Hello 4-H Families!


Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us for our
annual Achievement Day Awards! It was a blast to show off all of
the accomplishments you all have made throughout the year. All
of our winners are included in this newsletter. We are looking
forward to all of the great things that you all will accomplish this
coming year!


Please try to get signed up or re-enrolled in Z-Suite before the
end of November so we can order books!


We are needing a couple of Toole County Day Chairs for the
Marias Fair this year. If you are interested at all, this is a paid
position. If you need more information, please contact the
Extension office. We cannot run the food booth without our day
chairs!


Beef weigh-ins are coming up, I’m planning to do a weigh-in at
the Flesch Sale Barn and will contact my steer people when we
nail down a date, please let me know and we will find a time that
works for you. Please make sure to be enrolled in Z-Suite so we
have an accurate list of all the members.


Kim & Jackie

FSA Youth Ag Loans
If you are looking for a way to finance your 4-H projects for this year (or wanting to take on a larger
livestock project), consider visiting with the Farm Service Agency. 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. Interest rate is 4.875%. (This might pick up again after the gov.
shutdown. I just want you to keep this on your radar)

MRLA Free Membership
Marias River Livestock Association is now offering FREE membership to those who are members of our
local 4-H & FFA!
Follow this link to join: http://mariasriverlivestock.com/plans-pricing

2026 Don Greytak Calendars
The Toole County Extension Office is selling Greytak Calendars. They are $15 each! Stop by the office to
pick yours up soon!

Fall Leadership Training
November 7-9 in Butte, Montana at the Copper King Hotel
Registration cost is $185 per person and includes lodging (4 to a room), Saturday and Sunday meals,
and program costs.
You can register in 4h.Zsuite any time and your registration will roll over to the new 4-H year that
begins October 1. Please enroll for the new 4-H year by updating any personal information and
complete all waivers prior to the start of this event. You can complete/update your club/project
enrollment after the event if needed.
Please let Kim or Jackie know if you want to attend, scholarships are available. See
https://www.montana.edu/extension/glacier/4H.html for applications.

Beef Weigh-Ins
The minimum weight for 2026 Marias Fair is 1,100 pounds; max pay weight is 1,650 pounds,
select steers accordingly. Each exhibitor may weigh-in one spare animal/species. Any breeding
animals must have the 4-H Clover tattoo OR Association registration tattoo OR Bangs
vaccination tattoo by the official hog weigh-in deadline (which will be in April 2026).


All steers must be dehorned, fully castrated, and born after January 1, 2025. Information to
bring to weigh-in: Steer’s birth date, Breed of steer (including percentages of each breed),
Breeder’s name and mailing address, and Bill of Sale. 4-Hers are also encouraged to have a
Show Cattle Permit as well for transportation purposes. If you have any questions on what is
needed or need to get a Brand Inspection, please call Jeff Jergens, district brand inspector, at
406-450-0001 or Tom Seifert at 406-873-5700.


Good news! The new Montana 4-H Beef Level 1 book is in print and available to 4-H beef members.
Thank you to all who have been a part of this process with feedback, ideas, piloting, etc. Beef 2 and 3
members, photocopies are available if needed, hopefully those books will be in print in the next year
as well

 

NOVEMBER

5th- Cloverbuds 3:08 - 5 pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria
5th- Livestock Committee Meeting 7pm @ MRE
6th- West Butte Cloverbud Meeting 5:30 @ Sunburst Library
10th- 4-H Council Meeting 6:30pm @ Extension Office
10th- Marias Fair Board meeting @ Ambulance Barn
11th- Office Closed for Veterans Day
12th- Office Closed in AM for Meeting
17th- Marias Fair Horse Committee Meeting 6pm @ MRE
19th- Cloverbuds 3:08 - 5 pm @ Elementary School Cafeteria
27th-28th- Office Closed for Thanksgiving

DECEMBER

4th- West Butte Cloverbud Meeting 5:30 @ Sunburst Library
6th- Beef Weigh- in Deadline
7th- Shelby Christmas Stroll
7th- West Butte Club Meeting 4pm @ The Parish Hall
14th- Kountry Kids Christmas Giving Project 2pm @ Albertsons, meeting and Christmas Party to
follow at Exhibit Building
25th & 26th- Office Closed for Christmas