Routt County 4-H news & updates

November 17, 2025

Upcoming Events

Click here to access the Routt County 4-H Google Calendar!

Opening Late!

We will be opening at 10am this Friday, November 21st. We look forward to seeing everyone at Achievement Night!

November 21, 5:30pm, Achievement Night at the Steamboat Springs High School.


Doors open at 5pm, potluck starts at 5:30pm with awards shortly following.

Double potluck by last name:

  • A-L: Main Dish and Dessert
  • M-Z: Main Dish and Side
  • There will be no plug-ins available for crockpots, please bring dishes warm and ready to serve.

To be picked-up after Achievement Night:

  • All livestock and club record books will be available for pick-up at the end of Achievement Night.
  • All Books must be picked up by members or leaders
  • Jackets, hoodies, buckles and cash awards will be available for pick-up at the end of the awards.

January 4, 4-H Ski Day on the Mountain! Join Routt County 4-H as we take on the slopes.


Meet Tami in Gondola Square between 9 and 10, then meet up at the top of Thunderhead for a picture at 11am. This is an unsupervised event, please plan accordingly.


Lift tickets are FREE for 4-H members, and half price for parents. If anyone needs rentals, they will be half price as well (skis are at Christy Sports in Ski Time Square, Snowboards are at Powder Tools).


RSVP HERE!

January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, 6pm, Clover Chatter


Join us on Zoom for our monthly Clover Chatter Meeting! We meet on the first Monday of every month to help answer any questions you might have about Routt County 4-H.


All are welcome - no matter your club, project, or age!


Click HERE for the Zoom Link!

January 7 (Steamboat), March 4 (Hayden), May 6 (Moonhill Schoolhouse), July 1 (Soroco), 6pm, Routt County 4-H Council Meetings. Every club should have 2 representatives at these meetings. All 4-H families are invited to attend!

January 21, February 25, April 1, May 27, 6pm, Routt County Junior Leader Meetings.


Are you 14-18 years old and want to step up your leadership role in Routt County 4-H? Jr. Leaders are ambassadors to Routt County 4-H, help put on 4-H events, and are Jr. Superintendents at the fair. Join us for our first Jr. Leader meeting Wednesday, January 21 at 6pm in the Trout Creek Room.


Learn more about the Jr. Leader Program here.

January 24-26, Leadership Development Conference in Denver.


Senior aged 4-H members are encouraged to join us for LDC in January. Cost to attend is $225 plus hotel costs (TBD soon). Registration opens November 24th in 4-HOnline, and closes January 7th (or when full).


Please note, any cancelations made AFTER the deadline will not be reimbursed and members must pay the full $225 PLUS hotel costs if they cannot attend.

General 4-H News

Interested in project specific information? Expand the email and scroll down for more project specific information.

Congratulations to our Routt County Members who placed in the top 5 in the Colorado State Carcass Contest! A full list of the results can be found here.


Beef:

5th Place - #1700 raised by Jessica Bedell


Swine:

5th Place - #6735 raised by Emma McHaffie

4th Place - #6762 raised by Jackson McElhinney

2nd Place - #2135 raised by Sierra Costner


Lamb:

5th Place - #6716 raised by Ella Knott

4th Place - #8311 raised by Lily Ackerman

3rd Place - #8295 raised by Addison Whaley

1st Place - #8346 Raised by Makinly Long


Goat:

5th Place - #8320 raised by Ralee Clyncke

4th Place - #6784 raised by Kasey Singer

3rd Place - #6349 raised by Jason Heid

2nd Place - #6780 raised by Lucy Wattles

1st Place - #8343 raised by Kyson Manzanares

Survey results are IN!


Results can be found on our website!

Record books are uploaded on the Colorado 4-H Website.

  • Animal Members, scroll down to your section for record book tips and tricks!
  • More information on Record Books (including club books) can be found on our website!

Explore the new 4-H Code of Conduct


The Colorado 4-H Code of Conduct has been updated. The Code of Conduct exist to:

  • Protect 4-H Youth Development as a brand
  • Ensure safe, welcoming learning environments
  • Promote accountability and integrity for all our program participants
  • Support a positive culture where youth can thrive
  • Guide decision-making on behavior issues
  • Ensure compliance with all program policies and procedures

The new Code of Conduct can be found here.

The 2025-2026 4-H Year is here! Returning members should sign up (and pay) before December 31st to avoid a $30 late fee!


How do I Enroll?

  1. Enroll (between October 1 and May 1) on Colorado 4-H Online
  2. Pick a 4-H Club
  3. Pick your project(s)
  4. Pay your enrollment fees
  5. Get Involved

Here is a LINK with more detailed instructions on how to enroll, clubs, projects and much more. Call our office with any questions - we are here to help you!

4-H Year Photo Share - Did you take photos throughout the year that you would like to share? Please upload your photos into our Google Photo Album so that we can share them during Achievement Night.

Club Reports

High Point 4-H Club

November 11, 2025

The meeting was called to order at 4:07pm. Haley led the pledges and Sky completed roll call. Both the Secretary's and Treasure's report were waived. Jessica gave a short report on the Council Meeting.


In Old Business, we congratulated all of our nominated outstanding members. In New Business, we discussed 4-H Enrollment for the year, and reminded everyone to join the Routt County 4-H Achievement Night on 11/21/2025/


The meeting was adjourned at 4:13pm. After the meeting, we decorated trees for the Tread of Pioneers Museum Festival of Trees. Our theme was Denim and Doilies. We had a lot of fun decorating the tree and eating snacks.


Submitted by: Cole Lujan

Routt County 4-H Council Officers


Congratulations to our new Routt County 4-H County Council Officers.


President: Emily Rossi

Vice President: Jessica Bedell

Secretary: Trevor Hagenbuch

Treasurer: Brooke May

Reporter: Tula Bringuel

Senators: Joseph Elkinton & Ralee Clyncke

Alternate Senator: Amelia Hagenbuch.


As you are hosting your club elections, please send us a list of your Club Officers as well as your club reports!

New Member Information

We are excited to have you a part of Routt County 4-H!


Learn more about Routt County 4-H on our WEBSITE.

  • See a list of our 4-H clubs and when they meet.
  • Learn about all the projects 4-H has to offer.


The Colorado 4-H WEBSITE also provides project details and record book links. Click on your area of interest, and then the project to learn more!


Join our monthly Clover Chatter!

  • Meet us on Zoom the first Monday of each month at 6pm to ask questions and connect with other 4-H families!
  • Upcoming Dates:
  • January 5
  • February 2
  • March 2
  • April 6
  • May 4
  • June 1
  • July 6
  • August 3


Join us on March 16 at 6pm for our Mandatory New Member Orientation Dinner at the STARS Ranch. We will discuss important topics while enjoying a meal and getting to know other Routt County 4-H families!

Shooting Sports

We are excited for the new year! Check back soon for project workshop information.

Shooting Sports Dates - Dates are subject to change

  • May 1 - Add/Drop/Change Deadline
  • July 3 - Completion Weekend Registration Due
  • July 8 - FairEntry Registration Due
  • July TBD - Completion Weekend
  • July 24 - Exhibit Day
  • July 31 - Exhibit Day Projects to State Fair Due

General Projects

Workshops:

General Project Dates - Dates are subject to change

  • May 1 - Add/Drop/Change Deadline
  • July 8 - FairEntry Registration Due
  • July 24 - Exhibit Day
  • July 31 - Exhibit Day Projects to State Fair Due

Animal Projects

Animal Superintendents - need help with your projects? Please email Millie to get you in contact with a Superintendent!

  • Cattle - Jeannie Logan and Dr. Lee Meyring
  • Swine - Leanna Dennis, Tim Gonzales, Trinity Gonzales, and Lane Iacovetto
  • Sheep - Kristen Lucero and Shari Yeager
  • Goat - Justin Heid, Kristen Lucero, and Rebecca Owens
  • Poultry and Rabbit
  • Horse - Tammie Delaney, Haley Jacobs, Lacy Trout, and Ben Vannoy
  • Dog - Lisa Guire and Cathy Shryock

Project Dates - Check out the following link for important project dates!

Routt County Junior Livestock Sale Updates -

  • Member Checks are available for pick-up. Members must submit a signed slip from their buyer stating they have hand delivered their framed photo and Thank You card.
  • Please note, "All consigner checks must be cleared prior to December 31 of the sale year. Outstanding checks will be donated back to the Committee."

More information on the Generational Breeding Project can be found here.

NWSS Catch-A-Calf Applications Open -

Are you 14-19 (as of Jan. 1, 2026) and part of 4-H or FFA? Don't miss your chance to take part in the National Western Stock Show Cat-A-Calf Program! Participants catch a calf, raise it for a year, and bring it back as a market-ready steer to show and compete!


Applications are due December 15, 2025!

Colorado State 4-H Livestock Opportunities - These are opportunities that 4-H members could engage in. Coming up in the next few months are events like the National Poultry and Egg Conference, which showcases four competitive events or the National Dairy Quiz Bowl. We have added these events to the Animal Science Padlet. If you have a team that would like to compete in any of these events, let us know, and we can work through the registration process. Access Animal Science Padlet

Animal Projects Dates - Dates are subject to change

Animal Project Courtesy Posts

These are posts we are sharing for your information. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Routt County Extension.

Bunnies Available:

Looking for your next 4-H Breeding Rabbit? Ella Knott has a litter of mixed-breed rabbits perfect for pets/companion animals, and a litter of Angoras for members interested in breeding their own fiber line.


For more information, please reach out to Megan.

CSU and UW will be holding a pre-workouts before the Western National Roundup Livestock and Meats Judging Contests. Any youth is welcome to come view the classes ate do not need to be judging at Roundup.

Routt County 4-H Leadership Opportunities

2025-2026 Colorado 4-H Leadership Events - More details on the events can be found here.

  • Leadership Development Conference (Senior Members) - January 24-26, Denver
  • Youth Fest (Intermediate Members) - March 27-29
  • District 9 Retreat (10-18 y/o Members)- April 10-12, Craig
  • Colorado 4-H State Conference (Senior Members) - June 16-19, Fort Collins

Mike Bell 4-H Leadership Fund


Created in 2025 with memorial contributions totaling $665, the Mike Bell 4-H Leadership Fund honors Mr. Bell by helping Hayden Youth attend leadership events.


The Bell Family has designated these funds to support Hayden 4-H members in attending leadership events at the county, district, state, or national levels.


Scholarship Details:

  • Hayden 4-H youth are eligible for a one-time $50 scholarship to help cover registration for a 4-H leadership event.
  • 13 scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis until all funds are distributed.
  • To apply, email a request for the $50 Mike Bell 4-H Leadership Scholarship, specifying which event you plan to attend.
  • Requests will only be accepted once the event registration is open (no early requests).
  • If you cancel after the registration deadline, you will be responsible for repaying the $50 of unused funds back to the leadership fund.

Routt County 4-H Cloverbuds

What is a Cloverbud? Cloverbuds are members from 5-7 years old who are not quite ready to participate in many of the projects and activities that the rest of the older 4-H members participate in.


What can Cloverbuds do? The Cloverbud program is focused on participation, teamwork, and learning (not so much on competition). Several of our clubs host Cloverbud events during their regular monthly meetings, and our Routt County 4-H Junior Leaders host 5 Cloverbud workshops throughout the spring and summer to get our youngest members excited about 4-H.


Enrollment - $25/Cloverbud Member

Here is a LINK to how to enroll, and much more. Cloverbud members are not required to attend monthly meetings, but any member wanting to join the Cloverbud workshops must be enrolled as a Cloverbud member. Call our office with any questions - we are here to help you!

Leaders/Volunteer Opportunities

THANK YOU all for the help that you pour into our Routt County 4-H youth each and every year. We could not do what we do without all of you!

Courtesy Posts

These are posts we are sharing for your information. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Routt County Extension.

To submit your order, please fill out this form and submit it to Nancy Mucklow by December 12th!

Ranch West; 

  • Located 12 miles outside of Steamboat Springs on CR 33
  • Long term and short term boarding 
  • Horse motel 
  • Outdoor arena 
  • Heated indoor arena(daily pass and memebership options)
  • Family owned and operated 
  • Vet Technician on staff 

Looking for weekend help in the mornings, 2-3 hours a day! 


If interested call 970-761-0679 or email ranchwest55@gmail.com 

Savannah Shaffer-Barn Manager 

You are invited to preregister for the 2026 online ag business development course hosted by CSU Extension. Join course facilitators, instructors, and other beginning farmers and ranchers (less than 10 years of ag experience) in Tuesday evenings, 6-8:00pm (January 20-March 11, 2026) for 8 weeks this winter for a program designed to help you develop a business plan for your ag operation! Course fee of $250 includes access to all class materials; a discount is offered to additional participants from the same farm business. Scholarships may be available. Learn more & preregister here https://buildingfarmers.com/ 

 

Está invitado/a preinscribirse para el curso de 2026 de desarrollo de negocios agrícolas en línea coordinado por Extensión de la Universidad Estatal de Colorado. Reunir con facilitadores, instructores, y otros/as agricultores/as y ganaderos/as (con menos de 10 años de experiencia agrícola) por las noches cada martes, 6-8:00pm (del 20 de enero - 11 de marzo) por 8 semanas este invierno por una serie de tópicos diseñados para ayudarle pensar críticamente sobre su plan de negocio! El costo para el curso de $250 incluye acceso a todos los materiales del curso; un descuento está ofrecido por participantes adicionales del mismo negocio agrícola. Puede haber becas disponibles. Aprender más y preinscribirse aquí https://buildingfarmers.com/ 

¿Preguntas? Se puede llamar a Nicole: (970) 495-2217

CSU Engagement and Extension is looking at becoming better at engaging and stewarding our network of 4-H alumni by sending out a quarterly newsletter to our Colorado 4-H alumni, donors, and corporate partners to highlight our youth, volunteers, and programming throughout the state. Please sign up for this newsletter here.

Routt County CSU Extension - 4-H
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Colorado State University Extension is an equal opportunity provider. Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension ensures meaningful access and equal opportunities to participate to individuals whose first language is not English.
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Colorado State University Extension es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables. Office of Engagement and Extension de CSU garantiza acceso significativo e igualdad de oportunidades para participar a las personas quienes su primer idioma no es el inglés.
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