4-H
Projects

The 4-H Livestock Project is an excellent opportunity for 4-H members who love animals, are interested in a career with animals or agriculture, or are looking for a project that will get their hands dirty and get them outside!  In 4-H there are Market Project animals and Breeding Project animals.

How does a MARKET livestock project work?
At the beginning of the livestock project year in the fall, you will purchase a beef project animal. Sheep project animals are purchased in early spring. The 4-H member will then feed, exercise, groom, and work with the animal to prepare to show. At the completion of the season, the animal will then be sold and the money will go to the 4-H member.

How does a BREEDING livestock project work?

A Breeding project begins the same way as a market project, but is a long term project.  You will purchase an animal, feed, exercise, groom and work with the animal to prepare to show, the project is not sold.  The animal (heifer or ewe lamb) can be carried forward to be shown the following year with offspring at side.  You would be responsible for managing the breeding and care of that animal if you decide to continue the project.  Breeding project animals can be shown in their 2nd and 3rd year.  You can start a new Breeding Project every year.
 

Things to be aware of before beginning...
Before beginning, it is important to consider the cost and the time
associated with this project. To feed and care for an animal correctly, is not cheap. However, price varies greatly depending on the animal you have. This is also a project that requires time and care every single day, twice a day. This is an excellent project, but not one to enter into lightly.

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The 4-H Beef project is an excellent project for those who are interested in the beef cattle industry, or are considering a career in veterinary medicine, and love animals. While this project is among the most fun of all of the livestock projects, it is very time consuming and expensive, so consider your ability to purchase, feed, and care for a calf very seriously before deciding on this project. Calves will be selected in the early fall, meaning that they will be on feed for at least 200 days. During this time, the calf will have to be halter broke, properly groomed, walked, and washed and must become very comfortable being handled.

Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions, and communicate. 

There are two main types of Sheep Projects that a 4-H member may choose.  A sheep breeding project is long term project in which a 4-H member begins with a ewe lamb (female) and cares for her through breeding age and on to lambing (giving birth).  The other type of project is a market lamb project in which the 4-H member begins with a weaned wether (neutered male) or ewe and cares for the lamb through the growing phase until the lamb reaches market weight of around 100-120 pounds.  Both of these projects can be enjoyed by the entire family. Sheep projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the sheep industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society.  Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions, and communicate.

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This project is designed to engage 6-8 year olds who are potential 4-H members. Stand-alone learning activities, that are age appropriate and different than 4-H Members’ project activities, serve to prepare Cleaver Kids to transition into Junior 4-H Members and progress through the 4-H program.  Where possible, older 4-H members regularly assist with the Cleaver Kid Project.  Cleaver Kids can show a Calendar Calf or Lamb (these animals must be born after January 1st of the current 4-H year. Engagement of Cleaver Kids at the club level is about FUN, FUN, FUN and the fun requires family involvement.