Teton County "Save the Dates":

November 3

  • 4-H Council Meeting, 6-7 p.m., Fairfield Public Library

December 8

  • Livestock Committee Meeting, Fairfield (NewLife Church) 6-7 p.m.

December 31

  • Teen Ambassador Applications Due

January 13

  • Market Beef Possession Fee, PHoto and Paerwork Deadline

January 31

  • Teen Camp counselor Applications Due

March 14

  • County Communications Day

March 31

  • Market Swine Possession Fee, Photo and Paperwork Deadline

April 7

  • Market lamb and Goat Possession, Fee, Photo and Paperwork Deadline

Ag Agent's corner:  4-H Rocks the Celbration on October 7

by Jenn Swanson

You all made the 4-H Celbration a big success.  Kudos to you!  Ryan and Kelly DeBruycker were awarded the Montana District 3 Volunteers of the Year!  Old Agency presented a slide show with activities the club participated in throughout the year.  Challenging Champs presented slide show of club activities and presented club volunteer, Leona Somerfeld, with a quilt.  Spring Creek 4-H members' acting talents were on display as they put on two skits of their favorite activities.  Ayden and Nolan DeBruycker displayed the sponsor appreciation signs that Ayden made.  Fred Ginther, shooting sports volunteer, was recognized for being a longtime volunteer.  Alan Peace and Leona Somerfeld were recognized as inductees into the 4-H Hall of Fame.

 

Stay tuned!  Spring Creek 4-H Club is organizing a livestock judging event on December 13 that is open to all levels.

 

FCS Agent Corner:  Why 4-H
by Shelby Jones-Dozier

At this year’s Teton County 4-H Celebration I asked for everyone to help complete a Word Cloud about why they are involved in 4-H.The bigger the word, the more frequently the word was entered by participants. Many of the responses were expected.There was one response that really stood out “Mom Makes Me.“

I see this response as a good thing.While the kiddo repeatedly typing this was probably trying to be funny, there is a lot of power and truth in that response.Good for mom to make their child take part in an evidence-based program with over 100 years’ experience. Mom knows that in 4H, we don’t just prepare youth with the knowledge to get through life’s obstacles, we teach them how to conquer them.

 

If that means that once in a while mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, older sister, auntie, whoever that caring adult is.... makes a kiddo push through challenges to get the job done, so be it.Research on the long-term impact of 4-H by Tuffs University demonstrates the effort now is worth it in the long run.

Club Leader Corner

With a new 4-H Year starting, this is a great time to consider the format of your club meeting.Creating and posting a meeting agenda with times to transition will help keep your meeting on track.Aim for a productive one hour long meeting that begins with fun group building activities, spend no more than 20 minutes on business and then the remaining time should be devoted to learning.

November is a great time to work with your club to develop club goals, an educational program plan, and plan special events.Use ZSuite to create a list of projects your club members are enrolled in to schedule educational programming.

Include youth in your club to actively take part in forming annual goals and to plan educational programming. Intentionally including youth in this process will promote a sense of belonging and foster sparks.

What is a spark?Sparks are passions, interests, and talents that inspire and energize young people.4-H is a place where youth can explore and discover their spark!

Teen Ambassador Program

The Teen Ambassador Program is looking for new members for 2026.  Applications are due December 31, 2025

What does a teen ambassador do?

Teen Ambassadors play an important role in facilitating county-wide events and present the public face and voice of 4-H.This year, Ambassadors are going to play a larger role in the committees that do the planning work for county events.Each ambassador will choose one committee to be a part of and will represent that committee at the March and May 4-H Council meeting.

The ambassador program prepares youth for work and life after 4-H by creating opportunities to:

  • Foster leadership development
  • Build work readiness skills
  • Promote goal setting and management

Returning Ambassadors

Youth who were ambassadors last year will be mailed the application materials to update their membership. Each returning ambassador will create a resume highlighting their career in 4-H and the activities they did last year. They will also write a cover letter introducing themselves and what they hope to accomplish during the 25-26 4-H year. The 4-H Career Communications guide will be provided to explain how to create these documents. 

Find out more about 4-H Career Communications 

New Ambassadors

Youth who are 4-H age 13 and up who have not previously been an Ambassador will complete an online application.  View the online application for new ambassadors.

Join a 4-H Committee this 4-H Year!

Sign up for committees ​now!

In addition to clicking on the link above, you can also email (teton@montana.edu), text (406-350-5373)

or call (406-466-2491) to sign up for committees.

 
Teton County 4-H Committee
Description
Meetings

Number of Members 
(Suggested Minimum)
Standing Committees
Budget and Audit
Develops and then recommends
to the 4-H Council an annual budget, which is voted on at
4-H Council
Meets 1-2 times each year
in late Summer and/or Fall

4-H Council Treasurer,

1 agent,

1 adult member,

1 youth member
Communications Day
Assist in contacting local volunteer judges, setting up at the event and providing refreshments for participants.
Meets 1-2 times each year in Fall and/or Winter, to plan Teton County’s Communications Day in spring

1 agent,

1-2 adult members,

1-2 youth members
Fair
Designates annual Fair theme, creates the schedule of Fair activities, develops the Fair publicity plan

Meets 1-2 times each year in Spring, to plan Teton County’s
4-H Fair in June

1agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members
Awards
Designates annual awards plan for 4-H competitions; may be the same members and meet at the same time as the Fair Committee

Meets 1-2 times each year in Spring, to plan Teton County’s
4-H Fair in June

 

1 agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members

 
Livestock 
Attends to livestock project areas including animal husbandry education, livestock quality assurance education, safety and rules regarding the 4-H Livestock Sale and Carcass Competition

Meets on the first Monday of every other month

(Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug)

 

Ag agent,

Officers (Pres, VP, Treasurer, Secretary), livestock superintendents,

1 or more adult members,

1 or more youth members

 
Horse Committee
Oversees equine education events, rules, regulations and safety of 4-H horse-related events and contests – in the case of an active horse project club, may be comprised of the horse project club members

Meets 3 to 4 times per year, or as needed

Horse project club leader,

1 or more adult members,

1 or more youth members

 
Textile

Oversees textile educational events, offerings and competitions

Meets 1 or 2 times per year, in Fall and/or Spring

1 agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members
Record Book
Establishes guidelines for 4-H members’ record book completions; reviews record books submitted for record book quality contest

Meets 1-2 times each year in the late Summer and/or Fall

3 adult members
Special Committee
Exchange
Currently inactive; will activate when needed.An active committee is not needed to enroll in the Exchange project.

Meets only as need to review Exchange policy

Ad hoc

 

 

Teton County 4-H Year
Montana 4-H Events to Remember
October 1, 2025-September 30, 2026
Month
Teton County
State & National
October
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • National 4-H Week (1st Full Week)
  • 4-H Enrollment Begins (October 1)
  • 4-H Club Meetings/Start new 4-H Year
  • Treasurer Reports (Clubs and Committees) due by Oct 31
  • Re-Enrollment deadline is Oct 31 ($25 late fee and purchase own project manuals after October 31)
 
November
  • 4-H Council meeting (1st Monday)
  • Project manuals given to club leaders - pick up from leaders
 
December
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • Teen Ambassador Application materials due Dec 31
 
January
  • 4-H Council meeting (1st Monday)
  • Market Beef possession fee, photo, and paperwork due (Jan 13)
  • Youth Camp Counselor application due Jan 31
  • 4-H Scholarship Applications open
 
February
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • Clubs host their Club-level Communications Day
  • 4-H Camp Counselor Planning Meeting #1
 
March
  • 4-H Council meeting (1st Monday)
  • County Level Communications Day Saturday, March 14
  • Livestock Quality Assurance (LQA) Workshops
  • 4-H Camp Counselor Planning Meeting #2
  • Scholarship Applications Due on 31st: Anne Wiprud ($400) and Boe Brothers Foundation ($2,000; $5,000; and $10,000)
  • Market Swine possession fee, photo, and paperwork due (March 31)
  • 4-H Recreation “Rec” Lab (March or April, TBD)
April
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • 4-H Camp Counselor Planning Meeting #3
  • Market Lamb possession fee, photo, and paperwork due (April 7)
 
May
  • 4-H Council meeting (1st Monday)
  • LQA and Showmanship Workshops/Weigh-ins
  • 4-H Camp Counselor Planning Meeting #4
  • Fair Registration Deadline on May 21 (Wed before Memorial Day)
 
June
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • 4-H Camp June 7-10
  • Teton County Fair Jun 24-Jun 29 (Wed: Static Exhibit and Interview Judging, Fri-Sat: Livestock Show and Sale)
  • 4-H Congress registration by June 15
July
 
  • 4-H Congress in Bozeman
  • Summer Outbound Exchange
August
  • Livestock Committee meeting (1st Monday)
  • Record Books due to club leader Aug 15
  • State Western Heritage State Shoot
September
  • 4-H Council meeting (Monday after Labor Day)
  • Record Books due in Extension Office for Quality Competition
  • MT 4-H Working Ranch Horse Show
  • MT 4-H State Horse Show

Updates and Due Dates
Calendars
Teton County Calendar
State and National Calendar

Have You Enrolled in 4-H Yet?

The following 4-H youth and adults have completed their enrollment for the 2025-2026 4-H year. If your name is NOT listed below, you are not enrolled for the current 4-H year. Please enroll via ZSuite. If you need assistance, please contact Jamie at the Extension Office.

Challenging Champs

Deanna Burgmaier

Antonia Diekhans

Benjamin Diekhans

Calvin Diekhans

Luke Diekhans

Kelsy Diekhans

Kamri Neuman

Kinlie Neuman

Claire Pfeifle

Ethan Pfeifle

Ryan Pfeifle

Eva Redd

Leona Somerfeld

Kessler Sparing

Walker Sparing

Whitley Sparing

Abigail Toeckes

Caleb Toeckes

Grace Toeckes

Isaac Toeckes

Jackson Toeckes

Jessica Toeckes

Laura LN Toeckes

Laura Toeckes

Doug Ulsh

Dylan Ulsh

Colton Weekes

Emberlyn Weekes

Tensli Weekes

Colin Woodhouse

Trevor Woodhouse

Eager Eagles

Lynda Allen

Saber Allen

Ariana Banner

Billy Banner

Kyndal Becker

Logan Becker

Caleb Bender

Keira Bender

Kinsey Bender

Cassidy Brunner

Keaton Cherry

Alice Chesser

Charles Chesser

Parker Clark

Sawyer Clark

Trygg Cleveland

Kinder Collins

Cru Davis

Quincee Davis

Ayden DeBruycker

Gavin DeBruycker

Kelly DeBruycker

Kinsley DeBruycker

Melissa DeBruycker

Natalie DeBruycker

Nolan DeBruycker

Ryan DeBruycker

MaClay Donnelly

Ivan Donnelly

Coy Egbert

Crew Egbert

Katie Egbert

Kingston Egbert

Lexington Egbert

Rocky Forseth

Tucker Gagne

Holly Hamilton

Chase Harlow

Charley Harrell

Boone Heagy

Bromley Heagy

Ryanne Heagy

Harper Hirst

Elias Jacobsen

Tessa Jacobsen

Colton Jordre

Kailey Jordre

Hillary Killorn

Tell Killorn

Trigg Killorn

Joplin Little

Waylon Little

Ashle Morris

Jorja Morris

Katy Morris

Owen Morris

Sage Morris

Rhett O’Haire

Zane O’Haire

Heidi Pearson

Knox Pearson

Korbin Pearson

Ronnie Pearson

Kamryn Peltzer

Kameryn Schilling

Chris Skinner

Christina Skinner

Everett Skinner

Isaac Skinner

Livia Skinner

Silas Strutz

Shiloh Strutz

Brad Williams

Luci Williams

Trish Williams

Old Agency

Susan Anderson

Kami Bouma

Bryden Bradley

Gunnar Bradley

Amara Breen

Kayla Breen

Cathy Campbell

Janelle Campbell

Addison Christensen

David Cornelius

Ella Cornelius

Izzy Cornelius

Tate Crabb

Liam Drumm

Grant Hodgskiss

Hannah Hodgskiss

Hayden Hodgskiss

Leane Hodgskiss

Natalie Hodgskiss

Dawn Kelly

Charlie Long

Claire Long

Laudi Long

Lauren Long

Ledger Martin

Carli Neal

Seeley Neal

Cynthia Rice

Addy Scott

Dawson Scott

Sawyer Scott

Trent Taylor

Tana Tschida

Jack Ward

Jane Wolery

Casen Yeager

Chelsee Yeager

Justyce Yeager

Rusch Yeager

Rocky Mountain Archers

Levi Harris

Lachlan Miller

Haven Murphy

Walker Murphy

Brody Music

Wyatt Patterson

William Tacke

Rocky Mountain Top Shots

Josiah Bacon

Brian Bedord

Lisa Bedord

Gibson Franks

Henry Freeman

Fred Ginther

Alan Peace

Blaise Skierka

Michaela Skierka

Chris Tacke

Jackson Tacke

Loren Tacke

Rebekah Wall

Andy Watson

Spring Creek

Beckett Bardwell

Adlai Boroff-Sporkin

Esther Boroff-Sporkin

Kami Bouma

Brian Carlson

Iris Carlson

Lily Carlson

Rose Carlson

Claira Duty

Addy Grubb

Aliya Grubb

Ava Grubb

Adalee Hodgskiss

Nyla Hodgskiss

Dani Kelley

Hanna Kelley

Annika Konen

Heidi Konen

Waverly Konen

Ava Laisnez

Isla Laisnez

Jenny Laisnez

Audrey Lobdell

Kolman Lobdell

Boaz Lytle

Elsie Lytle

Kit Lytle

Polly Lytle

Theodore Lytle

Heather McCartney-Duty

Hannah Meyer

Loraine Meyer

Anna Paulson

Leah Paulson

Tiffany Paulson

Rowynne Pittman

Becky Preston

Calvin Preston

Jon Redland

Libby Redland

Mesa Redland

Misti Redland

Addy Scott

Sawyer Scott

Hadley Skinner

Susan Snyder

Eli Sweetman

Elianna Sweetman

Summer Watkins

Elizabeth Williams

Alisha Williams

Aubrie Williams

Contact Us!  MSU Extension Teton County

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.
2026    June 22-28

Camp Dates

2026   June 7-10 @ Camp Rotary

4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman

2026   July 7-10

 

Agents:

Shelby Jones-Dozier shelby.jonesdozier@montana.edu
Jenn Swanson  jenn.swanson@montana.edu

Assistants:

Jamie Smith  teton@montana.edu

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