Hello 4-H Families!
As you may know, the butterbraid fundraiser is due March 6th to
the Toole County Extension Office. We ask that each member try to
sell at least five butterbraids. If a family wants to buy out of the
fundraiser, they may pay $20 per member. Please have all checks
made out to Toole County 4-H Council.


This year's camp counselors will be Cami Blevins, Delaney Clark,
Dylan Clark, Jadis Scarborough, and Clara Blonde. Our first year
counselors will be "counselors in training" and under mentorship
from the older counselors. Their first meeting will be virtually on
Zoom on March 12th at 1:30 PM. We will email the information to
them. The second training is in Chester on April 16th.
Please save the date for 4-H Camp on June 12-14. Registration will
be on Z-Suite soon.


It is that time of year when some of you are needing to select a
hog for the fair! I have a list available of folks who sell hogs if you
need some inspiration on where to go.


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

Congratulations Bridger on
winning the Shooting Sports
Raffle!

Volunteer Trainings Online
If you are planning to be a volunteer for the county 4-H, new this year, we are announcing the 4-H Volunteer
online training resources. We still have a few folks who need to take the training.
All 4-H Volunteers must complete the training in Z-Suite. If you need help, you can come take the modules in
the Extension Office.
1. Log into your Z-Suite Account
2. Select the profile of the volunteer that is taking the course.
3. Click on Clover Academy from the menu on the left
4. Click on the blue box “Launch Clover Academy”.
5. You will be taken to the Clover Academy website.
6. Scroll down to find the Montana 4-H Orientation click on “Enroll Now”.
7. On the course page you will see an overview of the course. Scroll down to see the four modules that make
up the orientation. Click the blue box “See More” under module one.
8. Follow the instructions to navigate the course.
9. When you get to the end of the module, (slide will say you completed module). Scroll down and click on
the blue box “Mark as Complete”. Box will turn blue once you have completed the module.
10. Select the next lesson to load the next module. Your progress will be saved and you can return later to
complete the remaining modules.


Marias Fair Premium Sponsorship
Are you interested in sponsoring the Marias Fair?
The Toole County 4-H program is very fortunate to receive generous support from our community. Whether
you are a new or returning supporter, we would like to invite you to be a Marias 4-H Fair sponsor this year.
Toole County 4-H members will join with Glacier, Pondera, and Liberty County youth to participate in the
Marias Fair. At the fair, 4-H youth can display their projects and demonstrate the skills they have learned
throughout the year. Projects vary from cooking to sewing, market animals to weed science, to public
speaking and that is to name just a few.
Top entries are awarded rosettes or trophies depending on the event. Donations help to cover the cost of
these awards. There are several sponsorship levels you may contribute at, which are as follows:
Clover (up to $24), Emerald ($25-$49), Bronze ($50-$74), Silver ($75-$99),
Gold ($100 - $499), Platinum ($500 and up)
If you would like to support 4-H youth by being a Marias Fair sponsor, please mail a check to our office.
Checks can be made payable to the Marias Fair Premium Fund.
Thank you so much for supporting our youth in their 4-H activities.


State Shooting Sports in Bozeman March 3-5th
Archery- Good luck to Kaylee Berthelote, Parker Berthelote, Dylan Clark, Bridger Ergenbright, and Desirae
Salois
Air Rifle & Pistol- Good Luck to Kyla Calangi and Kacey Wipf

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


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 four 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/state-awards.htm

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 

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 Shelby High School Auditorium. Please plan on attending the public meeting
and bring a friend! Their next board meeting is March 1st and they are public meetings, so you are welcome
to attend anytime if you would like.

 

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 For Graduating Seniors
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 Toole 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

 

Cloverbud Day Camp
Cloverbud day camp will be Thursday, June 8 at the Shelby Splash Park in Shelby, open to all area
Cloverbuds. It will be a pirate theme this year! Please 'Save the Date' if you have a Cloverbud or teen willing
to help with workshops/games/crowd control, etc.

 


Montana 4-H Congress- Save the Date

Registration will open May 1
Registration deadline is June 15
Congress MSU Bozeman- Tuesday, July 11- Friday July 14
Pre-Congress and Officer Selection- Sunday July 9 - Tuesday July 11
State Contests Wednesday, July 12

 

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.

March 5, 2023 

 

Habets Annual Show Pig Sale
Champions in the Making
Date: March 25, 2023
Location: Marias Fair Grounds in Shelby, MT at Open Beef Barn
Time: Viewing starts at 10:30 am
Auction: At NOON
*Multiple Grand Champions, Reserve Champions, Class Winners*
These pigs are born December, January, and February this year. We offer a rewards program to the kids that
purchase hogs from us. We take pride in the hogs we raise. Proven genetics that have set us apart from other
breeders. Anyone can attend this sale. If you need directions or if you have any questions, please contact us

 

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.

 

Fair Manager Position
Toole County is looking for a Fairgrounds Manager. This position is part-time. The Fairgrounds Manager is
responsible for the planning, organization, and supervision of the daily operations of the county fairgrounds.
If you know someone who may be a good fit, please refer them to
https://toolecountymt.gov/employment_opportunities.html.

 

Swine Weigh In/ Tagging
It's 4-H pig tagging time! Saturday, April 16 is the deadline to tag a pig in for the Marias Fair. Kim will call and
coordinate a time to weigh/tag/deworm your pigs. Members need to have the following information:

  • Breed of pig
  • Date of birth
  • Beginning weight
  • Breeder's name

MARCH
1st- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
1st - Marias Fair Board Meeting @ Ambulance Barn 6:30pm
2nd- 8-11 year old Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm
3rd-5th- State Shooting Sports in Bozeman
5th - Leadership Academy (Virtual)
7th- 1st & 2nd year Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm
12th - Camp Counselor (Zoom Meeting) 1:30 PM
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 @ Shelby High School Auditorium 6:30pm
28th- Livestock Committee Scholarships due

 

APRIL
1st- Council Scholarship due
4th- 1st & 2nd year Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm
5th- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
5th - Marias Fair Board Meeting @ Ambulance Barn 6:30pm
6th- 8-11 year old Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm
11th- 4-H Council Meeting @ Toole County Courthouse 6:30 PM
16th - Camp Counselor Meeting (In-Person) @ Chester
16th- Swine Weigh in deadline, breeding project info due
18th- 1st & 2nd year Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm
19th- Cloverbuds @ New Life Community Church 3:30-5pm
20th- 8-11 year old Robotics @ courthouse 3:30-5pm