Carbon County

Nestled in the Beartooth Mountains, with the Pryor Mountains to the east and the Wyoming border to the south, you'll find Carbon County. The county was created on March 4, 1895, and has a population today of around 11,179. Agriculture and tourism are Carbon County's two most recognized economic industries.

Contact

202 State Street, PO Box 230
Joliet, 59041
406-962-3522
https://www.montana.edu/extension/carbon/

Beyond the Beartooths Livestock Judging Camp

In May 2025, Carbon County hosted the Beyond the Beartooths Livestock Judging Camp, Montana’s only 4-H livestock judging camp. The statewide event brought together more than 30 youth from five counties, creating a unique opportunity for hands-on skill development in livestock evaluation, critical thinking, and public speaking. For many participants, this was their first chance to attend a structured livestock judging camp without the time or financial burden of traveling out of state.

Led by collegiate livestock judging coach Sierra Myers of Linn-Benton Community College, the three-day camp offered intensive sessions in live animal evaluation and giving oral reasons. Through partnerships with local livestock producers, youth were able to evaluate high-quality cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs.

Participants significantly improved their ability to evaluate livestock using industry standards, defend their decisions, and communicate confidently. One youth shared, “The Beyond the Beartooths Livestock Judging Camp was a great experience with opportunities that most kids don’t usually get. A lot of times, younger kids are thrown into contests where they’re competing against older FFA members, so it was really nice to have a camp focused on learning. I’d never been to a livestock judging camp before, and now my expectations are set high because the coaches worked one-on-one with everyone. They helped each participant individually, which was especially valuable for those of us who don’t have that kind of coaching at home.”

Another participant said, “Participating in the Beyond the Beartooths Livestock Judging Camp had a very positive impact on me. I’m still fairly new to livestock judging, but I learned a lot at this clinic, including how to write strong reasons and how to evaluate all of the species instead of just the ones I show. My goal is to earn a livestock judging scholarship for college, so continuing to improve is really important to me. Scoring well at this camp gave me a huge boost of confidence and made me even more excited to keep competing. I would highly recommend that other kids take part in opportunities like this.”

By providing accessible, high-quality instruction and connecting youth with experienced coaches and producers, the Beyond the Beartooths Livestock Judging Camp equipped the next generation of livestock judges, leaders, and communicators with the skills they need to succeed in both competition and life.

Caption: Members practice livestock judging skills.

Credit: Amber Elliott, MSU Extension Agriculture/4-H Agent in Carbon County

Master Gardener Program

After more than eight years without an active Master Gardener program in Carbon County, many clients expressed interest in attending a course. To meet this need, Carbon County MSU Extension launched a new 10-week Master Gardener course in the spring of 2025. The program drew 22 participants ranging in age from 14 to 73, representing communities across the county. Topics included plant growth and development, soils and fertilizers, turf and lawn alternatives, landscape design, herbaceous ornamentals, pruning, and vegetable gardening.

Amber Elliott, Carbon County Extension Agent, led the classes and invited Extension Specialists to teach advanced sessions, providing participants with practical, research-based knowledge they could apply immediately in their gardens and within their communities.

The program included participants of all experience levels from beginners to seasoned gardeners and encouraged them to deepen their understanding of horticulture. Out of the 22 participants, 12 are now completing volunteer hours to earn the title of Master Gardener through contributing to educational events, community projects, and outreach activities in Carbon County.

Reviving the Master Gardener program has reconnected Carbon County residents with MSU Extension’s research-based horticultural resources and is building a new network of trained volunteers who will support educational programs across the county.

Caption: Participants learning about growing seasons in Master Gardener classes. 

Credit: Amber Elliott, MSU Extension Agriculture/4-H Agent in Carbon County

Senior Center Presentations

Carbon County has an aging population with 27.2% of the current population over the age of 65 (US Census Bureau). In the summer of 2024, MSU Extension Carbon County FCS/4-H Agent Carrie Guderjahn was asked by the Carbon County Health Department to travel with them to county Senior Centers, presenting on topics from Slips, Trips, and Falls (January/February), and Nutrition and Health for Older Adults (May/June) as part of their topic series for 2025.

Guderjahn presented nine times at various centers across the county, reaching 258 residents. Residents learned how to help prevent falls around their homes, the importance of physical activity as they age, and nutritional changes that occur with age, among other topics.

“The consistency of these visits to the senior centers by the Carbon County Health Department and other presenters from the county has started to make seniors around the county more comfortable to ask questions,” according to a Carbon County Health staff member. Program success during the year has led to partnering again for 2026 to offer more presentations to local senior centers.

Caption: Carbon County Logo

Credit: Carbon County

Cloverbud Workshops

During the last year, MSU Extension offered various Cloverbud Workshops for youth ages 5-8, including making tie pillows, bird feeders, fabric art, and plant terrariums. The goal of these workshops is to involve Cloverbuds more in the 4-H program, help them learn something new related to potential project areas they can enroll in, have projects they can take to the fair, have fun, and make new friends.

Seven members attended four workshops in late winter and spring of 2025. During the air plant terrarium workshop, members learned “Air plants don’t need to be in dirt like other plants.” Workshops were both fun and educational for the 4-H Cloverbuds and will be provided again in 2026.

Caption: Cloverbud members display their projects.

Credit: 4-H Parent, and Carrie Guderjahn MSU Extension Carbon County FCS/4-H Agent