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.
I 
