Teton County 4-H Fair

Fair Schedule & Details are Fluid.  It is Your Responsiblility to Check Your Email & Text in Order to Stay Informed.

We are excited to see you at Teton County 4-H Fair this year. We truly enjoy seeing how your skills have grown.

We have the information in sections: General, Animal, Market Livestock, Sale and Marketing. Please remember, we are the first 4-H Fair in Montana and often others look to us to learn from our fair experience.  We are proud of our program and hope you will all work to show positivity, patience, and politeness.

Keep in mind in today’s world, everything we do can be on display.We ask people to refrain from posting videos or pictures of youth without written permission from parents. Many events may be “unofficially" livestreamed or shared with others electronically. Our livestock sale will be simulcast to a broad audience. PLEASE represent ourselves, our 4-H program and our county the best we can through our language, appearances, attitudes, and treatment of others and our animals.

Registration deadline was May 28.Market Livestock Animal photo deadline extended to June 2.

Find out more about the Teton County 4-H Fair.

Attendance

Families are asked not to bring any non-participating youth. Unattended youth create safety concerns.

To allow for enough space for buyers at our livestock sale, we ask that 4-H families limit attendance to only those necessary and to not take a seat in the stands unless registered and planning to bid on animals.

Public Health

  • Social distancing – stay 6 feet apart as much as possible
  • Masks – wearing a face cover is a personal choice. Please be kind and considerate of people’s choices.
  • Illnesses – Please do not attend the fair if you are ill or exhibit any signs of COVID-19.

 

Interview Judging at the Choteau Pavilion

Judging will be by specialty/skill area

  • Wednesday, June 23
  • Bring the projects to the Interview Judging event during the time listed for your club.
  • 8:30-9:00 a.m.Judges' Orientation
  • 9:00-10:00 a.m.Challenging Champs
  • 10:00-10:10 a.m.Break
  • 10:10-11:10 a.m.Spring Creek & Rocky Mountain Top Shots
  • 11:10-11:20 a.m.Break
  • 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Eager Eagles
  • 12:10-1:00 p.m.Lunch Break
  • 1:00-1:50 p.m.Prairie Stars
  • 1:50-2:00 p.m.Break
  • 2:00-3:00 p.m.Old Agency
  • 3:00-3:10 p.m.Break
  • 3:10-4:10 p.m.Teton County Horse Club

 

Members will:

  • Enter from north
  • Check in with the office to receive their registration sheet to carry to each judge
  • Move among judges as they are available until all entries are judged. Judges will review projects, and mark ribbon placings on member’s sheet
  • Turn in entry sheets and premiums/ribbons will be distributed after the fair
  • Hand sanitizers will be available at entrance and exit
  • We will limit people in the building to the assigned club members
  • REMEMBER:
  • Market livestock animal members planning to show/sell MUST attend interview judging AND complete at least 7 learning activities in their books.

Prizes, Premiums and Awards

  • Prizes and premiums will be sent following fair.
  • Registration sheets with placings will be sent to member following fair.
  • Members will be given a link to choose their prizes and to choose rosettes/ribbons if they want them mailed.

Exhibiting

  • Exhibits will be displayed at the Pavilion following judging so that people may enjoy the great works of our 4-H members.
  • Photos of members with their exhibits may be taken. Dress nicely, with no advertising on clothing (unless MSU or 4-H), and look sharp! Be ready for photos! 
  • For those with items that would be wasteful to leave exhibited, please bring a printed photo of completed exhibit (no smaller than 8x10) to leave on display. For example, a 4-H member may bring an entire cheesecake to be judged. The judge may sample a slice. The member can take the cheesecake home, leaving a photo in its place to be displayed.

 What You Can Do

  • Check email daily/Read correspondence from the office.
  • Communicate with us.
  • Limit attendees/Bring only those necessary to assist 4-H member directly.
  • Do not bring non-participating youth. Younger children at our fair who are unsupervised are a safety hazard.
  • Follow the recommended guidelines/Social distancing
  • Stay home if ill
  • Meet deadlines

 

Animals

Horse Show – Saturday, June 19 at the 406 Arena

  • Register for fair by May 28
  • Make your best guess for classes and levels, we will adjust as needed after you’ve been assessed
  • Work with your leaders to get assessed
  • Watch for correspondence from leaders and office

 

Small Animals

  • Register for fair by May 28
  • All small animal show times are scheduled for Thursday, June 24
  • Be sure to have additional animal medical information submitted including vaccination records

Breeding Animals

  • Register for fair by May 28
  • We will decide classes, times, etc. once we have registrations to gauge numbers and interest. 

All Market Livestock

  • You will need ONE photo of you and your animal (read below for details) and have them ready to upload when you register for the fair.Deadline extended to June 2 on photo only.
  • You MUST meet the fair registration deadline of May 28

In 2021, these (and other) requirements are in place:

  • 4-H member must show in both market and showmanship classes.
  • Only one market animal per member will be designated the sale animal. Members showing multiple species will designate which one will be their sale animal.
  • Interview with project book and SEVEN completed activities with evidence.
  • Set-up, clean-up and loading. A specific crew will be selected for setting up, cleaning and loading.  If you would like to volunteer, email [email protected]. If you have beef, lamb, or goats, the animals must be brought back on Sunday morning at specified time to ship. 4-H member does not need to be present for loading.
  • Clean your area and stall. Members will be responsible for cleaning up their garbage.
  • Hogs should be fed and watered prior to leaving on Saturday evening. If possible, please take all your feed pans and equipment with you. Hogs will be loaded by a selected crew early on Sunday morning.
  • Haul your own feed and bedding for animals.
  • NO concessions. Bring your own food items and pick up your own garbage to ensure fewer touch points.
  • Cluster by family groups with 6 feet between groups. Do not lean on rails and block the view of others. 
  • NO buyer’s reception or “Meat and Greet.”

  We will have:

  • Evaluation of projects through judging, showmanship, and for market animals, carcass grading.
  • We plan to break shows into small groups, to allow for social distancing. Classes will be broken by weight.  Showmanship will be held first, and animal quality/confirmation will be held by weight classes. Once 4-H member is done showing for the day, they can check with species superintendent to make sure they are complete and then they can leave with their animals.
  • Weighing will be by assigned time.
  • Members will be mailed their back tags and will be responsible for bringing them to fair.
  • Only one adult and member should get out of vehicle for animal weighing at a time.

 

Beef will show on Friday with Lambs and Goats following.

  • Beef members must bring brand inspection/ownership papers at weigh-in to be turned into brand inspector.

 

Swine will show on Saturday.

Swine

  • Will weigh on Saturday morning and be penned. Waterers will be available in hog barn. We will try to arrange so that a pen is left open between families.
  • The swine show is Saturday in order to eliminate the need for multiple people returning to facility over several days to care for their animals in our most congested space. The swine project also has the most members. PLEASE limit people in the hog barn. ONLY the 4-H members caring for their animal should be in the barn and then should exit, promptly. The swine barn should not be a place to bring several friends or hangout. Go in alone, do what needs done quickly, and then leave.

Sale

  • All enrolled market animals designated as sale animals, along with reserve and champion, will be entered in the auction and you are agreeing to sell to the highest bid. There will be no reserves or floor prices. It is the same as every other year. There are no guarantees once the animal is in the auction. 
  • Sale will be simulcast, meaning animals will be sold at the Weatherbeater shown by 4-H members in the sale ring and buyers can attend in person OR they can view the sale from a location with internet as it is happening live.
  • Sale will be online at jerrycollinsauctions.hibid.com. One photo of each market animal with member will be posted.We will note on website that photos were taken the beginning of June and will have several more days of finish. Please note that the lot number may change when grand and reserve are placed. Buyers may place a bid online in advance. They can place their top bid online if they are not able to attend either the simulcast or live auction. Buyers are encouraged to register online prior to the sale whether attending in person or bidding online.

Photo Considerations:

  • Background – plain, no advertising, lighting, clean, shows how you treat your animal
  • Dress for showing – crisp, clean, pressed, nice
  • Fit your animal as much as possible
  • Photos MUST be uploaded by June 2nd as part of fair registration athttps://montana.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6JsqiN8MbgdgbDT. (Note: This is a separate link from the registration) Do NOT send by email or text.
  • For buyers opting to purchase animals online, the link will be: jerrycollinsauctions.hibid.com
  • As soon as weights are entered for each species, bidding will open. Weights will be entered each show day.
  • Buyers who can purchase online will be encouraged to do so.
  • Buyers who want to attend in person are invited to the Weatherbeater. Sale will be simulcast. Bidding will occur simultaneously online and live at Weatherbeater. Ryan Perry, Western Livestock Auction, will be the live auctioneer.
  • At present, we do not plan to provide food/beverages for in-person bidding. No alcohol is allowed, in keeping with 4-H policy.
  • Seating will be limited. 4-H families and buyers who can attend and/or bid from home are strongly encouraged to do so. 4-H members and families should not be taking seats unless they are planning to buy. Please buy online from home if you can. 

Swine:

  • Swine will stay in facility on Saturday and be shipped early Sunday morning with a select crew
  • Once you have shown or penned your hog on Saturday after the sale, you will not return for swine project

After the Sale:

  • Thank your buyer
  • A personal phone call or visit
  • Local newspaper ads, if you choose
  • Social media post

Required:

  • A thank you card must be delivered to the office at PO Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422
  • Unsealed Stamped Addressed

Payment

  • Once we receive payment, we will mail your check to you if it has been received and provided your thank you card for the buyer was received by the Extension Office.

Marketing Animals

The MSU Extension Office in Teton County will:

  • Send postcards or letters to previous buyers
  • Advertise in local newspapers and on radio
  • Create posters for you to print and distribute
  • Create social media posts for you to use/repost

 

4-H Market Livestock Members should:

  • Search online for topics such as: 4-H livestock buyer letter, 4-H livestock marketing ideas.
  • Invite buyers personally whether by personal visit, mail, text, phone call, etc.
  • Use social media to post photos/video of your market animal
  • Ask people to share information with their friends and relatives
  • Think of people who may want to secure their meat for the year and who can afford to buy all at once
  • Encourage buyers who do not want a whole animal to find friends to split it into ½ or ¼. The responsibility to split rests with the buyers, not the office. They should let us know if they split only for our "thank you" ad. 

 

Explain the process – think about the following:

    • How to buy
    • Who the processors are – Vandevanters for beef, Bear Paw Meats for the swine, lambs, goats
    • Use proper language
    • How much meat you receive – typical yield from different types of animals
    • Cost per pound of packaged meat
    • When it will arrive
    • Use language such as “harvesting” of rather than “slaughtering”
    • Send copies of postcards and posters (ours or ones you create) to organizations and ask them to share with their employees and co-workers
    • Remind people of our website and ways to bid
    • Help them understand … Market animal = Meat
    • Send emails and texts with photos/videos and sale information

Invite...

  • Do not beg, do not be rude, greedy, or self-serving
  • Snap a picture of our postcard or one you create and send out asking people to share with anyone who might want to purchase meat in bulk this year or split an animal with someone else
  • Share a favorite recipe for your meat product with sale announcement
  • You may want to host potential buyers at your place to show your animal, like an open house -- only an “open corral.”
  • Share what you have learned by raising a local food source
  • People want to invest in learning, programs, goals …
  • Carefully construct your story and share it
    • What will make them want to purchase?
    • What information or help do they need to make purchasing as easy as possible?
    • What new opportunities exist this year?
    • Make it about what the buyer gets … not what you get.

 

2021 Teton County 4-H Fair Schedule

Horse Assessments: Schedule with your horse leaders.

Saturday, June 19, 2021

9:00 a.m. Horse Show at 406 Arena

Wednesday, June 23, 2021

  • 8:30-9:00 a.m. Judges' Orientation
  • 9:00-10:00 a.m. Challenging Champs
  • 10:00-10:10 a.m. Break
  • 10:10-11:10 a.m. Spring Creek & Rocky Mountain Top Shots
  • 11:10-11:20 a.m. Break
  • 11:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m. Eager Eagles
  • 12:10-1:00 p.m. Lunch Break
  • 1:00-1:50 p.m. Prairie Stars
  • 1:50-2:00 p.m. Break
  • 2:00-3:00 p.m. Old Agency
  • 3:00-3:10 p.m. Break
  • 3:10-4:10 p.m. Teton County Horse Club

 

Thursday, June 24, 2021

6:00 p.m. Rabbit Show

Cat Show

Poultry Show

Dog Show

*Times may be adjusted depending on enrollment. Members will be notified.

Friday, June 25:

Market Beef and Breeding Show

7:00 a.m. Beef Weighing

  • MUST have ownership papers for brand inspector at the scale, observe social distancing.
  • Details for weighing scheduling will be sent with back tags
  • No blowers until weighing completed.
  • Members may fit from their trailers and/or tie inside of Weatherbeater

10:30 a.m. Market Beef Show and Showmanship

After market classes Beef Breeding Show

 

At the completion of the Beef Show:

  • Beef to be taken home until the sale on Saturday.

 

Friday Afternoon

Market Lamb & Goat Show

1:00 p.m. Market Goat and Lamb Weighing

  • Observe social distancing, park trailers to the north, come to scale one at a time.
  • Market Goat and Breeding Goat Show
  • Market Lamb Show & Showmanship

At the completion of the Lamb & Goat Show:

  • Lambs & Goats to be taken home until the sale on Saturday.

1:30 p.m. Market Lamb & Goat Show and Showmanship

7:00 p.m. Style Show at Choteau City Park or Pavilion

Saturday, June 26:

Market Swine Show and Livestock Sale

7:00 a.m. Swine Weighing

9:30 a.m. Market Swine Show and Showmanship

TBA Round Robin

(Possibly 1 or 1:30 p.m)

 

After show and before sale:

Setup the Sale arena

 

Members return with market lambs, goats, and beef.

 

6:30 p.mBuyer Registration in Weatherbeater

  • Buyers can participate in the sale online.
  • Out of courtesy for buyers, members are encouraged to leave ample room for buyers to view sale ring.
  • Sale will be simulcast, which means the 4-H member will lead animal into ring and it will be broadcast live.
  • Buyers can purchase online or in person.

 

7:00 p.m.4-H Livestock Sale at the Weatherbeater.

Live and online Simulcast by Jerry Collins Auction Service and Ryan Perry.

Sunday, June 27:

Shipping day

Shipping crew To be selected by Livestock Committee.

Cleaning crew To be selected by Livestock Committee.

 

6:30 a.m.Swine loaded.

NO MEMBERS should return for loading unless specifically asked by MSU Extension staff or swine superintendent.

7:00 a.m.Lambs and goats return for shipping.

7:30 a.m.Market beef return for shipping.

Post-shipping Clean-up of Weatherbeater and grounds.

 

Tuesday, June 29:

TBA Carcass judging of Market Swine, Lambs and Goats

  • Bear Paw Meats-Chinook
  • Attendance of members/families is not allowed.

 

Wednesday, June 30:

TBA Carcass judging of Market Beef

  • Vandevanter Meats-Columbia Falls
  • Attendance of members/families is not allowed.

 

Congratulations!

Kydnal Becker from the Teton County 4-H Horse Club and Eager Eagles 4-H Club submitted the winning design for the 406 Arena banner contest between Teton and Cascade county 4-H members.Horse members from both counties use the 406 arena for riding and wanted to show their appreciation for the use of such a nice facility so the idea of a banner sponsorship was proposed.Kyndal worked with MSU Extension Teton County staff to refine her design and it will be in the 406 Arena in time for the June 19 Teton County 4-H Horse Show.Thank you, Kyndal!

Club Minutes

Eager Eagles by Alexis Morris, secretary

The Eager Eagles called their meeting to order at 6:30 pm on April 12th, 2021, at the New Life Church in Fairfield. President Kyona Yeager led the pledges. Secretary Alexis Morris read the meeting minutes from April. A motion to approve the April minutes was made by Waverly Konen and seconded by Addie Pearson. The motion passed unanimously.Treasurer Nolan Forseth gave the treasurer's report. We currently have $556.86 in our checking account.

Karen Forseth and Alexis Morris gave the Livestock Committee report. We are planning on having a “pretty normal” fair this year with round robin and both a live and online livestock auction and sale. Waverly Konen gave the sewing report. The sewing meeting was canceled in April. The next meeting is planned for May 8th at Berry Patch Quilting in Fairfield. The group will be making table runners. Ayden DeBruycker gave the horse report. They have had monthly riding meetings the 406 Arena. The Horse Club performed a service project at the 406 Arena by raking the excess edge sand back into the arena, cleaning stalls, and sweeping bleachers. They held a WebEx meeting and have planned the horse show. The horse show will be Saturday, June 19th at the 406 Arena. A judge, ring steward, and announcer have been chosen.4-H camp is not canceled. Camp Rotary is reserved for us and we are planning on having it the week of July 26th.If you have not been contacted by your mentor, please come talk to Kyona about that after the meeting. The Extension Office will be using the Remind App for reminders throughout the county to inform members and clubs. Market animal members need to have 7 projects done in their project books prior to selling or showing their animal at the fair. Record books are due August 15! Remember to give Mrs. Egbert your Show Rite feed tags!

Our bake sale and garage sale is Saturday, May 22nd from 8 am to noon at the Faith Bible Youth Hall in Fairfield. Set up will be Friday, May 21st. Time to set up to be determined.

Highway clean-up is scheduled for Sunday, April 18th weather permitting.Goat and lamb paperwork and pictures are due April 19th. Please make sure your animals will be safe and ready for fair. If you are having troubles with them, reach out to someone you know. Fair registration is due by May 28th. LQA is out and online now. Make sure you are working on that and get it done by the end of the month. The Renegade Jackpot Show is May 29th through the 31st at the Weatherbeater in Choteau. Registration is due the week before and then you pay $10 after the deadline.Remember to pay your snack fund to Mrs. DeBruycker. All member dues have been paid!

The next meeting is Monday, May 10th, 2021 New Life Church in Fairfield at 6:30 p.m. Ayden DeBruycker made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Waverly Konen seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m.

Events & Deadlines on the Horizon

Camp & Registration

4-H Camp will be here before you know it and this year we have a Movie theme. You can play a starring role by attending camp July 27 - 29, 2021 at Camp Rotary. Our camp counselors are hard at work to make this year's camp a thriller! Registration deadlines are already passing by, the first being May 24. Registration fees increase the later you register - so sign up now to be part of the crew! The remaining deadlines and fees are as follows: June 7: $60 and June 27: $100. Register for 4-H Camp in ZSuite. We hope you join our cast this summer as we produce fun-filled days for all! More details regarding camp are to follow soon.

Communications Day

4-H Camp will be here before you know it and this year we have a Movie theme. You can play a starring role by attending camp July 27 - 29, 2021 at Camp Rotary. Our camp counselors are hard at work to make this year's camp a thriller! Registration deadlines are already passing by, the first being May 24. Registration fees increase the later you register - so sign up now to be part of the crew! The remaining deadlines and fees are as follows: June 7: $60 and June 27: $100. Register for 4-H Camp in ZSuite. We hope you join our cast this summer as we produce fun-filled days for all! More details regarding camp are to follow soon.

 

Babysitter Boot Camp

MSU Extension Teton County is recruiting for Babysitter Boot Camp! Babysitter Boot Camp is a babysitter training where we educate future sitters on: Safety, First Aid, Child Development & Care, Food & Nutrition, Entertaining Children, Business of Babysitting, and Babysitter Etiquette. We will have guest speakers for many topics including Jane Wolery, MSU Extension Agent and Hayley Ries, MSU Extension Intern.

Babysitter Boot Camp will be held Tuesday, June 8 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the Choteau Baptist Church. To register: text your name, primary phone number, age, and mailing address to (406)-350-5373 (text only) or call (406)-466-2492. The cost of Babysitter Boot Camp is $10. Space will be limited to the first 25 participants who have registered and paid. Make checks payable to MSU Extension Teton County and mail to PO Box 130, Choteau, MT 59422. If cost is a challenge, scholarships may be awarded to individuals to make attendance possible. Please contact Jane Wolery for a confidential discussion about scholarships. We are hoping for participants ranging from ages 11-14 and ask that they bring their own lunch.

 

Textile Judging

Textile Judging is approaching and is scheduled for June 17, 2021. Both location and time for Textile Judging will be based on the participants who enter. As of now, Textile Judging will take place in Fairfield. The deadline to register your textile project for judging is June 10.   Register for Textile Judging.

Congress

The time for 4-H Congress is on the way and this years theme is Camp Congress!4-H members 13 and older are welcome to attend.Dates for Congress are July 13 - 16, 2021. Congress will be held at the MSU Campus in Bozeman and attendees will be lodging in the Yellowstone dorm on campus. There may be more flexibility as to who can go to Congress. Let Jane Wolery know if you are planning to attend by June 10. Our Teton County Council pays half of your registration, so your remaining cost is $110. If cost is a barrier, contact Jane Wolery for a confidential conversation regarding support options. Please note that first time attendees are not required to compete, but it is highly encouraged. This year only - returning participants may not be required to compete. If you are interested in attending, have attended previously and do not want to compete, please reach out to Jane to discuss options. Register for Congress by June 10 on ZSuite.

Record Books

Record Books are due to your club leader by August 15. You can complete your Record Book in ZSuite

Fair Dates

The Teton County Fair is scheduled for the last full weekend in June that includes a Sunday.

2022    June 24-30
2023    June 19-25
2024    June 24-30
2025    June 24-29

MSU Extension Teton County
P.O. Box 130
Choteau, MT 59422
Agents:
Karen Forseth:  [email protected]
Jane Wolery:  [email protected]
Assistants:
Sharla Hinman & Jamie Smith  [email protected]

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