Local 4-H Members and Leaders Showcase Montana 4-H with Legislators

Four members and leaders of Richland County 4-H program participated in the 14th bi-annual 4-H legislative breakfast in Helena, Mt on January 22nd. They were Holly Bouchard and Sierra Osborne of the Richland Rockets 4-H club, Taylor Schepens of the Brorson Farmhands 4-H club, and leader Kathy Helmuth of the Lambert Hi-Liters 4-H Club. The Breakfast is sponsored by the Montanans for 4-H, an all-volunteer group of concerned citizens. The 4-H legislative breakfast is one of the best-attended in Helena. This year, a majority of legislators attended the breakfast to learn first-hand about the 4-H program in Montana. Over 300 people were in attendance at the breakfast.

The legislators who attended the breakfast from this region were Austin Knudsen, David Halvorson, John Brenden, and Matthew Rosendale.

Organized around the theme of “Montana 4-H: Past, Present, Possibilities”, this year’s breakfast showcased the Montana PBS documentary 4-H: Six Montana Stories with excerpts from the program. The breakfast also included presentations from one of the youth stars of the documentary and the program’s writer/director/producer. This year’s event re-emphasized that 4-H is one of the state’s premier educational programs that is open to all youth- rural and urban. 4-H members and adults highlighted ways that 4-H makes a difference in the state.

During breakfast, 4-H youth and adult volunteers informed legislators about the importance the program plays in their lives and what they have learned as a result of their participation in the 4-H program.

Montanans for 4-H thanks those legislators who took time out of their morning to participate in the breakfast and for investing in MSU Extension which sponsors 4-H around the state.