Well the grandson and I attended our first 4 H meeting this week and he is really excited about the possibility of showing a calf. With the local ag fair coming up in a scant couple of months we are going to just keep going to meetings and learning this year and aim at actually showing a calf next year. I have NO experience in showing cattle other than walking thru the barn every year at the state fair and being amazed at the trouble people go to to try to make a cow look pretty. That said it looks like we may be starting the journey so does anyone have any definite dos and don'ts we should know about up front? We're not planning on going to any shows other than the local ag fair then sell the calf. Thanks.
4 H
- Thread starter spoon
- Start date
heath
Well-known member
To do it right you're gonna have alot of money in it for just one show. Are there any jackpots or open shows you could also enter to make it more worth the costs?
cowgirlboots
Active member
Well, I have shown for several years, and we don't get very picky about it. We show the best cattle we have, but don't put a ton of money into it mainly because there are no really big shows close by. The really big thing around here for the 4 H kids is showing steers because it is not quite As competitive and we make a little money too. It just works out better for the kids I'm my club. So, I would do some research about what most kids do in your 4H club, and how he fairs work. The club leader may be able to help out or if not, point you in the right direction; you may even have a livestock group leader who serves as a kind of advisor for all of the livestock exhibitors in the club, or maybe just the cattle exhibitors. Keep going to those meetings!
The fun is the showing, and your child making friends there. Go to several shows. I grew up showing cattle. I switched my kids to rodeo. I didn't have time for both. I really wish it was an experience they were getting. The type of heifer you buy to show is not always a practical purchase for turning out with a commercial cowherd. I decided to start their herds with functional cattle and devote what spare time we have to the youth rodeo. They make friends and travel with it as well. Enjoy your time with them. Go to many shows.
heath":n23jswoc said:
We wouldn't be looking to show but the one time in our local ag fair so spending a lot of money is out of the question. We were honestly hoping to show poultry but they don't show poultry locally due to a lack of someone to judge we were told. So our choices are calf, lamb, pig, and maybe goat. They will meet this coming Monday nite and decide what animals will be shown for sure. There aren't many people raising goats around here any more so there is a possibility that there won't be a class for them either.
cowgirlboots":ecawukiy said:
Thanks for the input. I believe we are somewhat on the same page as you. We had so much fun at the last meeting that I'm planning to taking 3 more grandkids along to the next one. The more the merrier I say.
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cowgirlboots
Active member
Yeah, I am the President of our 4H club this year, and it is sad to go to a meeting and only six or eight kids show up. We all seem to be graduating, quitting, or juust not coming (if you dont come to meetings you can't show) so yeah, our fair is going downhill fast too. Good for you to get the kids to the meetings! And good luck!
heath
Well-known member
I have 3 girls(6,4,2) the two older show pigs and goats, and the younger just pigs. Goats are pretty cheap to feed the show feed, but the pigs cost a bit more. I'm dreading when they start showing cattle as it cost quite a bit.
chippie
Well-known member
Something that I like about 4-H is that it is very family orientated. Parents and siblings are welcome at the meetings. It just isn't for the 4-H member. There are many project opportunities available. There are projects & activites that can go hand in hand with the livestock projects. Such as photography, and livestock judging. Many people think that 4-H is only about livestock, but it isn't. Shooting Sports is a very popular project area and SET - 4-H Science (Science, Engineering & Technology) is gaining popularity too. You may be surprised at how many projects areas there are in 4-H.
This is the link to the national 4-H website http://www.4-h.org/ and this is the link to the Kentucky 4-H website http://www2.ca.uky.edu/4-H/
This is the link to the national 4-H website http://www.4-h.org/ and this is the link to the Kentucky 4-H website http://www2.ca.uky.edu/4-H/
spinandslide
Well-known member
spoon, that is great..I grew up in 4-h and everything I learned..not just from the livestock perspective (I did horse)..but the public cpeaking, the volunteering, the helping out..it sticks with you.
my son is in 4-h..one of the best clubs IMO, because its a great group of kids with varied interests.
my son is in 4-h..one of the best clubs IMO, because its a great group of kids with varied interests.
