On the Horizon

March 2

  • Council Meeting, Fairfield, Public Library, Tuesday, 6 p.m.

March 6

  • Communications Contest Day registration due by Friday at 5 p.m.

March 13

  • Record Lab Registration Closes in ZSuite

March 14

  • Communications Day Contest, 10 a.m. at Power Public School

March 21

  • Western Heritage begins at 1 p.m. Find out more below

March 27

  • Boe Brothers and Anne Wiprud 4-H Scholarships due at the Extension Office

March 27-29

  • Rec Lab, Columbus, MT 

March 31

  • Swine possession deadline; paperwork, photos, fees Extension Office, Tuesday at 5 p.m.

April 6

  • Livestock Committee Meeting; Fairfield, Mew Life Church, Mon at 6 p.m.

April 7

  • Lamb/Goat Possession Deadline, paperwork, photos, fees due at the Extension Office, Tues by 5 p.m.

April 15

  • Project Drop/Add Deadline: Wed at 5 p.m.

April 19-25

  • 4-H Volunteer Appreciati9on Week

April 25

  • Meat Science Education Day, 1-4:30 p.m. in Townsend, MT, Find out more below

May 1

  • Fair Registration Opens

May 29

  • Fair Registration Closes

June 7-10

  • 4-H Camp at Camp Rotary

June 24-28

  • 4-H Fair Week!  Interview Judging, Livestock Show, Sale

July 7-10

  • 4-H Congress, MSU Campus, Bozeman, MT 

2026 Teton County Club Rotations

Clubs its time to begin planning for your role in the fair. Include the youth in your club to brainstorm ideas and to take part in the decision-making process to meet your club’s responsibilities.

A good strategy is to create sign-up sheets, with specific tasks, days, and times for families.

The Extension Office will send club leaders a more detailed explanation of each task.Please ask questions to the office if you have them!

Challenging Champs

  • Hospitality for Interview Judges
  • Create the 4-H Exhibit Hall Display

Eager Eagles

  • Exhibit Hall Set Up
  • Exhibit Hall Maintenance during Fair
  • Recruit Greeters for Exhibit Hall

Old Agency

  • Meat and Greet (coordinate 4-H baked good and staff the buffet line)

Spring Creek

  • Concessions (option to make and sell yummies -or- recruit food trucks!)
  • Weatherbeater Daily Facility Maintenance

It's a great time to start thing about what you are going to bring to Fair!

Enter your project journal pages, a poster about each 4-H project in whichyou are enrolled, and school projects you are proud of, in addition to your exhibit item.

Club Leadership Updates

All Clubs:  Update club bank statement mailing address!

Please update the mailing address for your club’s bank account by the end of March! All statements should be mailed to the Teton County MSU Extension Office at PO Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422.The statement will then be forwarded to the adult signers on the account and the youth treasurer for each club. Let the office know when you have made the change and whether you would like your monthly statement forwarded in email or hard copy form.

Club Dues and 1%:

Invoices for club dues and 1% were sent to club leaders and treasurers. Please send your club payment, payable to Teton County 4-H Council,to Teton County MSU Extension Office, PO Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422.

Club Fair Rotations:

Begin planning your club’s Fair rotation with youth and adults.Contact the Extension Office with questions. See above for rotation roles.

Volunteer Recogntion Week-April 19-27

Work with your club to design a volunteer recognition project to recognize ALL volunteers in your club.The Extension Office will send a list of names and contact information for volunteers affiliated with your club.This is a great opportunity for club youth to take on a leadership role to design and implement your club’s volunteer recognition activity.Many volunteers have shared that a thank-you note, handwritten by youth they have worked with makes the most impact.

Youth Club Historians or Reporters:

Write up a short paragraph about your club’s volunteers. The Extension Office will use this in the April ‘Volunteer Spotlight’ issue of the 4-H newsletter. Make sure to include their names and the impact they have had on your club in 2025-2026. Get their permission to include a photo for the newsletter. Please send this to the Extension Office by Friday, March 27.

Youth Club Secretaries:

Send your Club’s meeting minutes via mail to Teton@montana.edu, or bring a physical copy to the Extension office, after each meeting. Each club should have six separate meeting minutes on file in the Extension Office no later than September 30, 2026.

Agent's Corner:

Our Teton 4-H Family has great work in the pipeline!  Let's Celebrate & Collaborate!

Congratulations, New 4-H Ambassadors!

The 4-H Ambassadors for 2025-2026 have been selected and are Nolan DeBruycker, Annie Diekhans, Grace Toeckes, and Ayden DeBruycker!

In Loving Memory of the Late Bob Lee, D.V.M

The family of Doc Lee have committed to sponsoring an annual livestock judging contest in Teton County!Plan to participate this fall...

Bok Bok-Here Chick, Chick, Chick-Calling all Poultry and Rabbit Judges!

Youth member Hannah Meyer (Spring Creek Club) has aspirations to host a chicken and poultry judging event, tentatively set for May 17.If you know of someone who knows chickens and/or poultry, she’s looking for a judge.Contact Loraine Meyer or the Extension Office!

We're Doggone Proud!

Cora Hirst has been working hard on getting a dog training group rejuvenated.Contact Cora or the Extension office for more information!

Let's Dance!

Psst... rumor has it that Spring Creek 4-H Club is planning adance!Stay tuned for details!

Ambassador, Ayden DeBruycker, Leads by Doing at her Demonstration Workshop

Watch Ayden's Video

Teton County Communications Day

Communications Day will beSaturday, March 14,at Power Public School beginning at 10 am, hosted by the Challenging Champs. The Communications Day registration isdue Friday, March 6, 2026.

The Stir-Ups competition this year will be an oatmeal-based on-the-go breakfast bar.Click on the Stir-Ups link below for more information on the contest.

Communications Day is open to all 4-H members from Cloverbuds to Seniors.4-Hers 13 and up who win a blue ribbon will be eligible to compete at state Congress in July.For those 14 and up, Congress winners will be eligible to attend National 4-H Congress as a member of the Montana Delegation.

Register for Communications Day 

2026 Stir Ups Challenge

Oatmeal-based on-the-go breakfast bars

Find out more about the 2026 Teton County Stir Ups Competition.

2026 Western Heritage Meetings

What is the Western Heritage Project?

The 4-H Western Heritage Project is a combination of 4-H Shooting Sports and a living history of the frontier west from 1860 to 1900.

When:

The first Western Heritage project meeting will be held on March 21 at 1 p.m.There will be a fun shoot and chili feed.Please contact Brian Bedord at406-590-9092 to RSVP.

Who:

Everyone is welcome to attend and find out more about the Western Heritage project in Teton County.To participate in the Western Heritage project, 4-H youth must be 10 years old by October 1, 2025.

Where:

The location will be weather dependent.

If the weather is good, the meeting will be held at the shooting range between Simms and Augusta.

In case of inclement weather, the meeting will be held at the Rocky Mountain Rifle Club near Fairfield.

Find out more about the Western Heritage Project in Montana.

4-H Shooting Team Competes in Conrad

by Loren Tacke

Teton County 4-H members were well represented on February 7, as 12 members of the Rocky Mountain Top Shots and six members of the Rocky Mountain Archers traveled to Conrad to compete in the Pondera County Invitational.

The event drew an impressive 132 youth from 13 counties, bringing together both new and experienced competitors from across the region. Among them were several Teton County members participating in their very first competitive shoot. The meet provided valuable experience as both teams continue sharpening their skills in preparation for the Montana 4-H State Shoot, scheduled for March 6 –8 in Bozeman.

Coaches Chris Tacke and Alan Peace accompanied the shooting team, while Jennifer Miller assisted the archery competitors. Coaches were pleased not only with the athletes’ performances, but also with their positive attitudes throughout the day.“We had a great showing and all the kids shot exceptionally well,” said Coach Tacke. “Even the first-year kids had smiles from ear to ear.”

While the teams competed in Conrad, Head Coach Brian Bedord traveled to Bozeman with Leah Paulson and Kyndal Becker to participate in a Junior Olympic match. Paulson competed in air pistol, and Becker shot standing air rifle. Coach Bedord said both athletes performed very well and did an outstanding job representing Teton County. Official results from the Junior Olympic event were not available at press time.

The next competition for the Teton County 4-H shooting sports teams will be held February 21 at the Great Falls Fairgrounds. Competition begins at 8 a.m., and community members are encouraged to attend and support the local 4-H shooters and archers.

Archery

Primitive

12-14 yrs. – Logan Becker 1st

Bare bow

9-10 yrs. – Josiah Bacon 4th, William Tacke 5th, Lachlan Miller 8th

Bow Hunter

11–12 yrs. – Owen Morris 3rd

13-14 yrs. – Dylan Ulsh 3rd

Rifle

3-Postion Air Rifle

11-12 yrs. – Jack Tacke 1st, (1st overall), Hannah Meyer 2nd, (6th overall), Blaise Skierka 5th

Prone

9–10 yrs. – Josiah Bacon 8th, Lexi Egbert, Michaela Skierka, Henry Freeman

11–12 yrs. – Jack Tacke 1st, (2nd overall), Crew Egbert 4th, Eva Redd, Kessler Sparing

13-14 yrs. – Kingston Egbert 8th

Standing

11– 2 yrs. – Jack Tacke 1st, (4th overall) Hannah Meyer 2nd, (6th overall)

Pistol

Basic

9–10 yrs. – Micaela Skierka 3rd, Josiah Bacon 5th

1 Handed

13-14 yrs. – Hannah Meyer 5th, Gibson Franks 6th, Blaise Skierka 7th

Ten Spring Creek members honed their skillsat the KMON Livestock Judging contest, bringing home the

FirstPlace 4-H Team Trophywith three members placing inthe top 10 as individuals:

Boaz Lytle - 1st

Libby Redland - 3rd

Polly Lytle - 8th

Club Hubbub

Members of Challenging Champs 4-H club helped the Power American Legion put over 60 flags up in Power to recognize President's Day on February 16.

4-H & FFA Meat Sciene Education Day

When:  April 25, from 1-4:30 p.m.

Where:  Townsend Schools

Program Highlights

A farm to fork experiene of meat science featuring hands-on activities that explore:

  • Meat processing.
  • Relationship between animal care, quality assurance practices and meat quality.
  • Kitchen chemistry and cooking.
  • Meat and food safety.

All livestock species represented including rabbit and poultry.

Meat tastings including goat, lamb and rabbit.

Open to 4-H and FFA members, ages 8-18.

Cost:  $10

Pre-registration required.  Opens in March

For more information:

406-266-9242

broadwater@montana.edu

State 4-H Rec Lab

Registration closes on March 13 in ZSuite

Cost to youth:  $50, half of fees sponsored by 4-H Council

March 27-39th, 2026 in Columbus, MT. Montana 4-H Rec Lab is open to youth 13 years of age or older as of October 1, 2025.

What is Rec Lab? “Rec Lab” stands for Recreation Lab and means that everything at this Montana 4-H state event is hands-on and fun! This event provides an opportunity for youth to enhance their leadership, communication and team building skills in an action-packed and interactive setting. Rec Lab programming is designed to provide participants with tips and tricks for being a better club, camp and community leader.

Check out Rec Lab Workshop Descriptions

Montana Farmers Union Camp at Arrowpeak

June 7-12 Senior/Tenn 1 (Ages 13-18)

June 14-16 Mini Camp (Ages 7-9)

June 14-16 Parent Camp (With Registered MIni Camper)

June 28-July 2 Junior 1 Camp (Ages 8-12)

July 6-10 Junior 2 Camp (Ages 8-12)

July 12-17 Teen 2 Camp (Ages 11-14)

July 21-23 Ag for Classroom Teachers Camp

 

Camp Cost:

$100 members

$150 non-members

Mini-Junior Camp Cost:

$75 members

$125 non-members

Registration is open and closes two weeks before start of each camp.

Questions?

Call:406-452-6406

Email: camp@montanafarmersunion.com

Web:  www.montanaframersunion.com/camp

 

Contact Us!  MSU Extension Teton County

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.
2026    June 22-28

2027    June 21-27

Camp Dates

2026   June 6-10 @ Camp Rotary

4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman

2026   July 7-10

 

Agents:

Shelby Jones-Dozier shelby.jonesdozier@montana.edu
Jenn Swanson  jenn.swanson@montana.edu

Assistant:

Jamie Smith  teton@montana.edu

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cody Stone, Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717