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

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.

My 2012 Trip To The Western National Roundup

First I would like to thank all my sponsors; without your support my trip would not have been possible, THANK YOU.
I would now like to say Congratulations to all the Winners in each of the competitions you all did an out standing job; and it was my pleasure to meet all of you.
To all of you who worked so hard to make the Leadership Across America Western National Roundup  possible THANK YOU. I had a great time,  learned a lot and I hope to make it back next year.
To all my Family and Friends thank you for being there for me.
To all my reader I would like to say if you ever get the chance to go to a National competition Go! The experience will make you stronger and more self confident in every part of your life.
There were 962 of the best, brightest, most determined and dedicated 4-H and FFA members from 35 States and Canada at this year Western National Roundup.
 Needless to say I did have a great time; the workshops put on by Brand Lee White were outstanding, the food was great and the competition was extremely tough. I competed in the National Original Speech contest and place 4th and in the National Fashion Revue and placed 5th I received a ribbon for both. I can not wait to compete at this level again.
Now about the FUN during this event there was a pin swap, a dance, dinners, and workshops, as well as you had free time to enjoy National Western Stock Show and all that Denver has to offer.

State Photo

National Speech 4th place and National Fashion Revue 5th

My sponsors

This was the best I loved seeing all the action

Had a great time at the National Western Stock show

Style Revue

Girls just want to have fun

I had a great time

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.

Life In The Show Ring!

On May 28^th I enter my steer Fabio and my heifer Lady in the Magic Valley Jr. Classic.

When I go to these shows, I have hopes of winning I guess we all what to win; but I also go for the learning experience. This year the quality of showmanship was out standing, the fitting and groomers were great, and all the cattle were fluff and fabulous.

To those who won Congratulation! You all did an outstanding job.

I knew from the time that Fabio stepped out to the trailer that I was at the Classic for the learning experience; his eyes got big and his head went up.

I had worked with him and all my other steers everyday and in the pen they all behaved great; Fabio does not have a mean bone in is body, but he is a little set in his ways and nerves. It was the noise, the strange environment, and people, that affected him, he just did not what to be there. I even thought about not showing him, but thanks to Mr. Hooper; Fabio did enter the show ring, he did not setup and behaved badly.  Fabio and I lived through it.

The lesson that Fabio learned was that no matter how he acts he would be shown; the lesson I learned is that I can handle my steers even when they act like spoiled fit throwing brats; (you must call your steers bluff).

 Mr. Hooper gave me a tip on how to correct Fabio’s behavior, and with his knowledge and experience with show cattle; I know that I will be able to take the brat out of Fabio. I am going to give it my best effort and we will see what happens at the next show. I am also going to use this tip on all my steers just to be on the safe side.

Check back and I will let you know how it goes and fill you in on the tip after a few weeks.

Fabio has never acted as he did at the Classic; so no matter how calm and well behaved your steers act at home does not mean that they will be that way in a strange environment.

Take your steers to a show or two for the learning experience. Maybe you will even come home with a ribbon or two. 

As for Lady; I did not place but she was very well behaved.

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.

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!

What to Look for when Picking Your Steer

I have been getting a lot of hits looking for the qualities to look for when picking your 4-H steer. So I thought I would tell you what I look for when I pick my steers.
Muscle in the forearm, rib, loin, hip,stifle quarter and a wide base. If your young steer does not show potential in these areas when you buy him there is a very good chance he won't have it when he is finished.
Structure correctness look at the feet, straightness of the legs, and nice straight flat back with spring to the rib.depth of body, uniformity of body depth and chest width.

Now that has been said; you must have a picture of what you are looking for in your head and go into the pen of 75 to 100 head or more of cattle and pick your steer.

The way I do this is to pick 12 to 15 head that fit my list and chose from those; this only takes me about two or three hours; my cattle producer is very good to me.

I think the most important thing  to look for is a steer with as many great qualities as possible, and the most important of all is a great disposition because if you can't show them, and you can't touch them, you can't judge them.

So that perfect crazy steer that runs, jumps, puts his head in the air and paws the ground; you run don't walk away from him NO matter how perfect he may look; for he will most likely be crazy in the show ring. 

The last tip I will give is to pick what you like, and remember that every judge has their own list of qualities of what he or she looks for in a 4-H show steer and there is know way of knowing what is on their list.

One last thing the Producer knows their cattle so talk to them and always take in consideration  everything that they have to say, you are show casing their cattle and their brand is on your steer for all the world to see.

Show your steer with pride and confidence and no matter what the out come you can leave the ring knowing you did your best.
I myself have not had a Grand Champion Steer YET; but I have made it back to the championship round every year.

I do my best and  that's all I can do.

Good Luck