December Newsletter

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

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.