Twenty-One Youth Complete 4-H Livestock Project
Each 4-H club member received a two-day-old dairy bull calf in early November 2009. They were responsible for bottle feeding the calf twice daily for about three months and continuing to care for it until show time. Five local dairies donated the calves, and the local Southern States Cooperative provided enough milk replacer and feed to get them off to a good start. Club leaders Wayne and Joann Yarbro met with youth monthly, teaching them about the beef industry and how to care for their animals properly. Cleveland County’s 4-H Youth Development Program coordinated required health care and animal husbandry practices and provided workshops that taught members how to halter break their calves and prepare them for show. The Grand Champion steer was exhibited by Charlie Greene of Lawndale, who received a cash award from Mitchem’s Kitchen. Caroline Bumgarner of Shelby exhibited the Reserve Champion steer and was also named Showmanship Champion. She received a cash award from Rhodesdale Farm. Eight year-old Regan Mitchem received an award from Midstate Mills for raising the heaviest steer, “Bolt”, who gained nearly 1,000 pounds under her care and weighed in at the Fair at 1,095 pounds! The Cleveland County 4-H Youth Development program is also in the process of developing a similar project that will allow youth to raise and exhibit meat goats beginning in the spring of 2011. For more information contact the County Extension Center at 704-482-4365.
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