4-H and the Long Distant Runner

Over the years, I have attended many 4-H workshops, seminars, camps, and contests on every level from County to Nationals and I have spent countless hours studying on my own just to complete the different projects and competitions that I had started. Last year one of my fellow 4-H members asked why I work so hard.  My answer at the time was 4-H is what I do. For a few months after last years fair, I dwelt on the question trying to figure it out. Then the new 4-H year rolled around and here I am working just as hard spending more time studying and preparing for County, District, State and National competitions. 

I love to check the mail at this time of the year, why because I am a member of at least three different cattle associations, and this is when they send out all the different cattle production sale magazines. The first thing I like to read is the different ranch histories on what they have been doing for the past year, to improve their ranches and production of their herds. Most of them talk about EPD’s, the different breeds, and their efforts to improve the environment.  

Then I read this Article written by Lindsay Williams in their magazine about their up coming sale and consignors.  I believe that this describes why I do what I do, and why I work so hard.

Here is what she wrote:

“Recently, the superintendent for our Columbus School wrote an article discussing attitudes of marathon runners” Lindsay believes it applies to their consignors, and I believe it also applies to members of 4-H.

            It went like this.

“Every year, major cities like New York and Boston hold marathons and 10,000 or more runners enter these elite races. Why??? The odds of losing are overwhelming. In fact, almost every entrant in these major races knows he/she stands no chance of even placing in the top 1,000. So why do they run? They run because they are doing it for themselves. They have set a personal goal, not only to compete, but also of being part of an elite event in which they are both a competitor and a finisher. They are hoping for a personal best finish time along the way, and the honor of saying I ran the race. That is the attitude and character of our consignors, and they are a credit to the industry.  That is what life and success is all about: Being in the race”.

Many 4-H members start out as Clover Buds at the age of five years old; by the time, they have completed the 4-H program at the age of eighteen they have invested thirteen years of their lives. 4-H members like distance runners train for years just to improve by small increments. Ultimately, they turn the endless hours of training and personal sacrifice into a chance to compete against others just to see how they stack up, and enjoy the comradely of being with other like-minded individuals. The finish line is a place of joy and celebration knowing that through the 4-H program, we will have polished our ability to complete all that we start, knowledge to achieve our goals, and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

After reading Lindsay’s article, I realized we in 4-H are long distant runners in a marathon preparing ourselves to enter our lives as an adult with a personal best finish, and the confidence to say we ran the best race of our life.

                    4-H Motto – “To Make the Best Better”

The 2013 4-H State Livestock Skill-A-Thon

       Most of us when we think of 4-H, the first thing that pops in our minds is the exhibits at your local fair.  4-H members think of fair as the end of a long hard year, and the stepping-stone to the next leg of a journey, that will take us to the next level competition. There are three levels of 4-H competitions that 4-H members can compete, County, District, and State. Those of us who are between the age of 14 and 18 who compete at the State level are all chasing the golden ticket; the honor of representing the State of Idaho on the National level.

In my opinion, the livestock skill-a-thon is by far one of the hardest competitions. It is a test of ones knowledge of the Agriculture Industry. A few of the categories of the knowledge and skill needed are; meat cuts & carcass evaluation of the difference species of animals, breeds identification of each species, Quality Assurance of each species, equipment, feeds, hay & wool judging, etcetera, as well with a very difficult written test .

 In the Livestock skill-a-thon only the older 4-H members are aloud to compete on the National level, but on the State level even the younger 4-H members are eligible to compete, those ages range between 8 and 13; these younger member are very bright and their quest for knowledge has started early.

 I read that the average age of the American farmer/rancher is 55 and older; “In fact, about forty percent of the farmers/ranchers in this country are 55 years old or older (Bureau of Labor Statistics)” also known as the Baby Boomers. Some say that there is a decline in the younger generation or (Ag Millennial’s ages 26 and under) to step up and obtain the knowledge and skill needed to become a successful farmer/rancher. In my opinion we are stepping up as the first wave of Ag Millennial’s have graduated from college and are heading home to the farm/ranch at this very moment; those of us who are in high school and younger have had the most provided for and structured childhood in history. We have grown up in the seat of a tractor with a laptop in our hands and a cell phone in our pocket. Yes, the Idaho 4-H State Livestock Skill-A-Thon is a contest to see who will have the honor to compete at the 4-H Nationals; but let us not lose sight of what this contest is really about, it is about the knowledge and understanding of the Agriculture Industry.

Remember all you Ag Millennial's knowledge is power and with that knowledge, we are arming ourselves and getting ready to take our place with in the Agriculture Industry to preserve what has made Idaho great; Agriculture!

At this time, I would like to congratulate all who competed in the 2013 4-H State Livestock Skill-A-Thon you did an outstanding job! You were all awesome!

To the volunteers, parents, 4-H Educators and Coordinators, who worked so hard to make the State 4-H Livestock Skill-A-Thon a success thank you for your time, knowledge and hard work.

This year the honor of representing the State of Idaho at the 4-H National Livestock Skill-A-Thon in Louisville Kentucky is the Gooding County Senior Team of Carlos, Alexis, Cora, and Brianna. The quest to further our knowledge of the Agriculture Industry has already started and we will do our best to bring honor to Gooding County and the Great State of Idaho.

My First Educational Power Point

I finished my first educational power point for a 4-H work-shop that I organized on Beef Breeding.
The Work-shop includes my power point, and guest speakers. The guest speaker will give talks on, reading EPD & genetics, heifer and cow/calf nutritional needs, shots & vaccinations, and on setting a budget.

The fliers were sent out on January 1, 2013.

 The work-shop is free here is hoping that there is an interest in beef breeding.

This year one of my goals is to pass on as much information as possible to those interested in becoming a future cow/calf producer.