Alternatively, download a printable version of the October 2024 Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

Thank You 

Thank you to all of the people and businesses that have donated to the Cascade County 4-H Program over the last month!     

Willliam Kessler

Brad Wright 

Cindy Thompson

Zeller Family Trust 

 

We would also like to thank the following businesses that allow for our shooting sports activities to take place each year.  

MRSA Indoor Range

Blackhorse Shootist Range/Library

Great Falls Library

Nazarene Church

Great Falls Trap Club

National 4-H Week 

National 4-H Week 2024 is October 6-12! This year’s theme is Beyond Ready. Be sure to show your 4-H pride by wearing 4-H gear to work or school, talking about your 4-H projects and activities to your friends.  

2024-2025 4-H Enrollment 

Enrollment for the new 4-H year begins October 1. Make sure to enroll early so you are covered by 4-H accident insurance, we can order you your project books, and you remain on our email lists. A detailed enrollment email was sent to all the families. For help with enrollment, call the Extension Office at 406-454-6980 or email Jody at cascade@montana.edu.  

Agents out of Office  

The MSU Extension Agents will be attending the annual conference in Bozeman during the week of 21-24th.The office will be open with Jody holding down the fort during regular hours 8-12 and 1-5. 

Our 4-H Agent will also be out of town on Business during the week of October 14th.  She will be checking in and attempting email when she can.  Please reach out to Jody for general 4-H information.  

New 4-H Family Meet and Greet 

The New   4-H Family Orientation mixer will be held on our first Project Day November 9th at the Extension Office. Come and see how some of the project areas run a project, ask questions, meet project leaders.   

If you are looking for a way to finance your 4-H projects for this year, consider visiting the Farm Service Agency web site. They recently increased the loan limit to $10,000 and funds can be used for the purchase of animals, feed, supplies, etc. Youth between the ages of 10 and 20 are eligible. Loans are repaid annually and can be termed out for up to seven years for the purchase of breeding stock. The interest rate is currently 5.25%. Please contact Lacy Roberts or Eric Morrisett at the Glacier County FSA at 406-873-5618 ext. 2. 

Lacy Roberts 

Farm Loan Manager 

Farm Service Agency | Glacier County Office 

4-H Achievement Celebration 

Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of Cascade County 4-H youth and adult leaders on Sunday, October 27th at 4:00 pm at the Family Living Center at the MT ExpoPark. The Achievement Celebration will follow the dinner. We will have a Spaghetti Dinner catered by our very own Janet Smith before the celebration begins.  Below is the sign-up Genius link for families and club leaders to RSVP for dinner.   We are asking families who attend to bring their favorite desert to share with others.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4EA8A82CA5FB6-52053109-2024 

Project Days 

Project Days will be held on the second Saturday of the months of November-May from 9:00am-12:00pm. We are in need of Project Day workshop leaders. If you are interested in teaching a Project Day workshop, please reach out to Jenn at Jennifer.Volkmar@montana.edu or 406-454-6980.  

Future Project Day Dates 

  • November 9 
  • December 14 
  • January 11 
  • February 8 
  • March 8 
  • April 12 
  • May 10 

Air Rifle & BB Gun Instruction Registration 

Registration for 4-H Air Rifle and BB Gun will open on Monday October 7 on ZSuite. To participate in Air Rifle, youth must be 9 years old as of October 1, 2024, be an active Cascade County 4-H member, and be enrolled in the Air Rifle Project on ZSuite. To participate in BB Gun, youth must be at least 8 years old as of October 1, 2024, be a regular 4-H member (no Cloverbuds), be an active Cascade County 4-H member, and be enrolled in the BB Gun Project on ZSuite. Details about Air Rifle and BB Gun instruction can be found in the Events section of ZSuite.  

Air Pistol Instruction Registration 

Registration for 4-H Air Pistol instruction will open in ZSuite on October 2. In order to participate in 4-H Air Pistol, youth must be at least 9 years old as of October 1, 2023, be an active Cascade County 4-H member, and be enrolled in the Air Pistol Project on ZSuite. More details about Air Pistol instruction is available in the Events section of ZSuite. This year’s instructors are Coya Williams, Joe Leggett, Jon Saxton, and Samaria Kirby.  

4-H Market Animal Project Registration 

If you are planning on showing and selling a market animal at the 2024/25 Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale, you must enroll in both the level and market project for that animal on ZSuite. For example, if you are planning on showing and selling a market steer and you are in Beef Level 1, you need to enroll in both Beef Level 1 and Beef Market. Direct any questions about enrolling in Market Animal Projects to the 4-H agent jennifer.volkmar@montana.edu or Jody at CascadeCountyextension@montana.edu or call 406-454-6980. 

4-H Shooting Sports Instructor Trainings 

There are multiple opportunities available to become at 4-H Certified Shooting Sports Instructor. Certified 4-H Instructors help to teach 4-H Shooting Sports disciplines to youth throughout the 4-H year. Reach out to our Cascade County Shooting sports coordinator Samaria at smkirby19@yahoo.com or 406-390-2880 if you are interested in attending a training. The Cascade 4-H Foundation has funds available to help offset the cost of attending a training course:  

  • December 6-7 in Kalispell, MT – Rifle, Archery, Shotgun, Hunting  
  • December 13-14 in Belgrade, MT – Rifle, Pistol, Archery,  

Future Meeting Announcements 

Horse Leaders 

The Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders will meet on Tuesday, November 5th at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx. Topics of discussion include rule changes and planning for the upcoming year. Please remember in order to vote on rule changes, leaders must be active in ZSuite and attend both the October and November meetings.  

Livestock Leaders 

The Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will meet on Tuesday, October29th at 6:00pm at the Extension Office and via WebEx. Topics of discussion include rule changes and planning for the upcoming year. Please remember in order to vote on rule changes, leaders must be active in ZSuite and attend both the October and November meetings.  

Shooting Sporter Leaders 

The Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders will meet on Thursday, November 7that 6:00 pm at the Extension Office.  Topics of discussion include rule changes, plans for the upcoming 4-H year. 

Thank You!! 

Thank you to the Leaders Council for voting to give back to our clubs that participated in the Ice Cream Booth at the state Fair.  Each club has a check at the office for you to come and get.   

Serving as a Leader 

Cascade County 4-H is always looking for great leaders.  If you like to Cook, Bake, Sew, Crochet, Weld, are a woodworker, love giving speeches, a master gardener, love photography, etc... We can use your talents.   The duties of committee members include setting project specific policy, planning educational events, maintaining project budgets, and working with the Extension Agent to guide the program. Committee members must be enrolled volunteer leaders. Come join our team.  If you are interested in information contact Jenn at jennifer.volkmar@montana.edu 

Fair Checks  

Please remember to stop at the office and pick these up.  

Horsey Halloween

Horsey Halloween is back!  This annual Favorite will be November 2nd from 2:00 to 6:00 pm.   A sign up for this event is on Z suite.      

Please bring a snack to share.   

Schedule of events: 

  • 2:00 Costume parade and contest 
  • 2:30 Parents Meeting - All parents plan to attend 
  • 3:00 Games 
  • 4:30 Open riding 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and 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.