Hello 4-H Families!


Welcome to April! The Marias Fair will be here before you know
it! Projects can be added or dropped until May 1st.


We are still needing a couple of Toole County Day Chairs for the
Marias Fair this year. If you are interested at all, this is a paid
position. If you need more information, please contact the
Extension office. We cannot run the food booth without our day
chairs!


Pig weigh-in deadline is Sunday, April 12th. Please send us the
following information:
Members need to have the following information:
Breed of pig
Date of birth
Beginning weight
Breeder's name and address
Breeding Project information is also due on April 12th. Please
send information to the office if you are participating.
Beef – Bangs tag number and picture
Sheep – Scrapies tag number and picture
Swine – Picture
Goats – Scrapies tag number and picture

If you haven’t paid for your 4-H member’s registration, please
remember to do so. Reminders will go out soon to those who
haven’t paid yet. Thanks!


Sincerely,
Kim & Jackie

FSA Youth Ag Loans
If you are looking for a way to finance your 4-H projects for this year (or wanting to take on a larger
livestock project), consider visiting with the Farm Service Agency. They recently increased the loan limit
to $10,000 and funds can be used for the purchase of animals, feed, supplies, etc. Youth between the
ages of 10 and 20 are eligible. Loans are repaid annually and can be termed out for up to seven years
for the purchase of breeding stock. Interest rate is 4.875%.

MRLA Free Membership
Marias River Livestock Association is now offering FREE membership to those who are members of our
local 4-H & FFA!
Follow this link to join: http://mariasriverlivestock.com/plans-pricing

Livestock Committee Update
Members who show multiple market animals at the fair will be able to pay $50/each to have those
additional animals shipped with the fair animals and participate in the carcass contest, have processed
meat returned on the truck, etc. Example- 4-Her shows a steer and lamb, and sells the steer. They can
have the lamb go on the truck, participate in the carcass contest, etc. for the $50 fee. Livestock
members who are in this situation will have the opportunity to select this option on FairEntry when
they sign up for a market animal show.
Please note, your private treaty buyer or you would be responsible for all processing fees. The $50 fee
and the buyer information must be turned in to Jesse Fulbright on Saturday night of the sale in order
to be included in animal transport.

Fashion Revue
Please mark on your calendars that Fashion Revue will take place Monday, July 6th. This is open to any
members taking a sewing project or Ready to Wear.
There is also a Cloverbuds section!
We will also offer a section of Cloverbud Fair interviews in case that date works better for your family
OR if you feel your child would be more comfortable on a less busy day than Wednesday of Fair.
Please reach out if you have any questions about Fashion Revue or Cloverbud
interviews.

4-H Camp
4-H Camp will be June 24 - 26 in the Highwood Mountains for 4-Hers in 7th grade and under this year
(no Cloverbuds). Counselors will go down 6/23 to prepare. Camp registration will open mid-April and
members will be able to choose their workshops (space permitting) so register early to get your top
picks for workshops!

Cloverbud Camp
Save the date for Cloverbud Camp on Wednesday, June 10th from 10am-2pm at the Exhibit Building.

Community Service Opportunity
The West Butte 4-H Club is doing a clean up day in Sunburst on May 2nd if anyone wants to get some
Community Service Hours. Please contact Crystal if you want to join or have any questions.

Livestock Committee Updates
Rules updated at the March meeting include increasing max market goat weight to 135, requiring
scrapies tags for all goats and sheep, requiring market sheep and goats to have been born after
September 1 of the prior year, the breeding animal identification forms (above), and requiring a
picture submission of a dead market animal to the Extension Office/Livestock Committee before
purchasing another member’s officially weighed-in spare animal (if member doesn’t have a spare)

Market Livestock Members - Begin Marketing Now!
For 2026, we’re projecting 161 total market livestock, whereas there were 126 market animals sold in
2025. (Granted, some members will only sell one animal at fair so overall numbers will be less than
161, but the takeaway message is we are certainly UP on market livestock in 2026). Steer numbers are
the same but we’re looking at an additional 5 market lambs, 15 market swine, and 4 market goats
compared to 2025.
With these additional numbers, it is important that 4-Hers begin marketing early! Start making a list of
potential businesses and individuals to invite to the sale. Buyers need to have the date on their
calendar early (Saturday, July 18, 3 p.m.) and be budgeting for the sale. Who are three NEW buyers you
can invite - an orthodontist, accountant, relative, etc.? What is your plan for marketing? Can you send a
‘Save the Date’ now and a follow-up letter (mailed or hand delivered) this summer? The marketing
piece is each member’s responsibility and a great way to hone the life skills of hand shakes,
introducing yourself, sharing about your projects, etc.

New Volunteers - Clover Academy Volunteer Orientation
New volunteers will need to complete a volunteer orientation in Zsuite. Log into your personal
account, look on the left panel, then scroll to “Clover Academy,” and click to begin your four training
modules. This training takes around an hour to complete. Each module usually takes about 15
minutes. We cannot finalize your leader status until this orientation is completed.

Small Animal Judging Training
Are you interested in learning how to judge poultry, rabbits, cats and dogs, and being able to judge at
county fairs? If so, you are encouraged to attend a virtual Small Animal Judges' Training on Monday,
April 20th at 6 p.m. This training is for any interested adult. Let us know if you are interested and we
will get you the link!

2026 Public Presentation Day
On Sunday, March 22 we held Public Presentation Day at the First Baptist Church. Great job to all of
those who presented. Great job to all of the Cloverbuds for presenting as well.

Pre- Junior Winners:
1st Place- Rose Welker
2nd Place- Liliana Denno
3rd Place- Hadley Ergenbright/ Curtis Kimmet
Junior Winners:
1st Place- Bridger Ergenbright
2nd Place- Moira Hemmer
Senior Winners:
1st Place- Corin Scarborough
2nd Place- Bridger Ergenbright, Kaylee Nickol and Desirae Salois
3rd Place- Grace Hemmer

APRIL

1st- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria
9th- West Butte Cloverbud Meeting 5pm @ the Library
11th- 4-H Horse Workshop 10am-2pm @ Fairgrounds
12th - Second Camp Counselor Meeting 2pm in Chester
12th- Kountry Kids Meeting 2pm @ Exhibit Building
12th- Pig tagging deadline, Breeding project deadline
15th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria

MAY

1st- Add/ Drop Deadline
2nd- West Butte Community Service Project and Meeting 10am (Weather Permitting)
3rd- Lamb and Goat Weigh-in Deadline
5th- Horse Committee Meeting 6pm @ MRE
6th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria
9th- West Butte Cloverbuds Meeting @ 4H Camground in the Sweetgrass Hills
10th- Kountry Kids Meeting 2pm @ Exhibit Building
15th- Fair Packets available, Fair registration opens on FairEntry
20th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria
25th- Memorial Day- Office Closed