Deer Lodge County

Located in southwestern Montana near the Continental Divide, Anaconda was founded in 1865 by Marcus Daily as a site to build a smelter to refine copper ore from local mines. 122 years later, in 1977, Anaconda merged with Deer Lodge County to form one of two consolidated city-county governments within the state. Anaconda-Deer Lodge County consists of 736 square miles of land and 4.7 square miles of water, making it the second smallest county by land mass.

Contact

800 Main St.
Anaconda, MT 59711
406-563-4035
https://www.montana.edu/extension/deerlodge/

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 4-H Experiences Significant Growth

During the 2023/2024 4-H year, the Anaconda Deer Lodge County 4-H program served 55 youth across three clubs: Antelope Gulch Wranglers, Community Friends, and Montana Clovers. In 2024/2025, enrollment increased to 94 youth, partly due to the formation of a new club, the Racetrack Ramblers. Volunteer involvement also grew, with 17 active volunteers in 2024/2025 and projections to exceed 25 volunteers for 2025/2026.

This growth demonstrates how the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 4-H program is effectively meeting local needs by offering expanded opportunities for leadership development, skill building, and positive social engagement. MSU Extension Anaconda-Deer Lodge County has worked diligently during this time to support volunteers and foster an environment to encourage and enable sustained, large scale growth of the program.

By investing in youth development and fostering strong community partnerships, the program contributes to the broader goals of MSU Extension in building healthy, resilient communities throughout Montana. This success story highlights the lasting impact of Extension programming in rural areas and its vital role in shaping the next generation to be Beyond Ready (https://4-h.org/beyond-ready/) for their futures.

Caption: Racetrack Ramblers 4-H Club Logo.

Credit: Provided by Bryn S., Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 4-H Volunteer

Inaugural Birch Creek Adventures 4-H Camp

In June 2025, MSU Extension and 4-H programs of Beaverhead, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, and Granite Counties partnered to host the inaugural Birch Creek Adventures 4-H Camp at the Birch Creek Center in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Themed “Into the Woods,” the camp provided youth with a hands on outdoor educational experience focused on building life skills, leadership, and confidence.

The camp served 16 youth campers and was supported by nine teen counselors from June 11-15. A Cloverbud Day Camp on June 13 welcomed an additional eight youth. Among the participants were three campers and three Cloverbuds from the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 4-H program.

Campers engaged in skill based activities, including campfire building, knot tying, plant and animal identification, backpacking basics, water purification, orienteering, knife and tool safety, and campsite setup.

The program’s success was made possible through the support of dedicated 4-H volunteers, including Christie Weldon (Beaverhead County) and Leslie Given (Anaconda-Deer Lodge County), as well as the valuable contributions of MSU Extension Beaverhead County intern Janna Groover. A special note of appreciation goes to MSU Extenson Beaverhead County Agent Jack Bazemore, whose leadership, coordination, and commitment were instrumental in bringing this multi-county effort to life.

The camp reflected the core mission of MSU Extension and Montana 4-H: empowering youth through hands-on, experiential learning. Positive feedback from participants and families highlighted the program’s impact, not only in building practical skills but also in strengthening youth confidence, encouraging social interaction, and engaging with the outdoors. By bringing together three counties, this effort demonstrated how MSU Extension effectively coordinates local partnerships and volunteer support to deliver high-quality, relevant programming that serves the needs of rural Montana communities.

Caption: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 4-H Members Augustus, Ryiah, and Jaymalyn at the Inaugural Birch Creek Adventures 4-H Camp.

Credit: Kayleen Kidwell, MSU Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Extension Agent

Leslie Given Receives Montana 4-H District Five Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award

Leslie Given of Anaconda-Deer Lodge County was named the 2025 Montana 4-H District Five Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer in recognition of her exceptional leadership and long-term service to youth and communities across southwest Montana.

A certified 4-H volunteer since 2011, Leslie has led the Montana Clovers 4-H Club since 2013. Under her leadership, the club has grown to become the largest in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, offering a supportive environment where youth can build skills, confidence and leadership.

Leslie also serves as the Tri-County 4-H dog obedience and agility project leader, providing hands-on learning opportunities to youth across Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite, and Powell Counties. In partnership with the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County MSU Extension, she has secured over $2,500 in grants to purchase new dog agility equipment, improve the Powell County Fairgrounds’ Small Animal Barn, and fund outreach initiatives like a free 4-H Movie Matinee during National 4-H Week. She also works closely with community partners, including Anaconda Murdoch’s, to ensure continued support for local 4-H programming.

Leslie’s recognition as the 2025 Montana 4-H District Five Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer reflects her lasting impact on youth development and community engagement. It also highlights the essential role of dedicated volunteers in advancing the mission of MSU Extension and Montana 4-H through education, service, and leadership.

Caption: Leslie Given receiving the 2025 Montana Leslie Given receiving her Lifetime Volunteer Award.

Credit: Kayleen Kidwell, MSU Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Extension Agent