4-H Newsletter October 2025

Welcome, 4-Hers! Seeyou at the kick off celebration on Ocotber 7!

Join us on Tuesday, Oct 7, at the Choteau Pavilion to celebrate our 2024-2025 4-H memories and ring in the new 4-H year!This is a great time to renew, re-enroll, and recruit!All are welcome - bring a side dishor dessert to share! (And please let us know you are coming - 406-466-2491)

New:  4-H Archery Orientation

There will be a meeting for those interested in 4-H archery on October 6, at 6 pm at Greenfield Elementary.If you are not able to attend, please call Haven Murphy (590-2881) or Rocky Forseth (590-7984).We will be discussing dates and times for practices, what kind of bow your child will be using, tournaments, fees for shooting this year, fundraiser possibilities and anything else I can remember by then!Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!Haven and Rocky

New 4-H Re-enrollment Deadline-November 1

The 4-H re-enrollment due date for returning 4-H youth and adults is Saturday, November 1. If you need help with online enrollment, please call the office well before the close-of-business on Friday, October 31. We are instituting this earlier due date to be in step with other nearby 4-H counties and get project books to members sooner in the year.

Teton County "Save the Dates":

October 5-11

• National 4-H Week:
  • Mon-Wear Green, Tue-4-H Celebration Party, Wed-Thank a Volunteer!

October 6

• Archery Orientation meeting, 6 p.m., Greenfield School

October 7

• Teton 4-H Week Celebration, 6 - 8 p.m., Choteau Pavilion,  (Includes dinner), RSVP 406-466-2491

October 27

• 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Courthouse Conference Room, Choteau, 

October 1-31

• Club Treasurer’s books due, Thursday close-of-business, Extension Office

October 1-31

• Enrollment and re-enrollment ongoing, ZSuite and Extension Office

October 1-31

• "Have your cake and eat it, too!"  Sign up for 4-H Committees

November 3

• 4-H Council Meeting, 6 p.m., Fairfield Public Library

Statewide 4-H Events

October 1

• MIWW (Make It With Wool)

  Entries Due at National, State and District Levels. Late Entries not accepted.

October 3-5

• Volunteer Institute in Billings, MT 

October 5-11

• National 4-H Week - Theme is "Beyond Ready!"

November 7-9

• 4-H Fall Leadership Training in Butte, MT

All-Club 4-H Celebration!

Tuesday, October 7, 6-8 p.m. at the Choteau Pavilion

6 - 6:30 pm:      Potluck dinner

(Hot roast beef sandwiches provided by Copper Creek with 4-H potluck side dishes and desserts.  Drop off potlucks 5:30-5:45 in the kitchen!)

6:30 - 7:30 pm:Club Highlightsand Awards

(Each club gets 10 minutes to present memorable moments from 2024-2025 and give up to 2 special or unique awards to its members. Get creative and have fun with it!)

7:30 - 7:45 pm:Celebration of Volunteers!

7:45 - 8:00 pm:   Wrap up and time to visit and ask questions of club leaders and superintendents

Sign Up and Start the New 4-H Year!

Re-enrollment for 4-H begins on October 1 (on ZSuite) and must be completed before November 1. Club leader(s) will have Clover Selection project guides for members to get more information on projects. The deadline for re-enrollment is November 1.

“What are the perks of enrolling NOW (before November 1!)”:

• Project books will be paid for and ordered for you
  • The first project book order will be placed in late October
  • A second project book order will be placed in early December

“What happens if I re-enroll after the deadline of Nov 1?”:

• Complete a variance request form, stating why you were unable to re-enroll by December 1
• Order and pay for your own project books
• Pay a $25 per member late fee

Need Accommodation?

4-H strives to meet our members at their own levels of interest, capacity and capability.If a 4-H member requires accommodations – ranging from food allergies to wheelchair accessibility to sign language interpreters and more – we will gladly try to make those accommodations. We rely upon the members and their families to request these accommodations. To make such a request, please do so in writing or verbally and let us know that you or your child needs accommodations. We are happy to work with you to adapt the 4-H program to fit your needs.

We Welcome All

Montana State University Extension is committed to ensuring the civil rights of its clients, employees and volunteers. Every client, volunteer and employee must be treated fairly and equitably, with dignity and respect regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, veterans’ status, sexual orientation, citizenship, and marital or family status.We broaden our outreach when we are open to a diversity of ideas, cultures, experiences and backgrounds. Not only are our lives enriched, but we also build healthier communities for learning and living.MSU Extension and 4-H are pleased to partner with you to achieve the important goals of equity and fairness to all.

"NA" Toasting Only

It is 4-H policy that when parents/volunteers are at a 4-H event, and will be working with 4-H youth, the adult must refrain from purchasing, consuming or having consumed alcohol.

Join Teton County 4-H Clubs!

ALL club and committee treasurer's books are due to the Extension office by October 31. They can be turned in earlier, after including the September bank statement. Items that must be submitted with the treasurer's book are:

• Checkbooks
• Receipts
• Financial records
• Bank statements

Clubs and committee that do not comply risk losing their charter and association with Montana 4-H and/or Teton County 4-H.

October's "Beyond Ready" Club Activity

Create your club’s meeting calendar with youth input.Allowing youth to have their voice heard and take part in decision making that affects them builds their confidence and sense of agency.

What is agency in youth?

“Youth agency is the desire and ability of young people to make decisions and drive change—

in their own lives, in their communities, and in their larger spheres of influence.

Agency is a right that allows young people to become the architects of their own future.”

-International Youth Foundation

Club Leader and Treasurer Reminder

All community, project club and committee treasurer's books are due to the Extension office by October 31. They can be turned in earlier, after the September bank statement has been reconciled.

Items that must be submitted with the treasurer's book are:

• Checkbooks
• Receipts
• Financial records
• Bank statements

A packet will be mailed to each club leader and treasurer with instructions to complete this annual requirement.

Thank You to Our Amazing Volunteers!

Contact Us!  MSU Extension Teton County

• Mailing Address:  PO Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422
• Phone:  466-2491/2492 (phone/voicemail)
• Email:  teton@montana.edu (send club minutes, most questions/issues)
• Text only:  406-530-5373 (checked M-F, 8-5)
• https://teton.msuextension.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/TetonCoExt
• http://montana4h.org/

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.
2026    June 22-28

Camp Dates

2026   To Be Determined

4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman

2026   July 7-10

Agents:

Shelby Jones-Dozier shelby.jonesdozier@montana.edu
Jenn Swanson  jenn.swanson@montana.edu

Assistants:

Jamie Smith  teton@montana.edu

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service 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. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cody Stone, Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717