Hello 4-H Families!


One of the most common things that I hear from parents is that
they aren't sure what is going on in 4-H and what they need to do.
Well this newsletter is full of upcoming events, local and statewide.
If your child would like to attend anything please let us know! If
there is a cost to attend, you can apply for a scholarship for
assistance. These scholarships are available for anyone in 4-H.
Don't be afraid to text or call whenever you have any questions!
We also post everything on email and in the Facebook group so
you'll find lots of information there!


Some upcoming dates to be aware of are the swine weigh-in date
of April 16th and the lamb and goat weigh in date of May 7th. If
you signed up for swine, lamb, or goat. Kim will be contacting you
closer to the date to tag your animals.


There are various committees that parents can join, such as, the
livestock committee, small animal committee, horse committee,
exhibit building committee and the food booth committee. Please
let us know if you would like to be on one of these committees.


As always, please let us know if you have any questions. You can
stop by the office anytime!


Kim & Jackie

Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute - Billings, MT February 17-19, 2023
The Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute is open to all 4-H volunteers in Montana. Registration cost is $75 and
we will be at the Double Tree Hotel downtown. The institute will be a great opportunity to learn from other
volunteers and Extension Agents, network, and celebrate the accomplishment of volunteers across
Montana.
Registration is now open and Volunteers will be able to register through their ZSuite Dashboard.
Visit the Institute Page for additional details, hotels, and workshop descriptions,
https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/mt_ volunteer_institute.html


Rec Lab
Save the date for Rec Lab in Culbertson on March 17-19th.
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.
Rec Lab will be hosted by District 4 in Culbertson on March 17-19, 2023.
Youth participants must be 13+ as of October 1.
Adult chaperones must be as least 21 years of age. Registration Fee: $100 (1/20 to 2/22) $150 (2/23 to 3/1)
Registration includes lodging, snacks, meals, t-shirts, workshops, and exciting speakers.
Please let us know if you are interested in attending. Registration is available on ZSuite.


Volunteer Spotlight & Members of the Month
Nominate a volunteer or youth in your county who has done something awesome and deserves a shout-out
for making a difference. They will be recognized next month in a Volunteer or Member Spotlight social media
post and in the state's monthly newsletter. They will also be eligible for Ag Network's Volunteer or Member
of the Month sponsored by Stockman Bank. You are welcome to submit more than one recognition form!
Nominate a volunteer you appreciate:https://forms.gle/z6qTGfjZEZUxAksg9
Nominate a youth member: https://forms.gle/EbtccAkk6XE3ZWKX6

 

Chouteau County Invitational Archery Shoot– Fort Benton – Saturday, February 25, 2023
Indoor target archery competitions will be held at the Community Bible Center at 911 16th St. The 3D
archery shoot will be held in the 4-H Exhibit Building at the Fairgrounds at 205 Fair Ground Lp. Concessions
will be available at the Community Bible Center.
Contact Chandee Bomgardner at chandee.bomgardner@gmail.com for more information.
Registration is available https://forms.gle/Zm4zEMHKXcBamSHx9

 

Attention: Seniors and College Students!
Montana 4-H Foundation scholarships are due February 14. Each person need only complete one Montana
4-H scholarship application to apply for multiple Montana 4-H scholarships. Interested persons should
complete the scholarship application via the Application platform on or before February 14, 2023. All
applicants will need to submit two letters of recommendation, with one of the letters from your County 4-H
Agent. https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/scholarships.html

 


Youth State Award
Members apply in a project area they have mastered and "gone above and beyond" regular project
expectations. Communication, Goals/Learning, Leadership and Service are the 4 categories. Please reach
out to youth in your county that may fit this criteria. Share with Organizational and Project leaders that may
know of youth that fit this criteria. https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/awards/stateawards.html

Plan of action Due June 1, 2023
https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/youth_leadership/plan_of_action.html
County Ambassadors interested in applying to be State Officers Applications Due June 15, 2023
https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/youth_leadership/officer_team.html

 

Summer 2023 National Citizenship Washington Focus
A one week summer program in Washington D.C. where teens experience the capital as their classroom and
connects young leaders from across the country to gain skills to be effective change agents https://4-
h.org/parents/citizenship-washington-focus/#!menu-builder
Montana is sending 2 Delegations: Cost $1,495/youth or adult for double occupancy (this cost includes the
bus excursions however does NOT include flight)

CWF Session #1: June 11-16, 2023
CWF Session #2: July 2-7, 2023

Application form and a mid-February deadline will be added to the CWF page on the MT 4-H site soon! State
Contact: Christine Sommers-Austin at c.sommersaustin@montana.edu or (406) 994-3504

Marias Fair Sidewalk Project
Breaunna Erickson, of Pondera County, is the recipient of a $500 People Partner grant for her sidewalk
project at the Marias Fairgrounds. Breaunna is in the process of raising funds to add sidewalks to the
fairgrounds . This will allow people with mobility issues, families with strollers and basically everyone to
navigate the 4-H area of the fairgrounds more comfortably.
If you are interested in donating, you can contact the Pondera County Extension Office by calling 406-271-
4054, e-mailing pondera@montana.edu or by mail at 20 4th Ave SW, Conrad, MT 59425.

 

Marias Fair Scholarships
Marias Fair scholarships The following scholarships are now open they are available on ZSuite, the Marias
Fair Website, and the Toole County Website, or stop by the office and due back by March 28 to the Liberty
County Extension office:

Livestock carcass scholarship ($700)
Livestock committee scholarship (3 at $700/each)
Mary Jane Kinyon memorial scholarship ($550) - does not need to be a livestock member

 


Leadership Academy
Members 12+, 4-H Age Join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in
2022/2023. The Leadership Academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in exploring and
developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new ways.


These workshops provide local county leadership groups an opportunity to join (virtually) with groups from
around the state as well as the Montana 4-H Ambassador Officer team, to work on skill building, planning
and mentorship.


Each month the officer team will present 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.
County Leadership groups should plan to meet face to face whenever possible and engage in the virtual
state wide workshop together.


This time can be viewed as a leadership club meeting. County ambassadors can aid in planning and
facilitating these local workshop meetings. The following agenda is currently being planned. All workshops
are Sunday afternoons from 3:00 to 4:00. Zoom links for each workshop session will be emailed to county
extension offices and can be shared locally.
Visit the webpage for complete descriptions:
https://www.montana4h.org/programs/youth_leadership/academy.html
To receive the zoom meeting link and info for this workshop series please complete the short registration by
clicking the "Register Now" on the montana4h.org page. Once the form is complete an email containing the
zoom meeting link for all five workshops will be sent automatically.

February 5, 2023
March 5, 2023

Marias Fair Board Updates
The 2023 Marias Fair will remain on the same date, July 19 - 23 this year. Next year the fair board is looking
to potentially move the fair to the last weekend in June. They will be holding a public comment meeting on
March 21st at 6:30 PM at the Toole County Ambulance Barn. If you have any opinions on moving the fair, I
suggest you be there.


Public Presentation Day 2023
Save the date for April 16th! More information soon to come!

 

Camp Counselors Needed:
The 2023 Multi-County 4-H Camp (Blaine, Glacier, Phillips, Hill, Toole, Pondera, Chouteau and Liberty
Counties) will be June 12- 14, 2023 at Camp Kiwanis in Beavercreek Park south of Havre. The application
deadline to apply to be a camp
counselor is February 15, 2023.

Qualifications:

9th thru 12th grade (15-18 years old).
Enjoy working with children.
Willing to participate in all counselor-training sessions scheduled and camp
Must be enrolled as a 4-H member and in good standing in your county.

 

Training Sessions: If you are selected to be a 4-H Camp Counselor, you must attend all camp planning
sessions. The first one is a virtual training on March 12 and the second will be in-person in Chester on April
16. Additional sessions may be held at the county level.

 

State Shooting Sports Competition
Registration is open through February 24 at https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/17932. The shoot is March 3 - 5
in Bozeman, MT. The cost of entries is $14 and there is both archery (target and 3D) and Air Rifle and Air
Pistol competitions. Details are up at
https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/shooting_sports/shooting-sports SS.html.


Marias Fair Air Gun tournament
The Marias Fair Air Rifle and Air Pistol tournament will be February 26 in Conrad. Registration forms will be
coming this week. Registration deadline is February 15 to the Glacier County Extension Office. A $20 late fee
will be added after February 15, NO entries after February 22. 

 

State 4-H Shotgun Qualifier
This competition is open to all Montana 4-H members enrolled in the Shotgun Project. This will be April 22 in
Three Forks. The National 4-H Shooting Tournament will be held in Grand Island, Nebraska, Sunday-Friday,
June 25 – June 30, 2023. The top four (4) finishers will be invited to represent the state of Montana at the
National Shoot in the Shotgun event. The competitors must have passed their 14th birthday by January 1,
2023 and may not have passed their 19th birthday before January 1 of the current year the 4-H Shooting
Sports National Championships are held.
Details are up at
https://www.montana.edu/extension/4h/programs/events/shooting_sports/shooting_sports_ev
ents/Shotgun%20Qualifier%202023.pdf. Cost is $40/person., registration deadline is April 14.

 


Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Committee Updates

Goat showmanship – There will be separate divisions this year for meat goat showmanship (held
Thursday night of fair) and dairy goat showmanship (held Friday of fair). The top meat goat and dairy
goat showmen will both compete in the Round Robin.
Belt buckles – There will be belt buckles awarded to the Grand and Reserve Champion in the market
divisions of the beef, sheep, swine, and goat competitions at the fair.
Seewald barn signs – If any business, family, etc. is interested in having a sign displayed in the
Seewald barn, applications are available online at
https://www.montana.edu/extension/mariasfair/livestockcom.html. It is $400 to have a sign displayed
for 10 years and then just $250 for the following 10 years.
New rule – The livestock committee has added the following to the Livestock Rules, ‘All animals are
subject to examination by the livestock committee or veterinarian and may be removed from the show
and fairgrounds at their discretion.’
Officers - Jeremy Curry (President), Chad Scarborough (Vice President), Jacki Boyce (Treasurer) and
Stefanie Leach (Secretary) were all re-elected.

 

2023 Blazing Arrows Marias Fair Archery Invitational- Julean Hanson
Sunday, January 29th, the Shelby Blazing Arrows 4-H Archery Club hosted the Marias Fair Archery
Invitational competition. We had a great turnout with 116 archers competing in the invitational from
around the state. That was the largest one yet.
Our 40 Blazing Arrows archers have been practicing and preparing for this competition since October
when we started shooting and will continue until the Bozeman state 4-H shoot the first weekend of March.


For the statewide invitational, 7 of our competitors brought home medals. For Bowhunter 9-10, Bridger
Ergenbright took 1st and Sam Flesch took 3rd. For Bowhunter 11-12, Brant Blonde took 1st , Tel Gray took
2nd, and Paxton Flesch took 3rd. For Bowhunter 13-14, Dylan Clark took 1st and Avalyn Smith took 2nd.


The Four-County Marias Fair event consisted of Toole County, Glacier County, Pondera County, and Liberty
County.
For Primitive 13-14, Dylan Clark took 3rd.
For Bowhunter 9-10, Bridger Ergenbright took 1st and Sam Flesch took 3rd. For Bowhunter 11-12, Paxton
Flesch took 1stand Kaylee Berthelote took 3rd. For Bowhunter 13-14, Dylan Clark took 1st and Avalyn Smith
took 2nd.
For Unlimited 11-12, Kaylee Berthelote took 1st and for Unlimited 13-14, Parker Berthelote took 2nd.


For the 4-H Archery Project Interview, four Toole County archers received purple ribbons, with Dylan Clark
receiving a rosette for one of the Top Interviewers. Through a project interview the 4-Her is asked what
their favorite part of the project is, what goals did they set for themself, what is the most challenging part,
and what are some safety rules to follow.Through these interviews the kids are learning skills they will
utilize in the future.


Blazing Arrows has about three weeks left before the state shoot in Bozeman. Then we will end the year
with a fun shoot and awards in March.

 

2023 Pondera Invitational Archery
Results
1st place unlimited Age 9-10: Morgan Riphenburg- 204.1
1st place Bow Hunter Age 9-10: Bridger Ergenbright- 256.2
1st place Bow Hunter Age 11-12: Kaylee Berthelote- 246.2
3rd place Bow Hunter Age 11-12: Desirae Salois- 201
2nd Place Bow Hunter Age 15+: Parker Parsons- 222.1
2023 Pondera Invitational Air Rifle Results
3 Position Individual Results- All Shooters
3rd- Kacey Wipf
8th- Colter Sandon
9th- Kaley Sandon
3 Position Individual 11-12 yrs
1st- Kacey Wipf
6- Kaley Sandon
3 Position Individual 13-14 yrs
3rd- Colter Sandon
Prone Individual Results- All Shooters
2nd- Kacey Wipf
8th- James Casap
Prone Individual 9-10
2nd- James Casap
Prone Individual 11-12
1st- Kacey Wipf
2023 Pondera Invitational Air Pistol
Results
Pistol individual- All shooters
4th- Kacey Wipf
Individual- Stand Sprtd 11-12 yrs
1st- Kacey Wipf

 

Primitive 13-14
3rd- Dylan Clark 119
Bowhunter 9-10
1st: Bridger Ergenbright- 279
3rd: Sam Flesch- 244
Bowhunter 11-12
1st: Paxton Flesch- 264
3rd: Kaylee Berthelote- 251
Bowhunter 13-14
1st: Dylan Clark- 276
2nd: Avalyn Smith- 273
Unlimited 11-12
1st: Kaylee Berthelote- 180
Unlimited 13-14
2nd: Parker Berthelote- 212
High Score for age Bracket
Bridger Ergenbright- Purple
Top Archery Project Interviewer
Dylan Clark- Rosette

 

FEBRUARY
1st- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
1st- Fair Board Meeting- 6:30pm @ Ambulance Barn
2nd- 8-11 year old Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
3rd- Volunteer Institute registration deadline
6th- Food Booth meeting- 6:00 pm @ MRE
7th- 1st & 2nd Year Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
15th- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm.
15th- Camp Counselor application due
15th- Marias Fair Air Rifle/ Pistol deadline
16th- 8-11 year old robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
20th- Office Closed- President's Day
21st- 1st & 2nd year robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
22nd- Rec Lab registration due
24th- Deadline to register for state archery and air gun shoot
25th- Chouteau County Shooting Sports Invitational.
26th- Marias Fair Air Rifle/Pistol tournament PSSC in Conrad

 

MARCH
1st- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
2nd- 8-11 year old Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
7th- 1st & 2nd Year Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
15th- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
16th- 8-11 year old Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
19th- 3rd-5th year Robotics @ Courthouse 2-5pm
21st- 1st & 2nd year old Robotics @ Courthouse 3:30-5pm
21st- Marias Fair Board Public Comment 6:30 PM Ambulance Barn