The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

4-H and FFA members from across Chouteau County had a very busy and successful 2018 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 2018 Chouteau County Fair.

Top Cat Project – Emmery O’Hara – Sponsored by: Golden Harvest Seeds

Senior Cat Showman – Jayd Finlayson – Sponsored by: Highwood Veterinary Service

Novice Cat Showman – Emmery O’Hara

Top Rabbit Project – Faith Gasvoda – Sponsored by: Jay, Patricia Eklund

Senior Rabbit Showman – Faith Gasvoda – Rick, Kay Bailey

Junior Rabbit Showman – Chase Tinklenberg – Clete, Mary Ophus

Junior Poultry Showman – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: Joyce fuel & Feeds, Inc.

Novice Poultry Showman – Harley LaBuda – Sponsored by: Chouteau County 4-H Council

Grand Champion Hen – Harley LaBuda – Sponsored by: Mountain View Co-op

Grand Champion Rooster – Brinley Reid – Sponsored by: Jay, Patricia Eklund

Junior Horse Showman – Brinley Reid – Sponsored by: Rocking Diamond B Quarter Horses

Novice Horse Showman – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: LA Land & Livestock

Junior Best Fitted Horse – Brinly Reid – Sponsored by: Elk Run Ranch

Novice Best Fitted Horse – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: Weaver Quarter Horses

Horse Herdsman – Willing Workers – Sponsored by: LA Land & Livestock

Horse Pitchfork – Brinley Reid – Sponsored by: Weaver Quarter Horses

Junior Horseman Most Improved – Braxton Crowder – Sponsored by: Moline Ranch

Junior High Point Horseman – Brinley Reid – Sponsored by: Chouteau County Farm Bureau

Grand Champion Market Sheep – Clay Blankenship – Sponsored by: Evers Ranch

Reserve Champion Market Sheep – Kaleb Rayner – Sponsored by: Stir, Stitch ‘N’ Stirrup 4-H Club

Senior Sheep Showman – Clay Blankenship – Sponsored by: Golden Harvest Seeds

Junior Sheep Showman – Azzia Rowland – Sponsored by: Dean, Wendy Brandt

Novice Sheep Showman – Elizabeth Summers – Sponsored by: W Five Ranch

Sheep Herdsman – Sunshine Snippers – Sponsored by: Kelly, Kristie Rutledge

Sheep Pitchfork – Elizabeth Summers – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Grand Champion Swine – Kylynn Nack – Sponsored by: CHS – Big Sky - Geraldine

Reserve Champion Swine – Trevor O’Hara – Sponsored by: Doug, Jackie Johnson

Senior Swine Showman – Jonna McCullough – Golden Harvest Seeds

Junior Swine Showman – Jaycee Worrall – Big Sandy Meat Shop

Novice Swine Showman – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: W Five Ranch

Swine Herdsman – Stir, Stitch ‘N’ Stirrup – Sponsored by: Big Sandy Meat Shop

Swine Pitchfork – Addison Reichelt, Brynn Leistiko – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Grand Champion Market Beef – Jonna McCullough – Sponsored by: First Bank of Montana

Reserve Champion Market Beef – Bentley McCullough – Sponsored by: Pioneer Insurance Agency

Top Black Angus Market Beef – Kaitlyn Leistiko – Sponsored by: Harrer’s Lost Lake Ranch

Senior Beef Showman – Bentley McCullough – Sponsored by: Grass Farms

Junior Beef Showman – Jacynta Bomgardner – Sponsored by: Mike Lundy

Novice Beef Showman – Wyatt Burney – Sponsored by: Bomgardner Catering

Beef Herdsman – Arrowhead – Sponsored by: Highwood Veterinary Service

Beef Pitchfork – Wyatt Burney – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Grand Champion Bred Heifer – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: IX Ranch

Reserve Champion Bred Heifer – Lance Rutledge – Sponsored by: Big Sandy Meat Shop

Grand Champion Beef Breeding – Lexi Bahnmiller – Sponsored by: Rowland, Christine Riffel

Reserve Champion Beef Breeding – Bryson Bahnmiller – Sponsored by: Ken Evans

Beef Breeding Herdsmanship – Arrowhead – Sponsored by: Big Sandy Meat Shop

Top Black Angus Beef Breeding – Lexi Bahnmiller – Sponsored by: Harrer’s Lost Lake Ranch

Grand Champion Dairy – Reece Vernon – Sponsored by: Clete, Mary Ophus

Senior Dairy Showman – Katherine Taylor – Sponsored by: Mike, Margie Arnst

Junior Dairy Showman – Reece Vernon – Sponsored by: Chouteau County 4-H Council

Dairy Herdsman – Arrowhead – Sponsored by: Mobile Vet & Riding Services

Overall Grand Champion Dairy – Ryan Vernon – Sponsored by: Anonymous

Senior All-Round Showman – Bentley McCullough – Sponsored by: Morley Farms, Inc.

Senior Reserve Showman – Jonna McCullough – Sponsored by: Willing Workers 4-H Club

Junior All-Round Showman – Azzia Rowland – Sponsored by: Mountain View Co-op

Junior Reserve Showman – Jacynta Bomgardner – Sponsored by: Joyce Fuel & Feeds, Inc.

Graduate Novice Dog Obedience Exhibitor – Lucy Woods – Sponsored by: Chouteau County 4-H Council

Junior Novice Dog Obedience Exhibitor – Mikell O’Hara – Sponsored by: Dean, Wendy Brandt

Novice Dog Obedience Exhibitor – Melodie Starman – Sponsored by: Helen Richter

Senior Dog Showman – Lucy Woods – Sponsored by: Mike, Margie Arnst

Junior Dog Showman – Mikell O’Hara – Sponsored by: Chouteau County 4-H Council

Novice Dog Showman – Melodie Starman – Sponsored by: Chouteau County 4-H Council

Rally Obedience Exhibitor – Nicholas Woods – Sponsored by:

Project of Merit (Sewing/Quilting) – Taryn Reid (quilt) – Sponsored by: Dean, Wendy Brandt

Project of Merit (Foods) – Brentlee Bomgardner (Coconut Cream Pie) – Sponsored by: Helen Richter

Project of Merit (Misc.) – Faith Gasvoda (Bronc Nose Bands – Leatherwork) – Sponsored by: Jay, Patricia Eklund

Junior Livestock Judging – Jacynta Bomgardner

Senior Livestock Judging – Brook Bomgardner

The 4-H livestock market sale, called by Scottie Peters and Beau Pegar, resulted in sales of $142160.95

Twenty three market steers sold for a total of $77928.00. The average was $2.58 per pound. The grand champion steer, owned by Jonna McCullough sold for $3.40 per pound to TTT Repair. The reserve champion, belonging to Bentley McCullough, sold to Onstad Ranch for $3.45 per pound.

Five market lambs averaged $4.59 per pound for a total of $4053.70. Clay Blankenship’s grand champion sold to Hoven Equipment for $6.00 per pound. The reserve champion lamb, owned by Kaleb Rayner, sold to Louis Aron for $4.00 per pound.

The sale of 36 market hogs brought $46629.25. Average price per pound was $4.75. The grand champion, owned by Kylynn Nack, brought $6.50 per pound and was sold to Onstad Ranch. Lennington Farms purchased Trevor O’Hara’s reserve champion for $5.75 per pound.

Four bred heifers were sold for a total of $10750.00 with an average price of $2150.00. The grand champion, owned by Arrow Hucke, brought $3300.00 and was purchased by Montana Ranch Insurance. The Reserve Champion bred heifer, owned by Lance Rutledge was sold to Golden Harvest Seeds for $2800.00.

The sale of 73 livestock projects was supported by 42 buyers. Due to generous donations of resale animals by O’Hara Land and Cattle, ENT Associates and Joyce Fuel & Feeds, Inc. was made to the Building fund in the amount of $1330.64.

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.