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2025-2026 4-H Year Enrollment is CLOSED
Open self-enrollment for the 2025-2026 4-H year opened back on Oct. 1, 2025 and closed as of January 15, 2026. This enrollment policy and deadline applies to ALL 4-H youth and adult volunteers. Youth must have been enrolled in all projects they intend to exhibit at the 2026 Fair by this deadline as well.
To take advantage of ALL the opportunities Gallatin 4-H has to offer, enrollment for the 2026-2027 4-H Year will open again on Oct. 1st, 2026.
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🍀2025 Annual Report🍀
We are excited to share our magazine-style Gallatin County 4-H 2025 Annual Report. It was another incredible year made possible by many members, volunteers, supporters and donors!
The report is linked to our website here: 2025YearEndReport.pdf
HUGE shoutout to our 4-H Assistant, Colyn Wiening, for her outstanding work and creativity in preparing this annual document! |
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Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
Gallatin 4-H Foundation
COUNTY-LEVEL Scholarships
DUE April 1st, 2026
The Gallatin County 4-H Foundation has worked to expand their scholarship offerings and are excited to have multiple scholarships available for various continuing education tracks for Gallatin County 4-H graduating seniors.
Keep an eye on our 4-H Scholarships webpage for more updates, application links and deadlines: 4-H Scholarships - Gallatin County Extension | Montana State University
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Introducing Gallatin 4-H Youth Member Grants
Thanks to a generous donation from a Gallatin 4-H Family, Patrick & Merrita Marble, we have are excited to announce that we established the "John V Farrow 4-H Project Grant" to support and invest in 4-H youth member projects.
A message from Patrick Marble: "While we were reciting the 4-H pledge [at 4-H Fall Leadership Training back in November], I couldn’t help but wonder how many years it had been since the first time I said those words. I believe it was 1985 or maybe 1984, and it was in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, when I had my first 4-H project. At that time, they had a 'preclubber' program that allowed you to start as early as 8, as long as you were paired with a senior member who would help you complete your project. That first year, my first project was a steer that had been funded by my grandfather. Now, to be experiencing 4-H with my son, who marks the fourth generation of my family in 4-H, and to reflect on the impact that 4-H has on youth, is a humbling experience. So, if you ever need a youth organization to support or get involved with, in my opinion, there is no other choice."
The "John V Farrow 4-H Project Grant" was so named after Patrick's grandfather, the gentleman who invested in his grandson's 4-H project and taught him the value of setting goals, budgeting project expenses, and record keeping. Those lessons and investment have had lasting impact and the Marble Family would like to support Gallatin 4-H youth member projects in the same way.
- Grant Purpose:
- To help promote the values of 4-H and to help develop those values in 4-H members by increasing project opportunities through financial assistance to 4-H members who need help funding their indoor or small animal projects.
- Application Deadline:
- April 1st of current 4-H Year
- Applications for the current 4-H year will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis, but not beyond the April ULC meeting.
- Apply via the Financial Assistance request form and denote "John V Farrow 4-H Project Grant" on application: UpdatedFundingRequestForm.pdf
- Who Qualifies:
- Open to
any 4-H member in good standing with their 4-H Club (*Youth not enrolled in a Club, Members at Large, are not eligible).
- 4-H members who need help funding their indoor or small animal projects.
- The 4-H member must fill out an application for financial assistance.
- The 4-H member must exhibit a track record of project and club fundraising (to be disclosed on their application).
- Application must be approved by ULC.
- Frequency of Grant Award:
- 2 awards annually of up to $50.00 each.
- 1 annual award to be determined under the Molly Yurdana Rule
- 1 annual award to be determined under the GK Fraker Rule
- Special Rules established by the Grant Founders:
- The Molly Yurdana Rule – In recognition of Molly’s dedication to the Gallatin County 4-H youth, it is only appropriate to provide Molly with the ability to recognize the need of one 4-H member at her discretion. Any applications under this rule shall be discussed and agreed upon with the founders of this Grant.
- GK Fraker Rule – In recognition of the Fraker family’s commitment to Leather Craft and 4-H, one additional award of up to $100.00 is available annually for a Leathercraft Project 4-H member. Any applications under this rule shall be reviewed and voted on by the ULC.
Upon notice of Award, a thank you note, including how the funds have specifically benefited the 4-H member, shall be drafted and shall be sent to:
Woodfort Industrial Concrete Group
Attn: Patrick and Merrita Marble
18 Red Hills RD
Buffalo WY 82834
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2026 Montana 4-H State Shoot
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Learn Life Saving Skills
The Belgrade Library and local community partners are offering FREE training on life-saving skills! Open to anyone ages 12 and up, or younger, with parental permission.
3rd Thursdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Belgrade Community Library
You do not need to attend all courses in this series - the Google form allows you to pick and choose which sessions you want to attend.
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSekinau3PuddGFIcWZIOx6LWnoxMd-nXUct-aSzt8jZr2EIJw/viewform
CPR (hands-only)
When the time comes to save someone’s life, will you BE READY? CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in public. If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend. Over 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. Take 2 hours to learn and practice a skill that could save a life!
Basic Emergency Care
Would YOU know what to do if someone has a medical emergency? Learn the basics for the most common first aid emergencies, including how to recognize them, how to call for help, and how to perform life-saving skills. |
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Grab some NEW Gallatin 4-H Merch!
We are excited to announce that we have
Gallatin County 4-H merchandise available for purchase again this year! A huge THANK YOU to BoomTown Designs in Belgrade for working with us to set up an ONLINE store.
We are offering Gallatin County 4-H logoed gear in a variety of sizes (youth and adult) AND colors (be sure to click the product image to see the different color options)!
- T-Shirts, hoodies, quarter-zips, and crewnecks (*new this year)
- We added a “Rooted in 4-H” logo design this year, and back by popular demand, the "THIS is 4-H Country" shirts will be offered again in case you missed out last year!
- Hats and beanies
- Engraved water bottles and travel coffee mugs (could be great for future buyers’ gifts)
The webstore does not ship orders – our office will be doing weekly or bi-weekly order pick-ups from the BoomTown shop and our office will email you when your order has arrived and you will pick up your items at our 4-H Office (903 N. Black Ave., Bozeman).
SHOP NOW: https://boomtown-designs.printavo.com/merch/4-h-fall-merch-store
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Keep Up on Your Record Books
Want to make your 4-H Year a success? One way to help yourself this year is by working on your Record Book NOW instead of waiting until right before they are due!
Tips for working on your Record Book:
- Set S.M.A.R.T Goals for your projects and year early, while you still have time to work towards them.
- Schedule time each month to work on your record books. 10 to 15 minutes each month to keep things up to date will be time saving in the end. A great time is either right before or right after your 4-H meetings!
- Be sure to REFLECT on what you learned at each meeting/workshop, not just what you did.
- Take pictures throughout the year (they are counted for bonus points when scored)
Not sure where to start? Or don’t understand what is needed in a certain section? Reach out to your Club or Project Leader or the 4-H Extension Office. We can help! |
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Gallatin County 4-H Resources
Gallatin 4-H Website Forms Page contains the links to our:
- Record Book forms + instructions on Record Book requirements/scoring
- Financial Assistance Request form
- Facility Rental Request google form
- Fundraising Policy + Fundraiser Request form
- Livestock Project contracts
- Shooting Sports Informed Consent/Medical Release forms
- Youth Leadership applications
- Scholarship Applications
Gallatin 4-H BAND page has ALL 4-H meetings/events listed in one place in the calendar tool (Join BAND here)
Gallatin 4-H Marketplace private Facebook Group to be a space for Gallatin 4-H members and families to give away, buy, sell or trade project-related items. Whether you’re looking for supplies, equipment, show clothes, animals or gently-used gear, this group helps connect our 4-H community in a safe and supportive way. Join Group here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2064328691002313/
Group Guidelines:
- Posts must be 4-H or project related
- Be respectful and honest in all transactions
- Buyers and sellers must coordinate their own arrangements
- No fundraising or non-4-H sales
- Admins reserve the right to remove posts that don’t meet guidelines
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Bozeman Field School Open House
Bozeman Field School is inviting students and parents of interested families to come and check out the school at their upcoming Open House on Tuesday, February 10th at 5:30pm.
They are an alternative High School for 9th-12th graders. Generally 7th grade and up is the age range we suggest attending our Open Houses.
They will talk over our program broadly, but leave the space very open to questions and discussion from the community. And there will be snacks!
Questions? Contact Allison Powell
allison.powell@bozemanfieldschool.org
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Montana Farmers Union offers FREE Membership to 4-H/FFA Youth
Montana Farmers Union has worked more than 100 years to advocate for family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. MFU supports its members through: Strong education programs for both youth and adults, by advocating member-driven policies and legislation at the state and federal level, and cooperation through producer-owned co-ops.
From local meetings and regional educational workshops, to women’s conference, state and national conventions, there are year-round opportunities to learn and network with fellow members and their families. MFU also has a youth summer camp focused on cooperative skills, leadership, agriculture, and more. Members receive free access or discounted rates to attend these events.
4-H/FFA Youth can join Montana Farmers Union for FREE! This will give them access to all membership benefits (see flyers below) AND make them eligible to apply for MFU grants and scholarships!
If interested, join here: Montana Farmers Union | Join MFU
2026 Scholarships & Grants are open NOW: Montana Farmers Union | Scholarships & Grants
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Gallatin 4-H Watch Party - Montana 4-H Virtual Leadership Academy
Our January
Watch Party was a
SUCCESS and super fun – so we’re offering it again in February!
We will be hosting another in-person Watch Party to tune into the Virtual Montana 4-H Leadership Academy together! 🎉🛋️
We understand that logging into a Zoom Webinar alone on a Sunday night from home isn’t always the most exciting thing for pre-teens😴💻 So we’re offering something new this year to hopefully increase participation in this leadership program and to give our 4-Hers an opportunity to connect and learn together in a more engaging environment!
We invite youth (ages 11-14) to join 4-H Agent Molly at the Gallatin 4-H Office on Sunday, February 15th from 5:30–7:00pm for the
“Having a Growth Mindset” webinar session…and to make it even more fun, this time it will be a
VALENTINE’S PARTY 💘💖(wear Red/Pink or anything hearts)!
👉 Please RSVP so we can plan for snacks/refreshments: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A92AABFE3-61516825-montana
These workshops is a great fit for youth who are:
- Curious about leadership
- Looking to grow their confidence, communication skills, and ability to work with others
- Interested in becoming a club officer someday
- Thinking about future roles like 4-H Camp Counselor, County Teen Leader, or 4-H Ambassador
- Or simply aren’t quite old enough to participate in teen-level 4-H leadership opportunities
What to expect:
- Wear Red/Pink or anything hearts💘💖
- Fun icebreakers/games prior to the start of the webinar
- Watch the webinar and participate together with other 4-H members ages 11–14
- Snacks provided🍿
- A fun, relaxed group vibe instead of sitting alone at home
Upcoming Workshop Topics:
February 8:
Having a Growth Mindset
March 8:
Motivating and Inspiring Peers
April 12:
Decision Making
Can’t come to the in-person Watch Party but still want to tune in from home? Register here: Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link for all workshops will be emailed automatically once the form is submitted.
Past Workshop Recordings:
December 7:
Understanding Yourself as a Leader https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5ErS0amkb8
January 11:
Planning and Running a Project https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=za7eCCyFhEam3n4q&v=Aos7iDHhj04&feature=youtu.be
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Join us for 4-H Winter Fun!
Open to ALL Gallatin County 4-H Youth - any club, any project, members at large
Bundle up, bring your own sleds, and join us for hot cocoa & sweet treats!
Please RSVP on the appropriate age group SignUp so we can plan for snacks/refreshments.
Teen Member Sledding Day (open to 4-H Youth ages 13-19 only)
Junior Member Sledding Day (open to 4-H Youth ages 5-12 only)
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Help Raise Money for your 4-H Project or Club
We have the AMAZING opportunity to continue to work MSU Concessions and this has become a GREAT way to raise money for 4-H club/project activities! Please see the link below for the 2025-2026 Fundraising concessions events at MSU! We frequently commit to events throughout the year as they arise and update the SignUp Genius accordingly.
What does working MSU Concessions entail?
All food is made and prepped by MSU Culinary/Concessions staff, 4-H members/parents just simply sell and serve it out of one of the concessions stands on MSU Campus (Stadium or Fieldhouse depending on the event). This is a super easy, fun and quick way to make money for your Clubs/Projects and gain some skills in the service industry! A Stand Leader and MSU Concessions staff will train you on the spot with what you need to know - No experience necessary!
2025-2026 MSU Concessions Fundraising SignUp:
Fundraising: 4-H Concessions Fundraising Opportunities
If club/project members sign up for an event as a group, your club/project will get ALL the tips and a percentage of the profits from that event. If multiple projects/clubs sign up for the same game, then the tips and profits will be split between the groups. So, we highly encourage you to gather up your members, pick a game/event that your club/project will work as one group to maximize the amount of money you will earn!
Depending on the event, the day/time/hours will vary and depending on our concessions stand location, the number of people we will need per game will vary. We will need a combination of youths (minimum age of 10 with parent accompaniment) and teens/adults (ages 15+) to run cash registers.
If you have any questions, please contact the 4-H Office
gallatin4h@montana.edu
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Animal Quality Assurance Workshops (AQA)
Emails will be sent ONLY to members who need to complete AQA this year.
Please watch your inbox for the AQA email
Email molly.yurdana@montana.edu with any questions!
What is Animal Quality Assurance (AQA)?
- AQA is a MANDATORY county-wide workshop aimed to teach youth about proper livestock management practices that lead to the production of safe, wholesome, high quality food products for consumers and/or long-term care of breeding/non-market animals. Topics such as biosecurity, nutrition, animal health, product and byproduct quality control and ethics will be covered in this workshop.
- Montana 4-H State Policy: “All 4-H members enrolled in any animal project, including breeding projects, must become certified through Animal Quality Assurance training at least once as a Junior 4-H member (ages 8-13) and recertify once as a Senior 4-H member (age 14+). **All NEW animal project members are required to complete a county AQA training workshop in their first year.”
- Note: At this time, this workshop requirement will
exclude all Cloverbuds (ages 5-7) and all members in the Dog and Cat projects.
- Gallatin County 4-H requires that youth members complete an AQA workshop in order to show, compete, and/or sell an animal at fair.
**CHANGE in 2026**
Junior Members (4-H ages 8-13) ONLY will be required to complete this workshop IN-PERSON (two different dates will be offered). Junior Members only need to attend (1) of the in-person AQA workshop dates to receive credit.
Senior Members (4-H ages 14+) will now only be required to complete an ONLINE module training to meet their certification requirement – they no longer need to attend an in-person workshop (
you’re welcome😉)!!
- SENIOR MEMBER ONLINE TRAINING + ASSIGNMENT: See the Online AQA Instructions for the YQCA Online Training Modules with an assignment listed on Steps #13-16.
- Yes,
there is a cost of $12 per member to complete this training. Please email the Certificate of Completion and the summary assignment (Step #15) no later than March 31st to molly.yurdana@montana.edu to receive credit.
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2026 Montana 4-H
Rec Lab
4-H Escape: Do you have the skills to unlock your potential?
March 27-29th, 2026 in Columbus, MT
Registration will OPEN on ZSuite in early February and CLOSE mid-March
Cost: $100 per youth
*Our Gallatin 4-H Leaders Council (ULC) offers a discount to all registrants to help offset registration costs. Exact discount amount varies based on the number of Gallatin teens that register.
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.
Montana 4-H Rec Lab is open to youth 13+ years old (age as of Oct. 1st, 2025). This event is ideal for younger senior members to attend as a first-time state event. It allows them to form relationships with 4-H peers from across the state, broaden their skills, and widen their network. The event has a camp feel because everything will take place in one school or location! Participants will bring air mattresses and sleeping bags to sleep on the gym floor, and attend workshops all together in the school and join lots of social and fun activities.
Volunteers: The idea of sleeping on an air mattress in a school gym may not be your idea of a fun weekend, but this is a great event for you too! The program is conducive to meeting people from around the state and exchanging ideas. You are sure to gain some great info and bring home motivated youth leaders.
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NEW EVENT: Junior 4-H
Rec Lab
Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, May 2, 2026
Location: Belgrade High School Commons
Time: Junior Rec Lab 1pm - 6pm
Clover Bash Dance immediately following from 6pm-10pm
In the efforts to provide more fun, social and skill-building opportunities for our younger 4-H members, we are excited to announce we will be putting on a county-level
Junior Rec Lab!!
What is Rec Lab? “Rec Lab” stands for Recreation Lab and means everything is fun and hands-on. Montana 4-H hosts a state-wide version of this event (see post above) for teens, but Montana 4-H state events only allow youth 13+ to attend.
So, we wanted to create a county-level event that our juniors (ages 8-12) can enjoy!
Gallatin 4-H Junior Rec Lab will be open to 4-H youth 8-12 years old (age as of Oct. 1st, 2025). This 1/2 day event will be designed for younger members to expose them to what state events are like in a modified format! This event will provide an opportunity for younger youth to develop their skills, basics of leadership, communication and teamwork in an action-packed and interactive setting.
**This event will replace our usual annual Spring Workshop this year. Registration will hopefully open in March/April. There will be a small registration fee to help cover materials and food. Our 2nd Annual Clover Bash Dance is set to follow the conclusion of Junior Rec Lab to make it a fun-filled day for all!
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SAVE THE DATES: 2026 Gallatin 4-H Summer Camp
Giving a little sneak peek of the 2026 4-H Summer Camp theme...
🌺🏕️ Get Ready for 4-H Summer Camp 2026! 🏕️🌺
Big summer fun is on the horizon - keep an eye out for registration launching in May!
When: August 2–5, 2026
Where: Yellowstone Alliance Adventures
Who: Youth ages 8–13 (age as of Oct. 1, 2025)
4-H Summer Camp is an unforgettable experience packed with learning, laughter, and adventure! Campers build independence, make new friends, and try exciting activities in a safe, supportive environment.
What campers can look forward to:
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Hands-on educational workshops
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Outdoor recreation & team challenges
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Zip line thrills
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Giant slip n’ slide fun
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Themed activities & a community service project
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And SO much more!
Our teen counselors help plan and lead camp activities under the guidance of Camp Directors and 4-H staff - gaining valuable leadership and teamwork skills along the way.
Registration is first-come, first-served. Active 4-H members receive preference, but non-4-H youth are welcome too!
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LOOKING AHEAD:
Check out the
"4-H Year at a Glance" Calendar for the 2025-2026 4-H Year HERE
Our Gallatin 4-H BAND app has ALL 4-H meetings/events listed in one place in the calendar tool (Join BAND here)
FEBRUARY 2 County Contest Registration CLOSES (Better Batter Baking, Stir-Ups Cooking, Communications Day)
FEBRUARY 3 ULC Meeting
FEBRUARY 4 Winter Volunteer/Adult Training Series - Workshop #4 (see flyer & RSVP link above)
FEBRUARY 5 MSU Concessions Fundraiser - Basketball (see SignUp above)
FEBRUARY 7 MSU Concessions Fundraiser - Basketball (see SignUp above)
FEBRUARY 14 4-H Teen (ages 13+) Sled Day (see post above)
FEBRUARY 14 State 4-H Foundation Scholarships DUE (current graduating seniors)
FEBRUARY 15 Montana 4-H Leadership Academy Watch Party (see post above)
FEBRUARY 16 Office CLOSED (President's Day)
FEBRUARY 23 Newsletter Blurbs DUE
FEBRUARY 25 Animal Quality Assurance Workshop #1 (Juniors ages 8-13 ONLY)
FEBRUARY 27 County Communications Day Contests
FEBRUARY 28 County Culinary Contests (Better Batter Baking & Stir-Ups Cooking)
MARCH 1 All Fairbook Edits DUE
MARCH 5 County Contests Awards Night
MARCH 6-8 Montana 4-H State Shooting Sports Shoot
MARCH 8 Montana 4-H Leadership Academy Watch Party (see post above)
MARCH 21 Animal Quality Assurance Workshop #2 (Juniors ages 8-13 ONLY)
MARCH 26-28 Montana 4-H Rec Lab (Columbus, MT)
MARCH 28 4-H Junior (ages 5-12) Sled Day (see post above)
APRIL 1 Gallatin County 4-H Foundation COUNTY-LEVEL scholarships DUE
See February Committee, Club and Project updates in sections below.
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UNLIMITED LEADERS COUNCIL (ULC)
The primary purpose of the Unlimited Leaders Council (ULC) is to provide guidance and assistance to the county Extension staff in planning and conducting educational programs. Gallatin County Unlimited Leaders Council is the governing body of Gallatin County 4-H and all the committees within the county 4-H program.
ULC met on January 6th and with enrollment nearing the deadline we were at ~625 enrolled members and 132 volunteers --> that's a BIG 4-H Family and we're all glad you are here! 🍀
📣 We are excited to announce that Nicole Berger was unanimously approved as a Youth voting member of ULC for the 2026 4-H Year.
We heard updates and did some planning on the upcoming State & County Events so SAVE THE DATE:
- Club Officer Training was held in December but if you were unable to attend: a scavenger hunt activity is available for individual clubs to help youth better understand officer roles and responsibilities as club officers.State Rec Lab (ages 13+) will be held in Columbus, MT on March 27–29 with an Escape Room theme. Gallatin County has submitted a proposal to present a beef tallow-making class.
Chaperones are needed for transportation.
- Gallatin County 4-H Sledding Days and will hope for snow ☃
- Ages 13+: February 14 (1–4 pm), Pasture Drive-In (Dry Creek Club host)
- Ages 12 & under: March 28 (1–4 pm), Bear Canyon Ski Hill (Dag Nabids host)
- Junior Rec Lab (ages 8–12) tentatively scheduled for May 2, featuring workshops, dinner, and the Clover Bash dance.
We heard some Financial & Administrative Updates:
- Digital payment policies were reviewed. Gallatin County continues to use PayPal and Zettle. A draft policy outlining digital payment procedures has been submitted to the State; members are asked to review and provide feedback. Use of personal Venmo accounts is discouraged at this time for tracking purposes.
- The Marble Family generously donated $6,000—w/ $1,000 designated for the John V. Farrow 4-H Project Grant and $5,000 to ULC. Stay tuned for how you can apply!
- The Extension office is reviewing options for storage unit consolidation and cleanup this spring.
- D.A. Davidson investment CDs are under review for possible renewal.
Updates were given on some Youth & Program Reports:
- County Contests: Registration is open through February 2. Communication Day participation is encouraged, as current enrollment is low.
- Shooting Sports: 107 members signed up. Fun additions are belt buckles being awarded to members that participate beyond shooting: fundraising, record books and community service.
- Horse Program: Enrollment is up. Committees are revising the fair schedule and beginning work on fair rubrics earlier this year.
- Summer Camp: 25 counselors selected. Team bonding is scheduled, and a possible Wild West theme is being considered.
And Last but not least, Fundraising & Fair Planning:
- Opportunities to raise funds are available for MSU concessions: POW WOW, spring rodeo, and basketball events. Restaurant fundraiser nights and individual fundraising options are also being explored.
- Fair concessions planning is underway, with inventory and food service support needs identified. Contact Molly if you're interested in helping with this!
- Indoor Fair planning will begin soon, with a scheduling poll forthcoming.
Everyone in the 4-H Family is invited to join us to help further plan these events and add new ideas!
ULC meets the first Tuesday of every month, with our next meeting on
February 3rd at 6pm at the Extension Office.
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MARKET LIVESTOCK COMMITTEE (MLC)
The purpose of the Market Livestock Committee is to develop and promote all market livestock projects (Beef, Sheep, Swine, Goat, Rabbit, and Poultry) in 4-H and FFA on a county-wide basis, with support offered to non-market projects as well (Dairy Cow, Dairy Goat, Horse, Breed/Breeding projects).They provide members the educational experience and support to responsibly raise, care for, and sell their 4-H/FFA market animals; organize & facilitate the Gallatin County 4-H/FFA Market Sale; create and enforce the FairBook Rules specific to all livestock species; and work together as a committee to set and enforce the standard for all livestock projects.
Our next committee meeting will be Tuesday, March 10th at 6pm at the Extension Office.
See the DRAFT 2026 Fair Livestock Schedule below
*Note: This schedule does not show Project Interviews the week prior or the Horse Project Shows the weekend prior. |
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GALLATIN 4-H FOUNDATION, INC.
The mission of the Gallatin 4-H Foundation is to aid and promote, by financial assistance and support, all types of 4-H Programs and other Extension Youth Programs.
Meetings occur quarterly and/or when needed, usually on the 4th Thursday at 6pm at the 4-H Office.
Upcoming Foundation Committee Meetings:
- Thursday, April 23, 2026
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
- Thursday, August 27, 2026
- October/November 2026 – plans TBD
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Member At Large
New to 4-H? Not sure what club fits your style? Register for your projects under
“Member at Large” when completing your 4-H Enrollment Clubs page on ZSuite.
Participating in a specific 4-H club is not a requirement to participate in 4-H projects, but Clubs provide members a great opportunity to get more involved with their communities, leaders, and group activities.
We encourage members to join one of our clubs listed above!
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Dag Nabids Club
Meetings take place the second to last Tuesday of each month at 6:30pm at the MSU Animal Bioscience Building on campus in Bozeman.
Hi Dag Nabids!
Our last meeting was held at the Animal Bioscience Building on January 20 2026 from 6:30 – 7:30. Once we got called together, we talked about our sledding party, Valentine’s Day and more. We played an ice-breaker game and ended with Gluten free monster cookies (recipe winner from the 2023 Better Batter Baking contest).
Our next meeting is at the Animal Bioscience Building Tuesday, February 17, 6:30-7:30. See you there!
- Submitted by Ellie Burgess, Reporter
Tentative Meeting Schedule:
- February 17, 2026
- March – Typically there isn’t a meeting in March due to the timing of Spring Break which is also this week. However, in lieu of a meeting this month a community service project may be coordinated.
- April 21, 2026
- May 19, 2026
- June – TBD based on members availability
- July – No meeting - FAIR
- August – No meeting
- September 22, 2026
Questions, contact a leader!
Belinda Nash (406) 570-5585 nashmuffin@aol.com
Monika Johnson (406) 579-3211 mijmontana@gmail.com
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Hyalite Hawks Club
Meetings take place the second Wednesday of each month at Anderson School at 3:30pm.
Hyalite Hawks had a fun and productive meeting in January. We got to know our members a bit better and reviewed all things 4-H since most of our members are new to 4-H. We reviewed the success of our December service project, collecting more than 100 household items and more than 25 pounds of warm winter clothing for local organizations in need. February’s meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11 at 3:40 pm, Anderson School Spanish Room.
Questions? Contact Kirsten Drake at
(406) 945-2290 or kdrakem@gmail.com
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Four Corners/Gallatin Gateway Area Clubs |
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Gateway Challengers Club
Meetings take place the second Monday of each month at the Gallatin Gateway Community Center (145 Mill St., Gateway) from 6:30- 8:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact Jessica at 406-539-0940 or theblacksmail@gmail.com.
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Ora et Labora 4-H Club
Meetings take place the second Friday of each month at 6:00pm at Divine Mercy Academy school in Belgrade.
Ora et Labora's next meeting will be scheduled on Friday, February 13 at 6:00 at Divine Mercy Academy. We will provide a simple dinner.
Our last meeting we had a guest speaker Mrs. Hartman who shared a little bit about her 4-H experience as a child and about her job as a Veterinarian. We also had an Officer meeting at the end and discussed an officer scavenger hunt.
For any questions, please contact Leaders Ashley Casto or Tia Mitchell:
We generally communicate via Band- https://band.us/n/abadA6zb5cD0u
You can also reach us via email @ oraetlabora4h@gmail.com
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Pass Creek Club
Meetings take place on the first Sunday of each month at 4:00pm at Springhill Church in Belgrade.
This Club is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Pass Creek Club will meet Sunday February 1st at 4 pm. Be sure to be working on your record books!
Reminder that ALL Club members must participate in Demo Day at our MANDATORY meeting on March 1st at 4pm.
For any questions, please contact Cassie Smieja: smiejahay@latmt.com
406-539-3833
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Shining Mountaineers Club
Meetings will take place on the second Monday of each month from 6:00-8:00pm at the 161 W. Madison Ave, Belgrade.
Only a few people showed up to our January meeting, but we still accomplished a lot. We did not have committee reports since there weren't enough people to split into groups. Everyone shared updates about their projects and what they are working on. We learned that there will be two all-county sledding parties on February 14 and March 28. More details will come later. At the February meeting, we need to be ready to make heart wreaths for assisted living homes. We were encouraged to join county contests like baking, cooking, and communications. There was no Member of the Month for December. We were also asked to sign up to bring snacks for meetings. The next meeting will be on February 9th from 6 to 8 pm.
-Submitted by Lee Ryan
Make sure you join our Band here: https://band.us/n/aeabA2c98bT3B
Join Gallatin County Band here: https://band.us/n/acac88E875306
If you'd like to join Shining Mountaineers, please reach out to Lindsey Klebenow through email at shiningmountaineers@gmail.com or
406-551-3841.
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Dry Creek Teens Club
Meetings take place on the first Monday of each month at 6:30pm at the Bridge Church in Manhattan.
Check out the Dry Creek Teens BAND profile for meeting updates and events: https://band.us/n/a8a6A30dS9f0u
If you have questions, please contact Kelly Pavlik 406-600-1016 or via email kelly.pavlik@barnard-inc.com
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Gallatin Valley Livestock Club
Contact leader for meeting dates, times and locations.
Gallatin Valley Livestock's next meeting will be Monday, February 23rd @ 6pm at Manhattan Bank in Churchill. Our club members from the Beef Project will be giving a presentation all about the Beef Project and we will continue to work on our record books. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
If you have questions, please contact
Jeff Sposito jffsposito9@gmail.com
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Manhattan Clever Clovers Club
Meetings take place on the second Monday of each month at 6:00pm at the Bridge Church in Manhattan.
Thanks all of you for helping out with our community service project at PetSmart! It will be awesome to give these items to Diane (Tiny Tails) at the February Meeting. She's bringing one of her rescue dogs for us to meet! Thanks Caroline and Drake for getting this going.
For any questions, please contact
Sarah Simser (406) 580-4730 erring@gmail.com
Rebecca Etchison (406) 595-9600 etch898@yahoo.com
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Clarkston Mustangs Club
Meetings take place on the third Monday of each month at 6:30pm - locations will vary.
For any questions, please contact Cassandra Mitchell:
cassyjh@hotmail.com
406-223-0146
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Willow Creek Wranglers Club
Contact leader for meeting dates, times and locations.
For any questions, please contact Sam Cavin at 599-8288 sjcavin@msn.com
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2025-2026 4-H Projects
(Categorized by "Indoor Projects" or "Animal Projects", then listed alphabetically) |
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AMBASSADORS / TEEN LEADERSHIP
Our next Teen Leadership Project meeting will be held Monday, February 2nd from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at our 4-H Office. Please RSVP on the Teen Leadership BAND and be ON TIME as I have a guest speaker, Montana 4-H Center Career & College Readiness Specialist Tracey Robecker and her team joining us. We will be working through a Mental Wellness curriculum that they are wanting to revise/develop for teens and they would like to use our teens for a focus group to provide feedback on this curriculum/game format.
*We also will be discussing workshop plans for Animal Quality Assurance if you are interested in helping lead one of the workshop stations.
The facilitators are providing each participating teen a $25 Amazon gift card for helping with this project. **To receive the gift card, the teen must attend the February 2nd meeting and the parent must fill out the Parent Permission Form: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=53c6e9df-abfd-4371-9e23-f4e2f09c980d&env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&v=2
What is the Mental Wellness Curriculum Focus Group?
- MSU made a tool to help people talk about mental health. The goal of the focus group is to gain feedback about the game while also helping your teen talk about feelings, stress, and ways to feel better.
- Who is Leading This? The team includes school counselors, youth leaders, and mental health professionals in the community who want to help youth with mental wellness topics. The goal is for leaders to use this curriculum in schools, clubs, and sports.
- What Will Your Child Do? Your child is invited to join a one-time group session. A trained adult will lead the group.
- Look at the game cards and curriculum guide
- Share what they think and give ideas to make it better for other kids
- This is not a research project! No demographic information will be collected.
- Information will be used to tailor this curriculum to youth audiences.
Teen Leadership Project meeting dates - ADD these to your calendars now (subject to change based on guest speaker availability and/or content schedule)
- Wednesday, March 4th at 6pm - Etiquette workshop with guest teacher Bobbie Cuelho
- Wednesday, April 22nd at 6pm - topic TBD
- Monday, May 18th at 6pm - topic TBD
- June TBD
County-wide Activities – teens will be helping plan, facilitate/teach activities at these events, please add to your calendars now and we will assign duties/tasks at our meetings - RSVP on our BAND page
- Wednesday, February 25th 5:30pm – Animal Quality Assurance Workshop #1
- *Date Change to: Thursday, March 5th at 6pm – County Contest Awards Night
- Saturday, March 21st 8:30am – Animal Quality Assurance Workshop #2
- Friday, March 27 - Sunday, March 29 - Montana 4-H Rec Lab (Columbus, MT)
- Saturday, May 2nd - Junior Rec Lab + Clover Bash Dance
- May 5-7th – Farm Fair
If you have any questions, please contact leader, 4-H Agent Molly Yurdana
molly.yurdana@montana.edu or text 530-613-9908
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BABYSITTING PROJECT *new project in 2025-2026!
*This Project will be capped at 25 youth members. Youth members must be at least 11 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
Please Note: In order to earn the official Babysitting Training Certificate, members cannot miss more than 2 meetings.
This project curriculum familiarizes youth with the responsibilities of babysitting and provides the necessary information for them to become capable, caring, trustworthy and competent sitters. They will learn how to keep children safe and happy, talk with parents and adults, make responsible decisions and handle emergencies (CPR, nutrition, handling children, and more)!
We had a great third meeting, we covered first-aid, Safe sleep for babies, choking, poisons and the poison control number and Andy from Gallatin County 911 came to tell us what happens when you call 911. We also made a first aid kit.
I encouraged the babysitters to look into getting CPR certified as they get into their solo babysitting journey.
Please see the attached photo to explain how to make a "boo-boo bunny". I sent them home with the supplies but we ran out of time.
A few reminders/info about 4-H:
(If you are new to 4-H and are lost here, please just let me know!!)
1. A completion certificate will only be given if less than 2 meetings are missed and if you wish to make up the meeting (I would love for them to do this if they miss so they get the whole program and don't miss a big part) you can ask at the next meeting for the handouts ect and write a paragraph about what you learned and show me.
If the kids want to submit something for the fair (we have talked about what that might be and will continue to do so) they will need to complete the following. We would love to see fair submissions but it is not a requirement for the course.
2. I will attach the link to the "non-animal project" 4-H record book.This needs to be completed. Remember SMART goals! If you would like to print it and hand write, here is the link.
https://www.montana.edu/extension/gallatin/documents/4hdocuments/recordbook/4HNonAnimalProjectJournal2017.pdf
If they want to type it, here is the link to the site:
https://www.montana.edu/extension/gallatin/4hrecordbook.html
3. Again, if planning on fair submission: Since we don't have a project book, please write a paragraph each month after the meeting to say what you learned about the topic (Meeting 1: Characteristics of a babysitter, Meeting 2: Safety, Meeting #3: First Aid)
Next month we will talk about child development and discipline.
This project will meet the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00pm-7:30pm (November-May) at the 4-H Office. The February meeting will be Wednesday the 11th .
Please bring your 4-H binder to each meeting.
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BAKING PROJECT
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
This project will meet the first Monday of each month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm (November - May) at the MSU Herrick Hall Food Lab Rm. #120 on campus.
Thank you to the parents who stepped in to help in January while leaders were sick and out of town!!
Please make sure to bring your baking project book to the February meeting, we are going to work through Lesson #1!
Put these dates on your calendar for future meetings:
2/2/26
3/2/26
4/6/26
5/4/26
If you do not catch the emails that are sent after each meeting with a lot of important information, please let us know!
If you have any questions, please contact Erin at
(ehagmeier@gmail.com email) or text 406-431-7205
Project Leaders (Baking is our bread and butter!):
Erin Neil
Katie Taylor
Krista Pancich |
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CAKE DECORATING PROJECT *new leader in 2025-2026!
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Hello Cake Enthusiasts!
Happy February! 🎂✨ The cake decorating season is officially in full swing, and we’re kicking off the month with a frosting-filled frenzy! This month is all about diving deep into the world of cake design, and I can’t wait to see what sweet creations you all come up with.
Our next meeting will be on February 22nd at the Gallatin 4-H Office from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Mark your calendars, and be sure to keep an eye out for a follow-up message from me soon with more details and exciting updates!
Looking forward to seeing you all there and getting down to business with some serious frosting fun!
Here are the upcoming meeting dates and times (all held at the 4-H Office on the Fairgrounds):
- Sunday, February 22nd — 4:30–6:30 PM
- Sunday, March 22nd — 4:30–6:30 PM
- Sunday, April 19th — 4:00–6:00 PM
- Tuesday, May 5th — 6:00–8:00 PM
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I will also send a reminder email before each meeting.
Thank you, and I’m excited to keep decorating together!
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CAMP COUNSELOR PROJECT
2026 Camp Theme is….Tropical Luau/Survivor🌺🌴🐠🦜🏝️🦩
Our next Camp Counselor Meeting will be SUNDAY, February 22nd from 1:00pm-4:00pm at the 4-H Office. We will have a guest speaker, Abbie, joining us to teach us about our stress/emotional responses. *Reminder: Molly will not be at the February meeting, so Tiffany will be running the meeting. We will also be drawing names out of a hat to determine workshop partners and workshop categories (crafty, educational, recreational). RSVP on our Camp BAND February meeting post.
As mentioned at the January Camp Counselor meeting, we are considering coordinating a Camp Counselor Dance Night as a team bonding activity. Western Roots Country Dancing company hosts a monthly dance at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds that is open to the public (and family friendly, no alcohol). This could be a great opportunity for our teens to have some fun on a Friday night as a group and learn some new line dances or swing dance moves they could use/teach at 4-H Camp.The dances charge $10 per person and it would be the responsibility of the Counselor to pay that fee (the Camp account would not pay this time).
**Please cast your availability/preferences on the BAND Poll so we can determine which date to coordinate for the majority of counselors to go together: https://band.us/band/85980638/post/250
Reminder that each of you are REQUIRED to fundraise at
least $250 to help support Camp costs (it essentially covers your own camp registration fee). Until we determine/coordinate our official Camp fundraisers for 2026, please consider signing up for MSU Concession shifts (denote Camp as the project you are raising money for). SignUp here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A92AABFE3-48570182-fall#/
Looking WAY ahead: We were informed that Belgrade High’s graduation was scheduled for Sunday, May 31st, 2026 - which many of you will be at. That date conflicts with our last counselor meeting before we have our Run-Through day in June. So we are RESCHEDULING the May meeting to May 20th (Wednesday 6pm-8pm).
Be sure to add our 2026 4-H Summer Camp dates to your calendars NOW: 08/01/26 - 08/05/26 (counselors arrive on the afternoon of 8/1, youth campers arrive the morning of 8/2, everyone leaves mid-morning on 8/5).
If you haven’t already, please join our Camp Counselor BAND group for the year: https://band.us/n/a0adAfK9oaMdO. We will post meeting reminders, polls and other information here frequently. Parents are usually the ones that receive our emails, but BAND allows the teens to subscribe to our group to stay connected and in the loop!
If you have any questions, please contact Molly at molly.yurdana@montana.edu
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CLOVERBUD PROJECT (AGES 5-7) *new leader in 2025-2026!
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
The Cloverbud program is designed for youth ages 5-7 (age as of Oct. 1) and strives to develop age-appropriate skills and abilities by giving these young members the opportunity to explore various topics and activities in 4-H before becoming a regular youth member.
At our January meeting we did activities that were geared towards one of the H’s in 4H…Health. We focused on healthy lifestyles. What that looks like and what we do to keep our bodies healthy. We even made an “Exercise Spinner. ” Our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 17th at 5:30pm in Exhibit Building #4 at the fairgrounds. Please make sure to bring crayons/markers, scissors, glue to each meeting (just to be on the safe side). Be on the lookout for an email with what our February meeting will entail.
Cloverbud meetings for the 2025-2026 4-H Year will be on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (October - May) from 5:30pm-7pm held in the Exhibit Buildings on the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.
Questions? Contact leader BreeAnna Benz at breeannaleelynn@gmail.com
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COOKING PROJECT *new leader in 2025-2026!
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
The Cooking Project meetings for the 2025-2026 4-H Year will be on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (Nov. - May) from 6:00pm-8pm held at the MSU Herrick Hall Food Lab #120 on MSU Campus.
The 4-H cooking project has been having lots of fun in the kitchen. We started off in November making pizza, then broadened our cooking skills with breakfast foods in December and pasta in January. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 17 and we will be practicing making soup!
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HORSELESS HORSE PROJECT
Why are horses always calm in February? ❄️Because they know how to mane-age the cold weather! ❄️I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for this warmth and not having to fight with ice in the water troughs!
A big thank you to Monika J and the Vet Science Project for inviting us to their tour of the MT Equine Medical and Surgical Center. It's so fun for our projects to collaborate!
Our February workshop will be Wednesday, February 4th at 5:30 pm with Snowdrop Equine and Wellness. We will be at an indoor arena in Gallatin Gateway hands on with horses to learn about ground safety, ground work, and moving all the parts of the horse while on foot! Please be sure to dress warmly... we will be indoors, but the barn is not heated! Warm boots, winter coats, hats, gloves, maybe even snowpants are all a good idea. I will bring the hand warmers!
See you soon!
Questions? Contact leader Sarah Capp at (406) 539-4386 or scapp9999@hotmail.com
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KNITTING/CROCHET PROJECTS
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
We will meet the second Saturday of the month at the Springs in Bozeman from 10:00am until 12pm.
Last month we began the first phase of our community project. We knitted and crocheted little hearts of all different colors and sizes. The hearts were a bit challenging so many of us learned some new stitches and how to read and keep up with pattern instructions. At our upcoming meeting Saturday, February 14th, we will glue name tag magnets onto the back of our crocheted hearts and take them to the residents at the Memory Care area at the Springs, along with a personal valentine card we will make for each resident.
Please bring a couple of your crocheted hearts with you and if you missed the last meeting and have not crocheted a heart, don't worry about a thing. We will have plenty of hearts and you will make a valentine card and have a heart to share with a resident. A Springs staff member will first teach us about memory care residents and then accompany us to the unit. The residents will be overjoyed to have a little Valentine's Day visit from the talented and hard working kids in 4-H Knitting & Crocheting Project!
Kim Hackl kimhackl@gmail.com 406-539-0802
Kate Newton katenewt17@gmail.com 406-451-8753
Bonnie Radke mt4hbonnie@gmail.com 406-219-6602
Phyllis Lewis 307-4312079 pblewis1943@gmail.com
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LEATHERCRAFT PROJECT
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
2026 is well underway and I am still not gaining on my to do list, so this is late in coming. The leathercraft project met on January 17 at the extension office conference room from 1-4 pm. During the meeting we reviewed all the six basic tools, casing and stabilizing your project. New this month I showed everyone how to strop their swivel knife and how to use it. Swivel knives are used to cut lines into the leather. When you pick up a swivel knife you are to strop it (every time). Stropping picks up the little metal shavings of the cutting edge maintaining a clean cutting edge. Watch this video of if you don’t remember what I am talking about, or need more instruction on how to use your swivel knife.
*Note from a maker of swivel knives: Don’t strop a swivel knife on a leather strop. This is because with lots of use and stropping you will cause your swivel knife blade to wear just slightly and not longer be straight. That is why we use a simple piece of cardstock and white or green jewelers rouge (red can stain a project).
Rules for stropping a swivel knife:
- Hold the swivel knife at the 45° angle is it cut at (no more, no less)
- Pick knife straight up off the paper, don’t curve your hand otherwise you will curve the cutting edge
- Strop each side of the blade the same number of times
- Strop your knife five times (each side) after every two inches of line cut
- New blades must be stropped 25 times (each side) before use
- Strop your knife five times (each side) before you start a project!
I also demonstrated of how to use a set of dividers to create a even line around the edge of project and how to use a lacing punch to create the holes we will be using to lace the edges of our bookmarks. After this short demonstration everyone was allowed to stamp their bookmarks that we are going to lace. I also showed everyone how to clean and put tan-kote on their bookmarks to resist dirt and fingerprints attaching to their bookmarks. Class ended with me showing everyone how to do double loop lacing. THIS WILL BE DEMONSTARATED AGAIN NEXT MEETING AND THEN EVERYONE WILL LACE THEIR BOOKMARKS!
The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb 21st at the extension office conference room from 1 to 4 pm. Students will review everything learned so far, lace their bookmarks, and stamp a handle cover for a cast-iron skillet. Please join us for the fun.
Upcoming Meetings:
- Feb 21 (1-4 pm): lace bookmarks, stamp handle cover for cast-iron skillet
- Mar 21 (1-4 pm): paint, finish, stick cast-iron skillet handle
- April 18: Amanda Fraker (custom saddle maker, silversmith, Ann Stoleman Award Winner) will host a workshop (specific details TBD)
- May no meeting
- June workshops to finish projects to be scheduled.
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns or need any additional information for anything.
Colorado State University Video Series: Click here
Any questions or concerns please contact marble@wyoming.com or 406-579-0431
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LIVESTOCK JUDGING PROJECT
*If you are already participating in Livestock Judging with FFA, please do not signup to participate/compete in this 4-H Project.
Hello livestock judging participants,
We are going to forego our weekly meetings as our competitions are over with for awhile. Meeting time will be communicated through email. Please reach out with any questions you may have.
Cody and Amy Brownell
406-209-4183
Livestockjudging_cody@yahoo.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
The Photography Project will meet on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:00pm-7:30pm (October - June) at the 4-H Extension Office.
BAND APP: https://band.us/n/a0a9AcM794fcI
Please join the PHOTOGRAPHY BAND on the app. This is separate from the County 4-H BAND - same app just different BAND. You may RSVP fo the meeting through BAND and upload any photos.
Tamara Knappenberger
c. (307)214-8336 (text)
tkknappenberger@gmail.com
or message me in BAND
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QUILTING PROJECT
Project Notes: Youth members must be at least 10 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
4-H Quilters are Rocking It
Our 4-H quilters are doing a great job of learning and expanding their skills. February meetings are scheduled for:
- Saturday, Feb. 14th at the 4-H Office Conference Room, from 10 am to 3 pm,
- Wednesday, Feb. 25th from 6:30 to 8:30 at Manhattan Middle School.
- We are hoping to schedule a field trip or two for the upcoming months.
This year's group of quilters are fun and enthusiastic about what they are learning. We hope to have a great display at the fair this year.
If you have questions, please call or text me at 406.581.6843.
Ginny Francis, Quilting Project Leader
ginnyfrancis@yahoo.com
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SEWING PROJECT
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
We learned a very challenging sewing skill in January by making a zipped bag. Everyone's bags turned out great and sewing in a zipper will be easier in future projects now!
Our February sewing meeting will be Tuesday, February 10th, from 5:00 to 7:00. Sewing levels 1 and 2 are invited to attend. We will be sharing some love so close to Valentine's Day by working on a community service project for a local retirement home. Please join us with a giving heart as we use our sewing skills to make something special for others in our community.
This project will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5pm-7pm at the RevivALL Clothing studio at 2105 Lea Ave, Unit A in Bozeman.
Questions? Contact leader Laura Fisher
howdy@revivallclothing.com
RevivALL Clothing
2105 Lea Ave, Unit A.
www.revivallclothing.com
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ARCHERY PROJECT
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 9 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
Location will be held at Big Sky Archery, 77 Laura Louise Lane located at the intersection of Baxter Lane and Jackrabbit Lane on Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 pm (in the basement of the facility. There are not many chairs, so if you as a parent want to stick around please plan accordingly.
Schedule:
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Archery - Big Sky Archery - Sundays
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Date
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Program
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Time
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12/7/2025
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Safety/Parent meeting
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2:00-3:30
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12/14/2025
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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12/21/2025
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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12/28/2025
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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1/4/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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1/11/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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1/18/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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1/25/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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2/1/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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2/8/2026
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off
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off
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2/15/2026
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Fair shoot
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1:00-5:00
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2/22/2026
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Fair Shoot
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1:00-5:00
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3/1/2026
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Shooting
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1:00-5:00
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3/6-3/8/2026
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State Shoot
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TBD
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3/15/2026
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Fun Shoot
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TBD
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Parent Volunteers:
Randy Radke, Brian Marassi, Mike Prester, Travis Earl, Jake Noonan and Paul Smart are the current co-archery leaders. Anyone who would like to help facilitate please reach out to Randy at gv4harchery@gmail.com.
We need both volunteers that can help:
- Shooting and running the line
- 4-H record books, 4-H leadership and general help
- Organizing/Planning and running the state archery shoot the first weekend of March.
- Computer/spreadsheet help
If you are new to the project, don’t worry about archery equipment at this time, 4H has plenty of bows to get you started. If you are a continuing shooter, keep practicing and we’ll see everyone in December.
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AIR RIFLE & AIR PISTOL PROJECTS
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 9 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
The venue for air rifle and air pistol is located at 123 Doe Road in Belgrade. For more information contact Lee Nelson – 579-0612.
Gallatin Sharpshooters - Wednesdays
| Date |
Program |
Time |
| 12/3/2025 |
Safety and Organizational Meeting |
6:00-8:00 |
| 12/10/2025 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 12/17/2025 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 1/7/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 1/14/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 1/21/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 1/28/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 2/4/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 2/11/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 2/18/2026 |
Shooting |
6:00 -8:00 |
| 2/25/2026 |
Fair Shoot |
6:00-8:00 |
| 3/4/2026 |
Fair Shoot |
6:00-8:00 |
| 3/6-3/8/2026 |
State Match |
TBD |
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SMALL BORE RIFLE/PISTOL PROJECT
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 10 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate. It is a pre-requisite that the shooters have 1 year of Shooting Sports Experience.
The day for shooting will be selected by the shooters and parents during the county-wide parent meeting.
Greenway Range is located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds, 901 North Black in Bozeman. The number of smallbore shooters will be capped at 25. The returning shooters will be given priority. It is a pre-requisite that the shooters have 1 year of Shooting Sports Experience. We will then establish a waiting list. For more information contact Scott Francis – 581-6845 or Tom Everett – 570-8878
Small Bore - Mondays (schedule subject to change based on number of shooters)
| Date |
Program |
Time |
| 12/8/2025 |
Organizational Meeting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 12/15/2025 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/5/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/12/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/19/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/26/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/2/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/9/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/16/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/23/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 3/2/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 3/7/2026 |
State Match |
8:00 - 4:00 |
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| Small Bore - Fridays (schedule subject to change based on number of shooters) |
|
| Date |
Program |
Time |
| 12/8/2025 |
Organizational Meeting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 12/12/2025 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/2/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/9/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/16/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/23/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 1/30/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/6/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/13/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/20/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 2/27/2026 |
Shooting |
5:00 - 6:30 |
| 3/7/2026 |
State Match |
8:00 - 4:00 |
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SHOTGUN PROJECT
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 10 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
Shotgun will start on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Manhattan Wildlife Association Trap Range located at 337 Logan Trident Road in Logan. There will be a mandatory parent and safety meeting prior to shooting. All shooters need to attend. It is strongly recommended that the participant be 10 years of age. For more information contact Scott Francis – 581-6845.
Shotgun - Manhattan Wildlife Association (Logan) - Sundays
| Date |
Program |
Time |
| 1/4/2026 |
Safety Meeting & Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 1/11/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 1/18/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 1/25/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 2/1/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 2/8/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 2/15/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 2/22/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 3/1/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 3/8/2026 |
Trap Shooting & State Shoot |
1:00-3:00 |
| 3/15/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 3/22/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 3/29/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 4/5/2026 |
No Shooting - Easter |
1:00-3:00 |
| 4/12/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 4/19/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| 4/26/2026 |
Trap Shooting |
1:00-3:00 |
| |
Skeet & Sporting Clays TBD |
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Competitions TBD |
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For more information contact Scott Francis – 581-6845.
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MUZZLE-LOADING & HUNTING SKILLS PROJECT
It is recommended but not required that the participants be at least 12 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) and have been in Hunter’s Education.
The Muzzle-loading Project will be determined later in the shooting season. The Hunting & Wildlife Project will be determined later in the year. Please check the newsletter for days and times. It is recommended but not required that the participants be 12 years of age and have been in Hunter’s Education
Contact Scott Francis – 581-6845 for more information.
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WESTERN HERITAGE PROJECT
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 9 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
Check your emails for updates & more information
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VET SCIENCE PROJECT
I hope your week is off to a great start. I’m still waiting on confirmation for the dates and times of the workshops we discussed earlier. The veterinary community in Bozeman is incredibly busy right now, and I truly appreciate your patience as we coordinate schedules with our specialists.
In the meantime, we
do have a confirmed facility tour this Friday, January 30, 2026, with Dr. Al Flint at the MT Equine Facility (3934 Frontage Rd, Three Forks, MT 59752). Please plan to arrive between 4:00–4:15pm. Each member should come prepared with at least two equine‑related questions for Dr. Flint.
Looking ahead, we will also be touring a farrowing facility in the next couple of weeks. We’re waiting for the piglets to arrive before finalizing the date and time.
Later in the spring (late April to early May), we’ll have the opportunity to tour a lambing facility as well.
Additionally, Dr. Goldhahn from the MSU Montana Veterinary Medicine Program will be joining us the first week of April to present on a wide range of veterinary‑medicine topics. I’m securing the event location and time this week and will share those details as soon as they’re confirmed.
I’m looking forward to meeting everyone soon.
Questions? Contact Monika Johnson 406-579-3211 mijmontana@gmail.com
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BEEF PROJECT
**This Project (Market AND Breeding) is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Project Notes: *Youth members must be at least 10 years old (age as of Oct. 1st) to participate.
Happy Valentines month! Don’t forget to buy your valentine a steak!!!!
WORKSHOP ALERT
- Feb 11th 6:30PM with beef related hors d’oeuvres at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Details will be texted. All about meat cuts and cooking!!!
Don’t forget to deworm and delouse your steers!!!
Upcoming Workshops:
- March 30th ~ Record Books
- April 12th ~ MANDATORY Weigh-in and Safety/demonstration of control
- May 19th ~ Branding Education & Experience
- June 18th ~ PreFair Workshop
Questions? Contact the Beef Committee:
gallatinbeefproject@gmail.com
ANNABEL MORGAN 406-580-9003
KELLY PAVLIK 406-600-1016
MELANIE DUFFIN 406-209-1978
CRAIG DEBOER 406-570-3304 |
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CAT PROJECT
Our next meeting on Wednesday, February 4th at 5:30pm upstairs at Alpenglow Animal Hospital, 2401 Riata Rd, Bozeman. Member Savannah O'Brien has volunteered to do a presentation on cat breeds at the February meeting and we are all excited to learn from her! As usual, we hope to be able to continue to do dinners at our monthly meetings to help make sure everyone gets fed during mid-week meeting times. February, we hope to do a taco bar. If anyone is interested in helping provide food, drinks, or treats for these meetings, please let me know!
Reed O'Brien will be presenting cats in Egyptian History at the Wednesday, March 4th meeting which should be super fun and interesting as well! Kate Oghigian and Remi Neil will be doing a cat showmanship workshop closer to fair to help teach our members who hope to show at fair more about presenting their cats and what things the judge may be looking for. If any other members have fun things they are interested in presenting, please let me know and we will get them scheduled in.
Also - if anyone is a member of another project that could be used in conjunction with the cat project to do something fun for our community (ie- we sewed catnip cat toys a couple years ago and gave them to the cats at Heart of the Valley Shelter, a great project for both sewing and cats!), this is another idea we can use for a project activity!
Thank you to all who have stepped up to volunteer to keep our project active, fed and fun!
Julie Oghigian DVM CVA
Cell (text is good too)- 714-206-4636
Alpenglow Veterinary Services, Inc
Montview Labradors www.montviewlabradors.com
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DAIRY COW PROJECT
Happy 2026 to the dairy cow project members! Our kickoff meeting of the year was postponed in January and will now be held on February 26, 2026 at the 4-H Office from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. We look forward to seeing everyone!
Please also note that future meetings are currently scheduled for March 26, 2026 and on May 28, 2026. We will have some additional meetings throughout the year based upon what the members would like to learn about this new project year. Please remember that in order to show at the fair, you will need to attend three of these project workshops.
Questions? Contact leaders:
Shawna Oostema (406) 580-7819
Cassie Smieja (406) 539-3833.
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DOG OBEDIENCE & AGILITY PROJECTS *new leader in 2025-2026!
**This Project is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Hello Everyone!
I hope that 2026 is bringing in positive vibes for everyone and also some excitement that we are one month closer to our project start date! I am still working on getting the extra seminars scheduled and will get those out to everyone as soon as I have them.
Our first meeting will be a MANDATORY Orientation meeting and will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 6pm. The meeting will held at Montana Murray Kennels which will be the main meeting location of the project. In the meeting we will go over rules, expectations, hand the class schedule out and answer any questions. Again this first meeting is a mandatory meeting and anyone that wants to participate in obedience and/or agility must be present!
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me!
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DAIRY GOAT PROJECT
Hello Everyone we have a bunch of exciting and informational workshops coming up, please try to attend! Also attached is important dates to remember! Remember each member is required to attend a minimum of 4 workshops to attend fair and complete 7 projects for your record book. If you have any questions please let us know ASAP!
Joint Workshops: (these can be attended by members of the Dairy or Market goat projects)
*****these are given by guest speakers and can count for one of your project book requirements also
Saturday, February 7th @ 11:00am at the Gallatin 4-H Extension Office (903 N. Black Ave., Bozeman)
- We have Dr. Sadie form Intermountain Vet coming and talking about general health, CL/CAE, vaccination/worming, feeding, kidding and avoiding stress at fair.
Monday, March 2nd @ 6:00pm at the Rocky Mountain Supply Office (210 Gallatin Farmers Ave, Belgrade)
- Rocky Mountain supply will be hosting CHS feed rep for a nutrition workshop. We will be breaking out into Dairy and Market projects for more individualized feeding requirements.
Saturday, March 14th @ 9:00am at Feddes (Amsterdam) Meats (6680 Amsterdam Rd., Manhattan)
- Feddes Meats staff will provide a workshop going over meat cuts and anatomy of the animal. This is a great workshop for both Dairy and Market!
****April (Date and time to be determined)- Farm 51, Bozeman
- Jennifer Boyer ran a local commercial goat farm for local distribution and showed Nubian goats before getting into boars. She will be going over ins and outs of raising goats, husbandry and general information
Dairy Mandatory workshop - this date is required for you to attend fair
June 11th 6:00pm- Showmanship workshop @ Gallatin County Fairgrounds (building still to be determined)
- Demonstration and practice for proper showing of your show goat at fair. Learn how and what to expect for the judge.
Other Important Mandatory Dates
May 1st- Possession Date-
- We will require proof by this date you own or are leasing of all goats you wish to bring to fair. No exceptions! More info to follow
June 24th Proof of negative CL/CAE results
- We require a negative CL/CAE test on all dairy goats coming to fair. Please let me know if you have any questions ASAP!
June 24th By 5:00pm (no exceptions) Record Book turn in deadline
- All record books must be turned into the 4H office by 5:00pm, they can be turned in early if there is a conflict of schedule. Let me know if you have any questions
July 9-10 Project Interviews
- All members wishing to participate at fair must complete a interview on one of these days. 4H office will send out information of available time slots closer to the date for scheduling.
July 13th 4:00pm-6:00pm Fair Vet Check and Check-in
Questions? Contact a Dairy Goat Leader:
Lea’h MacDonald (406) 220-3556 lmk80@live.com
Rachel Colton (406) 548-1915
Cassandra Mitchell 406-223-0146
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MEAT GOAT PROJECT
We have some really exciting and informational workshops coming up with guest speakers, please try to attend! Remember a minimum of 4 workshops are required to attend fair, and complete 7 projects in your record book. If you have any question, please let us know!
Joint Workshops: (these can be attended by members of the Dairy or Market goat projects)
*****these are given by guest speakers and can count for one of your project book requirements also
Saturday, February 7th @ 11:00am at the Gallatin 4-H Extension Office (903 N. Black Ave., Bozeman)
- We have Dr. Sadie form Intermountain Vet coming and talking about general health, CL/CAE, vaccination/worming, feeding, kidding and avoiding stress at fair.
Monday, March 2nd @ 6:00pm at the Rocky Mountain Supply Office (210 Gallatin Farmers Ave, Belgrade)
- Rocky Mountain supply will be hosting CHS feed rep for a nutrition workshop. We will be breaking out into Dairy and Market projects for more individualized feeding requirements.
Saturday, March 14th @ 9:00am at Feddes (Amsterdam) Meats (6680 Amsterdam Rd., Manhattan)
- Feddes Meats staff will provide a workshop going over meat cuts and anatomy of the animal.
****April (Date and time to be determined)- Farm 51, Bozeman
- Jennifer Boyer ran a local commercial goat farm for local distribution and showed Nubian goats before getting into boars. She will be going over ins and outs of raising goats, husbandry and general information
Market Goats Mandatory workshops (save the date) - these are required for you to attend fair
May 3rd 1:00pm- Weigh-in and tagging @ Gallatin County Fairgrounds (building still to be determined)
- weigh-in and tagging and a short "halter breaking" demonstration/workshop. This is the possession deadline for goats to come to fair, no exceptions!
June 11th 6:00pm- Showmanship workshop @ Gallatin County Fairgrounds (building still to be determined)
- Demonstration and practice for proper showing of your show goat at fair. Learn how and what to expect for the judge.
Other Important Mandatory Dates
June 24th By 5:00pm (no exceptions) Record Book turn in deadline
- All record books must be turned into the 4H office by 5:00pm, they can be turned in early if there is a conflict of schedule. Let me know if you have any questions
July 9-10 Project Interviews
- All members wishing to participate at fair must complete a interview on one of these days. 4H office will send out information of available time slots closer to the date for scheduling.
July 13th 4:00-6:00pm Fair Vet check and Check-in
If you are enrolled in a 4-H/FFA livestock project and are planning to
show and/or
sell an animal at our Gallatin County 4-H/FFA Fair this upcoming summer, please read and sign the 2025-2026 Gallatin County Livestock Contract.
This contract explains the livestock project workshop requirements, animal possession deadlines, expectations and other important fair information. This contract is MANDATORY if you are selling a market animal and is due by the possession date for your species (listed in Section 2 on the contract). After both the youth and parent/guardian signs, you and the 4-H Office will be auto-emailed a copy of the completed contract to keep for your records. The 4-H Office will pass along the signed contracts to the appropriate species leaders and FFA advisers (if applicable).**Please Note: The Gallatin County Livestock Contract is
in addition to any other species-specific contracts that your project leaders may give you.
Sign Contract Here: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=d04300b2-a438-4f39-b220-1f239c698aac&env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&v=2
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HORSE PROJECTS
Happy February Horse Project Members!
We have a few great clinics under our belt, and it's been great meeting new families. If you haven't gotten involved yet, please jump in this month! This newsletter, as well as the horsemanship manual and our website, www.gallatincounty4hhorse.com have all the info you need. If you have more questions, please reach out at gc4hhorse@gmail.com!
UPCOMING CLINICS: Sign up on the Calendar links at Gallatin County 4H Horse
February 7th 9-12 AM English Horsemanship, Jumping and Dressage Clinic
February 7, Western Horsemanship- Open to all members!
February 14 (DATE CHANGED FROM FEB 21st) Colt to Maturity/Green Horse and WRH Clinic
IMPORTANT MONEY MATTERS: Fees and Sponsorships
- Good news! Participants are no longer required to pay $10/clinic! In some special circumstances (like a special event, trainer, etc) a fee may still be assessed, but you will be notified in advance.
- All Members are still responsible for fundraising $50/member or $75/family, which is DUE MARCH 1ST. Members are expected to meet this requirement in one of three ways.
- Participation in 4H fundraising activities as they arise may be used to fulfill the sponsorship commitment if the member specifies the general Horse Project
- Buy-out directly - Pay Horse Committee $50 value per member or $75 per family. Checks should be made payable to GCHC and delivered to Jon Reed, Treasurer or can be made via venmo @GallatinCounty-HorseCommittee.
- Solicit sponsorships from businesses or private parties.
- Working Ranch Horse has implemented a $60 cattle fee this year to specifically offset the cost of cattle. DUE MARCH 1st. This fee should be paid via check or venmo as above, specifying "WRH Cattle fee" in memo line
CLINIC PARTICIPATION: To be eligible to compete in any classes at Fair, members must participate in a minimum of three (3) 4-H riding clinics. Any horse that will be exhibited at fair must have attended and been ridden in at least one clinic. The 3 workshop requirement can be met by any Gallatin County 4-H horse sponsored workshop including Horse Committee hosted riding workshops, Working Ranch Horse riding workshops, Jumping/Dressage workshops, Colt/Green Horse workshops, Reining class workshops, or Twisters Drill team riding practices. Knowledge clinics are encouraged but do not count toward the 3 riding clinic requirement.In addition to the overall clinic requirements, Individual projects have the following requirements in order for the participating member to be eligible to compete at Fair in that particular project:
Working Ranch Horse Project: (Requirements to compete at county fair).
ALL RIDERS AND ALL HORSES NEED TO ATTEND ONE CLINIC WITH LIVE CATTLE. NEW: $60 one time Cattle fee due by Jan 1. Clinic fees waived.
- Level 1: 3 WRH Clinics, at least one on cattle plus 3 Horsemanship clinics for members in Horsemanship Levels 1 and 2.
- Level 2: Completion of WRH Level 1 and Horsemanship Level 2; 3 WRH Clinics, at least one on cattle;
- Level 3: Completion of WRH Level 2 and Horsemanship Level 3; 3 WRH clinics, at least 1 on cattle
- Level 4: Completion of WRH Level 3 and Horsemanship Level 3; 3 WRH clinics, at least 1 on cattle
- LEVEL 3-4 PARTICIPANTS CAN SUBSTITUTE CLINIC DAY WORKING COWS FOR VERIFIED FIELD DAYS WORKING CATTLE.
- Coaches will help determine what classes members are competent to participate in prior to Fair. Please talk to Sierra if your horse has been struggling with a particular event prior to Fair registration.
LESSON SCHOLARSHIP FUND (NEW OPPORTUNITY!!!)
In order to meet the diverse needs of our motivated members, the Horse Committee is offering a Lesson Scholarship Fund to members who have attended at least three horse project clinics. Up to $75 per member is available to help fund private or group lessons with the horse professional of your choice!!! To learn more about this exciting opportunity to improve your riding even further, check it out here!
VACCINATIONS and PAPERWORK
In order to participate in Fair, a Flu/Rhino or 5 or 6 way vaccine (which includes flu/rhino) must be administered between February 1 and June 1st. Since all the arenas we will be using this spring require flu/rhino within 6 months, if you did not vaccinate your horse in the fall, we recommend you go ahead and vaccinate them now, and upload the info in the "spring Vaccine" category of the Paperwork Requirements spreadsheet. If you already vaccinated in the fall, we recommend you wait until later in the spring, to ensure year round coverage, but make sure to have it done prior to June 1. Proof of Negative Coggins within one year is also required for MSU. We have included a list below of those missing all or part of your required paperwork. If you are not on the list, you have submitted everything for the fall. If you are on this list, please complete the sections of the google form for the empty fields below and submit. Visit www.gallatincounty4hhorse.com and scroll down to the Paperwork Requirement Link
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POULTRY PROJECT - Market or Breed/Show
**This Project (Market AND Breed/Show) is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
Happy February to all of the 4-H poultry project members!
Thank you to all of the market poultry members for attending our January workshop and getting your market projects going for the year. Our cloverbud project members also kicked of the new year starting to learn about parts of their birds. In February, we will have all of the project members come back together and join us for our monthly workshop on February 12, 2026 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. This month we will be meeting at the Belgrade Middle School Cafeteria (where the Christmas party was held at). Our topic for February is chick care and breed selection.
Any questions please reach out to one of the poultry project leaders or youth leaders.
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RABBIT PROJECT - Market or Breed/Pet
Our next meeting will be Thursday, February 19 at 6:30pm in Exhibit Building #3 at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. This project will meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6pm. Please keep an eye on your email for updates.
If you are enrolled in a 4-H/FFA livestock project and are planning to
show and/or
sell an animal at our Gallatin County 4-H/FFA Fair this upcoming summer, please read and sign the 2025-2026 Gallatin County Livestock Contract.
This contract explains the livestock project workshop requirements, animal possession deadlines, expectations and other important fair information. This contract is MANDATORY if you are selling a market animal and is due by the possession date for your species (listed in Section 2 on the contract). After both the youth and parent/guardian signs, you and the 4-H Office will be auto-emailed a copy of the completed contract to keep for your records. The 4-H Office will pass along the signed contracts to the appropriate species leaders and FFA advisers (if applicable).**Please Note: The Gallatin County Livestock Contract is
in addition to any other species-specific contracts that your project leaders may give you.
Sign Contract Here: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=d04300b2-a438-4f39-b220-1f239c698aac&env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&v=2
Questions?
Monica Samson 406-399-1866
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SHEEP PROJECT
**This Project (Market AND Breeding) is FULL and is no longer taking new enrollments.
A few quick notes to remember:
- All first year members (regardless of age) and first year senior members (ages 14+) need to take the AQA workshop (the 4-H office would have emailed you if you need to complete this requirement this year)
- You must attend (4) Sheep Workshops to show at fair
- If you are more than 10 minutes late to a workshop it will not be eligible to count towards your four required workshops.
Carcass Workshop - Dr. Jane Boles, PhD from MSU meat science will be leading this workshop. Please don't be late!
Where: MSU Meat Lab, 120 Linfield Hall MSU Campus, Bozeman
When: February 18th
Time: 6:30 pm
Care and Feeding Workshop - We will discuss lamb selection and general care for the project. Also presenters from Rocky Mountain Supply will discuss feeding options. New members this is a great workshop to answer lots of questions right before we get lambs!
Where: Animal Bioscience building MSU. (off of 11th Ave)
When: March 9th
Time: 6:30 pm
Record Book/ Project Book Workshop - Please bring your workbooks or a note book
Where: Churchill Bank Community Room (7175 Churchill Rd Manhattan)
When: March 23rd
Time: 6:30 pm
Cooking with Lamb Workshop - More information coming soon
Tentative date beginning of April
Commercial Shearing Workshop
*do not bring your lambs*
Where: 1260 Ludwig lane Belgrade
When: April 25
Time: 10:00 am
MANDATORY Sheep Weigh-in and Tagging
All sheep MUST be present and tagged on the 3rd to be eligible for fair. There are no exceptions to this rule. *does NOT count as a workshop* please have your Livestock Contract (see link below) submitted to the 4-H office by May 3rd
Where: Gallatin County Fairgrounds wash rack
When: May 3rd
Time: TBD
Showmanship Workshop - Lets practice showing -
bring your lambs. We will also offer a slick shearing demo
Where: Fairgrounds indoor arena
When: June 1st
Time: 6:30 pm
Rough Shear - We offer an opportunity to have your lambs rough sheared in June
*rough shear does NOT count as a workshop* There is a small charge per lamb.
Where: fairgrounds
When: June TBD
Time: TBD
Pre-fair Workshop - Great workshop to come to, we will go over requirements for show, posters, barn duty, vet checks, what to bring to fair, fair interview practice and all the last minute questions you might have. Also we have a clothing swap bring your nice used show jeans or show shirts!
Where: 4-H office (903 N. Black Ave)
When: June 15th
Time: 6:30
If you are enrolled in a 4-H/FFA livestock project and are planning to
show and/or
sell an animal at our Gallatin County 4-H/FFA Fair this upcoming summer, please read and sign the 2025-2026 Gallatin County Livestock Contract.
This contract explains the livestock project workshop requirements, animal possession deadlines, expectations and other important fair information. This contract is MANDATORY if you are selling a market animal and is due by the possession date for your species (listed in Section 2 on the contract). After both the youth and parent/guardian signs, you and the 4-H Office will be auto-emailed a copy of the completed contract to keep for your records. The 4-H Office will pass along the signed contracts to the appropriate species leaders and FFA advisers (if applicable).**Please Note: The Gallatin County Livestock Contract is
in addition to any other species-specific contracts that your project leaders may give you.
Sign Contract Here: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=d04300b2-a438-4f39-b220-1f239c698aac&env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&v=2
Questions? Contact the Sheep Committee:
Ruth Carr- (406)539-4337 kennellr@gmail.com
Kim Flikkema- (406)599-1486 kimflikkema@gmail.com
JodiLynn Kelley- (512)663-5569 jodilynnkelley08@gmail.com
Jodi Smith-(406)580-2984 kjsmithhouse@yahoo.com
Jake Noonan-(406)529-8107
Sarah Noonan-(406)529-6185
Chase Dykstrahouse-(406)539-2083
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SWINE PROJECT
Things to do and know right now! Check all the green dots to stay in the loop!
🟢Contracts: (yes, plural) There is the Swine Contract and the County Wide Livestock Contract. Both MUST be returned before the tagging deadline, April 14th 2026.
2025-2026 Swine Project Contract: https://na3.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=ee9a702c-768b-4c11-b13d-248d7875482f&env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&v=2
General Livestock Contract: https://powerforms.docusign.net/d04300b2-a438-4f39-b220-1f239c698aac?env=na3&acct=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&accountId=960f6090-f7cb-40a6-adf5-0490f456d6eb&recipientLang=en
THESE CONTRACTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROJECT FAMILIES! Review them and get them turned in.
🟢WORKSHOPS
You need 3 swine workshops! ✅✅✅ Plan ahead and start getting your swine workshops in! We have 2 on the calendar for you right now.
Project Orientation Meeting - 1st & 2nd year members
February 2 (Monday)- Fairgrounds Building #4 @ 5:30pm
For this, we ask that new members (1st or 2nd year) plus one parent / helper attend if possible. It is an opportunity to learn about the project requirements, some of the lingo and meet all members of the Swine Committee. We will also invite older Senior Members to speak and introduce themselves at this meeting.
Feeds Workshop - February 11th (Wednesday) Manhattan Middle School (classroom number TBD) @ 5:30pm. Feeds workshop - come to learn more about the importance of what you are feeding your hogs and options you have.
🟢PIGS - If you have found a source for your pigs, great! If not, we have a list of people that might have some available or feel free to reach out to the swine committee for help. Also, be sure you have discussed your budget for purchasing, and are making plans for building/ improving your pen and shelter for your pigs in the spring. We've also attached the COOL Source Form that will help you decipher some of the information you'll need to gather when acquiring your pigs. LOTS more info to come on getting your project kicked off if you're new...but most pigs are born late December/January 1st and ready for their new homes mid-March/early-April. They will weigh 50-100 pounds at this point and in the following 90 days+, you'll raise them to be 220-290 lbs.
🟢How can we help the Swine Project as a whole? 💰
Fundraising! We raise funds as a group for all the awesome things we get to do!! For all of this, we would LOVE for you and your family to sign up for a MSU Game and/or Concert Concessions spot. It's a great fundraiser and it empowers the kids to contribute/help! You show up, sign in and the earnings are transferred through the 4-H Office.
Sign Up Here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A92AABFE3-48570182-fall#/
If each swine family jumps in once, we will be in GREAT shape!
🟢Workbook Requirement Changes- We made some changes last year, so please reach out with any questions.
- Members 1st & 2nd Year in Swine - Please complete 7 workbook activities in the first swine workbook(pick this up from the Extension Office at the Fairgrounds if you do not have one)
- Members 3rd year or more in Swine - NEW last year -You have the option of using books 2/3 or we have a list of activities for you to choose from. You will still need to complete 7 activities total and turn in the written piece for any of the activities you choose from the list. These will be turned in with the standard My 4H Year and financial worksheets in your binder or folder. The list is attached to recent Swine emails.
- All Members - The My 4-H Year packet and Financial Records packet still need to be completed every year and turned in with your workbook activities - these are at the Extension Office at the Fairgrounds if you still need them. Or snag them online. Animal Project Journal and Financial Record. My 4H Year
🟢Like Reminders via text? Register your cell phone (and any Members) for our Remind page. This app helps you stay in the loop! (we recently disabled the 2025 Remind so you must re-register for 2026) https://www.remind.com/join/2026swin or text @2026swin to 81010 and reply once with your name.
Questions? Contact the Swine Committee at gallatinswineproject@gmail.com
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Gallatin County MSU Extension Office | 903 North Black Ave | Bozeman, MT 59715
(406) 582-3280
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension 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 of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.
To request disability accommodation or to inform us of special needs, please contact the Extension Office at 406-582-3280 five (5) working days before the event.
Molly Yurdana
Gallatin County MSU Extension
4-H Youth Development Agent
(406) 582-3284 | molly.yurdana@montana.edu | https://www.montana.edu/extension/gallatin/ back to top
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