4-H members judge swine at the 4-H Livestock Judging event held on December 13, 2025 at the Weatherbeater Arena.The event was organized by Jon and Misti Redland and Susan and RT Snyder, with awesome support from other volunteers from Spring Creek 4-H Club. Twenty kids participated and gave amazing oral reasons!

Send us your club activity photos and information and we’ll publish them in the 4-H Newsletter.

On the Horizon

January 4

  • Beef Tag and Weigh-in Day at the Weatherbeater at 2 p.m.

January 5

  • 4-H Council Meeting, Fairfield Public Library at 6 p.m.

January 11

  • MT 4-H Leadership Academy online, Sunday, 6 p.m., see below in the newsletter for more information

January 13

  • Market Beef Possession Deadline: forms, photos & fees to Office by Tue at 5 p.m.

January 15-18

  • Montana Winter Fair in Lewistown; Livestock Judging Friday Jan 16; Deadline to register Jan 14

January 15-16

  • KMON Livestock and Poultry Judging, Great Falls

 

January 18

  • Poultry/Rabbit Project Meeting, Williams' Place (see page 2), Sunday, 2-4 p.m.

January 31

  • Teen Camp counselor Applications Due for Camp 2026

February 2

  • Livestock Committee Meeting, Teton County Courthouse (2nd floor) in Choteau, 6-7 p.m.

February 9

  • 2026 Camp Counselor applications due

February 14

  • MT 4-H Foundation People Parner Grant applications due

February 24

  • Camp Counselor planning meeting, 6 p.m. at Cascade County Extension Office

March 14

  • Save the Date: County-wide Communications Day

March 27

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

Ag Agent's Corner:  Strong Work, Beef Members!

by Jenn Swanson

You betcha-25 of 26 beef members attended the Beef Weigh-in and Tag Day and first LQA event on Sunday, January 4, 2026!

A big thank you to beef Superintendents Levi Hodgskiss and Justin Paulson for coordination the event and Ashle Morris for taking initial weights and presenting educational content.  Special thanks to Katy Morris for peer teaching and Alexis Morris for secretarial support.

Club Leadership News

  • Updated club bank account mailing address
  • 4-H insurance coverage

Procedure update: Help us keep your club’s information up to date by having your club’s bank statements mailed to the Extension Office.This will allow us to provide better oversight as clubs transition between leaders and treasurers.

The address is: P.O. Box 130 Choteau, MT 59422.

Each club should let the office know if they would like the statements mailed or sent electronically each month.

4-H Insurance:  What is Does and Does Not Cover

Through American Income Life, Montana 4-H has a blanket policy that covers all enrolled 4-H members while taking part in supervised 4-H activities.This is not a liability policy and only covers accidents from minor scrapes to major injuries for youth members. The table below provides more detail about the maximum benefits based on accident.Teton County 4-H does obtain Special Event coverage for fair and camp each year that covers adult volunteers.If you have more questions about insurance coverage, please give us a call at the Extension Office.

Providing adult supervision at every meeting, practice, and 4-H gathering is an essential piece of the puzzle to keep our youth safe. Any adults that will be alone with youth must be certified volunteers and have passed a background check. Give our office a call if you need to find out if a volunteer has a current certification.

Amercian Income Life Insurance Company-Special Risk Division
Maximum 
Benefits
Annual Policy Table of Benefits
$5,000
For expenses incurred with 52 weeks of the date of Accident for Medical and Surgical Treatment,    X-Ray Charges, Hospital Confinement, Ambulance Expense and prescriptions up to $5,000.
$500
For Dental Expenses incurred within 52 weeks of Accident, involving sound, natural teeth.
$10,000
For losses within 100 days of Accident which result in the loss of life.
$5,000
For losses within 100 days of Accident which cause the loss of one arm, leg, foot or one hand.
$3,000
For lossess with 100 days of Accident which cause the loss of sight of one eye.

Club Leadership News

Treasurers-Things to Know...

Club treasurers, make sure that you have access to your club’s bank account.You will need to go to the bank that your club uses and update the signature card.The signature card is used by the bank to make sure that only the treasurer and club leader can write checks and access money in your account.

At each meeting, use theTreasurer’s Meeting Report Formto summarize the activity in your bank account and to make it easier to report at your club’s business meeting. Check out the Treasurer's Meeting Report Form.  After each report is signed by you and the club leader, put it in your Treasurer’s Binder to be turned in at the end of the 4-H year to the Extension Office for review.  If you are unsure about how to fill out this form or access your club's bank account information, please contact the Extension Office and we will help you!

For Youth Members

Montana 4-H Leadership Academy

Do you want to improve your leadership skills, but not sure where to start?  If you are at least 12 years old, you can join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy online.

On Sunday, January 11, at 6:00 pm log on to Zoom to join 4-Hers from across Montana to learn how to make a Community Project happen right here in Teton County. Register for Montana 4-H Leadership Academy.

MT 4-H Foundation People Partner Grants

Do you have a great idea for a community project to improve the lives of your neighbors in Teton County?  Do you need money to make your idea happen? Consider applying for a Montana 4-H Foundation grant. Let the Extension Office know you want to apply and we will help with your application!

People Partner Grants provide incentives and financial support to groups and individuals for programs that enhance the quality of living for people in your community. Applications due February 14, 2026.  Find out more about the People Partner Grant.

How have other counties used funds from the People Partner Grants?  Yellowstone County 4-Hers made quilts for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Glacier County 4-Her made ‘birthday cake kits’ for their food pantry.What is your idea?  Check out what other counties have done which People Partner Grant funds.

Calling All Youth Camp Counselors!

Applications Due February 9, 2026,on ZSuite.

Changes This Year:

  • Combining with Cascade County at Camp Rotary in Neihart
  • Youth counselors are called ‘Camp Junior Directors (JDs)’
  • Camp will be one day longer (4 days rather than 3)
  • Camp dates for Counselors/JDs June 6 - 10, 2026
  • Camp dates for campers June 7 - 10, 2026

Camp Counselor/JD Requirements:

  • Be 4-H age 13 or older
  • Completed record book in 24-25 4-H year
  • Participate in leadership activities at club level
  • Attend all planning meetings and Clean Up day at Camp Rotary, unless an excused pre-planned absence

Camp Planning Dates**:

February 24:  6-8 p.m. at Cascade County Extension Office

March 31:  6-8 p.m. location TBA

April 28:  6-8 p.m. at Cascade County Extension Office

May:  TBD at Camp Rotary for Clean Up

**Carpooling will be available.

Mark Your Calendar for Communications Day!

Communications Day will be Saturday, March 14, 2026. This event will include a Stir-Ups Competition and Western Heritage Persona Interviews in addition to demonstration talks. Explore the possibilities and begin making plans by clicking on the links below. Registration will open in February.

This competition 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.

 

Learn about the different ways to compete in Communications! 

 

More on Montana Winter Fair...

Ag Ambassador Competition 2026

The Ag Ambassador competition will be happening onSaturday, January 17, 2026.

Registration Deadline: January 12

Register for the Ag Ambassador Contest

There is no cost to enter.

This event is open to ANY junior high or high school student. They do not need to be a 4-H or FFA member to participate. All components of this event except the prepared speech may be completed virtually.

As part of the event, students are asked to tell the story of agriculture through a variety of methods. For 2026, participants should focus on the topic of Agriculture in Your Community

Please feel free to email Emily Standley, superintendent, at standley.emily@gmail.com with any questions!

Club Happenings

The Challenging Champs celebrated a holiday meeting together at the Burgmaier farm. After holding their December meeting, they ate a potluck meal, played board games, and exchanged gifts.

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

Camp Dates

2026   June 7-10 @ 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

Assistants:

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