4-H kids compete for herdsmanship awards
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RONAN — 4-H kids will be bringing their steers, breeding stock, goats, sheep and swine plus tack boxes, water buckets, brushes and show halters to the Lake County Fair on July 30.
To honor kids who take especially good care of their larger animals and keep the barns clean, the Northwest Counties Farm Bureau, a branch of Montana Farm Bureau, presents herdsmanship awards. Adults selected by local Farm Bureau do the judging and offered the following tips.
To earn a herdsmanship award, a 4-H member needs to keep his or her animal’s stall clean by disposing of all feces quickly, keeping the alleyways clear so visitors can stroll through the barns and making sure their animals are fed on schedule and provided water. In all the large animal barns, tack areas need to be clean, organized and tidy so visitors can wander through. The clipping chutes and wash racks north of the barns should also be kept neat as many kids use these facilities.
Cattle need to be led to water frequently during this hot weather and then tied with both a halter and a neck rope.
For swine, pigs should have a wet towel on them or owners should use a spray bottle to keep them cool. Local veterinarian Beth Blevins cautioned owners to keep shampoo and grooming products stored so the pigs can’t eat the items.
With sheep, Blevins said owners should make sure their animals are both urinating and defecating since wethers can have difficulties.
With goats, one main issue is keeping them where they are supposed to be.
Farm Bureau promotes agriculture and responsible care of animals used for agriculture, which is why the Northwest Counties Farm Bureau sponsors the awards, usually presented at 4-H achievement night in October.
