4-H-er thread!

[henny1129]

My girls want to be involved in 4H. Anyone from Excelsior Springs MO. here?

4-H is a wonderful program! I myself am from Ohio, but there may be other MO 4-H'ers here.

 

[FourShuesFarm]

My girls saw 4H last year at the state fair. They wanted to get involved then, but we didnt have any land or animals. Now we have land, and starting to raise chickens and bees. They want to learn more about 4H and be maybe me a part of the group at the fair.

 

[I Love Layers]

My girls saw 4H last year at the state fair. They wanted to get involved then, but we didnt have any land or animals. Now we have land, and starting to raise chickens and bees. They want to learn more about 4H and be maybe me a part of the group at the fair. 

As for joining a group it is best to find one local or you will be traveling a distance to meetings. I've been in 4H for almost 10 years and I love it!
If your daughters are really serious about showing it is best to purchase some show quality birds from a breeder

 

[waddles99]

4H is a great starting point. Many exhibitors start out in 4H.

 

[henny1129]

My girls saw 4H last year at the state fair. They wanted to get involved then, but we didnt have any land or animals. Now we have land, and starting to raise chickens and bees. They want to learn more about 4H and be maybe me a part of the group at the fair.

I will warn you and your girls that there is more to 4-H than fair. Each year you must complete a project book that relates to what you will be taking to fair. I'm not sure what other states do, but in Ohio we then participate in an interview judging where you talk to a judge about your project/book. You get a grade based on how well you did, then you go to fair and show your animals or a product from a miscellaneous project. The best thing to would be to join a 4-H club close to you and talk with the advisor in person about 4-H and the requirements.

@I Love Layers said that it is best to purchase quality birds from a breeder.....this is definitely a good idea for your girls once they get more involved. For their first 1-2 years, they can take the birds you own now until they get more experience.

 

[I Love Layers]

I will warn you and your girls that there is more to 4-H than fair.  Each year you must complete a project book that relates to what you will be taking to fair.  I'm not sure what other states do, but in Ohio we then participate in an interview judging where you talk to a judge about your project/book.  You get a grade based on how well you did, then you go to fair and show your animals or a product from a miscellaneous project.  The best thing to would be to join a 4-H club close to you and talk with the advisor in person about 4-H and the requirements.   @I Love Layers
 said that it is best to purchase quality birds from a breeder.....this is definitely a good idea for your girls once they get more involved.  For their first 1-2 years, they can take the birds you own now until they get more experience.

The interviews are honestly the easiest part! You can talk about what you love. They ask questions such as the breed you are showing some info on that breed, stuff about feed, and lots of other questions.

The book is the hardest part best to get it as soon as possible. I still need to get mine...

For my first year I just took my nicest birds and i placed 3rd and 5th with them and with my ducks I placed 1st and 2n, this was in 2014. I couldn't show in 2015 due to avian flu but I bought some quality birds in 2016 and swept the show with one. Now im working on breeding the cochins and getting better birds from my own line.


All in all its all about fun and learning.

 

[henny1129]

The interviews are honestly the easiest part! You can talk about what you love. They ask questions such as the breed you are showing some info on that breed, stuff about feed, and lots of other questions.

The book is the hardest part best to get it as soon as possible. I still need to get mine...

For my first year I just took my nicest birds and i placed 3rd and 5th with them and with my ducks I placed 1st and 2n, this was in 2014. I couldn't show in 2015 due to avian flu but I bought some quality birds in 2016 and swept the show with one. Now im working on breeding the cochins and getting better birds from my own line.


All in all its all about fun and learning.

I agree, the interviews are pretty easy, and as long as you are prepared, they can be fun!

 

[FourShuesFarm]

Yes we have lots to learn, we do plan to join a Local chapter (hence the initial post here in this thread). . We have 13 Rhode Island Red chicks that come from legendary stock. We plan breed them. The girls and I have already been studying the standards of perfection book. They plan to choose which birds they like and breed for traits they like. I plan to so the same thing. We have enough room, time and chicks that each of us can have fun raising chickens.

We also keep bees, they love doing that. They like to enter honey for judging at the fair, and being apart of the bee culture. After a Google search we did see there is a local 4H group here. I was just curious to see if there were active locals in this thread. Anyways, thanks for taking time to respond, you folks have a great day.

 

[henny1129]

Yes we have lots to learn, we do plan to join a Local chapter (hence the initial post here in this thread). . We have 13 Rhode Island Red chicks that come from legendary stock. We plan breed them. The girls and I have already been studying the standards of perfection book. They plan to choose which birds they like and breed for traits they like. I plan to so the same thing. We have enough room, time and chicks that each of us can have fun raising chickens. 

We also keep bees, they love doing that. They like to enter honey for judging at the fair, and being apart of the bee culture.  After a Google search we did see there is a local 4H group here. I was just curious to see if there were active locals in this thread. Anyways, thanks for taking time to respond, you folks have a great day. 

Sounds like a great plan with the RIR's! Best of luck and never be afraid to post a question or two here about 4-H.

 

[waddles99]

Lol. "Legendary stock".