Ravalli County 4-H
April 2021 Newsletter
Upcoming Dates
April 9th Competition Day- Speech and Demonstration, Fashion Revue, Visual Arts
April 13th Horse Committee Meeting
April 14th Competition Day- Awards Ceremony
April 15th Livestock Committee Meeting 7:00 PM Victor Weed District Building
April 29th Swine Quality Assurance 6:00 PM Fairgrounds, First Interstate Building
April 30th Swine Jr. Superintendent applications due
May 1st Project Add/Drop Deadline
May 1st Ravalli County 4-H Ambassador Applications Due
May 12th Goat Quality Assurance 6:00 PM Victor Weed District Building
May 15th Swine Weigh-in 8:00 AM- 1:00 PM Fairgrounds
May 17th Ravalli County 4-H Advisory Council Meeting 6:30 Extension Meeting Room
May 25th Sheep Quality Assurance 5:30 PM Corvallis Grange in Corvallis
May 26th Sheep/Goat Weigh- in
May 28th Small Bore Rifle and Pistol registration due
July 13th-16th 4-H Summer Camp 2021 
Project Add/Drop Deadline
Important Date: May 1
Each year, the deadline to add or remove projects from your enrollment is May 1. Usually, this is done via paper from turned into the Extension office. This year, it is the family’s responsibility to make these corrections on their Zsuite account.


It is important to make sure all projects you plan to take to fair
are added by MAY 1! 

Please call the Extension office if you are having trouble figuring out how to do this, we are here and happy to help!

Remember: Youth taking livestock projects MSUT be enrolled in both a level (1,2,3, or independent study) and market or breeding project.

Adding/removing projects in Zsuites:
1. Go to 4h.zsuite.org
2. Login using your family email and password
3. Select the “primary account”- enter PIN
4. From the household list, click on the youth’s name
5. Click on “update enrollment”
6. Click on the “clubs” tab at the top of the page
7. Click on the “add projects” button at the bottom of the project list.
To remove a project, click the “x” to the right of the project
8.     Once the correct projects are added, click on “add to cart” to save changes.
9.     To add a project for another family member click “dashboard” on the left hand
side navigation panel, this will bring you back to the household list, follow steps 4-8
Please call the Extension office with any questions. We are happy to help!
Volunteer Vacancies
  • Livestock Sale Administrator 
  • Small Animal Sale Coordinator
  • Teen Leadership Leader 
  • Air Pistol/ Air Rifle Co-Leader 

Please contact the Extension office if you have any questions and are interested in becoming a 4-H Volunteer.
Project Meetings
Dog Project
Meets on Thursdays
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Fairgrounds Floral Bldg unless the weather is too cold. 

Please contact Nicki Arndt positivechangesllc@yahoo.com before attending meetings for the first time or if you have any questions.
Cowboy Poetry Meetings
All ages and abilities are welcome and encouraged to participate. Email Dominic at flominic@live.com if you would like to sign up for this fun and educational project!

Date: April 15
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Extension Office Meeting Room 
Cake Decorating Meetings
Third Tuesday and Wednesdays of the month starting
Next meeting: April 20th & 21st
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Extension Office Meeting Room
Contact: Crystal, 239-4034
Horse Project News
Horse Level Assessments
If you are in Horsemanship level 3 or above and would like to assess to the next horsemanship level, the horse committee would like to know, so a horse assessment day may be scheduled before May 1st. Levels 1 and 2 can be assessed by a club horse leader.
Please contact Coral Maxwell rcmaxwell77@gmail.com
 
Jumping and Dressage Practice:
Starting in April for jumping and dressage, semi private lessons are free for enrolled 4H horse kids. Sign-up through sign up genius with the following links:
 
Dressage sign-up: 
 
Jumping sign-up:
 
Location: Coyote Creek Ranch and Studio
485 Thousand Acre Rd, Corvallis, MT 59828
(406) 369-0020
 
Ranch Horse Nights
Darby: 1st Monday of each month May-August
Waddell Creek Ranch 6:30-8:30 PM
 
Stevensville: May 6th, June 3rd, July 1st, and July 29th
Jones Leather and Livestock 6:30-8:30 PM
Livestock News
Goat Project
Quality Assurance
When: May 12th at 6:00PM
Where: Victor Weed District 121 Tudor Street, Victor (old fire hall building)
Who: Members must become Quality Assurance certified once between the ages of 8-13 (as of October 1) and once again between the ages of 14-18 (as of October 1).

Weigh-in
When: May 26th
Where: Ravalli County Fairgrounds

Sheep Project
Quality Assurance:
When: May 25th at 5:30 PM
Where: Corvallis Grange
Who: Members must become Quality Assurance certified once between the ages of 8-13 (as of October 1) and once again between the ages of 14-18 (as of October 1).

Weigh-in
When: May 26th
Where: Ravalli County Fairgrounds

Swine Project
Quality Assurance
When: Thursday, April 29, 2021 @ 6:00 PM
Where: First Interstate Building, Ravalli County Fairgrounds
Who: Members must become Quality Assurance certified once between the ages of 8-13 (as of October 1) and once again between the ages of 14-18 (as of October 1).

Weigh-In
When: Saturday, May 15th from 8:00 AM- 12:00 PM
Where: Ravalli county Fairgrounds 
Spring weigh-in this year will only be offered as an in-person format with members required to bring their animals to the fairgrounds to be tagged and weighed. The only exception to this is if you have a swine breeding operation, in which case you need to contact me for details prior to the scheduled weigh-in at the fairgrounds.

Jr. Swine Barn Superintendents
This program will be open to youth ages 13+ as of October 1 and there will be an application process in order to be selected. The Jr. Swine Barn Superintendents will help assist the Swine Barn Superintendents with various duties both leading up to the fair and during the fair. Applications will be available beginning April 1, 2021 at the Extension Office or by emailing Brenda Beard at beardlivestock@gmail.com and must be postmarked or emailed NO later than April 30, 2021 to submit a completed application. All further information and directions are on the application.
Please feel free to call Brenda Beard with any questions at 361-1120.
Small Bore Sign Ups
Coming this summer – small bore rifle & pistol programs return for their fourth year at Esprit Ranch shooting range. Class sizes will be limited to 8 per discipline – so remember to sign up early – registration is open! Your shooting target awaits.


  • Register by Friday, May 28 or until full (limited to 8 youth per discipline)
  • Parent/Guardian Meeting with Members – Sunday, June 6 at 4 PM
  • Season starts Tuesday, June 8 for Rifle and Thursday, June 10 for Pistol
  • Practice will be weekly through August 24 (Start time 6:00 PM)
  • Registration dues include equipment, supplies, 4-H manual and record books ($100/youth)
Find Registration Form Here:
Ravalli County 4-H Ambassador
Applications due May 1
If you are 14 or older with an interest in building leadership skills, promoting 4-H, and helping plan county events, you are strongly encouraged to apply to be a County Ambassador!!

Purpose of 4-H County Ambassadors:
  • Represent 4‐H in a public relations role.
  • Promote 4‐H with potential members, parents and the general public.
  • Help plan, implement and evaluate 4‐H events.
  • Organize 4‐H promotion activities.
  • Develop personal leadership skills and self‐confidence.
  • Encourage financial support for 4‐H.
One goal for the county Ambassador team for 2021-2022 will be to re-ignite the Ravalli County’s teen council. Senior and Junior Ambassadors serve as President and Vice President of the teen council. The selected Junior Ambassador will transfer to Senior Ambassador the following year.
"Hello! My name is Nora Goodwin and I am the Ravalli county 4-H Senior Ambassador. This role has been a vital part of my education since sophomore year of high school and is a very rewarding experience. Teen council is an exciting leadership oriented function of 4-H, and has accomplished a lot in years past. I am looking for a Junior county ambassador to serve as vice president on teen council. Applications are due May 1st.”
If you have questions, call the Extension Office (460) 375-6611 
Teen Leadership Academy-
Two Sessions left!
Each month the State 4-H Officer Team members will be presenting a different workshop topic that they have found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop should be paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H program and community. 
All workshops are Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 3:30.  
Contact the Extension Office if you are interested in attending!
Upcoming sessions:
May, 16
Promotion
What is 4-H? Where can we tell people about it? Why is this important for my community?
June 13
Reflection
What have I have accomplished or not? What have we accomplished or not? What is next and why?
Marias Invitational Livestock Judging Invitational
When: Sunday, May 16 Registration starts at 12:30, with judging starting at 1:00 and awards by 5:00
Location: Marias Fairgrounds Shelby, MT  
What: 10 classes – beef, sheep, swine, goat, and a surprise. Reasons will be given on 4 classes. Individual and Team awards will be given for junior (8-13) and senior (14-18) age categories.
Who: All 4-H and FFA members Registration info
Fees: $5 per participant, payable to Toole County 4-H
Registration form:
Registration Due: By Friday, May 14
Please send registration information or questions to Adriane at adriane.good@montana.edu  or Kim at kimberly.woodring1@montana.edu .
COVID-19 and 4-H
While operating in a 4-H capacity we must remember to uphold the guidelines put forth by MSU Extension:
  • Practice social distancing
  • Masks are encouraged at all social gatherings
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Stay home if you are showing COVID-19 symptoms or know you have been in close contact with someone who is positive
MSU/Ravalli County Extension Office

215 S. 4th Street, Ste G
Hamilton, MT 59840
Phone: 406.375.6611

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