Livestock Daycamp helps prepare for the Fair

Extension Office 4-H personnel came together last week to offer a range of helpful advice to Caribou County (and other) members, geared toward the impending Fair season.  The Daycamp was held in several locations, including both Caribou and Oneida counties.

Justin Hatch, from Caribou County, led an interactive session on identifying the parts of livestock animals using scale models of carcasses.  After the initial entertainment value of the model carcasses wore off, the kids quickly got down to business, and demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the parts of the livestock animals in question.  A quiz after the lesson proved the point.  Identification of the parts of an animal is essential to both the showmanship and the market side of 4-H projects, as judges and buyers will be keenly aware of how the animal is put together. 

Sawyer Fonnesbeck, from Oneida County, discussed the difficult and sometimes frustrating art of showing animals.  Using the demonstration area to…well, demonstrate, Fonnesbeck led students through the basic elements of the showing process, and gave them a chance to run through the process and ask questions.  With his experience as a livestock judge, Fonnesbeck was able to offer insightful pointers about how to improve what the judges saw in the ring. 

Caribou County extension office summer intern Alexis Carroll discussed the function and composition of livestock digestive systems, as well as the basics of animal nutrition.  A bag of organic material in a bag and solution was passed around to let students feel what the material feels like in a cow’s stomach.  To much shock and some disgust, Carroll explained that in her school work, she observes cannulated, or fistulated cows, which have an access port in their sides to allow researchers to examine the stomach contents. 

Anthony Simerlink, from Power County, led a discussion on some of the products that are made from animal byproducts, many of which are not commonly thought of in that context.  Glue, felt, dog food, plastics, beauty products, and others made his list, and the kids were full of questions about other things that might possibly fit the bill.

As Fair season approaches, the 4-H offices and leaders are kicking into high gear to get ready for the upcoming county fairs.  You can contact the Oneida County Extension office at (208) 766-2243, the Caribou County Extension Office at (208) 547-3205, and the Power County Extension Office at (208) 226-7621 for more information or to enroll in 4-H.