The Kentucky 4-H Dairy Cow Camp represents one opportunity for hands-on learning.
4-H’ers attend workshops to learn about the judging standards for dairy cattle. They go on to judge classes and then present oral reasons in support of their selections. This year’s statewide camp starts at 9 am, Saturday, April 24th at the Taylor County Fairgrounds.
The focus of the daylong camp is to provide youth with training to evaluate dairy cattle according to how closely they match the ideal animal. Activities include discussions of correct conformation, basic dairy judging techniques, placing and discussing classes of cows and heifers, and making judging decisions. Participants also are trained to present oral reasons to justify their judging decisions.
4-H members are grouped according to age level and dairy cattle judging experience. Novices, ages 9 through 11, have never judged. Juniors, ages 9 through 13, have some judging experience; seniors, ages 14 through 19, have more judging experience. The top three individuals in each age group and the youth giving the best oral reasons receive awards. Special recognition also goes to the county with the most dairy camp participants and the county that travels the farthest to get there.
Dairy Cow Camp is a family-oriented event with games and contests for parents and younger siblings. Making butter is one activity on this year’s afternoon agenda.
By attending camp, 4-H members increase their dairy knowledge base and improve logical thinking, decision making and communication skills. Also, it serves as an educational experience for new extension agents and volunteer leaders to observe and learn about dairy judging or help teach it. Registration for Dairy Cow Camp is open now.
Source: Larissa Tucker, Senior Extension Associate for Dairy Youth Programs; Amanda Sublett, Taylor County 4-H Youth Development Agent.
For more information, contact your Logan Cooperative Extension Service.
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