Michael Goettle and his breeding beef heifer project animal "BB."
Front row: Abbie Applegate, Reid Graveley. Center row: Matilda Hessler, Maggie Applegate, Sawyer Hessler, Natalie Graveley club secretary. Back row; Michael Goettle club vice-president, Halle-Joe Butte club president, Trey Phillips club treasurer, Alaina Barger, Kadin Graveley. Not pictured club leaders Camille Coughlin and Trisha Goettle.
Jean Pocha of the Pathfinder
The 12 members of the Nevada Creek 4H Club in Helmville are heading to the Tri-County Fair in Deer Lodge on Aug. 17-20.
The Tri-County Fair encompasses Powell, Granite and Deer Lodge counties. Both 4H and FFA members will be participating in beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goat, poultry, rabbit, cat and dog showmanship, market animal and herdsmanship projects plus horses. There are also extensive projects in handcrafts, gardening, and cooking, with open classes for adults and children.
Six-year Nevada Creek 4H member Michael Goettle will be showing his breeding beef heifer "BB" in the yearling heifer class. The Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association Merit Heifer program awarded Goettle the heifer in 2022 after he submitted an essay and application in the state-wide competition.
Goettle hopes that the Angus x Limousin breeding of BB will be an asset to the family ranch herd of Black Angus cattle.
Working with his animals and feeding them morning and night, Goettle developed a relationship with his animals starting in December. Goettle suffered a loss common to the agriculture industry when his market steer suddenly passed away in the Spring 2023.
In addition to his breeding heifer, Goettle will be competing in leathercraft for his sixth year with a tooled picture frame.
"In the future I plan to continue my Breeding Beef project with my heifer and her future offspring," Goettle said. "I love 4H, it feels like a big family. We help each other and stick up for each other."
Alaina Barger is being recognized for her 10th year in Nevada Creek 4H in 2023. During her 4H career Barger has specialized in showing Market Goats and Market Swine. Barger started her career with home-raised Saanen and Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats for three years.
Going beyond her county fair projects, Barger has competed statewide and nationally for several years showing market goats and swine. She has earned many Champion Market Goat, Swine and Senior Showmanship awards region-wide with more than 60 award belt buckles.
"Through 4H I have learned the important qualities in a market animal, as well as grown in character," Barger said. "I'm intrigued with all there is to learn and am making future plans based on my experience in 4H."
Barger will be attending Casper Community College in Wyoming this fall on a scholarship for livestock judging and studying agricultural communications.
"I would like to thank the fairboard, 4H leaders and all the behind-the-scenes people who make the fair possible," Barger said. "They are a huge factor in the kids' successes."
4H and FFA members participating in the fair projects are allowed to sell one market animal at the livestock auction 6 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Tri-County Fairgrounds Pavilion
Nevada Creek 4H Club animal projects:
Market Sheep - Sawyer Hessler and Matilda Hessler.
Market Hog - Alaina Barger, Reid Graveley, Abbie Applegate and Maggie Applegate.
Breeding Goat - Alaina Barger.
Market Goat - Alaina Barger
Breeding Beef - Michael Goettle, Natalie Graveley, Trey Phillips and Kadin Graveley.
Market Beef - Kadin Graveley and Natalie Graveley.
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