does anyone do 4h?

[mom wewantchicks!]

we are really excited to be starting our project my daughter is 10,but my son that is 6 can go to meetings,not do a project. i think we should keep this thread going so we can all work on our projects together!!

 

[sekinkead]

Last year was our first year with chickens. My kids decided to do meat chickens and we got 25. We didn't get a lot of guidance as our club was very small and they mostly do goats. Well once my kids sold their meat chickens they missed them so we got some other chickens just for eggs. Then I found BYC, then I went to the Ohio National Show with my kids and we came home with a LF Buckeye cockerel and pullet and a trio of bantam Buckeyes, the kdis also talked me into getting them 4 Seramas (which all turned out to be boys). I also bought an incubator at that show.

We now have 46 chickens of various ages and are looking for more breeds. We are interested in the heritage breeds and raising awareness of them. This will be the first year the kids show an egg laying and fancy chicken at the fair. We have a HUGE small animal program at our fair. The rabbit judging starts at 9am and doesn't finish until 6pm or even later. They bring in an ARBA judge for that. The poultry judging started with meat chickens, then geese, turkeys, and ducks and then went on to the breeders and then finally fancy. They started at 9am and went on until 5pm last year. We started with a new club this year that has a lot of poultry experience so I hope the kids will be more prepared for judging this year. The kids also want to join the APA and go to the Ohio National this year and some other big shows around here.

 

[averytds]

One thing we learned is to not do the testing at the fair. All that time spent grooming down the tube in a matter of minutes.

Some clubs offer a program for younger siblings. Clover Buds, or something like that. Ours they can join at 7. So far the only thing I've found age restricted is shooting sports. You have to be 8. Our 4-H county fair is open to all clubs' members so 7yrs and older. State was 10, but I think last year I heard they had dropped it to 9. Other than state, we've stayed to the small surrounding fairs only because of the daily care. I really liked the fact that it was provided at the state fair. We wouldn't have been able to participate otherwise.

 

[write2caroline]

I give my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands for larger service, my health for better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.
I am -was a member of Mission 4-H in San Jose California from 4th grade - 12th grade. What I loved about 4-H was the variety the program offered.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo here we are,with chickens in Jacksonville and I am thinking - Geeze it would be great to introduce my daughter to 4-h
Rabbit clubs, horse clubs all one project no variety or diversity. Wow How sad!

I looked into starting a club but you need 4 families

Tried to find 3 other families? No one interested.

What I loved most about 4-H

I learned to cake decorate very well - won a state ribbon, Sew really well - I made my wedding dress, I loved leather craft, floral arranging, public speaking, cooking classes, fine dining class, showed and bred my basset hounds, ...................................I had more fun and learned sooooooooooooooooo much!

If you can find a club - Join! It was a great experience. My kids are in scouting but I would have loved to have had a chance to share 4-H with both of them.
Caroline

Hey anyone on the site former members of Mission 4-H in San Jose, California?

 

[averytds]

DH did FFA, I did Girl Scouts. Our kids are our 1st 4-H experience. DS wanted to do scouts, but DH suggested 4-H instead. I'm so glad he did.

We actually go to the next town over for ours. How far was your nearest club? I wonder if the extension office has ideas about where you could find a few more families.

 

[kyeschicks]

sorry to ask but what's 4h?

 

[averytds]

Think Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts together with an agricultural bent. Includes science, technology, anything like shop, home-ec, woodworking, photography, anything really.

http://www.national4-hheadquarters.gov/

 

[poltroon]

My daughter does 4H. Our club has a separate poultry project, and in this area we have many clubs doing poultry, so the fairs are reasonably well attended. Younger/Primary members (ages 5-8) can show exhibition poultry, or they can simply go to meetings and learn. They do showmanship, though in a division restricted to primary members. I've seen some mighty little kids get up there and do impressively well.

 

[Keri78]

We have the same situation..our county has only one "farm animal" group that includes all farm animals and the kids that have chickens only have egg layers. We do have egg layers but I just hatched out some NIIIICE silkie babies and would love for my son to have a go at showing one of them....I may look into a local chicken show or "breed show"??? If they have such a thing in our area. Blessings, Keri

 

[mothergoose]

It is very interesting to see how the 4H program differs from state to state. You can see major differences in what is offered in the program from the midwest as compared to the east etc. ( as far as the livestock end of it)
It is harder to find 4H groups that are geared toward one particular area now too. Most groups are just a mix of everything. I know when I was in 4H, I showed horses and everyone in our group showed horses. Now, my kids are in 4H and there are a few rabbit, few poultry, few sheep, few hogs, lots of robotics, cooking, sewing etc. and as far as the leaders go, no one really knows much about anything. You have to be a go getter and want to find the help for yourself.
Ask lots of questions...eventually someone will answer you!
Christie