarships for 4-H youth attending higher education will go live soon (early December). A couple changes this year are that youth submitting applications will attach their own letters of recommendation and transcripts at time of application so that emails are not lost in spam and incomplete applications are never finished. Please be on the lookout for more information from the 4-H Foundation soon.


More News:

Celebration: 4-H Alumni & Collegiate 4-H President Cade Duran was selected as the lead collegiate facilitator for National 4-H Conference.


National 4-H Annual Impact Study

Exploring the relationship between program quality, learning, and program impact. The 4-H Center will be distributing the survey after the beginning of the new year, directly to the youth. 

  • Study Timeline: January 1-May 31, 2023
  • Distribute a survey link to youth ages 13-18 that are enrolled in 4-H programs.

Extension 4-H Institute

  • April 4-5, 2023 in Miles City
  • April 18-19, 2023 in Missoula

Volunteer Spotlight

Montana Curriculum Advisory Team

Quick Reminders:

  • Legislative Breakfast Youth Speaker Application extended to December 11, 2022​
  • Deadline to register for Legislative Breakfast is January 4, 2023 event is ​
  • January 16-17, 2023​
  • Dates to have on your county calendar and correspondence:​
  • Montana 4-H Rec Lab March 17-19, 2023 Culbertson, MT​
  • State Award Application deadline May 1, 2023​
  • Deadline to Apply for Ambassador officer Team June 15, 2023​
  • Montana 4-H Pre- Congress and Officer Selection July 9-11 Bozeman​
  • Montana 4-H Congress July 11-14, 2023 Bozeman

Cowboy Ball

Kimberly Richardson

MSU Extension Agent

Agriculture, Horticulture and Natural Resources



Vacant

MSU Extension Agent

4-H Youth Development

Taylor Edmunds

Administrative Assistant

MSU/Ravalli County Extension Office

215 S. 4th Street, Ste G
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406.375.6611

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4-H Reference Information

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.