Get Ready, Get Set, Here Come the Animals!

It wasn't lions and tigers and bears. It was more like chickens, cows, rabbits and goats. None the less it was an adventure for parents, grandparents and 4-H members as they gear up for 4-H animal science, the prelude to showing at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair and other great events.

We start our animal science program with a big hands on training event. Our 4-H animal science training takes place in the perfect place, the Livestock Building of the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fairgrounds. The same place these competitors will be in October when they show the animals they learned about at this event.

We started our training with an introduction to the facilities, bio security issues, and project records. Michelle Shooter the Livestock Extension Agent for Robeson County talked with parents and youth about the importance of being careful and keeping clothes, shoes and hands clean when dealing with animals. Not just for the health of the person but also for the animal. Shea Ann DeJarnette, the 4-H Extension Agent for Robeson County talked about the basics of project records and why the record keeping aspect of the animal science project is so important.

The first session started with Poultry and Heifer workshops. Benjamen Herndon, a long time 4-H poultry competitor taught the other youth about the ins and outs about poultry, how often they need to be fed, what kind of shelter they like, and how to best care for a chicken to have an award winning bird at the fair. Michelle Stumbo, 4-H Extension Agent for Richmond County gave us the real beef about showing a heifer. She had the help of a real live experienced heifer on loan from Anthony Bullard for our training. Michelle showed the youth and adults the ins and outs of showing a heifer like how to make something that weighs more than four hundred pounds follow you when you want and need it to in the show ring. Michelle talked about the care of the heifer and gave everyone an important tip, that they should always wear steel tipped boots just in case they step on your foot.

The second session allowed those who missed the poultry workshop to earn their feathers during this go around. Others travelled to the rabbit station where Tony and Anthony Bullard gave all the details about raising healthy, happy, and hoppy rabbits. Adults and youth alike gathered around to get the opportunity to pick up a rabbit by the neck, and even just reach out and touch the furry creatures that are so gosh darn cute. The father and son team talked about the best way to keep rabbits clean, what to feed them and even how to keep them cool and happy. One favorite trick, that they talked about was freezing a two liter bottle of water and putting in the pen with them. During a hot day they will lay across it and keep cool.

The third session allowed those who had not had the opportunity to check out the rabbits to do so. For others they had the opportunity to move to the show ring to get the low down on goats. Michelle Stumbo joined Joyce and Richard Evans, local goat producers, to teach our youth and adults everything you might and might not want to know about goats. Participants learned everything from the nuances of why they might want to feed this goat separately from the other goats to how to properly trim their hooves. Michelle talked about what the youth need to do to groom and show their goats while the Evans talked about the care of the animals which they so graciously provided.

While the adults and youth completed evaluations, many took part in a Glo-Germ demonstration. The participants put a special lotion on their hands that makes the germs on their hands glow under a black light. Once they saw they germs they understood where and why they needed to wash their hands. So it was off to the bathroom to wash their hands before we dove into lunch. 4-H volunteer Larry Russ brought his cooker and grilling skills out to make sure everyone had a stomach full from hamburgers and hot dogs.

Once sufficiently stuffed with food it was time for our rabbit and goat participants to receive their animals. Those showing heifers already own their animals. While poultry participants will receive their laying hens on Friday, May 21 and broilers will be given out in August. We want to thank all of our instructors for taking the time to help educate new participants and offer new ideas to old pros. We especially want to thank our volunteers, parents, and grandparents for supporting our youth while they complete this project learning about responsibility, record keeping, and life cycles. To our members who are undertaking this task, good luck we are right here for you and remember there are a lot of people who are cheering you on. See you at the fair in October!