Alternatively, download a printable version of the September 2025 Cascade County 4-H Clover Connection

Thank You!

Thank you to the following people and businesses who donated to the Cascade County 4-H Program over the summer!

William Kessler

Associated Veterinary Services

Zeller-Knowles Foundation Inc

Emily C. & Doris Nygard

Murphy Family

Jona McNamee

United Electric, LLC

Grizzly Saddlery

Mary Matelich & Family

Dr Tom Gillgas

Dana Ranch

Farmers Union Insurance

Lazy JC Quarter Horses

Kim & Gordie Lapke

Hitchcock Quarter Horses

Switchback Veterinary Clinic

Zeller Family Trust

Sheryl & Randy Knowles

Pinion

Cory and Lisa Jassen

Birdtail Ranch

Bolt Electric

Lacey & Barry Gallagher

Bobbi Finn

Jones Memorial

Keaster Construction

Diamond Rose Ranch

MidwayUSA Foundation

Montana Farmers Union

O'Haire Motor Inn

Margaret Eller

Office Closure

The Extension Office will be closed Monday, September 1st, in observance of Labor Day.

4-H Volunteers

Do you know someone that would like to help with project areas of 4-H? Our county is always looking for new volunteers. Please have them contact Jenn at Jennifer.volkmar@montana.edu

4-H Registration for the 2025-2026 4-H Year Opens October 1st

The new 4-H year is starting soon! Registration opens at midnight on October 1st. There are how-tos for the process on the Cascade County MSUExtension website 4-H pages. If you have questions, please call the office at 406-454-6980.

Thank You Volunteers!

We would like to extend a big thank you to our volunteers who have helped throughout the year! We couldn’t do it without you and are very grateful for everything you do!

State Fair Updates

We had a wonderful turnout for exhibits at the State Fair with 78 members submitting a total of 373 entries. We also had 4-H members from 3 other counties join us with entries for the Poultry Show.

We’d like to congratulate the Galloping Guns 4-H Club on having the highest number of entries per exhibitor and Big Sky Explorers on having 75% of their club members submit entries.

A big congratulations goes out to all of our 4-H members who competed in the demonstrations, speeches, foods Festival and daily menu, sewing and quilting competitions. Each of you showcased incredible skill, creativity and dedication. Thank you for representing Cascade County 4-H to our community judges and showing the tradition of excellence that takes place in 4-H.

Thank you to all the judges who took time out to come throughout the fair week.

Julie Anderson

Bim Johnson

Lisa Terry

Chris England

Janelle Barber

Felicia O’Brien

Cody Neam

Zac Duhon

4-H Shooting Sports Leader Training in Dillon

Beaverhead County is hosting a Shooting Sports Leader Training in Dillon on September 12-14, 2025. This is an opportunity for leaders to get two certifications in one weekend. Please see the attached agenda and information for the Z-Suites National 4- H Shooting Sports Modules. Please use the following link to access Z-Suites to register for the training (must be logged into Z-Suite to go to the registration page): https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/41142. Please also contact Samaria, the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator, at cascadecoshootingsports@gmail.com so she can include you in instructor communications for the county.

If you are new volunteer leaders, please see the email sent out previously with the attached registration form to enroll for the training. The form may be emailed or sent to Scott at the address listed on the form.

The cost is $75.00/discipline for adult leaders and $40.00/discipline for youth leaders. Checks can be made payable to the Montana 4-H Foundation.

Montana 4-H Congress Update

The 2025 Montana 4-H Congress was held July 8th-11th in Bozeman. Cascade County had 6 4-H members representing our county.

2025 Montana 4-H Volunteer Institute

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.

Please go to ZSuite Events to register and to view the schedule and details for the Volunteer Institute. Workshop descriptions will be added once selected. Participants will select workshops at the institute.

Participants are responsible for booking their own hotel room. There will be a silent auction at the

Saturday night banquet. Counties and participants are asked to bring an item for the silent auction.

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 12th.

Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show & Sale Update

The Livestock Show and Sale took place July 10-13 at the Montana ExpoPark Livestock Pavilion and had a great turnout this year. We had 81 Breeding entries, 18 Market Poultry, 2 Market

Rabbit, 76 Market Swine, 39 Market Beef, 19 Market Sheep, and 22 Market Goat. We also had a total of 219 entries in Showmanship classes and 83 in Conformation classes.

4-H Green Clover Fundraiser Update

The Annual Green Clover Raffle did quite well this year. We made a total of

$6,986.02 that will go towards paying for project books, Project Day supplies, event costs, and more in the coming year.

Thank you to all who participated in the fundraiser! We couldn’t have done it without you.

Cascade County 4-H Horse Shows Update

Congratulations to all the participants! You did a wonderful job on your projects throughout the year and it showed in how well you did at the shows. Also, thank you to all those who helped with putting it together and making sure things ran smoothly.

Scholarships and Other Financial Opportunities

Montana Department of Agriculture

Now available contact Jenn at the office if you are interested. Rural Community

Development Grant applications are open now for 4-H Clubs. Postemark for qualifying no later than June 2, 2025. The purpose of the grant is to assist funding community development projects conducted by Rural youth organizations. The projects should help to improve the quality of life in rule Montana communities.

$500 per organization.

MontanaFarmersUnion 4-H Sentence Grant

Montana Farmers Union is awarding $100 grants to 4-H clubs to further their project work. All you need to do is submit one sentence on how you would use the funds! Apply at montanafarmersunion.com

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Youth Loans

FSA makes loans to individual young persons to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4-H, FFA, tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. The project being financed with an FSA Youth Loan needs to provide an opportunity for the young person to acquire experience and education in agriculture- related skills. Call the Great Falls FSA office at (406) 727-7580 for more information.

Russell Country Federal Credit Union

Russell Country Federal Credit has developed a program to assist youth and young adults from 8-19 years of age, who are actively participating in 4- H to learn financial responsibility and good saving habits. Visit https://www.russellcountryfcu.org/4-h-suite/ for more information.

Montana Department of Agriculture Junior Agriculture Loans

The Montana Junior Agriculture Loan Program was developed to assist and encourage members of agricultural youth organizations in financing agricultural projects. Projects can involve crop and livestock production, custom farming, marketing and distribution, processing, and other financially feasible activities. Loans are made from the assets of the Agricultural Finance Program. Program support and technical assistance are provided by the MSU Extension Service, Montana agricultural educators, and private financial institutions. Visit https://agr.mt.gov/Topics/E-G/Grants-Pages/Junior-Agriculture-Loans for more information.

Montana 4-H Foundation Grants

The Montana 4-H Foundation supports 4-H initiatives that focus on healthy living, citizenship, leadership, science, engineering, and technology. The mission of the Montana 4-H Foundation is to "help 4-H youth by raising private funds, managing financial resources and partnering with the MSU Extension Service to fund educational opportunities for Montana 4-H youth, volunteer leaders, and staff."

Montana 4-H grants provide opportunities for youth and adults to strengthen their skills and maximize their positive impacts on the communities in which they live.

Grants - MONTANA 4-H FOUNDATION

  Meetings & Important Notices

Horse Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Horse Leaders will be on Tuesday, September 2nd at 5:30 pm at the Extension Office. The meeting will also be virtual via WebEx.

Shooting Sports Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Shooting Sports Leaders Committee will be held on Thursday, September 4th at 6:00pm at the Extension Office.

Leaders’ Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Leaders’ Council will be on Tuesday, September 9th at 6:00 pm at the Extension Office.

Foundation Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Foundation will be on Tuesday, September 16th at 6:00pm at the Extension office.

Livestock Leaders Meeting

The next meeting of the Cascade County 4-H Livestock Leaders will be on Tuesday, September 2nd  at 7:00 pm attheExtension Office. 

Meetings & Important Notices

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension 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.