4-H Expands Facilities and Grows Program

Published: 2022
By Jennifer Anderson

For nearly a century, 4-H has played a vital role in developing Rosebud and Treasure Counties youth. Generations of kids have gained critical life skills needed to become engaged and contributing community members. The county fair is the highlight of every 4-H member's year. The fairgrounds improvement project’s vision is to expand and enhance the fairground facilities to increase capacity and create a positive and safe environment for all fairgoers, from youth participants to our senior citizens, so that our 4-H program continues to thrive into the future. In 2022, MSU Extension secured $33,500 from grants, sponsorships and donations to support the facility upgrades. The project was a high priority as participating youth have worked with temporary make-shift facilities for about five years. The livestock projects have seen an upswing in participation, and the facilities could no longer adequately serve the youth. The improvement project's first phase was erecting a new beef wash rack and barn. The second phase will include upgrading fencing and seating. Having modern facilities is important for many reasons. First and foremost, it provides a safe environment for all. Secondly, the improved facilities attract more members and spectators, which helps grow the 4-H program, and the program instills life skills like no other. Clubs in Rosebud and Treasure Counties regularly support their communities through service projects like the beef-to-school program, purchasing and installing community benches, road sign improvements, fire relief efforts, community clean-up efforts, and blood drives. Therefore, kids may be attracted to the program because of the fair, but they are gaining so much more through their club participation, activities and being invested members of their communities.