Michael with his two-year old heifer "BB" and calf "Bubba."
Payton working on his leather project he is entering in the Tri-County Fair. It is his first year in 4H.
The Nevada Creek 4H Club has 13 kids going to the Tri-County Fair in Deer Lodge this year. Two of the members are brothers living between Avon and Helmville. Michael and Payton Goettle live on the family ranch and have both animal and craft projects in 4H.
Michael, age 15, is continuing with his breeding beef project. The star in his project is BB, a heifer he was awarded in 2022 through the Rocky Mountain Stockgrowers Association Investment program. BB is now two years old and Michael will be showing her with her 2024 steer calf, Bubba. They are both Limousin-Angus cross breeding.
"I like doing the Breeding Beef project because it helps me grow my own herd," Michael said.
Leathercraft is Michael's other project. He learned leathercraft from his dad and grandfather, Travis and Mitch Goettle, and has done leathercraft for the seven years he's been in 4H.
Learning about work ethic, responsibility, volunteering, success and failure have been part of the experience Michael said he has learned in 4H.
"4H is a good program for kids to get in," Michael said. "Kids don't have to take animals, there are many other options to get the same experience. If there are kids that don't have many friends or struggle socially, 4H can help them find friends with similar interests that maybe they wouldn't have met at school."
Payton Goettle, age 9, is in his first year of the Nevada Creek 4H Club and his projects are Leatherwork and Woodworking.
"I got interested in 4H by watching my big brother and friends," Payton said.
Although a new member to 4H, Payton has already found that he likes doing demonstrations in the Nevada Creek 4H Club. Being able to put on a presentation and answer questions is one of the things he has learned this year. He has also noticed how voting in the club makes a difference.
Payton said he's learned about being active in his community and talking to people, as well as leathercrafting and woodworking skills.
"Leather is a lot harder than it looks," Payton said.
The Tri-County Fair runs Aug. 14-18, 2024. Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. is the Livestock Sale when neighbors and businesses can support the 4H kids by bidding on their market animals.
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