It was a cold day in Turah

Thanks to everyone who came out on Sunday, the coldest October 11th on record, to participate in the fall 4-H Horse Judging Contest. The Pattersons and all the parents who brought food for the pot-luck deserve a huge thanks. It was delicious! The newly enclosed observation room at the Willowbend Farms arena was a big hit, with temperatures in the 20s outside.

Congratulations to the following participants for placing in the top of their division:

Novice:
1st - Emalee Ratliff
2nd - Claire Bagnell
3rd - Caleb Bagnell
4th - Bailey Kolb
5th - Tara Ratliff
6th - Sierra Getschman

Junior:
1st - Austin Patterson
2nd - Adeline Richardson
3rd - Colter Miller
4th - Natalie Arnott

Senior:
1st - Secora Richardson
2nd - Brianna Arnott
3rd - Brittany West
4th - Caitlin Creighton
5th - Jessica Brady
6th - Bre Junor

Getting ready for the Fair

Tolkien said "It is the job that is never started that takes the longest to finish." That would be the Missoula 4-H Blog over the last 3 months.

Just to get us back in the game, here are some updates from the 2009 Western Montana Fair:

• The Fair Horse Show was held Saturday and Sunday, July 25th and 26th. The show was very smooth and fast; we were out before 4pm both days. Better than 2 hours per day improvement over 2008! I'll post results here as soon as I receive the official copy from Cindy.

• Livestock Barn and Country Fair setup has been zooming right along. A small crew with fork trucks moved things around on July 18th, a decent sized crew showed up on the 25th to set up hog pens, goat pens, and the first of two 60'x60' big tents. Tent #2 went up on August 1st, as did the Sheep and Rabbit pens (thanks, Bear Creek Buckaroos).

• Round one of our Fair Interview experiment is over. Most of the non-animal project interviews were completed on August 1st between 9am and noon. The 2nd and final round of interviews will take place August 8th, from 9am to noon.

The "experiment" was that we're doing interviews on the two Saturdays preceding the Fair, instead of all on the Sunday before the Fair.

Upcoming at the Fair:

• Sheep shearing at the Ag Center August 5th, 6pm start, $3 per sheep.
• 4-H Shooting Sports Exhibition August 6th, 6pm start.
• 4-H Dog Show August 8th, 9am start
• 4-H Fair Interviews (including all Livestock, and all other remaining) August 1st, 9am to noon.

Check out our Facebook page for more frequent updates. See you at the Fair!

Sheriff's Posse and 4-H Members ride in Bonner Superfund Run

On April 18, 2009, the Bonner Superfund Run drew over 160 runners aged 4 to 80. With perfect weather, the runners participated in 1-mile, 5K and 10K events. From the Rocky Mountain Packers 4-H Club, Sandy and Allysa Morris, and Michelle and Morgan Tucker put on their running shoes to compete in the 10K race. Morgan and Allysa placed 1st and 2nd in their age division. Congratulations!

Local sponsors and volunteers were generous; providing money, support, food and prizes. Rocky Mountain Packers Vyonne Moran, Jacob Moran and Lori Zeiser manned a water station on Rustic Road. The event was closed by a horse-mounted Color Guard consisting of riders from the Missoula County Sheriff's Posse and a few 4-H members. Austin Patterson proudly carried the 4-H flag, and Hope Sands, Cherrokee Sands and Kole Swartz rode in the grand community display of nearly 20 uniformed riders. What a great way to celebrate and show appreciation for the new bike/pedestrian and equestrian trails in the Bonner/Turah area!

Pictured below carrying the 4-H flag, Austin Patterson riding Boomer is followed by Shannon Patterson riding Star and Hope Sands riding Doc.
Thanks to Judy Matson for the photo, and to Darlene Patterson for the information.

4-H/FFA Hog Project weigh-in: A Pig Success!

It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon, we weighed 174 pigs (52 doubles), and we were finished on time! Huge thanks to Jim, Margie, Mr. Andres, Penny, Renae, Lajene, Robin, Lisa, Richie, Jordan, the Ailports, and all the FFA and 4-H helpers whose names I can't remember (sorry).

While I didn't actually arrive until almost 6:15, Andres tells me things kicked off about 3, and we were headed out by 8:15. Thanks to everyone for showing up on time. Good luck with your projects between now and the Fair. See you there!

Teen Council Update: 4-H Carnival

The newly formed Missoula County 4-H Teen Council has set a goal of hosting a 4-H Carnival, similar to the one held in Ravalli County. The 4-H Carnival is a fundraiser, it involves all the 4-H Clubs, and it is a fun way for the public to meet 4-H families and find out more about the program. Tentative plans are to host the Missoula 4-H Carnival sometime in September.

As part of their planning process, the 4-H Teen Council planned a trip to Corvallis to visit the Ravalli County 4-H Carnival on Saturday, March 28th. There was a great turnout for the Carnival from the citizens of Ravalli County - both gyms at the Corvallis Public Schools were jam-packed with games, prizes, and people. From the Teen Council - Isaac and I both had a great time checking out the booths, asking questions, and taking pictures to share as we promote the idea to Missoula 4-H Clubs.

Thanks to Ravalli County 4-H for allowing us to check out your event and "borrow" all your great ideas!

Rabbit Workshops - Thanks Cindy!

Big thanks to our 4-H Rabbit Superintendent, Cindy, for holding workshops for Rabbit Project members in February and March. The next workshop is scheduled for April 15th, 6-8pm, at the Extension Office. Why not bring the kids to the rabbit workshop while you head to the post office to drop off those tax forms?

Almost Overlooked: Fall 2008 4-H Horse Judging

The results of the Fall 2008 Missoula County 4-H Horse Judging Contest were not reported until the March/April 2009 Newsletter - and then we mis-reported the results! Below are the actual results from the contest. Special thanks to Flying H Stables of Missoula, and to owners Barbara and Colbert Howell and their staff and riders for the hospitality.

Results

Novice
1st Place: Adeline Richardson
2nd Place: Morgan Tucker
Junior
1st Place: Austin Patterson
2nd Place: Colter Miller
Senior
1st Place: Secora Richardson

2009 Drama Festival

Congratulations to the New Meadows 4-H Club for winning the Overall Outstanding Play award for their performance of "Who Killed Hamlet?" at the 2009 4-H Drama Festival.

New Meadows 4-H Club

The festival was held Saturday, March 7th, at the community center in Potomac. Thanks to the Potomac Valley 4-H Club for hosting the event. Special thanks to:

• Paula Marcinkowski and Cindy Arnott for serving as judges
  
• The Potomac Community Center for donating the facility
• All the homemade pie makers
• Everyone who bid on the pies to support the 4-H Ambassadors
• All the family and friends who came to support the 4-H Clubs
  

Complete Results

New Meadows 4-H Club: Who Killed Hamlet? (Craig Sodaro)

• Outstanding Actor: Garett Hueffed (Sebastian Dobbs)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor: Spencer Reh (Carl Sagaman)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: Isabel Reh (Paula)
• Ensemble Award: Kyle Doyle (Ed Lofting), Spencer Reh, Garett Hueffed
• Set Design: Entire Club - clever use of boards; simple, effective
• Outstanding use of technology: Entire Club

Rocky Mountain Packers 4-H Club: The Way-Out Wizard of Oz (Val R. Cheatham)

• Outstanding Actor/Actress: Sam Zeiser (Dorothy)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: Emma Swartz (Scarecrow)
• Outstanding Costume: Sandy Johnson (Wicked Witch of the North)
• Enthusiasm Award: Entire Club - team spirit and cooperation
• Set Design: Entire Club - tumble weeds, other special effects

Rocky Mountain Packers 4-H Club

Potomac Valley 4-H Club: The Ransom of Emily Jane (Carolyn Lane)

• Outstanding Actress: Annika Erickson (Emily Jane Dorset)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: Mersaydees Cheff (Sonny Griggs)
• Ensemble Award: Entire Club - excellent performance by young actors (all 11 & under)
• Enthusiasm Award: Entire club - tremendous

Potomac Valley 4-H Club

Overall Awards

• Outstanding Play: Who Killed Hamlet?
• Outstanding Actor: Garett Hueffed
• Outstanding Actress: Annika Erickson
• Outstanding Suppording Actor: Spencer Reh
• Outstanding Supporting Actress: Emma Swartz
• Outstanding Ensemble: Kyle Doyle, Garett Hueffed, Spencer Reh
• Outstanding Special Effects: Rocky Mountain Packers 4-H Club