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4-H
Animal Science Programs
 4-H
animal projects are often thought to be for rural kids or for
kids with access to livestock or other large animals. But this doesn't
have to be the case. Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, lambs, pigs and
cows are all common animal projects in 4-H. Hamsters, gerbils, guinea
pigs, birds, fish, snakes and turtles are also possible projects
and may make excellent companion animals for kids.
Kids learn many
important life skills through their experiences with animals. Responsibility
is the most frequently mentioned life skill gained in an animal
project. However, kids also learn trust and how to form relationships,
build communication skills and most importantly, learn how to show
and receive affection.
Involvement
with an animal project can help reinforce life for both kids and
the adults who work with them. Animals help teach some of the joyful,
as well as the more painful, parts of life. Watching the birth of
an animal offers lessons on the beginning of life. The death of
a pet can help children learn to deal with loss in a healthy way.
Experiencing both the beginning and end of life and all that happens
in the middle can help a child learn how to cope with his or her
own life and development.
(Note: Adobe PDF format documents linked on this page require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available from http://www.Adobe.com)
Companion
Animals (Including
Birds, Cats, Dogs, Fish and Other Small Pets)
Kids and pets
go together naturally and make a great combination for a 4-H project!
Some companion animal project members learn to train and care for
their own pets, while others raise puppies to become Leader Dogs
or companions for handicappers. The satisfaction of seeing your
4-H members develop into confident, caring and responsible pet owners
is immeasurable!
Companion Animal Training
& Events
4-H Dog Show:
4-H Dog Clinic:
4-H Freestyle:
4-H Companion Animal Workshops:
Dairy
Cattle
Dairying has
come a long way since every family had a cow or two! Young people
who want to be part of the dairy industry of the future have to
prepare themselves for all phases of dairy technology. In a 4-H
dairy cattle project, members and leaders can explore these phases,
the production, manufacturing and marketing of dairy products, scientific
dairy research and related agribusinesses.
Dairy Cattle Training
& Events
National
4-H Dairy Conference
This national conference is held in Madison, Wisconsin and is open to 4-H dairy project members aged 15 to
19 who want to learn more about the dairy industry from a national
and international perspective and about career opportunities available
now and in the future.
Michigan
4-H Dairy Conference
This Michigan conference gives
4-H'ers aged 12- to 15-year-olds the chance to learn about Michigan agriculture and the
dairy industry and to develop their self-esteem and leadership
skills.
4-H MMPA
Milking Marketing Tour
This two-day educational program is designed to introduce
Michigan 4-H'ers aged 15 to 19 to the milk marketing system The tour will provide information on milk cooperatives, milk processing
and milk marketing. A quiz is given at the end of the tour and
the top ten individuals are invited to compete for an all-expense-paid
trip to National Dairy Conference. The tour is
sponsored and hosted by the Michigan Milk Producers Association
(MMPA).
Michigan Dairy Expo/4-H Dairy Days
The Michigan Dairy
Expo includes dairy management seminars, commercial exhibits and state
breed shows. Michigan 4-H Dairy Expo is designed to encourage
and promote youth involvement in dairy activities, to showcase the
Michigan dairy industry and to provide continuing education to the
dairy industry in Michigan and nearby states. It includes events
and exhibits designed especially for 4-H'ers and other young people who are interested
in animals, as well as programs for adults. This event is held each
July in the MSU Pavilion.
Goats
Goats - dairy
type, pygmy, Angora and Boer - make ideal 4-H projects, especially
for younger members. These animals are relatively easy to handle,
interesting and inexpensive to keep. In addition to learning about
traditional animal care, 4-H goat project members can explore the
use of products that come from goats such as milk, meat and fiber.
They also can participate in activities such as quiz bowl, skillathon
and judging, that don't require them to own a goat.
Goat Training
& Events
4-H Goat
Leaders Workshop
This workshop is held in the fall of odd-numbered years. The workshop
is designed to help adult and teen goat volunteers aged 13 and
up share ideas and explore goat management. Volunteers will learn
about goat health, nutrition and various other areas of interest.
Teaching and communication skills development will be shared,
and participants will gain new ideas and information about 4-H goat events.
State 4-H Goat Show
State 4-H Goat Expo
Horses
and Ponies
When a 4-H'er
owns or cares for a horse or pony, that young person experiences
pride and responsibility, and develops valuable social and physical
skills. Kids can be involved in a 4-H horse project in lots of ways,
and many activities don't require horse ownership. Members can participate
in show, trail or endurance riding, study horse science, participate
in quiz bowls, rodeos, judging teams and much more!
Horse and Pony Resources
- Michigan 4-H
Horse and Pony Project Show Rules and Regulations
This bulletin
contains the horse show rules and regulations that are used at the
State 4-H Horse Show (held in August each year at Michigan State
University), and that are recommended for use at all 4-H horse shows
in Michigan.
- 4-H 1072 4-H Horse and Pony Project Record Book
This record book provides space for project planning, inventories,
income and expense records, management diary notes,
time spent in caring for and riding the horse, and a project
summary.
- 4-H 1073 Stable Record Card
This card is to be used with 4-H 1072 4-H Horse and Pony Project Record Book to keep records in the
stable and with the totals carried forward to the project record
book.
Horse and Pony Training
& Events
4-H Horse
Show Judging and Management Conference
This conference is open to all Michigan 4-H horse judges, conditional
judges, current-year applicants, county fair superintendent delegates,
Extension staff, 4-H horse advisory and State 4-H Horse Show programming
committee members. The conference is held each January and is
designed to help participants improve cooperation between superintendents
and judges, improve the management of horse shows in Michigan
and create innovative ways to make 4-H horse shows more educational.
4-H Horse Benefit Clinic
This clinic is held each February at the MSU Pavilion. Each year
a nationally recognized expert in horse training and management
is brought to the MSU campus to present a daylong workshop for
adults and youth. The focus of this clinic changes each year.
Contact your county 4-H staff for details.
4-H Teen
Horse Leaders Conference
This conference is designed for older youths, adult volunteers
and Extension staff who work with or are interested in 4-H horse
projects or activities. The conference objectives are to present
information and ideas on horse teaching methods, to present subject
matter that will help adult and teen volunteers become more effective,
and to provide an opportunity for an exchange of ideas on horse
programs and events.
4-H Adult
Horse Leaders Conference
This conference is held in the fall of odd-numbered years. It
is designed for adult volunteers who work with county 4-H horse
programs. The workshop sessions will help to increase participants'
knowledge of horses and the 4-H horse program, and help them gain
skills in working with young people in local and county 4-H groups.
Michigan
State 4-H Trail Ride and 4-H Horse Family Weekend
The State 4-H Trail Ride gives 4-H members, parents and volunteers a
chance to meet other 4-H'ers from across the state. It also provides
training in planning and conducting club and county trail rides
and helps participants develop an appreciation of conservation
and natural resources. All interested people are invited to join
in the fun and fellowship of the trail ride, including the evening
programs and refreshments.
4-H Horse Jamboree
This one-day event held each spring on the MSU campus, is designed to give 4-H members who are interested
in horses a chance to demonstrate their knowledge. Participants don't have to be enrolled in a 4-H horse project to
compete or to own a horse to participate.
Activities include horse judging, hippology and horse bowl.
State 4-H Horse Show
This three-day event held in mid-August at the MSU Pavilion, brings together more than 500 4-H'ers
representing all 83 Michigan counties. English and Western, trail,
jumping and gymkhana classes are offered for horses and ponies. In addition, classes for draft and miniature horses are also offered as well as classes for 4-H PEP (4-H Proud Equestrians — therapeutic riding program) participants. Members
are selected by their county 4-H programs to participate in this event.
4-H
Proud Equestrians Program (PEP)
Sharing skills
and knowledge is what 4-H and the 4-H PEP program are all about.
You and your club members can gain great satisfaction through this
therapeutic horseback riding program. With the help of trained and
caring volunteers, kids challenged by handicapping characteristics
can discover their abilities, instead of their disabilities.
For more information
on this program, visit the 4-H PEP Web page.
Livestock
The 4-H livestock
program consists of the:
- 4-H Beef Project
Explore all aspects of raising beef cattle
including animal selection, care, feeding, record-keeping and marketing.
One member might raise a steer for market. Another could focus on
breeding cattle and start a herd of his or her own. No matter which
aspect of the project members choose, they'll gain an appreciation
of animals and an understanding of the beef cattle industry.
- 4-H Sheep Project
Explore all aspects
of sheep raising including animal selection, care, feeding, record-keeping and marketing.
Members can focus on market lambs, breeding sheep or both. No matter
which aspect of the project members choose, they'll develop an appreciation
of animals and an understanding of the sheep industry.
- 4-H Swine
Project
Explore all aspects of raising hogs including animal
selection, care, feeding, record-keeping and marketing. Members
can focus on market hogs, breeding hogs or both. No matter which
aspect of the project members choose, they'll develop an appreciation
of animals and an understanding of the swine industry.
Livestock Training
& Events
4-H Beef,
Sheep and Swine Teen and Adult Leaders Workshop
This workshop allows participants to share ideas and concerns
about their activities in the livestock areas. Participants learn
about animal health, management and nutrition. They explore communication
and teaching skills, and learn more about opportunities in the
livestock industry. The workshop is open to adults and teens aged
14 and up.
Other events
include Michigan Jr. Beef Show & Beef Showcase,
the Michigan Jr. All Breed Sheep Show, and the
Michigan Spartan Classic Jr. Swine Show.
For more detailed event descriptions, see the 4-H
Animal Science Events page. For additional information, see
the MSU Department of Animal Science Youth Extension Web site.
Poultry
Ever wonder
which came first, the chicken or the egg? In a 4-H poultry project,
members can try to discover the answer to this question! A poultry
project can involve chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pheasants,
pigeons or coturnix (Japanese quail).
Poultry Resources
4-H 1520 4-H Poultry Fitting & Showmanship Member’s Guide
This bulletin focuses on fitting and showmanship contests for 4-H’ers who work with chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and pigeons. It includes sections on choosing, caring for, training and transporting birds. Black-and-white photos illustrate techniques for handling, examining and posing birds. The bulletin includes fitting and showmanship scorecards for each species covered.
4-H 1521 4-H Poultry Fitting & Showmanship Leader’s Guide
This bulletin includes sections for volunteers on helping 4-H’ers develop life skills, the roles leaders play, what volunteers need to know to lead a 4-H poultry project, helping members select birds and possible topics for club meetings. It offers tips for planning and running a county 4-H poultry fitting and showmanship contest. It also includes fitting and showmanship scorecards for each species covered.
Pullorum Testing
For information on pullorum testing or to obtain a list of pullorum testers in Michigan please contact Marcia Weld at the Michigan Department of Agriculture at (517) 335-5713.
Poultry Training
& Events
4-H Bi-State Poultry Clinics
The Michigan and Ohio 4-H Bi-State Poultry Clinics for 4-H members and volunteers will be held at Anthony Hall on the Michigan State University campus on Saturday, Feb 21, 2009 and at OARDC in Wooster Ohio on March 28, 2009.
Registration information to come.
Rabbits (Including Cavies)
The 4-H rabbit project is ideal for young people in
urban areas or on small farms where lack of space, facilities or
money makes it hard to raise larger animals. Rabbits enable kids
to gain experience in feeding and managing animals for fun, companionship
and profit.
Rabbit and Cavy Training & Events
4-H Rabbit
Leaders Workshop
This workshop gives adult and teen volunteers aged 13 and up a
chance to explore the 4-H rabbit project area through a variety
of topics including genetics, basic rabbit management, health
care, ideas for local 4-H programs, rabbit crafts and breed information.
State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Show
State 4-H
Rabbit and Cavy Expo
Veterinary
Science
The health of
animals influences a great many things. Because some diseases are
transmitted to human through animals, their health can affect ours.
In a 4-H veterinary science project, members explore the broad scope
of veterinary medicine and animal health. Young people also learn
how animal management and feeding affect animal health.
Veterinary Science Training
& Events
4-H Veterinary
Science Teen and Adult Leaders Workshop
Adult and teen volunteers aged 14 and up will explore animal
health and animal systems by sharing experiences, asking questions
and quizzing veterinarians about the skills taught in local
4-H groups. Participants can also take part in hands-on demonstrations
that will teach them how to help members recognize healthy,
sick or injured animals. They'll also meet 4-H'ers who have
developed outstanding veterinary science projects and will learn
how to help 4-H'ers start their own projects.
Learning
Materials
More information on learning
materials available to support these activities can be found in the Michigan
Guide to 4-H or through the MSU
Bulletin Office.
Other Animal Science Resources
- Kids
Korner
This site is sponsored by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
The site is hosted by Booster Rooster and features educational
information about animal agriculture; field crops; floriculture;
agriculture-related fairs and festivals; the Michigan State Fair;
a chat room; games; and stories and pictures about kids' lives
on Michigan farms.
- 4-H
Animal Science Skills for Life Materials
The 4-H "Skills for Life" Animal Science Series includes
45 pieces written by Cooperative Extension Service youth educators,
university animal scientists, animal industry representatives,
volunteers and youth for the 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System.
This series encourages youth to learn about their favorite animal
while they develop important life skills.
- Virginia
Cooperative Extension 4-H Virtual Farm
The Virginia Cooperative Extension 4-H Virtual Farm illustrates
farming and the farmers, who do the work, to produce the food
we eat everyday. You can see some of the people who earn their
living off the land. You'll see where they live and work, how
your favorite foods get from the farm to your plate or lunch box
and even have a chance to win virtual ribbons!
- Oklahoma
State University Department of Animal Science Breeds of Livestock
The Breeds of Livestock resource is presented by the Department
of Animal Science at Oklahoma State University. This site is intended
as an educational and informational resource on breeds of livestock
throughout the world. Breeds from every inhabited continent are
listed. Hopefully you'll enjoy the information provided and find
it both educational and fun.
Contact
Information
For more information on
how to get involved as a youth or volunteer,
contact your county MSU Extension
office or:
Jacob DeDecker,
Ph.D., 4-H Program Leader
4-H Youth Development
Michigan State University
160 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
USA
Phone: 517-432-7604
Fax: 517-355-6748
Email: dedecke4@msu.edu
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Copyright
© 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 Michigan State University
Last Updated: September 4, 2008
Last Reviewed: March 26, 2008
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Guide
to Michigan 4-H
