4H members teach their peers about farm life
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RONAN – Agriculture is big business for area farmers and ranchers in the Mission Valley, but children who lack experience working on farms with animals lose the opportunity to discover a passion for the trade. 4-H youth development program teams comprised of local 4-H club leaders gave youngsters a glimpse of life on a farm.
“Some of these kids have never touched a calf before,” Lake County Extension agent Jack Stivers said. “Most come into the program with no agriculture experience.”
Approximately 20 children from the Boys and Girls Club (up to age 12) participated during the second week of the seven-week program in late June. Children were grouped together and rotated around different stations at the Ronan fairgrounds. Through these stations children learned how to groom and bottle feed calves, dance barnyard style, and climb through obstacles that farmers encounter.
“It's important they know where milk and eggs come from,” 4-H program leader Launa Benson said. According to Benson, anyone can fill out an application at the MSU Lake County Extension Office in Ronan to join the program.
Energetic children ran around the Ronan fairgrounds, enjoying every minute of the program that day.
“We would like to add more children from daycares (and other child centers),” Benson said. “I love doing this, the kids are just hysterical to be around.”
After making their way through each station, Benson handed out ribbons to the students before they left fairgrounds.
The seven-week program finishes at the beginning of the Lake County Fair, where 4-H members will show the calves and chickens in hopes of winning grand prize.
“It’s important for them to learn the dedication it takes to care for the animals,” Stivers said. “We need to create opportunities to expose them to agriculture as much as possible. We’re here to get them involved.”
According to Stivers, the first year of the program so far has been a success.
