4-H Newsletter May 2026
On the Horizon
May 1
- Fair Registration Opens
- 4-H Congress registration oepns on ZSuite
May 3
- Swine LQA at Pearson’s, Sunday at 3 p.m.
May 17
- 4-H Poultry and Rabbit show (Practice for Fair!)-see below
May 19
- 4-H Camp Registration Closes
May 29
- Fair Registration Closes
June 7-10
- 4-H Camp at Camp Rotary
June 15
- 4-H State Congress Registration Closes on ZSuite
June 24-28
- 4-H Fair Week! Exhibitis, Interviews, Livestock Shows and Sale
Jul 6
- Western Heritage Competition registration closes
July 7-9
- 4-H Congress in Bozeman
July 18
- Western Heritage Competition
August 15
- Record Books Due for completion
Congratulations Seniors!
Ayden DeBruycker
“4-H has meant the world to me! I am proud to have been an Eager Eagle 4-H club member for 10 years. I joined 4-H because of the wide variety of projects and learning opportunities it provided. 4-H allowed me to become involved in my community and have meaningful volunteer experiences, to learn how to become a successful leader, to develop skills in agricultural and animal-related projects, to have confidence in public speaking, and to gain life skills needed for my future. 4-H allowed me to learn by doing, which is how I learn best. I have applied this knowledge and skill set to my everyday life as well as passing it on to younger 4-H members. 4-H helped shape my work ethic, independence, and responsibility while always providing a sense of belonging and achievement. My active ten-year involvement helped me find my joy and spark, leading me to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. I will forever be grateful for my participation in Teton County 4-H!”
Waverly Konen
“My all-time favorite 4-H activity is camp. As a camper I had an absolute blast with my friends, shout out to my fellow seniors Grace, Katie and Ayden! As a counselor I had even more fun, while receiving the best leadership learning I have had so far. My two words of advice to younger 4-Hers is to go to 4-H camp and start public speaking now even if that simply means saying something at your club meeting, it is beneficial and much easier to learn now.
P.S. record books are really helpful when writing scholarships so do them, even if you don’t want to!”
Leah Paulson
“To me, 4-H is all about relationships and opportunities. Trying new things and learning how to excel at them is what 4-H is meant to do! It is a safe place to mess up, learn, and grow. When I think of 4-H, I think of the relationships built, the things I’ve tried, and the fun and adventures had. I could never replace the mentorship that my 4-H leaders and coaches have given me. My life will always be enhanced by the things I have learned in 4-H.”
With another successful state meet behind them, the Rocky Mountain Top Shots look forward to building on their achievements and continuing a tradition of excellence in the years to come.
Katy Morris
“4-H has taught me leadership, responsibility, and confidence. It has helped me grow through hard work, teamwork, and dedication. Through-out my years in 4-H, I’ve built lifelong skills, and found a community that feels like family. Head, Heart, Hands, and Health have shaped who I am and who I’m becoming.”
Rebekah Wall
Kaylee Otto
Grace Toeckes
Ag Agent's Corner: Jenn Swanson
A big shout out to senior Katy Morris for putting on an event in true 4-H style!
Senior 4-H member Katy Morris spearheaded and taught an all-species 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance meeting for large animal members, on Sun Apr 26, 2026, at the Weatherbeater Arena.
Katy (with help from the whole Morris family) planned, set up, presented, and cleaned up a wonderful event that provided tips on care, feeding, and showmanship of large animals. Way to go, Katy!!
Katy enlisted the sponsorship of Hubbard Feeds (Thank you, Hubbard!) who provided a tasty lunch for 44 large animal members and some parents and siblings, too!
Congratulations to these 4-H Foundation Shcolarship Recipients
Bellamy Beadle
Ayden DeBruycker
Waverly Konen
Time to Register for 4-H Camp
4-H Camp will be at Camp Roatry in Neihart from Sunday, June 7-Wednesday, June 10.
Two adult female chaperones needed! Chaperone registration is on ZSuite.
Parents will need to provide transportation to and from Camp Rotary.
Camp registration is listed under Events on ZSuite as 2026 Camp Registration Teton/Cascade County and will close on May 19.
A packing list will be sent to registered campers.
Fair Registration
Due Friday, May 29, 2026
Important thaings to know efore you register for Fair.
- Register for the in-person interview and static exhibit item separately.
- Register for one interview per project type.
- For example, Teton Jane wants to enter five photos in the fair.She will create one photography interview entry and five photography entries.In total, she will have six entries-one interview and five photos.
- Each entry will receive a ribbon and cash award (premium).
- Entry Class: You will use this to select the type of item you are bringing to fair.
All static exhibit classes have the same choices:
- Poster or educational display
- Project journal pages from the record book
- Any item created as part of project
- Enter all of your family’s entries (interviews, livestock, and static entries) before completing registration.
- Your progress is automatically saved. Changes can be made to exhibitors and entries before clicking ‘submit.’
- Once you click ‘submit’, any further changes will need to be made by the Extension Office.
Definitions:
Exhibitor: The 4-H youth who will be participating in the fair
Exhibit: The individual item brought to fair
Entry: The individual item or animal brought to fair
Project: The learning category the 4-Her registered for at the beginning of the 4-H year
Register for 4-H Fair
Step-by-step Video Instructions
Be at the Fair or Be Square!
Set-up Team (Tue, June 23, 5:30 p.m. until done)
Banner, Ariana
Banner, Billy
Carlson, Lily
Carlson, Iris
Cherry, Keaton
Crabb, Tate
DeBruycker, Ayden
DeBruycker, Gavin
DeBruycker, Kinsley
DeBruycker, Natalie
Donnelly, Ivan
Donnelly, MaClay
Drumm, Liam
Gagne, Tucker
Grubb, Addy
Grubb, Aliya
Harrell, Charley
Hodgskiss, Grant
Hodgskiss, Hayden
Hodgskiss, Hannah
Little, Waylon
Morris, Jorja
Morris, Katy
Morris, Owen
Morris, Sage
Neal, Seeley
O'Haire, Zane
Paulson, Anna
Pearson, Knox
Pearson, Ronnie
Scott, Addy
Scott, Dawson
Skinner, Everett
Skinner, Isaac
Skinner, Livia
Elianna Sweetman
Ulsh, Dylan
Weekes, Tensli
Williams, Luci
Clean-up Team (Sun, June 28, 9 a.m. until done)
Bardwell, Beckett
Bender, Caleb
Bender, Keira
Bender, Kinsey
Bradley, Bryden
Clark, Parker
Clark, Sawyer
Collins, Kinder
Cornelius, Ella
Cornelius, Izzy
Davis, Cru
Davis, Quincee
Harlow, Chase
Jacobsen, Elias
Jacobsen, Tessa
Jordre, Colton
Jordre, Kailey
Kelley, Dani
Kelley, Hanna
Linne, Brennon
Linne, Callen
Long, Charlie
Long, Laudi
Lytle, Elsie
Lytle, Polly
Lytle, Theodore
Martin, Ledger
Neuman, Kamri
Neuman, Kinlie
Redland, Mesa
Schilling, Kameryn
Sweetman, Eli
Taylor, Trent
Tschida, Tana
Toeckes, Grace
Toeckes, Isaac
Toeckes, Jackson
Yeager, Casen
Yeager, Justyce
Yeager, Rusch
2026 Teton County Club Rotations
Clubs it's time to begin planning for your role in the Fair. Include the youth in your club to brainstorm ideas and to take part in the decision-making process to meet your club’s responsibilities.
A good strategy is to create sign-up sheets, with specific tasks, days, and times for families.
The Extension Office will send club leaders a more detailed explanation of each task.Please ask questions to the office if you have them!
Challenging Champs
- Provide hospitality for Interview Judges
- Create the 4-H Exhibit Hall Display
Eager Eagles
- Exhibit Hall Set Up
- Exhibit Hall Maintenance during Fair
- Exhibit Hall Clean Up
- Recruit Greeters for Exhibit Hall
Old Agency
- Meat and Greet (coordinate 4-H baked good and staff the buffet line, clean up after Meat and Greet)
Spring Creek
- Concessions (option to make and sell yummies -or- recruit food trucks!)
- Weatherbeater Daily Facility Maintenance
Clean-Up Clubs Needed
Contact Jenn Swanson to get your 4-H Club signed up to clean after the Get Your Kicks at 6 events.
It’s a great family activity and an EASY-PEASY club fundraiser (pays $150 per clean up;takes about 45 minutes!)
Get Your Kicks at 6
July 2-Kyle Schobe & the Walk 'Em Boys
July 9-Montana Sky~Release the Squirrels
July 16-Payson Allaire~The Gated Community
July 23-Adam & Amy Pope~The Big Ska Country
July 30-John & Joanne Lowell~Trinity Seeley
Aug 6-Off the Grid~Goldy Vox
Aug 13-Pinky and the Floyd
Montana 4-H Congress: Driven to Lead
Montana State University-July 7-9, 2026
Montana 4-H Congress is the largest statewide leadership experience for Montana 4-H teens. Youth from across the state gather at Montana State University to grow their skills, explore their passions, and build lifelong friendships through engaging learning and fun.
Join youth, just like you, from across Montana.
Montana 4-H Congress is an unforgettable experience where teensbuild leadership skills, discover new interests, and make lasting connections.
WHO CAN ATTEND?
- Any Teton County 4-Her age 13 - 19
- All competitions are open to anyone, competing at the county level is not required
* Parents will need to provide transportation and plan to attend as a chaperone. There are activities that parents can be involved in to learn more about 4-H in Montana at the state level.
Teton County 4-H Council will cover half of the cost of attendance.
Registration WILL BE open in ZSuite MAY 1-June 15
Teton County 4-H Team Leadership Spotlight
Seeley Neal, Old Agency, 2026 Rec Lab
Seeley Neal from Old Agency participated in the statewide 4-H Rec Lab event in March which was held in Columbus, Montana.At this event, she participated in workshops and learned to render beef tallow to. Rec Lab is a 4-H event that is held each spring to provide 4-Hers age 13 and up an opportunity to come together with other 4-H teens from across the state to take part in workshops, dances, games, make new 4-H friends and to begin learning leadership skills to bring back to their county.Rec Lab is a great first experience for teens curious about participating in statewide 4-H events.
Teton County 4-H council will pay half of the registration fee for youth attending Rec Lab.Parents attending will pay the full registration fee.If a parent brings their child, and one other 4-H youth they can attend for free if they are willing to be the primary chaperone for both 4-H youth. Clubs can also fundraise and cover the cost of attendance for any 4-H youth in their club.
If you'd like to attend Rec Lab in March 2027, contact the Extension Office.
Teen Leaders Compete!
The 2026 Teton County Teen Counselors and Ambassadors gathered for a workshop in March to learn about group dynamics. While competing to build the tallest tower the fastest they learned about the Stages of Team Development.All groups go through the predictable stages of forming, storming, and norming, before they can get to performing. Adult club leaders, Kelsy Diekhans and Kelly DeBruycker joined in the tower building fun!
If you are 12 or older, consider joining the Teton County 4-H Teen Leadership Team in September.More information will be in the July 4-H newsletter. This is a great way to gain experience for scholarship applications, make new friends, and prepare for your future!
All great 4-H events involve dancing!The 2026 teen leaders closed out the night with one of their favorite group dances. Plan to come to the 4-H Fair Dance to learn this Teton County 4-H favorite on Friday, June 26 at 8 pm.
2026-2027 Leadership Opportunity!
Seeking a 4-H Council Vice President for the 26-27 4-H Year. Nominate someone from your club!If they are willing to participate they should plan to attend the September 20264-H Council meeting.
MT State 4-H Western Heritage Competition
Saturday, July 18, 2026
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sun River Rangers Shooting Society 16663
Montana Highway 21, August, Montana 59410
$40.00 per person. Cost covers meals and awards
Non competitor meal cost is $20.00/person
The deadline for registration is Monday, July 6, 2026
In order to compete, the 4-H participant must be enrolled in the Western Heritage Project.
Registrations can be picked up from the Extension Office.
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
2027 June 21-27
Camp Dates
2026 June 6-10 @ Camp Rotary
4-H Congress Dates, Bozeman
2026 July 7-10
Agents:
Shelby Jones-Dozier shelby.jonesdozier@montana.edu
Jenn Swanson jenn.swanson@montana.edu
Assistant:
Danae Isakson and 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
