It's a new 4-H year! This is a great time to set new goals for yourself in the coming year. What do you want to accomplish this year? What skills do you want to develop? How will you provide new and fun challenges for your dog to strengthen your bond? The New Jersey 4-H Dog Project Record Book is a great resource to help 4-H members set goals for both themselves and their … [Read more...]
No Animals, No Problem! Engaging urban and suburban youth in Animal Science projects
Last month we shared information about curriculum and resources available to lead urban livestock projects in urban and suburban areas. One reader came back to us with a great question: "If we don’t have bees, rabbits or chickens, can our youth still get involved with animal projects?" The answer is yes! If your family or club cannot commit to raising your own animals, there … [Read more...]
Saying Goodbye
There is a special bond shared by youth and their dogs in the 4-H dog project. These members spend years building a positive relationship with their dogs based on mutual trust, clear communication, and positive reinforcement. To these 4-H members, their dogs are more than a pet. They are a teammate and friend with whom they share many experiences including the highs of … [Read more...]
Hop to It – Rabbit Hopping and Agility
What is Rabbit Hopping? Rabbit hopping originated in Sweden in the early 1970’s. It was patterned after miniature horse jumping. The first national rabbit hopping championship was held in 1987 in Sweden. The popularity of hopping has spread throughout Europe, and now there are rabbit hopping clubs in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, and the UK. Rabbit hopping … [Read more...]
Community Matters: Animal Projects and Community Service
Every 4-H club is expected to conduct community service projects, though sometimes the logistics of integrating volunteerism into animal science projects may feel daunting. How can 4-H members in animal project areas feel that they are contributing to their communities? Public libraries, senior centers or living facilities, daycares, and religious institutions often make … [Read more...]
April showers bring spring flowers – but are they poisonous to your horse?
Buttercups are a common flower in New Jersey pastures. Did you know they are poisonous to horses when consumed? Above is a picture of what they look like in early spring. Photo from Rutgers Fact Sheet # 938; Poisonous Weeds in Horse Pastures. April showers bring spring flowers! Flowers may be pretty, but not in your pastures! Do you know what is growing in your pasture that … [Read more...]
SPecial INterest Programming and Animal Science Projects (SPIN Clubs)
For many youth and adult leaders, 4-H delivers a club-based experience. This means we attend regular 4-H Club Meetings, perhaps once a month. We spend the entire year learning more about our project area, whether that means learning how our chickens lay eggs or grooming our horses for a regional show. We record what we learn in Record Books and give an engaging … [Read more...]
What topic should I pick for my public presentation?
Public speaking is one of the most useful skills developed in 4-H. Public presentations are also a great way to learn about a topic of interest and share it with others in your club and county. One of the most important decisions members make each year is the topic for their presentation. For goat clubs, this is the perfect chance for 4-Hers to learn more about the STEM … [Read more...]
Dairy Cattle Judging
The spring of the year is when 4-H Dairy clubs should be working on Dairy Cattle Judging. The New Jersey State 4-H Dairy Judging contest is traditionally held in April. Even if your members are not participating in that contest, it is a great club meeting topic. Members preparing for a judging event should know the parts of the dairy cow (January 2018 Blog post) and can then … [Read more...]
4 Great Ideas for Using 4-H Youth-Produced Videos in your Goat Club
New Jersey 4-H has coordinated an annual Sheep and Goat Video Contest since 2015 for members in these two projects. The top four videos from each of the past three years were screened at the annual Junior Breeder Livestock Symposium and are available on our state website. We think they are wonderful educational resources that could be used in many other ways as part of your … [Read more...]