Ravalli County 4-H
Newsletter
February 2021
|
|
Dear Ravalli County 4-Hers and Families,
As we are now coming into the Spring months of the 4-H year, February is a great time to get started, or continue working, on your financial records.
Financial records are a required part of your 4-H projects, whether you are taking an animal or non-animal project.
Why are financial records important? It helps you become aware of how much things actually cost and plan for future years. These “things” could be feed, veterinary care, supplies, equipment, or services. As you advance in your 4-H projects, you may challenge yourself to set a specific budget and pay for certain things yourself while asking parents or other family members to fund other aspects of the project. Using your records from past years will help you create this budget. These are all skills that will help you in your future, so get the practice in now!
Animal project financial records are split up into sections in the financial records; value of animal, feed, health care, and expenses other than feed. Be sure to also include your expenses for miscellaneous supplies (halters/leads, fencing, brushes, spray bottles, etc). You may be surprised to see how quickly it adds up!
Non-animal project financial records are simpler than animal projects since you typically don’t have regular or reoccurring costs. However, you do still have costs associated with supplies and are required to record these. For example, if you are taking a photography project, you can record the value of your camera or a new lens, photo paper/printing services, or photobook.
Tip 1: For both animal and non-animal projects, you can list 4-H project book as an expense!
Tip 2: Make it a habit to record your expenses each month to help reduce stress come fair time.
Find the Animal and Non-Animal Journal and Financial Record sheets here.
If you are intrigued by financials and want to learn more about financial management, National 4-H has Financial Literacy curriculum and activity guides (designed for middle and high school aged youth) that goes way beyond recording your project expenses.
Sincerely,
Annie Bauer
|
|
February 9th Livestock Committee Meeting 7:00 Victor Weed District Building
February 9th Horse Committee Meeting 6:00 Extension Meeting Room
February 9th Montana 4-H Live Webinar Series: GPS and Drone Aerial Mapping (every other Tuesday February 2021-June 2021)
February 12th Camp Counselor Applications due
February 13th Goat Project meeting
February 11th Cowboy Poetry meeting 7:00 Extension Meeting Room
February 15th Extension Office Closed- President’s Day
February 16th Cake Decorating Meeting Session 1
February 16th Cake Decorating Meeting Session 2
February 19th 4-H Horse Clinic Registration due
March 1st New member Enrollment Deadline
March 20th 4-H Horse Clinic by Mustang Matt 10:00 -2:00 Skalkaho Arena
March 22nd 4-H Advisory Council Meeting 6:30 Extension Meeting Room
April 1st Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications due
April 1st Ravalli County 4-H Advisory Council Educational Scholarship Applications due
May 1st Add/Drop Deadline
May 1st Ravalli County 4-H Carnival 2021
May 1st Ravalli County 4-H Ambassador Applications Due
May 8th 4th Grade Farm Fair
July 13th-16th 4-H Summer Camp 2021
|
|
New Member and Leader
Enrollment Reminder
|
|
Important Date: March 1
New members can sign up by March 1 and still participate with fair.
Members can drop/add projects for fair eligibility up until May 1.
Leaders must be re-enrolled prior to volunteering
|
|
Project Add/Drop Deadline |
|
May 1, 2021
Each year, the deadline to add or remove projects from your enrollment is May 1. Usually, this is done via paper from turned into the Extension office. This year, it is the family’s responsibility to make these corrections on their Zsuite account.
Please call us if you are having trouble figuring out how to do this, we are here and happy to help!
Zsuites is new for all of us, but next year it won’t be new anymore and we will be more comfortable with it!
|
|
Youth taking livestock projects MSUT be enrolled in both a level (1,2,3, or independent study) and market or breeding project.
Adding/removing projects in Zsuites:
- Go to 4h.zsuite.org
- Login using your family email and password
- Select the “primary account”- enter PIN
- From the household list, click on the youth’s name
- Click on “update enrollment”
- Click on the “clubs” tab at the top of the page
- Click on the “add projects” button at the bottom of the project list.
- To remove a project, click the “x” to the right of the project
8. Once the correct projects are added, click on “add to cart” to save changes.
9. To add a project for another family member click “dashboard” on the left hand
side navigation panel, this will bring you back to the household list, follow steps 4-8
Please call the Extension office with any questions. We are happy to help!
|
|
- Livestock Sale Administrator
- Small animal sale coordinator
- Teen Leadership Leader
- Air pistol/ air rifle leader
Contact the Extension office to learn more about any of the above listed positions, or if you or someone you know may be interested!
|
|
Looking for simple yet impactful community service project? Mayor (and Cowboy Poetry 4-H Project leader) Dominic is encouraging our community to send Valentine’s Day Cards to the Sapphire Lutheran Homes residents! Make as many as you would like and spread the word! You can drop off or mail your Valentine cards to Sapphire Lutheran Homes, 501 N. 10th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840. Address the cards: Dear Valentine, and leave a return address if you would like.
Card Kits at Extension Office
Jocelyn has cleaned out her scrapbooking supplies and put together some Valentine’s day card making kits! We have 12 available and will be first come first serve. Swing by the Extension office to pick up yours today!
|
|
Horse Clinic by Mustang Matt |
|
The Ravalli County 4-H Horse Committee would like to invite 4-H horse members to attend a clinic put on by Mustang Matt at the Skalkaho Arena, Saturday March 20th, 2021 from 10 AM to 2 PM.
To Register: Notify Coral Maxwell by text 406-239-1380 or email rcmaxwell77@gmail.com with name and horsemanship level of the member
Please Register by February 19th 2021. Space is limited. Depending on numbers and levels there may be a second clinic scheduled.
|
|
 |
Dog Project
Meets on Thursdays
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Fairgrounds Floral Bldg unless the weather is too cold.
|
|
|
|
Cowboy Poetry Meetings
All ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate. Email Dominic at flominic@live.com if you would like to sign up for this fun and educational project!
Date: Second Thursday monthly
February 11th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Extension Office Meeting Room
|
|
|
|
|
Cake Decorating Meetings
Third Tuesday and Wednesdays of the month - Feb. 16 or Feb. 17
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Extension Office Meeting Room
|
|
|
|
Project Leaders
The listed County-Wide Project Meetings are currently available to members. If you would like to offer a project meeting that is open to all 4-H members, please contact our office with details!
|
|
|
|
Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarships (State Level) |
|
The Montana 4-H Foundation offers a number of collegiate scholarships to students annually. When filling out the application, you will select which scholarships you would like to apply for. All scholarships require certain criteria to be met, in order to be awarded. Find more information, a list of scholarships available and application information at the Montana 4-H Foundation’s Website: https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/scholarships.html
|
|
Ravalli County 4-H Advisory Council Scholarships (County Level) |
|
Deadline: April 1, 2021—in hand to the Extension Office
Due to: MSU/Ravalli County Extension Office
Request scholarship application from the Extension Office or find online.
The funds for the 2021 Ravalli County 4-H Advisory Council Scholarships came from the interest from the endowment invested with the Montana 4-H Foundation ($500) in February 2013 and the 2020-2021 Ravalli County 4-H Advisory Budget ($500).
Two $500 scholarships are available to help current and former Ravalli County 4-H members. The funds will be used to help two (2) students start or continue their education at a recognized college/university/institution of higher education. The recipient must be Ravalli County 4-H member and/or Ravalli County 4-H Alum.
|
|
Teen Leadership Academy- Five Sessions left! |
|
Each month the officer team members will be presenting a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop should be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H program and community.
All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:30. Contact the Extension Office if you are interested in attending!
Upcoming sessions:
February 21 - Planning & Recruitment
What does your community need? How can you make this happen? Who will be involved? How will you let people know what is going on and why?
March 14 - Facilitation
What is an audience? What is a workshop? How do I use my skills to teach others?
April 11 - Service & Recognition
What can I do to serve my community? How can I inspire others to serve the community? How can people be recognized?
May, 16 - Promotion
What is 4-H? Where can we tell people about it? Why is this important for my community?
June 13 - Reflection
What have I have accomplished or not? What have we accomplished or not? What is next and why?
|
|
Camp Counselor Application |
|
Attention Ravalli County 4-H Youth ages 14-18!! Summer camp may seem like a long way away but it will be here before we know it! If you are looking for a leadership opportunity, want to create strong friendships, and provide a fun filled junior 4-H camp for younger members, fill out an application to be a camp counselor or youth director!
Contact the Extension office with any questions
|
|
Montana 4-H Live Webinar Series: GPS & Drone Mapping |
|
Montana 4-H is excited to offer a live webinar series introducing youth to the Global Positioning System (GPS) and Drone Aerial Mapping Technologies and how they're used in agriculture and natural resource applications.
The wide range of practical applications provide 4-H youth and clubs with many options from which to pursue their interests and projects - from military, farming/ranching, natural resources, history, geo-spatial storytelling, outdoor activities, and so many more!
This webinar series will take place from February 2021 - June 2021. Webinars will also be recorded and made available on montana4h.org.
Register via Zsuites- call Extension office for assistance.
Webinar Dates & Topics
February 9, 6:30 PM: Program Overview An introduction to GPS and Drone Aerial Mapping Technologies.
February 23, 6:30 PM: GPS Basics The Global Positioning System explained.
March 9, 6:30 PM: Geocaching Use GPS technology to find hidden treasures, historic sites, and unique landscape features in your area.
March 23, 6:30 PM: Aerial Photos, Maps & Compasses Use aerial photos, maps, and compasses to navigate the outdoors. Photos, maps, and compasses are used with GPS technology to explore our world.
April 5, 6:30 PM: Google Earth Introduction to Google Earth software/app.
April 20, 6:30 PM: Logging Points, Lines, and Polygons with GPS Receiver Outside & Importing to Google Earth Learn to map your features of interest.
May 4, 6:30 PM: Introduction to Drones How they're used in agricultural and natural resource applications.
May 18, 6:30 PM: Drone Simulators/ Drones & Aerial Imagery/ Drone FAA Flight Rules & Regulations
June 1, 6:30 PM: Drone Flight Parameters & Mission Planning Elevation, speed, pattern, overlap, timing, etc. are flight variables affecting photo coverage and eventual end map success.
TBD: Aerial Image(s) Stitching - Intro to Microsoft Image Composite Editor
TBD: Calculating Scale for Stitched Aerial Photo/Map
|
|
MSU/Ravalli County Extension Office
215 S. 4th Street, Ste G
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406.375.6611
Connect on Facebook:
|
|
Annie Bauer
MSU Extension Agent
4-H Youth Development
|
|
The Montana State University Extension is an ADA/EO/AA/Veteran’s Preference Employer and Provider of Educational Outreach. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
