Sheridan County

MSU Extension in Sheridan County has been hard at work this year, conducting 15 forage nitrate tests, offering six Private Applicator Credit learning opportunities, submitting five samples to the Schutter Diagnostic Lab at MSU-Bozeman, sending two water samples to the NDSU Vet Science Diagnostic Lab in Fargo, sending one 4-H team to compete at a state event, and receiving three grants.

Stop the Bleed

On September 22, The Eager Beaver 4-H Club in Antelope attended a class on the importance and methods of stopping bleeding in emergency situations, a skill that can potentially save lives. The class was taught by Sheridan Memorial EMTs Kaela Carpenter, Heather Wirtz, and Sheridan County MSU Extension agent and Plentywood firefighter Jack Bazemore. With agriculture as a major industry in the county and many participants who engage and help on family farms (where accidents can happen and help could be more than 30 minutes away), these skills can prove invaluable. In addition to practicing packing and dressing wounds and applying tourniquets, members also created kits containing roller gauze, quick clot, and a tourniquet for an important person in their life. Many participants wanted to give the kit to someone they know working in the oil field or agriculture, and hunters.

Sheridan County Competes in State Livestock Judging Contest

For the second year in a row, the Sheridan County 4-H Livestock Judging Team competed at the Montana 4-H Congress. This year the program will expand to include more contests, more members, and add a horse judging team to our state 4-H Congress attendees.

A Year for Improvements

Sheridan County 4-H was the recipient of three grants in 2023 totaling more than $20,000. Grants were awarded from the Vincent Gaffney Foundation (VGF), Ag West Farm Credit Services, and the Friends of the NRA. The Friends of the NRA Equipment Grant provided much needed equipment upgrades for the shooting sports program. Equipment included shooting gloves, kneeling rolls, spotting scopes, offhand stands, shooting mats, five cases of shotgun shells-including two cases of low recoil shells, and an air compressor for charging air rifles. The VGF and Agwest Farm Credit Services grants were used to make much-needed improvements to fairground livestock facilities. With these funds, we purchased stall mats to replace the dirt floor in horse stalls, creating a safer and cleaner environment for both exhibitors and their horses. With an influx of members in the swine project, we moved sheep and goat projects to a different barn, and the VGF grant allowed us to partner with the Plentywood School shop class to construct new panels for sheep and goat pens. Moreover, with the VGF grant, we were able to paint the inside of the beef facility and pour a concrete slab under the stock tank to prevent a muddy and hazardous environment. Two evaporative coolers were purchased to provide a cooler in every building, giving livestock, exhibitors, and patrons refuge from the hot summer sun.

Contact

100 W Laurel Ave
Plentywood
406-765-3406
https://www.montana.edu/extension/sheridan/