Published: May 29, 2008 11:59 am            

Extension Service: Kids and cattle

Will Rogers is famous for his quote "There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man."

Well, the same can be said about calves and kids.

A wonderfully cooperative program between the Extension Service, local farmers and area elementary schools brings together farmers, teachers and children who would never have such an opportunity any other way.

Randolph County dairy farmer Gary Nance loans us enough calves so that each child in the program has a calf of their own to gentle, halter train and prepare to show in our District 4-H Dairy show in Hillsborough in June.

Orange County farmer Kenny Kirk's farm is close to two of the school sites and he houses the calves for the duration of the project.

The other school has facilities to house the calves on site.

The children, their parents and teachers involved in the project feed and care for these calves for six weeks prior to the show.

The children learn not only the information they will need to prepare and show their calves, but they also learn about animal husbandry and the dairy industry and they gain an appreciation for agriculture and the farmers who work so hard to provide us our food.

Participation in this project teaches these children the responsibility of caring for another living being and about setting goals and planning strategies to meet those goals.

They learn the value of hard work, persistence, perseverance, team work and sportsmanship.

Most of the children who take on the project don't live on farms and have not had contact with an animal bigger than a dog.

While the calves are gentle and responsive to the children's kind treatment, they still weigh 10 times more than the children.

By learning to control an animal so much larger than themselves, the children gain a sense of confidence and accomplishment second to none.

The week before the cow show, the children and volunteers will clip and bath the calves in preparation for the show and help to prepare the show grounds.

Show day arrives with children and calves spit-shined and polished ready to answer any variety of dairy related questions the judge may ask.

Last year, we had 25 children showing 37 animals participate in the show and we expect a considerable increase in participation counting the children involved in this special project for this year's show.

Another benefit of this project is the building of community between the schools, the farmers and the families involved.

Without so many wonderful and dedicated volunteers, such a project would not be possible.

The Central Carolina District Junior Dairy Show will be held June 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Carolina Holstein Barn on Orange Grove road outside of Hillsborough.

Spectators are invited and welcome to attend all or part of the event.



Marti Day is an area dairy agent with the Randolph County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service. For more information, call (919) 691-3062.

        

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