Fergus/Petroleum Counties 4-H Youth Exchange MSU Fergus County Extension * 712 W Main * Lewistown MT  59457

Fergus/Petroleum County, Montana- 4-H Youth Exchange Program

We have been involved in the Exchange Program for many years. A new group is formed every two years, hosting the first summer and traveling the second summer. Our exchange program does not get any outside funding, so our group plans and carries out numerous fund raising events over the two year period to raise enough money to pay the basic expenses for each member to travel. Our program not only stresses the travel aspect of an exchange, but also the life skills acquired while working together with the fund raisers.

Our Group-The ages of our group will range from 13 to 17 on October 1, 2006. We usually have 20 to 25 youth and 4 to 5 adult chaperones, we will not formally organize the next group until August of 2006. The members are always excited to see new places and experience different life styles than their own, and most importantly make life long new friends. They also very much enjoy hosting and sharing their favorite places and activities in Central Montana. Most of our members will live on farms or ranches, some in very remote areas, a few will live in one of the small communities.

Hosting- Each visitor would stay with a 4-H host family during their visit. Each host family has at least one child involved in the exchange group. Time would be spent both as a group and with individual host families, learning about the every day life style enjoyed in Central Montana. Activities could include fishing, hiking, riding, shopping, swimming, (at the popular water hole), a ranch tour, and Lewis and Clark trail exploration. A trip through Yellowstone Park could be planned if the visitors fly into the Billings airport.

Area- Fergus County is located in central Montana and covers 4, 250 square miles with a total population of 11,893. The county seat is Lewistown (pop 5,734) and other communities in the county include; Moore (pop. 207), Judith Gap (pop 142), Denton (pop 295), Winifred (pop 184), Hilger, Roy and Grass Range (pop 142). Agricultural production and agricultural business form the basis of the economy. We are very proud of the beauty and variety of the landscape in Central Montana. The area is well known for tourism, outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing opportunities. Geographic features include mountains, spring creeks, mountain streams and lakes, foothills, large rivers, rough river breaks and rolling prairie. Historically we are known as "Charlie Russell" country and for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. We also have 4-H members from Petroleum County which is located just to the east of Fergus County. The only community in this county is Winnett (pop 184), the county seat. This county has lots of wide open space and is composed of large cattle ranches with some farming. The geography is plains and river breaks.

A photo slide show of our area can be found on our web site www.tein.net/~msufergus Click on 4-H, then Youth Exchange, then county profile.

Current status- Our current group of 22 youth and 4 adults will be traveling to New York State this summer, 2006. Our new group will organize in August of 2006 and we looking for a new partner to work with. We would ideally like to host the summer of 2007 and travel the summer of 2008. Early August seems to be the best time in the summer for our families to both host and travel.

Jennifer Saunders
4-H Program Assistant
MSU Extension, Fergus County
712 West Main, Lewistown, MT 59457
406-538-3919
fergus4h@montana.edu