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.

2012 District III Livestock Skill-a-thon

 The District III Skill-a-thon contest was held  in Gooding County. 
Over 35 4-H members entered the contest from 5 different counties.
The age divisions included Clover Buds,
Junior 1, Junior 2, Intermediate, and Seniors.

The day started early with a work shop with different stations manned by Senior teens to assist those with learning the different skills needed to compete.

The skill-a-thon contest is a test of practical knowledge and covers 4 species, so Contestants have to know more than just the animal they show. Some of the categories include feed identification, breed identification, animal part identification, measuring ribeye and backfat, retail meat cut identification, feeds and feeding questions, judging hay samples and grain samples, and answering questions about how, where and why to give shots.


 This year the knowlege and fun was shared and had by all; before the contest begain we all had pizza and soft drinks.

This year placing are listed below.

Junior I
1st place tie Trey T. and Alexis N.
2nd Navada S.
3rd Josiah K.
4th John K.
5th Libby H.

Junior 2
1st place Kaycee T.
2nd Rose D.
3rd Thomas K.
4th Alicia E.
5th Jessica S.
6th Owen R.
7th Charlotte B.

Intermediate
1st place Wade T.
2nd Joesie D.
3rd MaKayla P.
4th Ellyana D.
5th Dustin A.
6th Lynnesy T.
7th Maria S.

Senior
1st place Cora I.
2nd Brianna R.
3rd Alexis C.
4th Braylee T.
5th Carlos C.
6th McKayla S.
7th Chris F

I



Clover Buds Wyatt and Gus




Junior I




Junior 2



Intermediates

Seniors

Future of the West

 This is my friend Kyle Bratton; Read all about him in the Angus ICON;

All it took was one show with his first heifer “Libby,” and Kyle was hooked.

Read this inspiring young Angus Breeders story.
 Future of the West

The 2012 Gooding County Fair Is Now In The History Books.

Steven (Red Angus)

This year my steer Steve (Red Angus) won the top gaining market steer award, he gained an average of 4.07 pounds per day.

Red Angus cow, sired by MBV Cherokee 326-SOL, with her bull calf sired by BJR JR 107

  














In addition, I my Cow/Calf (Register Red Angus) won Grand Champion Cow/Calf pair, and her bull Calf was champion Bull.

Commercial Heifer

My commercial Red Angus heifer also made into the spotlight as Champion Commercial Heifer.

Red Angus cross

 My Steer Buck was second in his weight class as was forth over-all

In horse showmanship, I placed first in the senior class and was Grand Champion over-all in Showmanship. I also received the top over-all best Horse book plaque, as well as winning County speech, and District speech contest; and I also placed third at the State horse public speaking contest. 

I had many FCS projects and will post them later after I complete the District. I will also post how I do at District Horse.

 

The Gooding County 100 years of 4-H 100 pounds of Food Drive

The Gooding County 100 years of 4-H 100 pounds of food Drive is in full swing; We Have  collected about 200 plus pounds of food for the local Helping Hearts and Hands food bank. Thank You to all the 4-H Clubs that have donated; at this point the Rookies 4-H club is leading with over 100 pounds. The rest of the Gooding County clubs will need to step it up to catch them.

Keep up the good work.

My 2012 4-H steers

The 2012 4-H Market Steer season is now here. Here is my 2012 Market Steers. My steers behaved great for the weigh-in all lead right in and the day went smooth; It rained all day and the sun came out just as we got home.

If you have not started your Market Animal book now is the time to start.

This is Cappy

Buck

Steven

Idaho State Skillathon Contest 2012

The winners of the first ever Idaho State Skill-a-thon goes to Ada County their team will be going to Kentucky.
Congratulation Ada County.
The Second Place team Was from Gooding County. I place 4th over all.

Gooding County

 

 

Gooding County

I will post the winning County in the Jr. division when I find out the  who won.

The Difference Between HAD, DASH, and BOLD diets

I just got done with doing the Masters of Beef Advocacy coarse and someone at my JRA Loaded 4 Leadership told me to type in my search engine BOLD beef. I found out that the BOLD stand for Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet a diet for people with a high
risk for high colesteral and heart disease. I would appreciate it if would you look at it. Here is the link.
http://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/CMDocs/BIWFD/121411_BOLDFactSheet_FINAL.pdf
What I found out after I read this that eating red meat and the BOLD diet is actually very good for you and is better than HAD or DASH diets.

2011 Gooding County Fair is now in the Record Book

Fair week was long and it was very hot but I lived though it
here is how I did.
Best First  Year Leadership Project,
Top Intermediate/Senior Clothing Project Model,
Top Public Speaking Presentation,
Grand Champion Showmanship Horse (Trophy),
Top Intermediate Horse Showmanship Trophy  ,
Top Intermediate horse Record  Book Plaque,
4-H Cart Class First Place.
Intermediate Beef- Reserve Champion Showmanship, and placed 4th over all.
Master Showman Participant and placed 5th over all,
Heifer placed 1st in her breed (Red Angus) and was Reserve Champion ,
All three steers received blue ribbons in Quality.
Purple Rosette for my Quit, blue for my sewing project, blue for my leather project,
3rd place Intermediate Livestock judging,
 My steer Velvet won top Gaining market beef  Trophy with a 4.03 pounds per day gain.

Well it is Almost Fair Time

It is almost fair time and the dreaded book fight. I hope that you all stated your books at the beginning of your 4-H projects and have been keeping them up to date; if not you are most likely pulling your hair out trying to remember dates and all the activities you have done.

For those of you who stated your books at the beginning of the project congratulations you now know how easy it makes you life and projects. 

I am adding the finishing points and dates to my own books and finishing up a few projects. This year was a great learning experience for me.

I truly hope you learned as much of from your Projects as I did from mine; good luck at your fairs.

Beef Cattle and the Quest for Knowledge (Beef Production Medicine and Management)

I love to read;  everyone who has visited my blog knows that I truly believe that knowledge is power.

While on this quest for knowledge; last week I had a book dropped in my lap that I have not put down.

The title of this book is BEEF Production Medicine and Management; in section A; you can read about Anatomy, Biosecurity, Body condition Scoring, Nutrition, Normal ranges for temperature, heart and resporatory rates, showing junior livestock, prescription and non-prescription drug guidelines and the list goes on this is just section A.
Section B - Routine Observation and Procedures.
Section C - Vaccines and Parasite Control Products.
Section D - Tests and Diagnostics.
Section E - Flowcharts for Specific Symptoms.
Section F - Infectious Diseases, Problems and Treatment.

If you are in 4-H, FFA, or a cattle producer this is a book you should own. I have to return this one soon, but I have order my own and it will be here soon.

this book is a Animal Health Publications  you can order it on line or call 1-877-424-7838.

There is also manuals for;
Dogs and Cats
Horses
Sheep and Goats
Beef and Dairy

I think the next one that I will get will be the one for Horses. before I am done I hope to own all of them because my animal never seem to get sick on a week days.

Follow the links and check it out for yourself; KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

Meet my 2011 Steers

 Well it is still raining here and it seems that the mud just keeps getting deeper. Just the other day we had wind, rain, snow, freezing rain and by the end of the day we had blue sky's and sunshine. Maybe that is the first sign of spring.

Weigh-in for my county has come and gone so here is a look at my 2011 Market Beef Project .

 My steer for 2011 are all different weights and frame styles this year; I am hoping that they don't all fall into the same weight class when our Fair rolls around.

As you can see all three are a little muddy; but they are healthy, happy, and they love to eat.
When the rain stops my steers will get their first bath, I am hoping it will be this weekend. So for now I just wait.

Just a reminder; with wet cold and changing weather that in a blink of an eye your animals can get sick so keep a close eye on them and watch for illness.

Sounds like fun

Pacific Northwest Young Cattlemen Conference

 January 21, 2011 – Starts in Pendleton, OR & ends in LaGrande, OR

 

All those “young at heart” are invited to participate, so there are no age limitations.  The conference is a great opportunity for younger members that are back on a family ranch or are considering starting their own operation as well as members who might still be in college who are considering going back to a ranch or looking for a job within the cattle industry.  The PNW YCC is a chance to look at the cattle business from many different perspectives and hear from true movers and shakers who are helping to direct the future of our industry.

Click here to register and more information.

Oh Joy MUD !

How is the weather where you live? The weather here has warmed up and all the snow has turned to mud!
 
If you have a lot of mud you may want to keep an eye on your steers to make sure there hoofs are in good shape. I do checks everyday when the weather can't seem to make up it's mind.

I have also started some of my FCS projects and hope to have most of them done by spring so that I will have more time for my Market animal projects.

Well my break is over back to school!

Snow, Snow, and more Snow!

Fall this year lasted about A minute, we have lots of snow, wind, below zero weather and it is only Thanksgiving. So far we have had about one or two feet of snow; but in open acreage of flat ground and the wind blowing all the time it seems like a lot more.

I still have to go out and feed and water my steers and horses; boy it is cold! I still work with my steers at least twice a week no matter what. This is not the fun part of having 4-H steers but it is part of life if you want to be a cattle producer some day.

In weather like this I just make sure to wear the correct clothing; So bundle up and keep working.

I was told that "grand champions are made over the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks".

REMEMBER "you got to want it to win it"

I had to dig out the water troth.

this drift went from one end of my calf pens to the other; and the water troth was under there somewhere!

I just kept digging until I found it and then had to keep digging so that my steers could get to it!

Can you see the corner of the troth, I kept working for about an hour and got it uncovered.

This could be a long Winter if I have to dig every day!
Here is hoping that the snow melts a little.

There Be Cattle On the Place !

My vacation is over; and it is time for the new 4-H projects to begin. All my steers are now in their pens and the breaking them to touch and to lead process has started.  This time of year is a lot of fun; I love naming my steers. It seems like the weather here can't make up it mind if it whats to be cold or spring like; so I will take advantage of the nice days and get as much done on my market animal project as possible. So let the fun begin!

Good luck with your projects.

2010 Year End Awards Banquet

The 2010 Awards banquet was filled with smiles, good friends and Great food.

 Special THANK YOU to those who worked so hard to make the evening a Success.