Georgia 4-H offers virtual livestock educational resources

ATHENS — As school responsibilities wrap up and summer break begins, students now have more time for livestock projects and hands-on learning.

Through University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia 4-H offers educational opportunities in programs that challenge youths with real-life issues as they learn responsibility through raising, showing and evaluating livestock. These projects provide students the opportunity to practice and acquire new knowledge in the fields of animal science, business, time management and leadership.

With many extracurricular activities sidelined, students have more time for livestock-related tasks like showmanship practice, developing their record book and fine-tuning their animal show entries.

While social distancing, young people have been introduced to a new way of virtual learning. To ensure that dedication and enthusiasm continue to grow for livestock programs, Georgia 4-H has begun offering instruction online as well as providing various resources, which include:

♦ Dairy farm tour videos: origin.americandairy.com/news-and-events/dairy-diary/dairy-farming/virtual-farm-tours-while-youre-stuck-at-home.stml;

♦ Horse judging from home videos by Middle Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee Extension: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEJjxuN56N4&list=PLNXP12SwUle1PuvPAfKXOHqIXeBqM0g1r;

♦ Basic horse riding exercises video by Louisiana State University Extension: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R05rTHKmhAc;

♦ UGA Extension Bulletin 1234, “Dairy Judging Terminology: A Guide to Saying What She is and Not What She Isn’t”: t.uga.edu/61E;

♦ UGA Extension Bulletin 1401, “Evaluating Common Equine Performance Classes”: t.uga.edu/61F; and

♦ UGA Extension Bulletin 1427, “Is Your Heifer Fit to Show? A Guide to Fitting and Showing Dairy Animals”: t.uga.edu/61G.

A list of more online resources is available at georgia4h.org/about-us/resources/activity-resources/#livestock.

Georgia 4-H is also continuing with statewide contests by adapting them into virtual competitions. These events allow students to continue to challenge their knowledge, receive recognition for their accomplishments and learn life and leadership skills.

State virtual horse show educational contests and a state virtual livestock judging contest will be held for 4-H members in grades 4-12, who can register and get more details by contacting 4-H staff at their local Extension office. The deadline to register online for livestock judging is Wednesday, and the online deadline for entering the horse contests is June 15. Youths can prepare by reviewing the additional information available in the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show Rules and Regulations and the Georgia 4-H Livestock Judging Educational Resources.

For more information on these contests, contact Georgia 4-H Livestock Extension Specialist Heather Shultz at [email protected].

In addition to state contests, various counties and districts have created opportunities for students to demonstrate their learned skills within their peer groups. Details can be obtained by emailing or calling staff at UGA Extension offices. Find local contact information at extension.uga.edu/county-offices.

To learn more about the Georgia 4-H Livestock Program, visit georgia4h.org/livestock.

Special Photo: UGA/CAES