The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

4-H and FFA members from across Chouteau County had a very busy and successful 2023 Chouteau County Fair held August 16 – 20, 2023.

The following is a list of the award recipients and sponsors at the 2023 Chouteau County 4-H and FFA Fair. We would like to recognize and thank our generous sponsors of these awards.

Top Project – Leadership – Lance Rutledge – Sponsored by: Kelly and Kristie Rutledge Top Project – Foods & Nutrition – Ella Vrtis – Sponsored by: Helen Richter

Top Project – Environmental & Natural Sciences – Beckett Reid – Sponsored by: SS Cattle Co. Top Project – Welding – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: Montana Metal Fabrications

Top Project – Engineering & Technology – Garrett LeFurgey – Sponsored by: EEZE Screed Top Project – Needle Arts & Crafts – Lauren Crowder – Sponsored by: Jay & Patricia Eklund Top Project – Woodworking – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: Clete & Mary Ophus

Top Project – Communications – Eryn Hartley – Sponsored by: Burnt Image, Eric Visocan

Top Project – Self-Determined/Independent Study – Charlie Bogart – Sponsored by: Kelly and Kristie Rutledge

Top Project – Textiles & Sewing – Ella Vrtis - Sponsored by: Dean & Wendy Brandt in Memory of Joyce Fuhrman

Top Project – Gardening – Paul Ritland – Sponsored by: River's Edge Greenhouses and Floral Top Project – Shooting Sports – Jacynta Bomgardner

Top Project – Home & Family – Macee Ophus – Sponsored by: Downtown Gardens Top Project – Photography – Annie Johnson – Sponsored by: K Rae Creations

The People's Choice 4-H Club Booth award sponsored by the Chouteau County 4-H Council went to the Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club.

Two 4-H members entered three handmade items in the Silent Auction of static/indoor projects. Annie Johnson entered two sets of a trio of scenic photographs raising $20. Ella Vrtis received $25 for her tablecloth, donated to the Chouteau County 4-H Council. We appreciate Carla Singer, Perry Joyce and Angela Vrtis for their support of purchasing these items.

Top Cat Project –Jetta Hucke – Sponsored by: Golden Harvest Seeds

Senior Cat Showman – no entries – Sponsored by: Highwood Veterinary Service Junior Cat Showman – Emmery O'Hara – Sponsored by: Hucke Land and Livestock Novice Cat Showman – Peighton Williams – Sponsored by: Anonymous

Top Rabbit Project – Bailey LeFurgey– Sponsored by: Jay & Patricia Eklund Senior Rabbit Showman – no entries – Sponsored by: Rick & Kay Bailey

Junior Rabbit Showman – Bailey LeFurgey – Sponsored by: Mike and Margie Arnst Novice Rabbit Showman – Makenna Han – Sponsored by: Mary's Little Lambs Grand Champion Doe – Makenna Han – Sponsored by: Scott and Misty LeFurgey Grand Champion Buck – Bailey LeFurgey – Sponsored by: Kelly and Kristie Rutledge Rabbit Pitchfork – Bailey LeFurgey – Sponsored by: Teton County Abstract

Senior Poultry Showman – no entries – Sponsored by: Clete & Mary Ophus Junior Poultry Showman – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: Joyce Fuel & Feeds, Inc. Novice Poultry Showman – Macee Ophus – IND Hemp

Grand Champion Pullet – Beckett Reid - Mountain View Co-op

Poultry Pitchfork – Macee Ophus – Sponsored by: Teton County Abstract

Senior Horse Showman – Melodie Starman – Sponsored by: Rich and Vivian Charlson Junior Horse Showman – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: Rocking Diamond B Quarter Horses Novice Horse Showman – Bromley Reichelt – Sponsored by: LA Land & Livestock

Junior Horseman Most Improved – Eryn Hartley – Sponsored by: MaxAg of Montana Senior High Point Horseman – Melodie Starman – Sponsored by: Starman Family

Junior High Point Horseman – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: Chouteau County Farm Bureau Senior Best Fitted Horse – Melodie Starman – Sponsored by: Elk Run Ranch

Junior Best Fitted Horse – Jetta Hucke – Sponsored by: Elk Run Ranch

Novice Best Fitted Horse – Beckett Reid – Sponsored: Weaver Quarter Horses

Horse Herdsmanship – Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club – Sponsored by: LA Land & Livestock

Senior Dog Obedience – Elise Hartley - Sponsored by: Fort Benton Hardware

Junior Dog Obedience – Wyatt Boyce - Sponsored by: Dean & Wendy Brandt in recognition of Heather Brandt & Heidi Brandt

Novice Dog Obedience – Jetta Hucke – Sponsored by: Stockman Bank Senior Dog Showman – Elise Hartley – Sponsored by: Mike and Margie Arnst Junior Dog Showman – Wyatt Boyce – Sponsored by: The Grocery Store Novice Dog Showman – Jetta Hucke – Sponsored by: Big Sandy Organics

Grand Champion Market Sheep – Jacynta Bomgardner – Sponsored by: Evers Ranch Reserve Champion Market Sheep – Payson Dickinson – Sponsored by: IND Hemp Senior Sheep Showman – Jacynta Bomgardner – Sponsored by: Golden Harvest Seeds

Junior Sheep Showman – Aspyn Bogart – Sponsored by: Dean & Wendy Brandt in Memory of Beverly Jean Brandt

Novice Sheep Showman – Cassie Heppner – Sponsored by: W Five Ranch

Grand Champion Market Meat Goat – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: Shawn and Joe Schumacher Senior Goat Showman – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: Montana Metal Fabrications

Grand Champion Goat Breeding – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: The Big Sandy Mountaineer Sheep & Goat Herdsmanship – Geraldine FFA – Sponsored by: Kelly & Kristie Rutledge Sheep & Goat Pitchfork – Jayton Ophus – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Grand Champion Market Swine – Kara Clark – Sponsored by: CHS – Big Sky – Geraldine Reserve Champion Market Swine – Alexis Clark – Sponsored by: Jackie Johnson

Senior Swine Showman – Lauren Crowder – Sponsored by: Golden Harvest Seeds Junior Swine Showman – Miles Zanto – Sponsored by: Hi-Line Meats

Novice Swine Showman – Clara Bradshaw – Sponsored by: W Five Ranch

Grand Champion Swine Breeding – Garrett LeFurgey – Sponsored by: J & C Worrall Farms Reserve Champion Swine Breeding – Garrett LeFurgey – Sponsored by: Worrall's Nook Swine

Herdsmanship – Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club – Sponsored by: Hi-Line Meats

Swine Pitchfork – Bailey Heppner – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Grand Champion Market Beef – Emmery O'Hara – Sponsored by: First Bank of Montana

Reserve Champion Market Beef – Alexis Clark – Sponsored by: Pioneer Insurance Agency Senior Beef Showman – Alex Worrall – Sponsored by: Grass Farms

Junior Beef Showman – Emmery O'Hara – Sponsored by: Mike Lundy

Novice Beef Showman – Braydee O'Hara – Sponsored by: Bomgardner Catering

Beef Herdsmanship – Sunshine Snippers 4-H Club – Sponsored by: Highwood Veterinary Service Beef Pitchfork – Lance Rutledge – Sponsored by: JoEllen Gasvoda

Top Black Angus Market Beef – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: Harrer's Lost Lake Ranch

Grand Champion Beef Breeding – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: Streit Livestock

Reserve Champion Beef Breeding – Mikell O'Hara – Sponsored by: Bunkhouse Branding Grand Champion Bred Sale Heifer – Ty Terry – Sponsored by: IX Ranch

Reserve Champion Bred Sale Heifer – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: Hi-Line Meats

Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair – Arrow Hucke – Sponsored by: Hucke Land and Livestock Beef Breeding Herdsmanship – Willing Workers 4-H Club – Sponsored by: Hi-Line Meats

Grand All Around Senior Showman – Alex Worrall – Sponsored by: Morley Farms, Inc.

Reserve All Around Senior Showman – Jacynta Bomgardner – Sponsored by: Willing Workers 4-H Club Grand All Around Junior Showman – Emmery O'Hara – Sponsored by: Mountain View Co-op

Reserve All Around Junior Showman – Taryn Reid – Sponsored by: Joyce Fuel & Feeds, Inc.

Award winners will be presented their award items during an Awards Program on Sunday, October 1 at 2:00 pm at the 4-H Building at the Chouteau County Fairground. Everyone is invited.

The 2023 Chouteau County 4-H & FFA Livestock Sale was supported by 55 buyers for a total of $310,136.80 in proceeds.

30 market steers sold for a total of $192,247.25. The average price was $4.87 per pound. The Grand Champion steer, owned by Emmery O'Hara, sold to Pioneer Insurance Agency. The Reserve Champion, belonging to Alexis Clark, sold to Golden Triangle Rental.

The sale of 44 market swine totaled $94,365.30 with an average price per pound of $7.90. The Grand Champion swine, owned by Kara Clark, was sold to Big Rabbit, Inc. Pioneer Insurance Agency purchased Alexis Clark's Reserve Champion.

7 market lambs averaged $12.92 per pound for a total of $11,174.25. Jacynta Bomgardner's Grand Champion lamb sold to IND Hemp. The Reserve Champion lamb, owned by Payson Dickinson, sold to Simplot Grower Solutions.

Jayton Ophus's Grand Champion market meat goat sold for $25.00 per pound for a total of $2,150.00 to Mike Collling.

3 bred heifers were sold for a total of $10,200.00 with an average price of $3,400.00. The Grand Champion, owned by Ty Terry, was purchased by Clete and Mary Ophus. The Reserve Champion bred heifer, owned by Arrow Hucke was sold to Joyco.

Many buyers donated through the livestock resale process. Donations of $1,747.50 went toward building and equipment improvements through the resale of one swine and two lambs. Donating businesses include the Pegar Ranch, Robin Pearson and Logan Harms.

The Chouteau County Extension Office would like to thank everyone who supports the 4-H and FFA youth, not just during the fair but throughout the whole year. To the sponsors, donors, businesses and buyers volunteer leaders, Fair Board members and staff, parents and family members and the many additional 4-H and FFA alumni supporters. You are a positive and an integral part of these 4-H and FFA youths' educational experiences. Save the date of October 1 for the Awards Program where we will recognize the award recipients in person. Congratulations to all the Chouteau County 4-H and FFA members.