The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

4-H and FFA members from across Chouteau County had a very busy and successful 2016 Chouteau County Fair. Every 4-H and FFA member has worked over the past year in anticipation of this time of year. The Chouteau County Extension Office would like to extend huge thank you to every individual who supports the 4-H program in any way--

The following is a list of those who received the top awards at the 2015 Chouteau County Fair.

Top Cat Project – Lily Winderl

Top Cat Showman – Alex Worrall

Top Rabbit Project – Faith Gasvoda

Top Rabbit Showman – Conner Zanto

Novice Poultry Showman – Conner Zanto

Grand Champion Rooster – Conner Zanto

Grand Champion Hen – Ryder Zanto

Senior Horse Showman – Kyleigh Woods

Junior Horse Showman – Lauren Crowder

Novice Horse Showman – Brinly Reid

Senior Best Fitted Horse – Kyleigh Woods

Junior Best Fitted Horse – Lauren Crowder

Novice Best Fitted Horse – Cloe Kalanick

Horse Herdsman – Willing Workers

Horse Pitchfork – Brinly Reid

Senior High Point Horseman – Kyleigh Woods

Junior High Point Horseman – Lauren Crowder

Junior Horseman Most Improved – Cloe Kalanick

Grand Champion Market Sheep – Azzia Rowland

Reserve Champion Market Sheep – Clay Blankenship

Senior Sheep Showman – Clay Blankenship

Junior Sheep Showman – Azzia Rowland

Novice Sheep Showman – Amri Forder

Sheep Herdsman – Arrowhead

Sheep Pitchfork – Jayd Finlayson

Grand Champion Meat Goat – Jayd Finlayson

Junior Goat Showman – Jayd Finlayson

Grand Champion Swine – Kylynn Nack

Reserve Champion Swine – Makae Nack

Senior Swine Showman – Clay Blankenship

Junior Swine Showman – Jonna McCullough

Novice Swine Showman – Morgan Ayers

Swine Herdsman – Arrowhead

Swine Pitchfork –Trevor O’Hara

Grand Champion Market Beef – Jonna McCullough

Reserve Champion Market Beef – Jordee Bomgardner

Senior Beef Showman – Matt Riffel

Junior Beef Showman – Jonna McCullough

Novice Beef Showman – Azzia Rowland

Beef Herdsman – Stir, Stitch ‘N Stirrup

Beef Pitchfork – Brook Bomgardner

Top 4-H Black Angus Market Beef – Kaitlyn Leistiko

Grand Champion Bred Heifer – Andrea Rutledge

Reserve Champion Bred Heifer – Ellie Meeks

Grand Champion Beef Breeding – Jonna McCullough

Beef Breeding Herdsmanship – Jonna McCullough

Top 4-H Black Angus Market Beef – Ellie Meeks

Senior Dairy Showman – Katherine Taylor

Novice Dairy Showman – Ryan Vernon

Dairy Herdsman – Katherine Taylor

Overall Grand Champion Dairy – Reece Vernon

Senior All-Round Showman – Makae Nack

Senior Reserve Showman – Matt Riffel

Junior All-Round Showman – Jonna McCullough

Junior Reserve Showman – Brook Bomgardner

Junior Dog Obedience Exhibitor – Lucy Woods

Novice Dog Obedience Exhibitor – Nicholas Woods

Project of Merit (Sewing/Quilting) – Kyleigh Woods

Project of Merit (Foods) – Stacey Allderdice

Project of Merit (Misc.) – Faith Gasvoda

2016 Kelly Moline 4-H Achievement Award – Faith Gasvoda

Junior Livestock Judging – Faith Gasvoda

Senior Livestock Judging – Makae Nack

The 4-H livestock market sale, called by Scottie Peters and Beau Pegar, resulted in sales of $141,072.90.

Fifteen market steers sold for a total of $71,545.50. The average was $3.39 per pound. The grand champion steer, owned by Jonna McCullough sold for $5.00 per pound to Onstad Ranch. The reserve champion, belonging to Jordee Bomgardner, sold to Torgerson’s for $4.25 per pound.

Nine market lambs averaged $6.47 per pound for a total of $7833.25. Azzia Rowland’s grand champion sold to Payne West Insurance for $7.25 per pound as a resale and to Bear Paw Meats at $2.00 per pound. The reserve champion lamb, owned by Clay Blankenship, sold to O’Hara Farms as a resale animal for $5.50 per pound and Mobile Veterinary and Riding Services purchased the lamb for $2.20 per pound.

The sale of 34 market hogs brought $44,083.50. Average price per pound was $4.92. The grand champion, owned by Kylynn Nack, brought $5.25 per pound and was sold to Onstad Ranch. Belt Valley Bank purchased Makae Nack’s reserve champion for $5.00 per pound.

Six bred heifers were sold for a total of $16,200.00 with an average price of $2700.00. The grand champion, owned by Andrea Rutledge, brought $2600.00 and was purchased by Golden Harvest Seeds. The Reserve Champion bred heifer, owned by Ellie Meeks was sold to Shamrock Stables for $2400.00.

The sale of 75 livestock projects was supported by 45 buyers. Due to generous donations of resale animals by O’Hara Farms, Torgerson’s, PayneWest Insurance and Hoven Equipment; $1110.65 was raised for the Building Fund and $300.00 for the Chuck Wagon. Joyce Fuel and Feeds donated meat to Geraldine Senior Citizens.

Montana 4-H reaches 26,000 youth across the state in all 56 counties. 4-H combines tradition with cutting edge skills through hands-on learning empowering youth in your community to lead for a lifetime. Members choose from a range of over 200 projects and learning experiences. Through these projects and experiences, members set goals, learn the skills needed to achieve goals, and demonstrate their skills at events such as county fairs, speaking contests and other competitions locally, statewide, regionally, nationally and internationally. For additional information, contact the Chouteau County Extension Office.

The Chouteau County Extension Office would like to extend a huge thank you to every individual who supports the 4-H program in any way—parents, family members, leaders, 4-H and FFA alumni, community members, sponsors, donors, businesses and buyers. And, congratulations to all of the Chouteau County 4-H members.