4-H is the largest out of school youth development program in the state of Montana. Currently there are over 19,000 youth 4-H members stretching across Montana's 56 counties. 4-H wouldn't be possible without the dedicated MSU Extension personnel and the 4,000 certified volunteers throughout Montana. Chouteau County currently is home to five, 4-H clubs. Within these 5 clubs there are 118 youth members and 32 volunteers. Big Sandy's local Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club for the 2023-2024 4-H year had 19 enrolled youth members and 7 adult leaders. If you missed the chance to check out the array of projects completed by our local members at the Chouteau County Fair you can swing by the library any time this week to view some of these wonderful projects on display for National 4-H week, October 6th-12th.
The Sunshine Snippers new official year is currently underway as of October 1st. The club started off the year hosting the Awards Banquet in Fort Benton on Sunday. Club members received 7 top project awards, 7 showmanship awards, 8 champion animal awards and 2 pitchfork awards. Pitchfork awards are selected by barn superintendents for an individual who went above and beyond especially in their barn area during the fair; they worked extra hard and helped even harder. The club also received the Swine Herdsmanship award for working as a team and helping each other in the swine barn. Many members also received Record of Excellence Awards on their top notch project books and financial records they kept throughout the year.
The club's first meeting of the year will be held on Sunday October 13th, with the club first doing their bi-annual Adopt a Highway community service project and cleaning their designated 2 mile section of the Judith Landing Road going south east of Big Sandy. The club is looking forward to trying many different ideas for the new year while providing learning experiences for all youth involved. This meeting will also kick of the start of the clubs annual fall fundraising activity, selling Martinson's Ranch Chocolates. These chocolates are made in Huntley, Montana and if you haven't already tried them, you definitely are missing out! A few of our clubs favorites are Chocolate Nut Tumbleweeds, Back Home Almond Buttercrisp and don't forget the melt in your mouth, Cream of Carmels! All chocolate orders will be delivered before Thanksgiving.
If you are interesting in joining 4-H or know someone who is please reach out to Mary Ophus for more information at 406-945-1780.
