The upcoming January contest will be my first computing contest. I plan to use c++, a language I have ramped up my skills in during the past month. I have worked through all the stared problems in the bronze section of the USACO guide and some additional “hard” to “very hard” problems. I had problems with http://www.usaco.org/index.php?page=viewproblem2&cpid=1035 and http://www.usaco.org/index.php?page=viewproblem2&cpid=1037 though. Am I prepared to take the Bronze contest this month? What else should I do to prepare? What strategies are helpful for you?
Practice. Practice. Practice. I don’t know what to tell you about whether or not you’re prepared. That’s too subjective.
Good luck! 
Just do a lot of problems and keep on practicing, even after you solve it review, and come back a few days later to see if you can solve it.