Hill County 4-H Youth Development

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to our4-Herswith
SEPTEMBER Birthdays

Mackenzie Adkins

Cooper Campbell

Elizabeth Carroll

Jessa Guttery

Zane Kuhr

Piper Miller

Audrey Secor

Happy Fall Y’All,  

     Congratulations on a successful 4-H year!  

     As we reflect on the 4-H year remember success is different for each person. Take a moment to reflect on the goals you set out to accomplish at the beginning of the year.  Being in 4-H is not about the ribbon alone but about the lessons learned and experiences you had along the way. Did you make a new friend, learn something new, step outside of your comfort zone?  Learning something new and overcoming challenges is a key part to growing and becoming your best self. 

     We would love to read all about your 4-H experiences in your Record Book.  While we understand Record Books may not be your favorite part of 4-H they are one of the most important. They are an accounting of your projects and help you learn firsthand income and expenses and show you how much you have learned and earned in just a few pages.  Share both the positive and negative!  We want to get to know you and what you learned from both your mistakes and successes. Tell YOUR story in the “What I Learned” section of your Record Book.  

     The YEAR END CELEBRATION is set for Sunday October 5, 2025. This event will also be a recognition event for our 4-H Livestock Sale buyers and your breeders. Please take time to personally invite them! We look forward to seeing you all there.  

     While you are completing your 4-H Record Books if you have any questions, please reach out to the Extension Office!  We are here to help.  

     All end of year paperwork is due by September 19, 2025, by 5:00 p.m.  

       This includes: 

• • 4-H Record Books
  • 4-H Project Award Applications
  • 4-H “H” Award Applications
  • Nomination forms for Hill County 4-H Leader of the Year and Friend of 4-H.

  4-H COUNCIL OFFICER POSITIONS OPEN

      The 4-H Council has openings for all of the Officer positions – President, Vice-President and Secretary.  If you are interested in serving on the 4-H Council, please fill out the Application form available in Zsuite or give us a call at the Extension office and let us know you are interested.  Please turn in the Application or make the call by Sept. 18^th. 

Be a part of HAVRE FESTIVAL DAYS – 2025

     It is time to sign up for a float in the parade for Havre Festival Days.  The 45^th annual celebration will include a parade on Saturday, September 20^th.  This year’s theme is “Our Town, Our Story”. 

      Luke and Kathie Secor are heading up this project this year and invite all 4-H members, leaders, alumni and parents to join in the fun.  If you are available to help build the float and/or would like to walk or ride during the parade, please call or text Kathie at 509-768-8081.

     Luke and Kathie are also looking for donations of candy to hand out during the parade.  If you would like to donate, please contact Kathie for pickup.

ARE YOU PART of the 4-H COUNCIL MEETINGS?

     Council meetings are where decisions are made that affect the 4-H program. If you want your club to know what decisions are being made, and have a voice in those decisions, you need to have a representative present at the Council meetings.  Each club is encouraged to have a representative present at the meetings, youth and adults are voting members of the 4-H Council.  The next Hill County 4-H Council meeting will be Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Timmons Room.  Mark your calendar and plan on attending.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE MEETING

 Monday, September 29, 2025 at the Extension Office at 5:15 p.m.

      The Awards and Recognition Committee will meet on Monday, September 29, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. at the Extension Office to go over the 4-H Record Books that have been turned in for Project Award consideration.  If you would like to be part of this committee, plan on attending the meeting on September 29^th.

2025 Montana MAKE IT WITH WOOL CONTEST

     It is time to start preparing for the Montana Make It With Wool contest to be held this Fall.  Get out your favorite pattern and start hunting for that perfect wool fabric.  Wouldn’t it be great to make a wool outfit for a contest this Fall and then already have an outfit finished for your sewing project this next 4-H year?

     The fabric needs to be a minimum of 60% wool to qualify for the MIWW contests. **There is a $7.00 Montana entry fee per swatch of fabric used and wool yarn used.  These funds will cover the cost of testing your fabric or yarn for wool content.

     The categories are Preteen (12 and under); Junior (13-16); Senior (17-24); Adult (age 25 and older); and Made for Others.  Ages are determined as of January 1, 2025.

     First place winners in the Junior, Senior, and Adult categories advance to the State competition which will be held during the Montana Wool Growers Convention held in Billings on December 5^th and 6^th, 2025.  Preteen and Made for Other categories only compete at the District level.  

     Specific Montana District information and the Montana Entry Form and Brochure is available at the Extension Office or on our Facebook page – Montana Make It With Wool.  All entry forms are due by October 1, 2025.  No late entries please.

     And don’t forget about the Quilt – Appliqué Project – Afghan Contest being held again this year.  That information is also available at the Extension office or on our Facebook page – Montana Make It With Wool.

     Along with the excitement running through Montana’s MIWW program, we want to remind every one of the three new contests connected with the National Make It With Wool portion of the program.  There is the Sweater contest which was in its maiden year last year, the Producer to CrafterPartnership contest, and the Recycle - Upcycle contest.  These three additions to the National MIWW program are being sponsored by RE Synergy and being promoted by Back Yard Green Films and Make It With Wool.  The specifics of these contests along with entry forms can be found on the National Make It With Wool website at makeitwithwool.com, and are also included on our Montana MIWW Facebook page Montana Make It With Wool.

NATIONAL 4-H WEEK ~ October 5-11, 2025  

     PROMOTE 4-H during National 4-H Week.  National 4-H Week is October 5^th  thru 11^th, 2025.  The theme this year is “#4HBeyond Ready”.  Work together as a club and put in a window display in a business window promoting 4-H.   Wear 4-H “green” all week.  Talk about 4-H and encourage non-4-Hers to join in the fun!! 

     If you put in a window display, please let the Extension office know where it is so we can take pictures.  Or if you could take pictures and forward them to the Extension office that would be great.  Thanks.

RECORD BOOKS AND PROJECT AWARDS

4-H Members – Is Your 4-H Year Complete?

     Now that that Fair is behind us, it is time to wrap up the 2024-2025 4-H year.  The end of the 4-H year is a time for 4-H members to be recognized for their accomplishments through the year, and to also complete their records in order to progress to the next 4-H year.

     It is a requirement that all 4-H youth in Hill County complete their Record Books for all projects they are enrolled in.  If you cannot complete a project this year, please contact the Extension office.

       Leaders look for the following information in your book…

               “My 4-H Year” sheet is complete, including three goals for the year.
             A completed “Project and Financial Journal” for each non-animal project.
               Project Book Activities completed are listed for each project.
               “What I Did / What I Learned” section is complete for each project.
               A completed “Animal Record” sheet for each animal project.

     If a 4-Her does not complete his/her Record Book according to the completion criteria, the year will not count as a year in 4-H.  The 4-Her will repeat the previous year if they enroll again the next year.

ZSUITE RECORD BOOKS: Leaders, if you have a 4-H member that completed their Record Book using the online site, please still check off the items above by checking from your administrator account or by having the 4-H member show you the items on their phone, iPad, etc.

ANY 4-H MEMBER THAT WANTS TO SUBMIT THEIR RECORD BOOK FOR AN AWARD AND USED ZSUITE BOOKS MUST PRINT THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED AND TURN IT IN TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE BY THE DEADLINE.  If you have any questions please get in touch with Colleen or Kati BEFORE the deadline.  

Applying for a County Award

1. Club Leader(s) set date for books to be turned in to them.
2. Designated leader(s) review each book for completeness.

When the book is complete:

     The leader signs the book where designated.

     The youth then fills out the Hill County 4-H Award Application and writes a 4-H Story, (following the guidelines for a 4-H story that are on the application form) and turns both in with their 4-H Record Book by 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 19^th. 

Record Book Assistance

Leaders:  Organizational leaders are encouraged to call the Extension Office with questions regarding 4-H Record Books.  We look forward to this opportunity to meet with the organizational leaders and discuss any ideas, plans, or thoughts for the upcoming 4-H year.

2024-2025 4-H ENROLLMENTS

     4-H enrollments for the 2025-2026 4-H year will begin on October 1, 2025.  If you enroll before October 1, 2025, your enrollment will revert back to “inactive” on September 30, 2025, and you will have to re-enroll again after October 1, 2025.  Patience is a virtue… we look forward to your 4-H enrollments beginning October 1^st.

END-OF-YEAR 4-H CELEBRATION
and BUYER / BREEDER RECOGNITION DINNER

     Hill County 4-H celebrates the end of the 2024-2025 4-H Year and welcomes in the new 2025-2026 4-H Year at the End-of-Year 4-H Celebration event which is scheduled for Sunday, October 5^thbeginning at 5:00 p.m. at the 4-H Chuckwagon.  4-H Livestock Sale buyers and animal breeders for the 2025 year will also be recognized.

    The End-of-Year Celebration is for everyone in our 4-H community to relish the memories of this year and get excited for next year.  The Hill County 4-H Project Award recipients, Market/Production winners, Showmanship winners, Herdsmanship Award recipients, Carcass winners, Scholarship recipients, Friend of 4-H award, and 4-H Leader of the Year award recipients will be honored at this event.

     Following the awards, we will share in a meal.  We sent out RSVP invites to your Livestock buyers and breeders this week.  Special invites have also been sent out to 4-H Award recipients with the request of an RSVP number. Everyone is invited to attend this Celebration, so if you plan on attending with your family or other special people, please email or call the Extension office with your RSVP number by Tuesday, September 30^th so we can get final numbers to our hosting club.

     Each 4-H club is asked to donate two door prizes (three if you so desire) for some added fun.  Please bring your packaged door prizes to the 4-H Chuckwagon on October 5^th.

     Thank you to the Sunrise 4-H club for planning this event.  We would ask that all of our 4-H clubs help with Clean-Up after the event. Thanks in advance for your help.  Many hands make light work!!

UPCOMING MEETINGS / EVENTS

9.1.25 - Labor Day Holiday - Office closed

9.9.25 - 4-H Foundation Meeting at 5:15 p.m. in the 4-H Chuckwagon

9.9.25 - 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting at 6:15 p.m. in the 4-H
     Chuckwagon

9.12.25 - Hill County 4-H Ambassador Applications Due to the Extension
     office

9.12-14.25 - Montana 4-H Working Ranch Horse Finals 

9.14.25 - 4-H Cloverbuds Meeting at 2:00 p.m. in the 4-H Chuckwagon

9.18.25 - Deadline for 4-H Council Officer Position Applications or phone
     call to the Extension Office letting us know you are interested in
     serving on the Council as an officer

9.19.25 - Due to the Extension Office - 
                      - 4-H Record Books
                      - 4-H Project Award Applications
                      - Four "H's" Award Applications
                      - Friend of 4-H and Leader of the Year Nomination forms.

9.20.25 - Hill County 4-H participating in the 2025 Havre Festival Days
     Parade - Meet at the High School at 10:00 a.m.

9.25.25 - 4-H Council Meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the 4-H Chuckwagon

9.26-28.25 - Montana 4-H State Horse Show

9.29.25 - 4-H Awards Committee Meeting at 5:15 p.m. at the Extension
     office

10.1.25 - New 4-H Year Starts

10.3-5.25 - Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute in Billings

10.5.25 - 4-H End-of-Year Celebration and Buyer/Breeder Recognition
      Event at 5:00 p.m. at the 4-H Chuckwagon

10.5-11.25 - National 4-H Week

10.7.25 - 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting at 6:15 p.m. at the 4-H
     Chuckwagon

10.13.25 - Columbus Day - Holiday - Office Closed

10.19.25 - 4-H Cloverbud Meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the 4-H Chuckwagon

10.20.25 - 4-H Foundation Meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Timmons Room

10.20.25 - 4-H Shooting Sports Parent Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H
     Chuckwagon

10.27.25 - 4-H Shooting Sports Practice begins at 5:00 p.m. at the 4-H
     Chuckwagon (Practices continue on subsequent Mondays through
     April unless otherwise noted in the 4-H Newsletter.)

10.31.25 - Happy Halloween
     Due to the Extension Office are the End-of-the-Year Financial Summary
     form; 1% Assessment Fee; and Annual Club Dues

11.7-9.25 - Fall Leadership Training in Butte

4-H BRAND RESOURCES

     The 4-H brand tells the world who we are and has a great impact when used correctly.  The 4-H brand uses a precise 4-H clover in a certain color.  Specifics on approved logos and colors can be found at www.montana4h.org/resources/4-H_brand.html.  If you are making a flyer and need logos or clip art sent to you, we are happy to do that.  Call the Extension office to make that request.

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2025-2026 4-H Clubs