Big Horn County

Big Horn County is located in south central Montana and is the sixth largest county in Montana. It encompasses 5,023 square miles and includes the Crow Reservation and part of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Over 13,000 residents call Big Horn County home. There are over three million acres in production as farm or ranch lands. The primary livestock production is cattle, and the county produces hay, wheat, barley, corn, sugar beets and other crops. Big Horn County serves communities in the county by offering programs in agriculture, providing 4-H Youth Development, and partnering with individuals and organizations in community development projects and programs throughout the county. Andrea Berry is the agriculture and 4-H agent. Currently, the Family and Consumer Sciences agent position and the nutrition education (SNAP-Ed) position are open, with plans to fill them in 2024.

In 2023 the Big Horn County Master Gardener program was re-established with the guidance of the State Master Gardener Coordinator. The first group completed a series of eight classes. Approximately 75 nitrate tests were performed on forage samples for producers, and included education and information from MontGuides on nitrates in feed and the consequences of elevated nitrate levels for livestock. A range of samples were sent to Schutter Lab for diagnosis of plant and pest problems, including herbicide injury, nuisance aphids, benign but unsightly fungi, and plant species identification, particularly invasive species and noxious weeds. Recommendations were provided to producers and the public to address each concern, including Integrated Pest Management instruction for assessing the severity of problems and options for treatment. Ladies Ag Night was held in February as a joint effort of MSU Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency and the Big Horn Conservation District, and planning is underway for the 2024 program. MSU Extension partnered with NRCS to provide an information booth about pollinators and soils at the River Valley Farmer’s Market this past summer and looks forward to exploring more partnership options. Finally, several opportunities for on-farm visits occurred throughout the year, which provided a great opportunity to see farm and ranch production at the source. A new partnership is being developed with the Intertribal Ag Council for future program efforts.

After the re-establishment of the 4-H Council last year, Big Horn County 4-H leadership worked together with the 4-H community to support youth leadership and education throughout the 4-H year. The MSU Extension office successfully offered afterschool 4-H programming in one local school with plans for more schools in the coming year. All 4-H clubs saw an increase in enrollment, with many new members participating in club and organization activities. Livestock Quality Assurance training was offered for first-time 4-H members, while it was noted that most older members preferred to access Quality Assurance training online, as this worked better with busy school and sports schedules. Workshops wereheld for all project species to help newer members prepare to show their animals at the 2023 fair. Members of 4-H showed the majority of animals and projects at this year’s fair, and were also encouraged to sell their indoor projects. Carcass Awards were held in conjunction with all youth organizations involved in the fair, and Achievement Day was celebrated with games and activities at a local park. Big Horn County 4-H members attended Rec Lab and Congress, as well as the State Horse Show. There are always new opportunities, but it has been a growing year for Big Horn County 4-H.

Despite the lack of a nutrition educator for SNAP-Ed and Family and Consumer Science agent this year, a number of initiatives and partnerships begun by previous personnel were carried forward. The Strong People group continued to meet, and will be supported in new ways as they continue to grow in participants. The community gardens at Helping Hands Food Bank received additional funding through MSU Extension to build structures for shade cloth to help plants survive blistering temperatures. The project was built in partnership with the schools and community members. MSU Extension helped the River Valley Farmer’s Market transition fiscal and governing supervision from one non-profit organization to another, while maintaining the integrity and consistency of the market for both vendors and customers. The Hardin Garden community garden continued to provide raised bed growing spaces for community members with input from MSU Extension. New community partnerships are being explored to address community concerns in the areas of mental health services, along with expanding partnerships with non-profits.