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Creating a 4-H Livestock Club, from the Ground Up

Extension Education

Ray Bodrey
Agent II-(CED)
UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County
Wewahitchka

Abstract

Objectives: A 4-H club experience can help youth find new interests and strengths and grow in ways traditional education cannot offer. Under this philosophy, a newly formed 4-H livestock club was designed to teach youth leadership, self-discipline and responsibility skills through the process of showing a steer at a livestock show. Methods: Utilizing feedback from the Overall Extension Advisory Committee and the Gulf County Cattlemen’s Association, an interest meeting was held to recruit youth and adult volunteers. Both in-person and virtual instruction was used to recruit and train volunteers, and teach youth about the care, judging and showmanship of livestock for competition. Results: This newly formed club had twenty-four active members and eight adult volunteers. The club participated in the West Florida Livestock show, with a total of eight youth making up two judging teams and five youth who participated in the steer show. The two judging teams placed 2nd and 5th, respectively. Each youth placed in their steer class and sold their project steer at auction. Five of the members participated in the statewide virtual judging competition held later in the year. All club members ranked in the top ten of their age division for overall placings at this event. Conclusions: Livestock judging and showmanship are learning experiences that provide youth with specific animal knowledge, while adding critical thinking to the mix. Experience in events such as these aid youth in gaining knowledge and skills in leadership, allowing for growth into responsible and productive citizens.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

A poster file has not been provided

Authors: , Ray Bodrey, Melanie Taylor, Julie McMillian
  1. , , ,
  2. Bodrey, R. County Extension Director, UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County, Florida, 32465
  3. Taylor, M. Family & Consumer Science Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County, Florida, 32401
  4. McMillian, J. 4-H & Family & Consumer Science Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County, Florida, 32465