Thank You to JoAnn McDowell

We thank JoAnn McDowell for her time and great work at the Extension Office and congratulate her on her new position as the payroll clerk in the Teton County Clerk & Recorder’s Office.She will be missed around the office but we are happy she is still nearby!

Mandatory Shooting sports Orientation-Tuesday, September 30

Teton County Shooting Sports Clubs will have a pistol, rifle and Western Heritage organizational meeting on Tuesday September 30, at 7 p.m. at the Rocky Mountain Rifle Club at 144 5th Lane NE, Fairfield.This meeting mandatory for parents and for members interested in pistol, rifle and/or Western Heritage shooting sports.If you have questions, or attending presents a problem for your family, please call Brian Bedord with questions at 406-590-9092 before September 30.Remember to bring a checkbook as dues and fees will need to be paid that evening.Shooting practice begins on Wednesday, October 8.

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 4-H Happenings

September 8

  • 4-H Council Meeting, Courthouse Conference Room, Choteau, 5:30 p.m.

September 30

  • Shooting Sports Orientation Meeting, Rocky Mountain Rifle Club, 7 p.m.

October 7

  • All-Club 4-H Celebration, Choteau Pavilion, 6 - 8 pm (Includes dinner)

October 20

  • 4-H Livestock Committee Meeting, Courthouse Conference Room, Choteau, 6:00 pm

October 31

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

November 1

  • 4-H Re-enrollment Deadline for returning youth and adults

Statewide 4-H Events

September 12-14

  • MT 4-H Working Ranch Horse Finals at the 406 Arena in Vaughn, MT

September 25-28

  • 2025 State Horse Show, 406 Arena, Vaughn

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 - the 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)

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. 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

Club Leader Information

Plan to attend 4-H Council Meetings

Meeting locations will rotate throughout the county and will be decided upon at each meeting.

November 3, 2025: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

January 5, 2026 : 5:30-6:30 p.m.

March 2, 2026:5:30-6:30 p.m.

May 4, 2026:5:30-6:30 p.m.

September 14, 2026: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

**Please do not schedule club meetings at the same time as council meetings.

If a leader from your club cannot attend, please arrange for a family from your club to attend.
Youth 12 and up are highly encouraged to attend and participate in decision making.

Have your first Club Meeting of the year in September

At the first meeting, elect club officers and send names to Extension Office. Encourage families in your club to join county level committees. See page 6 for more information.

Attend Teton County 4-H Celebration on October 7

Prepare a short-but-sweet presentation (serious or funny) about the 2024-25 4-H year and present up to 2 unique club-level awards.

National 4-H Week:  October 5-11

Promote 4-H at your local school and/or community

  • Decorate Lockers
  • Go Green! Members Wear Green
  • Store Front Displays
  • Send a 4-H ‘Thank You’
  • Ideas from Club Members

Turn in Treasurer's Books by Friday, October 31, 2025

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.

Why 4-H?

What motivates you to be a part of Teton County 4-H?

Help us learn what matters to you by thinking of three words or short phrases that answer this question.

This information will be used to create goals for the new 4-H year.

Share your words with the Extension Team.

You can also call or email us at the Extension Office with your words.

Call: 406-466-2491

Email: teton@montana.edu

2025 State Horse Shows

Head down to the 406 Arena in Vaughn and see 4-H horse project members from around the state compete!

Working Ranch Horse Finals

September 12-14 at 406 Arena in Vaughn​.

State Horse Show

September 25-28 at 406 Arena in Vaughn​

2025 Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute

Registration for the 2025 Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute is now open!

Get ready to connect, recharge, and gain fresh ideas at the Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute! This statewide event welcomes all Montana 4-H volunteers whether you’re brand-new or have years of experience. Spend the weekend learning from inspiring guest speakers, participating in hands-on workshops, and sharing ideas with fellow volunteers who share your passion for helping youth thrive. Together, we’ll build skills, spark creativity, and shape beyond ready youth in every corner of Montana 4-H.

View the schedule and details for the Volunteer Institute.

Workshop descriptions will be added once selected. Participants will select workshops at the institute. Conference attendee's are responsible for booking their own hotel room.

 

To register click on the registration link below. You will have the option to pay with a credit card or pay later option if your county is covering part of your registration fee.

 

Registration Link

October 3-5, 2025

Registration Cost: $75

Billings Hotel and Convention Center

(406) 248-7151

1223 Mullowney Ln, Billings, MT 59101

$129 Double Queen Room Call and ask for the 4-H Room Block.

Room Block expires September 12.

2025 4-H Fall Youth Leadership Training

4-H Fall Leadership Training for teen leaders and county Ambassadors is November 7-9, 2025 in Butte at the Copper King. This opportunity is available to the 2025 Camp Counselors.

Theme and schedule announced September 14. If you are interested in attending, please contact the Extension Office for details. ​

School Service Learning Requirements

If your school has service learning requirements, please talk to local school administrators about how to record your service learning hours and let our office know. We are happy to complete paperwork, etc., but can only do so if we know your school’s requirements and you prompt us via email, text, call, to do so. Many 4-H events would qualify as service learning!

Serve on a 4-H Committee This 4-H Year!

Sign up for committees ​now!

In addition to clicking on the link above, you can also email (teton@montana.edu), text (406-350-5373)

or call (406-466-2491) to sign up for committees.

 
Teton County 4-H Committee
Description
Meetings

Number of Members 
(Suggested Minimum)
Standing Committees
Budget and Audit
Develops and then recommends
to the 4-H Council an annual budget, which is voted on at
4-H Council
Meets 1-2 times each year
in late Summer and/or Fall

4-H Council Treasurer,

1 agent,

1 adult member,

1 youth member
Communications Day
Assist in contacting local volunteer judges, setting up at the event and providing refreshments for participants.
Meets 1-2 times each year in Fall and/or Winter, to plan Teton County’s Communications Day in spring

1 agent,

1-2 adult members,

1-2 youth members
Fair
Designates annual Fair theme, creates the schedule of Fair activities, develops the Fair publicity plan

Meets 1-2 times each year in Spring, to plan Teton County’s
4-H Fair in June

1agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members
Awards
Designates annual awards plan for 4-H competitions; may be the same members and meet at the same time as the Fair Committee

Meets 1-2 times each year in Spring, to plan Teton County’s
4-H Fair in June

 

1 agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members

 
Livestock 
Attends to livestock project areas including animal husbandry education, livestock quality assurance education, safety and rules regarding the 4-H Livestock Sale and Carcass Competition

Meets on the first Monday of every other month

(Oct, Dec, Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug)

 

Ag agent,

Officers (Pres, VP, Treasurer, Secretary), livestock superintendents,

1 or more adult members,

1 or more youth members

 
Horse Committee
Oversees equine education events, rules, regulations and safety of 4-H horse-related events and contests – in the case of an active horse project club, may be comprised of the horse project club members

Meets 3 to 4 times per year, or as needed

Horse project club leader,

1 or more adult members,

1 or more youth members

 
Textile

Oversees textile educational events, offerings and competitions

Meets 1 or 2 times per year, in Fall and/or Spring

1 agent,

1 or 2 adult members,

1 or 2 youth members
Record Book
Establishes guidelines for 4-H members’ record book completions; reviews record books submitted for record book quality contest

Meets 1-2 times each year in the late Summer and/or Fall

3 adult members
Special Committee
Exchange
Currently inactive; will activate when needed.An active committee is not needed to enroll in the Exchange project.

Meets only as need to review Exchange policy

Ad hoc

Contact Us!  MSU Extension Teton County

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