April 2020

Annual Easter Egg Hunt Cancelled

Unfortunately due to the current situation with Covid 19 the Annual Easter Egg Hunt has been CANCELLED.

The 4-H Program

We know that Covid-19 is causing all sorts of uncertainties. We all have a lot of questions about the upcoming months. As far as the 4-H program goes, the executive director of MSU Extension has cancelled all gatherings of over 50 people until May 10 as per current CDC guidelines. This may be pushed even later yet, depending on how this disease progresses.

We know you have a lot of questions about 4-H. Will we be able to have club meetings anytime soon? Will 4-H camp happen? Congress? Fair? Unfortunately, we don’t yet know the answers to any of those questions.

What we DO know is that you, our 4-H families, are the most resilient people we have ever met. You are strong, caring, smart, and leaders in your communities. Older members, you are role models for your peers as well as younger children in your clubs and schools. Younger members, you are role models for your peers.

So please take this opportunity to do the right things. The only way to stop the spread of Covid-19 is to act like you already have it. Please do the following:

Stay home as much as possible. If your friends are still meeting up to do homework, politely remind them we’re in the middle of a pandemic and it is important for everyone practice social distancing.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. You can sing the happy birthday song twice or find a part of your favorite song that’s 20 seconds and sing that.
Avoid touching your face.
Clean and disinfect surfaces in your home that you touch regularly (this includes cell phones).
Cover your coughs/sneezes with your elbows instead of your hands.
If you need to have a meeting, use conference calls or video conferencing systems.

In this newsletter you will find 4-H things to help keep you busy during this time. Check this out - Pondera County Extension has been going live on their Facebook page at 2:00 pm every day with 4-H learning activities related to different projects. The videos are all saved to the page and you can watch any time. Feel free to share with your friends.

Don't forget; this is a great time to catch up on record books and work on your project books as well as projects for the fair. If you signed up for a project but decided you don't want to do it, or are working on a project but didn't sign up for it, you will need to eiter Drop or Add it by May 1, 2020. If you arent sure login at mt.4honline.com with your username and password to check.

The courthouse is locked until further notice and Jesse and Julie are working from home, as are all Extension personnel across Montana. Please feel free to call or email Jesse at 406.390.2092 / [email protected] or Julie at 406.899.9511 / [email protected] if you have any questions.

RECORD BOOKS

Are you interested in online record-keeping? Montana 4-H is trying out a new tool called Zsuites. Unlike the forms found on the 4-H website this a web based program so can be accessed from any computer with wifi.

If you are interested, call the Extension office. Also check out the following Youtube video tutorial:

Zsuites instructional video

Livestock Committee Scholarships

Applications for the Don Nelson Memorial and the Livestock Committee Scholarships are now available. You can find the applications at http://mariasfair.msuextension.org/livestockcom.html under Scholarships on the right hand side or email Julie if you need it sent to you. There will be three Livestock Committee scholarships and one Don Nelson Memorial scholarship given out. All scholarships are $700 each.

Please keep in mind that in order to be considered applications must be received by the Liberty County Extension office by June 12th.

WebEx Conference and Video App

With social distancing guidelines in place for April, it is more important than ever that 4-H leaders and clubs stay in contact with their club members.

MSU Extension has a video conferencing platform called WebEx that can be used by each of the clubs to hold virtual meetings during the month of April and beyond, as needed.

Please contact Jesse or Julie if you are interested in scheduling a video conference meeting for your club.

Keeping the 4-H Connection

To see all of the great resources the state 4-H office has compiled help you keep busy check out the link below:

http://montana4h.org/resources/remote_connection/index.html

There are many activities relate to 4-H and some that are just fun. You can also find information on applying for awards at the Montana 4-H website. The deadline is May 1st.

At the site listed above are Montana 4-H Activities to Do at Home, more "At Home" activities, as well as Resources Offered by 4-H Programs around the Country. There are many activities to help fill the educational and time gaps we are all experiencing. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Julie or Jesse via email or cell phone.

Marias Fair Open Class

The Marias Fair invites you to enter any and all items that you've made over the last year in the Open Class exhibit. You can not enter the exact item in both 4-H and Open Class competitions. For example, the same plate of cookies cannot be entered in both but three additional cookies from the same batch could be entered.

You will be able to find the 2020 Premium Book online at www.mariasfair.com. It has not been updated to the 2020 version yet however there are usually only minimal changes.

The Open Class committee also offers a contest to 4-H members: every Open Class entry by a 4-H member will receive a raffle ticket. The tickets of all 4-H kids' entries will be put in a drawing; the winning ticket will receive an ice cream party for their whole club! So, the more items you enter, the better your chances!

Marias Fair Exhibits

Way to early to think about the fair? It’s actually a great time to think ahead. You may not be able to bake cookies or garden outside, but you can make educational displays, sew, work on leather, woodworking and welding projects, to name just a few.

The cash prizes have been increased for the top 4 high point earners so getting started on your projects now might pay off in the end!

Homemade Facemasks

Many people are wanting to help out by making homemade face masks.

I sent out an email with a couple of patterns which used elastic to hold in place. Melissa Kantorowicz, Liberty County Public Health nurse, actually recommended using ties instead of elastic. Click on the link below to see patterns that were approved by the Great Falls Clinic which also has suggestions for making ties.

https://www.gfclinic.com/approved-pattern-info-for-homemade-masks/

FaceBook Challenge

Hannah Kultgen of the Sweet Grass Clovers 4-H club has been busy making masks and would like to challenge other youth. Click on the link below and get ready to start sewing! :)

https://www.facebook.com/1538171462/posts/10221775532567703/

At this time, LMC is not accepting masks but Chester Pharmacy, Remedies and the Sweetgrass Lodge are.

Please check out Liberty County’s website for local updates on Covid-19 at http://co.liberty.mt.us/liberty-county-coronavirus-covid-19-information/ and Liberty County’s Facebook page.