Chelsea State Bank ad

2016 4-H youth show: Jr. Livestock Council members talk about their projects (with slideshow)

This year's Jr. Livestock Council talk about their projects as this year's 4-H Youth Show.
This year’s Jr. Livestock Council talk about their projects at this year’s 4-H Youth Show.

The 4-H Junior Livestock Council not only planted 150 flats of flowers as a community service project this year but also participated in the SOS Agriculture Program with the Farm Bureau.

At this year’s 4-H Youth Show, they were offered an opportunity to learn how to tell their agricultural-based story. All 4-Hers were encouraged to send in photos of their livestock projects and talk about raising and showing an animal, which touches on many life lessons. A slide show will be shown to livestock bidders before Thursday night’s livestock auction.

All the Livestock Council members will tell you that success in the show ring is the result of hard work, time invested and building a bond with their animals, despite the fact that many of the animals will be sold on Thursday night.

“The program is a way for the public to see what kids have put into their projects,” said Sydney Masters, 13, of Ann Arbor.  She will be showing three heifers at this week’s 4-H Fair.

Cassidy Polzin, 18, of Saline, agrees. She is showing two beef steer, one dairy heifer, one dairy cow and two sheep this week. And, although she has worked hard with them, not all of the livestock are friendly.

“It’s just like walking up to a strange dog,” she says, adding, “Be sure the owner is there and gives permission before you approach any farm animal.”

Other tips from Livestock Council members were just as valuable for people attending the 4-H fair this week.

Natalie Johnson, 17, of Manchester is showing five lambs and although they may seem sweet standing in their stalls at the youth show. “Sheep are stubborn,” she says, adding, “how well they show depends on how much you work with them and it takes a lot more work than people think.”

“It takes a lot of work to get them to show and with beef, there’s a lot of power” on those four hooves, says Jayden Humphrey, 15, of Manchester who is showing both swine and a beef steer.

Courtney Campbell, 17, of Manchester is showing two lambs and she wanted folks to know that there are different ways to shave lambs depending on the breed.

Chrissy Polzin, 16, of Saline, is showing two lambs, two cows and one dairy heifer. “People need to know that farm animals need to be treated with respect and that they have long memories if treated badly.”

Cami Ford, 15, of Munith says she wants people to know that showing a steer is quite different than showing a dairy heifer, there are different breeds of dairy livestock – both goats and cattle. She plans to show two beef heifers, one beef steer and a ewe lamb.

Jacy Wacker, 18, of Manchester is showing six sheep and three beef cattle. She says that getting these animals ready for this show is hard work. “A lot of time is spent giving them baths and feeding them and sheering them and walking them. You give up a social life to get them ready.”

Noah Ford, 14, of Munith chose to talk about his swine. “They like to do what they want to do,” he says, like rolling in mud puddles. He is showing two beef steer and two pigs this week.

Makenna Kern, 15, of Chelsea says that she enjoys her steer’s personalities more than her pigs and she enjoys halter walking them. She will show two pigs, a market heifer and one beef steer this week.

Emma Rose, 17, of Saline says people seem surprised when she tells them she shows goats. In addition, she will be showing two pigs this week.

Mason Trinkle, 15, of Chelsea, says that he has to get his 4-H livestock ready sooner to show than the ones he will exhibit at the Chelsea Community Fair. Plus, he says, he has to be more organized in what he brings to the 4-H fair than the Chelsea Fair, which is much closer to home. He’ll be showing steers and market hogs this week.

While the 4-H youth care for and show their livestock this week, the continued success of the agricultural industry is dependent on the ability to build relationships with consumers and one another, and the SOS offers youth an example of how to begin the conversation.

4-H and the Farm Bureau have teamed up to ensure that the agricultural industry remains strong in this county by offering the youngest participants in agriculture the opportunity to stay involved and tell their stories.

Please support these 4-Hers by encouraging their efforts and by bidding on their projects at the 4-H livestock auction on Thursday, July 28. For those bidding there is a dinner at 5 p.m. and the auction follows the meal.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email