Alternatively, download a printable version of the December 2023 Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

Newsletter Drawing

Everyone who emails Allyssa (allyssa.peak@montana.edu) by Monday, December 11 with a description of the page you found the snowflake symbol above will be entered in a drawing to win a 4-H themed prize. The winner will be able to choose from multiple awesome 4-H items. Please include the description of the page you found the symbol, something you learned from the newsletter, and name(s) of the 4-H’er(s) to be entered into the drawing. Congratulations to the November Newsletter Drawing winner, Emily C. from the Great Divide 4-H Club!

Thank You!

Thank you to the following people and businesses that have donated to the Cascade County 4-H Program over the last month!

Pam Hendrickson
Ken & Krista Roberts
Opportunity Bank

Montana 4-H Foundation Emerald Auction

The Montana 4-H Foundation is holding a silent auction with proceeds going to help fund Montana 4-H state events, scholarships, and grants. The auction is open now and closes on December 4. There are multiple items donated by county councils and 4-H supporters across the state! Check out the auction items at Gardner Auction (hibid.com).

Office Closure

The MSU Extension Cascade County office will be closed on December 25 and January 1.

Record Book Survey

The Montana 4-H Curriculum Advisory Committee is looking for 4-H leader, parent, and member feedback on Montana 4-H Record Books. Please take a moment to take the survey found at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmuj5V90ZtAygGq to let us know your thoughts.

Steer of Merit Congratulations

Congratulations to Cascade County 4-H members Kyona Y. from the Circle S 4-H Club and Kally K. from the Eden Livestock 4-H Club for placing in the top 5 for the state-wide Steer of Merit contest. Steer of Merit is awarded to animals who are of top quality. Congratulations Kyona and Kally!

Montana 4-H Recreation (Rec) Lab

What is Rec Lab? It sounds like a funny name for a 4-H event. Rec Lab stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything is hands-on and fun! This event is a 4-H member favorite: It 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 provides participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp, and community leader. This event is ideal for younger senior members to attend as a first-time state event. It allows them to form relationships with 4-H peers from across the state, broaden their skills, and widen their network. This year, Rec Lab will be held in Boulder, MT April 19-21. Registration will open in ZSuite early next year.

Communications Contest – Public Speaking

Mark your calendars! The Cascade County 4-H Communications Contest is scheduled for Monday, January 22. Registration will open mid-December.

Project Day

Registration is now open on ZSuite for the December 9 Project Day. Project Days are held at the MSU Extension Cascade County office on the second Saturday of the months of November-May from 9:00am-12:00pm. Project Days are a great time for youth to attend workshops in the project areas they are enrolled as well as try something new! Project Day workshops are open to all youth apart from the Cloverbud workshop which is only available to Cloverbuds. Cloverbuds are not allowed to participate in other workshops. There are still plenty of spots open for workshop presentations. Please let Allyssa know if you are interested in leading a workshop!

Project Day Workshops

*Subject to Change*

  • December 9
    • Rabbit, Poultry, Cloverbuds, Cake Decorating, Horse, Sewing Dish Towel Boas
  • January 13
    • Cloverbuds, Horse, Sewing, Baking, Dairy Goat
  • February 10
    • Rabbit, Poultry, Cloverbuds, Horse, Sewing, Cat
  • March 9
    • Cloverbuds, Livestock Project Marketing, Horse Packing and Trail Riding, Sewing
  • April 13
    • Cloverbuds, Livestock LQA, Sewing, Horse Driving
  • May 11
    • Cloverbuds, Livestock, Record Book Office Hours, Sewing

Meeting Announcements

Shooting Sports Leaders

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders will be Thursday, December 7 at 6:00pm at the Extension Office. The committee is searching for volunteers to help with the live tournament in February in Great Falls. If you are interested in helping, please email Allyssa at allyssa.peak@montana.edu.

Horse Leaders

The Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders do not meet in December. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 2 at 5:30pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx.

Livestock Leaders

The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders do not meet in December. The next meeting will be Tuesday, January 2 at 7:00pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx.

Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational

The state shooting sports invitational will be held in Bozeman March 1-3. Please reach out to your shooting sports instructor if you are interested in participating in the state invitational.

Market Beef Intent

The Market Beef Intent to Enter form is completely on ZSuite this year. Directions on how to fill out the intent on ZSuite were emailed to all market beef families. You may get another copy by emailing Jody at cascade@montana.edu.

NEW! Club Meeting Attendance Requirement

All 4-H members enrolled in livestock projects must attend 60% (or club bylaw minimum) of their club meetings to be eligible to show and sell at the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale. Absences may be marked as excused at club Organizational Leader discretion or if members are attending another 4-H event. Unexcused absences may be made up by attending a 4-H livestock education event.

Breeding Project Declaration

New this year, breeding projects must be declared by the species intent date. Cattle (beef and dairy) projects must be declared by January 3, 2024. Please log on to ZSuite and fill out the breeding project declaration form by January 3, 2024, for all cattle breeding projects.

4-H CALENDAR

 

December
Date
Meeting
Activity/Event
Due
7
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
 
9
 
Project Day
 
15
 
 
Returning Member Enrollment Due
25
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
 

 

January
Date
Meeting
Activity/Event
Due
1
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
 
2
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
 
3
 
 
Beef Intent to Enter Due
4
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
 
9
Leaders Council Meeting
 
 
10
 
 
Beef Intent to Enter Due with Late Fee
13
 
Project Day
 
15
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
 
22
 
Communications Contest
 

 

February
Date
Meeting
Activity/Event
1
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
6
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
7
 

Communications Contest Make-Up

Foods Festival & Stir-Ups Cooking Competition

10
 
Project Day
15
 
New 4-H Family Orientation & Potluck
19
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
20
Foundation Meeting
 

 

March
Date
Meeting
Activity/Event
Due
1-3
 
Montana 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational
 
5
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meeting
 
 
7
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
 
9
 
Project Day
 
12
Leaders Council
 
 
31
 
 
Cascade 4-H Foundation Scholarships Due

 

April
Date
Meeting
Activity
2
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
4
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
13
 
Project Day
16
Foundation Meeting
 
19 - 21
 
Rec Lab, Boulder
25
 
Fashion/Sewing Revue and Quilt Show

 

May
Date
Meeting
Activity
2
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
3 - 5
 
Horse Camp
7
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
11
 
Project Day
14
Leaders Council Meeting
 
27
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed

 

June
Date
Meeting
Activity
4
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
6
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
8
 
JD Day at Camp
9-12
 
Camp
23
 
Record Book Office Hours

 

July
Date
Meeting
Activity
4
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
9
Leaders Council Meeting
 
9-12
 
Montana 4-H Congress
12-14
 
Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale
21
 
Record Book Office Hours
25
 
Montana State Fair 4-H Static Exhibit Judging
26-August 3
 
Montana State Fair

 

August
Date
Meeting
Activity
Due
11
 
Record Book Office Hours
 
20
 
 
Record Books Due to Club Leaders

 

September
Date
Meeting
Activity
Due
2
 
MSU Extension Cascade County Office Closed
 
3
Horse and Livestock Leaders Meetings
 
Award Nominated Record Books Due to Extension Office
5
Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting
 
 
10
Leaders Council Meeting
 
 
17
Foundation Meeting
 
 

 

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.