Janae Roberts and Peyton Volkman named winners of NILE Merit Heifer and South Devon Youth Experience Program

Kari Lewis, MSU Extension - Glacier County 

    Two Glacier County 4-H beef members, Janae Roberts and Peyton Volkman, have both recently been named winners of the NILE Merit Heifer and South Devon Youth Experience programs, respectively.   

The NILE Merit heifer program was developed nearly 20 years ago as a means to help youth get started in the cattle business. 4-H and FFA members ages 12 to 16 can apply and are awarded a heifer based on their merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal.  Project participants own their heifer jointly with NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) until the completion of the program at which point the youth takes full ownership of the heifer.  For Janae Roberts, the program was an opportunity to potentially improve the genetics of her own herd, and a means to improve her public speaking skills and meet new people. 

To apply, Janae submitted an application which included her goals, two pages on herself and ability to care for the heifer, three references, and three recommendation letters.  “The application was kind of hard.  I ran out of room to say all that I wanted, and it was challenging to say it just right,” Janae shared.  In addition, she had to submit a video detailing her aspirations, facilities, etc.  After submitting the application in June, it was a waiting process until mid-October when the 25 recipients were announced, including Janae!  The program garners regional interest and recipients represent Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Nebraska.   

Janae’s heifer was donated by the 3C Cattle Company LLC of Stevensville, MT.  In November,

Janae had the incredible opportunity to get her pick of the fifty plus head of Registered Angus replacement heifers from Chad and Lacey Sutherlin.  “I looked at the heifers one by one and sorted off about ten I liked.  I then sorted it down to three and picked my heifer who seemed to be the medium of perfect,” Janae said.  She said she was looking for structural correctness, a deep body, and a wide based heifer. 

Since bringing ‘Besty’ home, Janae has been busy feeding her and halter breaking her for show.  In addition, she along with the other Merit Heifer participants participate in monthly Zoom calls to learn more about caring for their heifer.  So far, they’ve covered nutrition and the digestive system.  In addition, she submits monthly reports detailing her heifer’s feed, costs, pictures and also answers questions that will go into her overall herdsmanship award at the NILE show this October in Billings.  She credits her family, Chris, Lacy, Emily, and Aiden Roberts for their help with her heifer and reporting as well. 

Janae plans to have her heifer AI bred this June and will show her as much as possible including at the Marias Fair this summer.  Long term, she hopes to keep her calves as replacement heifers and either sell the bull calves to other ranchers or use for 4-H steers.   

“If you’re thinking of applying, apply early and talk about how well you can care for the heifer, why you are qualified, and your goals,” Janae said.  While Janae is just an 8th grader, this heifer will provide a strong foundation for growing her own herd to help her reach her personal goals of ranching and possibly teaching in the future.  Janae will continue to care for her heifer and in October, will show her at the NILE Merit Heifer show in Billings, MT against the other recipients.  Janae joins a long list of Glacier County 4-Hers who have been NILE Merit heifer winners, including Wyatt Berkram, Coalter Littrell, JR Seewald, Mat Tuma, Christie (Tuma) Curtiss, and Karly (Tuma) Sheffield.   

In November, Peyton Volkman approached Glacier County agent, Kari Lewis, to inquire about the NILE Merit heifer program as well.  Applications wouldn’t open again until June 2024, but Kari had just learned of the South Devon Association NASDA Youth Experience program from Andy Van Haur.  The program awards a replacement heifer calf to a deserving youth between the ages of 14 to 20 at the National Western Stock Show.  “I looked into the breed, what they’d need to live a good life and I thought they’d fit well here.  I was interested in the breed,” Petyon said. 

Peyton completed an application detailing his skills, ability and desire to raise, care for, and learn about the breed.  He shared his goals and experiences in the 4-H market beef project thus far.  He also submitted two letters of recommendation as to his character and ability to care for the heifer.   

“Since I found out late about the application, it was a bit rushed, but I had great recommendation letters and thought I had a decent shot,” Peyton shared of his expectations.  Peyton said he'd received a call right before Christmas with the good news he had been selected the winner! 

He noted, "I was really excited. I was pretty stoked to hear I won!"  He also had a chance to visit with the Minnesota board member who shared the news with him. 

In January, Peyton was publicly announced as the winner at the National Western Stock Show in

Denver and his heifer (donated by the C/N Ranch of Big Timber, MT) received a ride back to the north country from Andy Van Haur of Valier.  She is a ‘Poundmaker’ which is half South Devon and is red with a white face.  “I like a good, solid beef cow,” Peyton said. He plans to have his heifer A.I.ed this spring with hopes of raising a replacement heifer or 4-H steer for the Marias Fair and adding her to his growing herd of cows.  Peyton has been active in the Market Beef project bringing a Pen of Three to the fair the past two years and receiving the Steer of Merit distinction for his steer’s carcass quality twice.  However, he’s excited to learn more about the production side through the beef breeding project.   

Peyton encourages other 4-Hers to apply for the program and similar opportunities.  "I learned that even if you don't think you have a chance, go ahead and do it.  Don't hold back.  It's a great experience and even if you don't get it, it's a way to meet some really great people too." 

Peyton believes the South Devon breed will be a good fit for the area and is excited to have the opportunity to grow his herd before he heads off to welding school in a couple years.  Currently a sophomore at Cut Bank High School, Peyton plans to return home to run the family farm and ranch.   

In addition to caring for their heifers, both Janae and Peyton are extremely active in 4-H and school.  Janae, 14, participates in beef breeding, cooking, market beef, photography, teen leadership, and archery projects in 4-H in addition to FFA, FCCLA, and volleyball at Sunburst Schools.  Peyton, 15, participates in football, wrestling, Babe Ruth baseball and 4-H market beef, beef breeding, and archery projects.  

No doubt the NILE Merit Heifer program and South Devon Association Youth Experience program will help provide both youth a strong foundation for their futures learning about the beef industry and growing their herd.  The generosity of the 3C Cattle Company and C/N Ranch to provide heifers, and caring adults willing to write recommendation letters, provide transportation, teach, serve as references or proofreaders, etc. reiterate the kindness of the 4-H and agricultural community to provide hardworking, motivated youth with a positive head start. 

 

Don and Carolyn Popelka - District 2 Volunteers of the Year

Kari Lewis

This fall, we had two of our 4-H shooting sports leaders, Don and Carolyn Popelka, honored as District 2 Volunteers of the Year!  Don and Carolyn were honored at the Montana 4-H Leadership Forum in Dillon, and as a result of their award, they received $100 for the Glacier County 4-H Shooting Sports program from the Montana 4-H Foundation!

Don and Carolyn Popelka were honored as the 2018
District 2 Volunteers of the Year at the Montana 4-H
Leaders Forum in Dillon this fall.  Photo by Sandra Germaan.

Montana 4-H Volunteers of the Year.

Don and Carolyn became involved with 4-H when they first moved to the community and their sons were invited to join 4-H.  Despite their children having since graduated 4-H, Don and Carolyn have continued to be involved and this past year they coached 21 youth, ages 9 to 17, in archery. 

Within that role, they provide instruction to each youth and run three hours of practice each week from November through March, in addition to time setting up and cleaning up the range.  They ensure that each youth has proper equipment that fits them and their discipline.  They conduct practice interview sessions to prepare youth for fair interviews and plan fun 3-D shoots and parties.

In her nomination, Bess Hjartarson wrote, “The Popelkas willingness to volunteer their time our archery program does not go unnoticed.  As a busy parent, I truly appreciate the time, energy, and resources that they devote to the weekly practices, the extra activities such as holiday parties and 3-D shoots, and the competitions – they have even attended the State Competition 5 hours away and supported our members.  This requires time away from their own daily schedules, making sure each child has the proper gear even if it means loaning an item of their own, and of course, helping them develop goals and work on their project books.” 

Kathleen Barbie, another 4-H parent said in her nomination letter, “Don and Carolyn are very deserving of this award because they go above and beyond for the kids; they really invest a lot into the program, and for me represent the very best of 4-H Leadership and Volunteer work.  Their care for our kids doesn’t stop after the archery season is over, they continue to look to the future of the program and needs of current and incoming 4-Hers.  They are always happy to see my kids and take the time to check in with them during the whole year.  I have a lot of respect for this family and I know Glacier County is very fortunate to have such outstanding leaders working with our 4-H youth.” 

Congratulations again to Don and Carolyn Popelka on their Montana 4-H Volunteer of the Year award, we are so blessed to have them and ALL of our volunteers who help throughout the year.  As I close today, I would encourage you to ask yourself where you can volunteer within the community.  I have several leaders who have consistently said they learn just as much from the kids as the kids do from them.  Whether it is 4-H or another organization within your community, I encourage each person to give of your time and resources in your community to ‘Make the Best Better,’ as the 4-H motto goes. 

To read more about Don and Carolyn's 4-H involvement, check out a blog post from last year, http://northcentralmsuextension.blogspot.com/2017/10/don-carolyn-and-cody-popelka-honored-as.html.

4-H - Inspiring Kids to Do!

Kari Lewis

Outside of school, 4-H is the largest youth development program in Montana that reaches nearly 20,000 youth in all of Montana’s 56 counties.  Within the Glacier county 4-H program, 81 4-H members have been learning to, “Make the Best Better,” this past year under the leadership and guidance of caring adults and the MSU Extension office.  The 2017-2018 4-H year included learning opportunities, leadership development, and community service activities. 

                4-Hers contributed to their community in a variety of ways throughout the 4-H year.  As part of their Teen Leadership project, JR Seewald and Coalter Littrell organized a pork raffle to benefit a fellow 4-H member, Clark Diemert, who had been injured in a motorcycle accident.  Their efforts raised over $1,700 for Diemert’s medical expenses!  4-Hers baked 12 dozen homemade rolls for the Community Thanksgiving dinner, while the Cloverbuds created cards for the table decorations.   All three clubs teamed up to host a Soup and Bread luncheon in January which raised over $700 for the Parkview Senior Center to provide meals to homebound senior citizens.  4-Hers also supported the Glacier Care Center through doing Christmas shopping for residents, ‘adopting’ residents and visiting them monthly, and planting flowers outside the Center. 

Glacier county members took advantage of numerous travel opportunities available through 4-H.  Myla Cundall attended the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, as a result of her winning the state Fashion Revue contest.  Grace Rooney, Sienna Cundall, and Coley Cundall were participants at the Montana 4-H Rec Lab in Thompson Falls where they developed leadership skills and networked with over 100 4-Hers from across Montana.  In April, Brandeon Molenda, Jed Winkowitsch, Ken Winkowitsch, Katelyn Suta, and Addisyn Bengtson attended the first GROW (Goals, Recreation, Opportunities, and Will) event that was targeted at middle school 4-H members.  Sienna and Coley Cundall also attended Montana 4-H Congress on the Montana State University campus where they competed In the Fashion Revue contest.

                Throughout the year, members took advantage of numerous learning opportunities available.  Thanks to project leaders, volunteers, and teen leaders, members had opportunities to hone their skills in livestock, sewing, poultry, cake decorating, and small animal showmanship.   The Horse and Livestock camp held in June at the Marias Fairgrounds taught members livestock showmanship, livestock judging, and horse skills.  The shooting sports program grew this past year with Shotgun being added as a discipline available to Glacier county 4-Hers, in addition to the established archery and air rifle programs.  
                Members honed their leadership and communications skills through club involvement and leadership trainings.  Teen leaders, Sienna Cundall, JR Seewald, Coalter Littrell, and Canon Bradley served as camp counselors at the Multi-County 4-H camp in the Bear Paw mountains this summer.  Fourteen members competed in the county communications contest where they presented a demonstration, illustrated talk, or impromptu speech before a panel of judges for evaluation.  Prior to the fair, members practiced mock interviews and then at the Marias Fair each member competing completed an individual project interview with a subject matter expert in their project.  Nearly twenty members competed in the Roundtable awards interviews where they interviewed with fellow members before a judge, explaining their goals, project work, and learning experiences. 
                Glacier county 4-Hers excelled throughout the year.  As a club, the Curry Comb 4-Hers took second place in the Parade of Lights with their float.  Wyatt Berkram was awarded a NILE Merit Heifer and joins the ranks of fellow 4-H members, JR Seewald, Mat Tuma, and Coalter Littrell, as receiving heifers from this prestigious program to jumpstart their herd.  Camille Bradley entered a picture of her fair painting in the national 4-H Youth Artwork contest and was a selected artist who will have her picture featured on a calendar or other 4-H promotional items!

Don and Carolyn Popelka, local 4-H archery leaders, were selected as a 2018 recipient for the Tribute to Volunteer Excellence Award as the District 2 Volunteer of the Year.  The Montana 4-H Foundation recognized their efforts for creating a standard of excellence that helps motivate and encourage others and awarded them with a cash award of $100 for the 4-H event or activity of their choice.   
  The 4-H program in Glacier county continues to grow, thanks to the efforts of leaders and parents willing to contribute.  In the past five years, enrollment has grown from 41 4-H members to 81 members this past year.  Jodi Duncan leads the Cloverbud program which is a non-competitive, educational program for youth ages 5 to 8 that meets monthly during the school year.  Youth ages 8 to 19 may join a regular 4-H club and choose individual projects which can range from cooking, sewing, leathercraft, livestock, shooting sports, welding, cake decorating, quilting, and everything in between.  The Clever Clovers, Curry Comb, and Longview 4-H clubs are led locally by leaders Hapi Seewald, Jo Dean Rooney, and Raylee Johnson Suta, respectively.  In addition, 20 plus leaders help provide project learning activities throughout the year. 

If you are willing to share your time and talents with 4-H youth or are interested in learning more about 4-H, please contact the MSU Extension-Glacier county office at 406-873-2239 or glacier@montana.edu, visit the website at http://msuextension.org/glacier/, or stop by the office at 1210 E. Main, Cut Bank, MT. 

Happy New 4-H Year!!

Jesse Fulbright, MSU Liberty County Extension

In 4-H, we celebrate the new year on October 1^st, as in the start of the new 4-H year.  This week, I wanted to provide everyone with a few tidbits of information about 4-H.  Some of the following information comes from a Tufts University study on positive youth development. 

According to Tufts University, 4-H’ers are nearly 4 times more likely to make contributions to their communities.  Community service is a large portion of what 4-H promotes.  On a local level, one particular Liberty County youth put in well over 200 hours of community service over the past year.  That was on top of carrying a full academic load, sports schedule and family life.  Related to service, 4-H’ers are also about 2 times more likely to be civically active.
4-H youth are nearly 2 times more likely to participate in Science, Engineering and Computer Technology programs during out-of-school time with 4-H girls being 2-3 times more likely compared to girls in other out-of-school time activities. 

Here in Montana, over 19,000 youth take part in 4-H.  Accompanying those 19,000 youth are nearly 4,000 volunteers that step forward and contribute of their time and talents to help lead project meetings, club meetings, and run local 4-H councils among other things.  Our local fairs would also cease to exist as they are run with the support and efforts by our 4-H volunteer leaders. 

4-H youth have the opportunity to take part in 200 different projects.  Traditional 4-H projects such as beef, swine, cooking and sewing are popular among youth, as well as more recent additions such as shooting sports in all its varieties and robots, among others.
The 4-H year runs from October 1^st to September 30^th of each year and next week, Oct. 7-13^th is National 4-H Week, when you’ll see displays around your town, 4-Hers wearing 4-H t-shirts to school and other promotional activities.

For further information about 4-H or how to join 4-H, I would encourage you to contact your local county Extension office.

Oh, what can change in a 4-H year!

Kari Lewis
MSU Extension - Glacier County

4-H enrollment is underway, and today, I want to encourage anyone who has been considering joining to stop by your local MSU Extension office for details! 

After participating in archery for the first time
at 4-H camp this summer, Destini added it to her
4-H projects.  4-H archery practice sign ups are
underway, with practice beginning November 2.
Photo by Kari Lewis.

Yesterday, I had a visit from a 10-year-old 4-H member that made me think about just how much she has grown throughout her first year in 4-H.  She moved to the Cut Bank area a little over a year ago, and joined 4-H after a friend urged her to do so.  Neither parent had been involved in 4-H previously, but being new to the community they thought 4-H would be a great way to become involved.  Her first year, she successfully raised a pig and exhibited in cake decorating at the fair. 

This year, she added a sewing project that she can work on with her Grandmother.  She added a baking project, and scrapbooking which will fit well with her role as her club’s reporter and historian.  She had also attended 4-H camp this past summer where she shot archery for the first time, which led her to add that project.  Because she will be taking Hunter’s Safety this spring and her family wants her to learn how to safely use a firearm, she added Air Rifle to her list of projects.  I smiled this morning as I thought about a family that went from no previous 4-H experience and really wondering what they were getting into, to having a daughter enrolled in livestock, cooking, sewing, scrapbooking, and shooting sports projects, who is serving as a club officer, and is also gaining leadership experience by helping with the Cloverbud program. Oh, what can change in just a year of 4-H!

After successfully raising a pig and completing
a cake decorating project in her first year,
Destini has added numerous other projects
to her 4-H list for the coming year. 
Photo by Kari Lewis.

In Glacier county, we have three 4-H clubs that would love to have your son or daughter join them.  Our clubs meet once a month to conduct business, do community service projects, and work together on their various projects. In November, our shooting sports practices begin.  Each week, from November through February 4-Hers will be improving their marksmanship skills, learning self-discipline, safety, and personal responsibility through archery or air rifle practice.  We do have club equipment available for members to use through generous donations.   

Last week, one of the middle school teachers had called and asked if I would come share about 4-H with the 6^th graders.  She commented on how as a teacher she can pick out the 4-Hers as they have developed responsibility, public speaking, and problem-solving skills through 4-H, and she hopes more students can take advantage of those opportunities.  If you are interested in joining 4-H, where we ‘Learn by Doing’ ‘To Make the Best Better,’ please stop by or call your local Extension Office. 

As a side note, our office will be closed next Monday through Thursday as I will be in Bozeman for our MSU Extension Annual Conference, but you can always call or e-mail at kari.lewis@montana.edu if needed.  

The New 4-H Year is Nearly Upon Us!

Jesse Fulbright, MSU Liberty County Extension

We are rapidly approaching a time of year that is full of surprise and mystery.  I am not talking about the impending holiday crush as we may soon see, but the beginning of a brand new 4-H year.  Many of you already may know that 4-H is one of the nation’s largest youth development programs, reaching more than 6 million youth.  Perhaps you or someone you know had experiences in 4-H.  I hope that those memories are positive and that you see 4-H for the treasure and benefit it is to our youth and our communities.  The new 4-H year begins on October 1st of each year and runs through September 30th. 

The 4-H program is run in conjunction with Montana State University Extension and is one of the chief responsibilities of Extension.  In Montana it is estimated that 1 out of 8 school age youth are 4-H’ers, making it the largest out-of-school program reaching approximately 20,000 youth annually.

So, what is so special about 4-H?  I personally was not involved in 4-H as a youth but in my time as Extension agent here in Liberty County I have come to appreciate the many things that 4-H teaches our youth.  4-H focuses on several things, including science, engineering and technology, healthy living and leadership through more than 50 different self selected projects.  These projects range from the traditional sewing, cooking and large animal projects to more recent additions such as junk-drawer robotics as well as hiking, sport fishing, photography, art and woodworking.  One of the best things about 4-H is that there is something for everyone!

4-H isn’t just for our youth.  The 4-H program is always in need of adult volunteers that want to give back to their community and share their talents.  Whether you were in 4-H as a youth, or not, the 4-H program always welcomes those adults who want to share their talents and help make the best better.  The experiences that you have hold can make an impact in our youths’ lives.  Now’s your chance to share your knowledge and talents with our young people, our future leaders. 

If you or your children are interested in getting involved in 4-H or would like to learn more I would encourage you to contact your local county Extension office or get online at montana4h.org to learn more.

What does it take to make the Marias Fair happen?

Kari Lewis, MSU Extension - Glacier county

This week, I started thinking about just how many people it takes to make the Marias Fair happen, and I wanted to share some numbers with you to illustrate just how much of a family-based, community oriented event the local fair is.  As I started putting this together, even I was a bit surprised at just how many folks contribute to our fair!

We had 186 kids from Glacier, Toole, Liberty, and Pondera counties exhibit 1,569 projects which included everything from shooting sports to livestock to cooking, sewing, photography, leathercraft, welding, and more.

We had 15 barn superintendents from three committees that oversaw our livestock, small animal, and horse shows.  We had 15 volunteers that helped weigh-in and process our market animals in under three hours. 

There were 145 steers, hogs, and lambs exhibited in the market shows.  On the breeding side, we had 8 yearling heifers, 9 cow/calf pairs, 2 yearling ewes, and three ewes with lambs at side.  There were 7 dogs, 44 dairy goat entries, 7 meat goats, 19 horses, 27 cages of poultry, 20 cages of rabbits, and 2 cats exhibited at the Marias Fair.  There were 20 volunteers that helped with the hog, beef, or lamb shows.  We had nearly a dozen volunteers help with the Dog, Cat, Rabbit, and Poultry Shows.  At the horse show, we had 14 volunteers that helped evaluate horsemanship, assisted in the ring, and announced the show.

In the 4-H food booth, we had nine food booth day chairs that kept the food booth running and

 oversaw the 257 youth and parent volunteers that worked in the food booth throughout the fair.  The food booth’s profits are returned to our 4-H youth as premium money, rewarding them for their blue and red ribbons they receive during the fair, and also provide us with a means to thank our volunteers and judges.

There were 25 judges that interview judged 185 kids over a five-hour period on Wednesday.  These judges had committed six to eight weeks in advance, and shared their afternoon with the kids, despite many also having harvest, haying, irrigating, and work commitments during the fair.  We had 50 plus parents and leaders that helped with interview judging, setting up, and taking down county displays.

On the public presentation side, there were three judges that evaluated nearly 25 speeches, demonstrations, and cowboy poetry talks over two days.  For the Friday 4-H livestock judging contest, we had six group leaders, two parents that assisted with check-in, two reasons takers, and one official judge that helped with the contest.

For Saturday’s Round Robin showmanship competition, we had 5 volunteer judges and 5 ring stewards.  At the livestock sale, we had 15 volunteers helping line up animals and three auctioneers, four ringmen, and four clerks that assisted in selling 145 head of livestock in just under three hours. Come Sunday, we had four guys that hauled the lambs, hogs, and beef to the processor.

In addition, we had numerous in – kind donations such as tens of cases of water from four sponsors, the use of livestock scales, squeeze chutes, and loading alleys, and multiple deliveries of water from the Shelby Fire Department to cool the showrings prior to the horse and livestock shows.

There were 90 plus sponsors of 4-H fair awards from multiple counties that recognized our kids’ efforts and accomplishments.  Lastly, we had four administrative assistants that put in a tremendous amount of time and effort both leading up to the fair and at the fair to make things run smoothly.

Really, this is only the tip of the iceberg, as each 4-H youth has project leaders, club leaders, parents, aunts, uncles, and friends supporting them and encouraging them in their journey.  Thank you to each and every person that makes 4-H and the Marias Fair possible, we couldn’t do it without you.  Thank you for choosing to invest in today’s youth, to make tomorrow better.  

If you want to know where all the good folks have gone, stop by your county fair, and I promise you’ll be encouraged at the youth and adult partnerships in action!