Hello 4-H Families!


We have made it to December!! I was so lucky to be allowed to
chaperone National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia over the
Thanksgiving Holiday. It was such an awesome experience with
4-Hers from 42 other states. I would love to have some Toole
County 4-Hers attend congress in Bozeman this year and
eventually make it to Nationals.


Project books have been ordered for those who need them, and
some of them have arrived! I will send out an email when they
are ready to be picked up.


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!


I hope you all have a relaxed holiday season and ready for the
new year and new 4-H goals!


Sincerely,
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%.

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! They make excellent Christmas presents!!

Livestock Committee Update
Members who show multiple market animals at the fair will be able to pay $50/each to have those
additional animals shipped with the fair animals and participate in the carcass contest, have processed
meat returned on the truck, etc. Details will be firmed up as time gets closer. Example- 4-Her shows a
steer and lamb, and sells the steer. They can have the lamb go on the truck, participate in the carcass
contest, etc. for the $50 fee.

Montana 4-H Leadership
Academy Monthly Zoom
Meetings, 6 - 7 p.m.
December 6 - Understanding Yourself as a Leader
January 11 - Planning and Running a Project
Leadership Academy Monthly Workshops
Members 12+, 4-H Age, join the Montana 4-H Leadership Academy workshop on Sunday afternoons in
2025-2026 4-H year. The leadership academy is a network of Montana 4-H members interested in
exploring and developing their own leadership skills while serving their county 4-H program in new
ways. Each month the officer team members will present a different workshop topic that they have
found to be important as they have grown their own leadership abilities. This workshop should be
paired with a local county leadership meeting to work on county projects that serve the local 4-H
program and community.
The workshops will be focused on basic leadership skills to get 4-H'ers more prepared as they move into
larger and more demanding leadership roles, like camp counselors, teen leaders and county
ambassadors.
Register for the link at https://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NR9vgT1Tw0c3xI.

4-H Horse Workshops
Please RSVP to LeAnne at 406-391-0154 by December 10 for the halter making workshop so they can
plan for supplies. Although the deadline has passed, I’m sure they would still take anyone that wanted
to come to this workshop!

Montana 4-H Rec Lab - Save the Date
March 27-29, 2026- Columbus, MT
This year’s Rec Lab will include a county tour and a trip to Montana Silversmith’s Outlet Store. We plan
to share lots of Stillwater County educational opportunities with you. More info to come!

Montana 4-H Rec Lab Workshop Proposals Needed
This year’s theme: “4-H Escape: Do You Have the Skills to Unlock Your Potential?”
Bring your creativity and skills to life with a workshop that challenges participants to grow in
leadership, communication, and team-building — the core of Rec Lab’s mission!
Workshop proposals will be submitted through Google Forms at the link here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcMYQsAHodX-ry3QCHU8g
􀀀71JWZSvfSVSW8BS0YjvlSOZIQ/viewform?usp=dialog
Deadline to submit proposals is Monday, January 5, 2026
Both teens and adults (4-H volunteers, Extension professionals, community members & people
from other organizations) are encouraged to submit workshop proposals. Please share with those
who might be interested in presenting from your communities!

Montana 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications - Seniors and College Students
The Montana 4-H Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for secondary education.
These scholarships are available to both high school graduating seniors and current
undergraduate college students.
Important Dates:
An email will be sent through ZSuite on December 9, 2025.
Applications are due by February 14, 2026.
Visit: https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/scholarships.html and click on the “Application Platform”
tab to prep materials.
Application Link:
https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/Montana4HScholarship2026

Montana 4-H Foundation People Partner Grants
The Montana 4-H Foundation is excited to announce that People Partner Grants are now open for
applications! See details below as also on our website here:
https://www.mt4hfoundation.org/grants.html Please share with groups and individuals that may be
interested.
Grant Purpose
These grants provide incentives and financial support to groups and individuals for programs
that enhance the quality of living for people in their communities.
Application Deadline: February 14, each application is eligible for up to $500.
Eligibility
4-H groups and individual members may apply. Grants are also open to non-4-H youth groups
and individuals. Applications should meet the following criteria:
Youth should be involved in determining, planning, conducting, and evaluating the project.
Project will make it possible for individuals involved to accomplish something educational and
worthwhile that helps the target audience reach a higher quality of life.
There is community support and acceptance of the project, as evidence by "partners" listed in the
grant application, additional funding sources, and resource persons and agencies involved.
The project has lasting benefits. See grant application for more details.
Application Process
Complete the application online here:
https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/PeoplePartnerGrant2026

Marias Fair Stadium Cup Logo Contest 2026
We are taking submissions for this year’s Marias Fair Food Booth Cup Logo Submission deadline:
February 15 email, JPEG file to Lisa, lterry@montana.edu th Requirements: Must include the official 4-H
Logo If including county list, must include Blackfeet Reservation, Glacier, Liberty, Pondera, and Toole
Counties. Youth entries only.

Glacier County Project Day
Kim will be presenting a workshop at Glacier County’s project day on December 30 . If there are any
Toole County kids interested in attending, they are welcome! Save the date and more information will
be out soon. They will be doing a Livestock Quality Assurance workshop, many of you will be needing
that training this year. I will send out the registration information when Glacier County sends it out.

Marias Fair Archery Shoot
The Marias Fair Archery Tournament/Invitational is live on Bowscore. Please see the two links below.
The Tournament is Sunday, February 1st. Be sure to read all the information before signing up.
Direct Link to Marias Fair Invitational- https://bowscore.com/tournaments/marias-fair-invitational-
2026#/
Main Tournament page search for Marias Fair Invitational- https://bowscore.com/tournaments#/
A late registration fee will be added for all registrations after January 28, 2026.

T o o l e C o u n t y C l o v e r b u d G i n g e r b r e a d H o u s e s
The Toole County Cloverbuds made Gingerbread houses for the Marias Museum Gingerbread Contest.
The Theme was Holiday on the High-Line. The kids has a fun time building their entries with the teen
leaders and adults. We followed up the extreme sugar experience with a wonderful Dental Health
Presentation by the Toole County Health Department: Shiloh Neal and Jenny Schwenke.

DECEMBER
3rd- Cloverbuds after school 5pm @ Elementary Cafeteria
6th- Beef Weigh- in Deadline
6th- 4-H Leadership Academy workshop 6-7pm on Zoom
7th- Shelby Christmas Stroll
7th- West Butte Club Meeting 4pm @ The Parish Hall
11th- West Butte Cloverbud Meeting 5:30 @ Sunburst Library
14th- Kountry Kids Christmas Giving Project 2pm @ Albertsons, meeting and Christmas Party to
follow at Exhibit Building
14th- Horse Project Meeting and Halter Making 5:30pm @ Glacier County Annex Building
17th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary Cafeteria
24th - ½ Day Toole County Courthouse Closed
25th & 26th- Office Closed for Christmas
30th- Glacier County Project Day

JANUARY
1st- Office Closed
4th- West Butte Club Meeting
7th- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary Cafeteria
8th- West Butte Cloverbud meeting 5:30 @ Sunburst Library
11th- Kountry Kids Meeting 2pm @ Exhibit Building
21st- Cloverbuds after school- 5pm @ Elementary Cafeteria