The livestock committee has started a raffle for a 2010 Duralite, 20 foot aluminum stock trailer.  Proceeds from the sale of these tickets are for renovation of the pig and lamb pens at the fairgrounds.  All 4-H members are encouraged to sell tickets.  Tickets sell for $20 each or 6 for $100.  Tickets can be picked up at the office by Feb 8.   We will be selling tickets at the GATE show Feb 12-13 and need volunteers who can sit and sell tickets for a time.  Call the office to schedule your time 377-4277.  If you have questions call Marta or Rod Asche at 486-5728.

Horse Judging Practice Workshop, Feb 20

There will be a practice horse judging workshop on Saturday, Feb 20 at 10:00 am at the J & A Arena outside of Glendive.  Robin Smith will be teaching 4-H members about horse judging, what you should look for, how to give reasons, etc.  This would be great practice for our Congress team, however it is open to all ages.  Other counties will be invited.

FRUIT SALE - Starts Feb 12, ends March 5 

The Dawson County 4-H Fruit Sale will begin on Friday, Feb 12 after school.  Your leader or your parents will be getting your material to you or you can stop by the office and get your own. Leaders or parents:  please pick up your kids's or club's material for the fruit sale at the office from Feb 8-11.  If you cannot pick up your fruit information please call.  It is GATE weekend the 12 & 13 and Sherry will not be in the office then.  Forms will be on the counter.  PLEASE DO NOT SELL EARLY!  ANYONE WHO SELLS EARLY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR TOP PRIZES!

If you are new to 4-H this year, the Dawson County 4-H has conducted a fruit sale each year as a money making project and we ask each of the kids to sell as many boxes as they can. The money generated from this helps pay for camps, Congress, craft day, day camp, and pays dues for 4-H'ers and leaders.  This past year it also paid for all the 4-H literature you needed for your projects.

We are selling the beef sticks and the string cheese sticks again.  The beef sticks are like a jerky stick.  Each member should try to sell 5 boxes of fruit, beef or cheese--this is your fair share!  Let's try our best and make some money for yourself and 4-H.                                                                                        

All receipts and order forms will be dated with the current year.  Please use current year material as boxes have changed.  If you need extra forms, they are available at the Office.  Stop by and pick more up or call and we will mail them.  I hope to email the receipt to you also so you have one to work with.  It will also be available on the web, so your customers can look at it while you talk to them --  GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ www.dawsoncountymontana.org.  Click on the 4-H page and the receipt is on the bottom of the page.

One credit is counted as a 18 or 20 pound box and sells for $20 or $18.  Two credits are counted for the $25 boxes.  One credit each is counted for the string cheese and beef sticks.  Prize money is paid out after all money is turned in.   For each small box of fruit sold the 4-H'er gets $1, and for each $25 box sold you receive $2.  You get $1 for apple & pear boxes, string cheese and beef sticks.

Number of credits to be sold in order to receive prizes or trips:

Sell 3 credits, get a free day camp. (Cloverbuds eligible for this)

Sell 25 credits, get free 4-H camp-Ekalaka (regular 4-H'ers only)

Sell 30 credits, get $10 plus one free camp

Sell 20 credits and go to Congress free (or you will need to pay $25 towards your expenses to go) 14 & older by 10/1/09

Sell 35 credits and get a free Jr Hi Camp if offered

Sell 10 credits, get free horse clinic($20 value, 15 boxes if $30)

The top eight sellers over 20 credits will be awarded these prizes:

1st - $40                                             5th - $20                   

2nd - $35                                           6th - $15                   

3rd - $30                                            7th - $10                   

4th - $25                                            8th -  $5         

DO NOT TURN IN HALF BOXES SOLD TO THE EXTENSION OFFICE.  You can sell half boxes but you have to find people to take the other half. Please write plainly and double check your figures on the order forms.  Boxes are missed by not carrying them to the bottom line.

FAMILY PRIZE - $40 to the family selling the most fruit.  (A family is classified as 2 or more 4-H'ers) The top individual can’t claim family prize.  This prize was designed to go to a separate family.

CLUB PRIZE -$50 to the club averaging the most boxes per member. The fruit rep also sponsors a pizza party for the top club.

ADDED PRIZE - $25 cash prizes will be awarded to the top sellers from the fruit company.  One prize for each 4,000 pounds of fruit sold.  Last year we awarded this to the top 6 sellers.

ANYONE WHO SELLS EARLY WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR TOP PRIZES!

Turn your orders into your leaders or the office by MARCH 5.  Leaders please turn your orders into the Extension Office by MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 8. The fruit man is calling me THAT AFTERNOON!  The contest ends when the order goes into the company. (If you get a late order, call me, the fruit man is good about letting us order late.)

It is Dawson County policy that there will be no charge for delivery of fruit.  You are responsible to deliver the fruit you sell and please do it in a timely fashion.  All fruit should be delivered within 4-5 days.  The 4-H Council will put an ad in the paper and it is expected to come out in the Sat/Sun paper, Feb 13/14. We will try to do some radio ads also.  Would you be interested in helping do the radio ads?  Call us at 377-4277 and let us know.

The fruit is expected to be delivered to MDU on  Friday, March 26.

Turn in all money by April 9 or you will be charged a late fee.

CRAFT DAY March 13

Craft Day will be held Saturday, March 13 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the lower level community room of the Courthouse.  The following crafts will be offered and you need to call the office at 377-4277 by Monday, March 8 to register for your two(2)choices. Wear old clothes as you may be painting.

          Tile Trivet

You will make an 8x8 tile trivet.  You will stamp or paint some decorations on it and glue a felt back on it.  It will make a great hot pad in the kitchen or you can decorate your room.

4-H Pin Hanger and Jean Magnet

You will take a piece of felt and make a 4-H

pin hanger out of it to hang all your 4-H pins

on it that you get at Achievement Day.  You will

also make a fridge magnet out of old jean pockets.

              Cardboard Photo Frame

For this project you will use a piece of cardboard and make a picture frame.  You will decorate it with scrapbooking paper and add embellishments.