Beaverhead County 4-H

Published: 2019
By Jessica Murray

The Beaverhead County 4-H Program is made up of 200 youth in 10 clubs. Youth ages 6-19 are given the opportunity to explore education and interests by participating in activities. Seventy-five adult volunteers help to deliver the program to the county’s youth. This year, 140 members participated in a livestock project. We held Livestock Quality Assurance classes for both the small and large animal members so they could learn about or brush up on important safety measures for the animal and themselves. Youth who participate in livestock projects not only learn sportsmanship and responsibility, but they also learn about the agriculture industry at a young age. Beaverhead County 4-H youth achieved seven Steer of Merit awards, eleven Symbol of Excellence awards, and fifteen Certified Lamb awards, which all signal high quality care and attention to the animals. There were 22 building project members this year, from welding to sewing, which teach members about different trades, skills and bookkeeping. These members take advantage of many opportunities throughout the year to show off their skills, participating in events like the Beaverhead County 4-H Food Festival. Shooting Sports was a popular project again this year, boasting 70 members. These air rifle, archery, shotgun, and pistol members practice weekly, throughout the winter, in their discipline to compete in the Beaverhead Invitational and fair shoot. Beaverhead County 4-H had a very successful year with many members competing in the Annual Communications Rodeo to enhance public speaking skills, the Beaverhead Bonanza to work on showmanship abilities, and Style Revue to show off their garments. The county sent three members to Montana 4-H Congress, four to Rec Lab (a 4-H statewide, weekend event for relationship and skill-building), five to ambassador training (a leadership and service training), one to citizenship seminar, four to Citizenship Washington Focus, and through the Montana 4-H International Program one member went to Finland. The Beaverhead County 4-H Foundation awarded two scholarships of $1500 each to James Kramer and Harleigh Johnson.