4-H Delivers

Technology Takes Center Stage at Traditional Event

The Issue

Livestock judging contests are common events within the 4-H program, and Tehama County is continually working on two major aspects: 1) to better prepare participants so they can confidently judge a class of livestock and 2) to provide an engaging educational activity. This year Tehama County 4-H took on the challenge of these two areas.  The results were a huge success!

What Has 4-H Done?

The Livestock Judging Day started with a PowerPoint presentation on how to evaluate livestock. This presentation was developed by Celina Johnson, a teacher at CSU Chico, and presented by members of the CSUC judging team and their volunteer 4-H leader, Crystal Rulon. The presentation provided pictures and was broken down into the areas the members should focus on while judging. During the presentation, 4-H’ers had the opportunity to vote using Turning Point Technology key pads similar to the ones used on the hit TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. When questions were posed, each participant logged in their answer on their key pad.  The results came up on the screen showing, in graph form, how the members voted.  Then the judging team gave a full explanation of the answer and provided detailed reasoning. By the end of the presentation everyone was ready to utilize their new found skills and start judging livestock.

The educational activity was a collaboration with Butte County 4-H Youth Advisor Matthew Portillo who trained members of the Tehama County SET committee to identify intestinal parasites found in animals. A Livestock Judging Day volunteer leader set up six microscopes so participants could learn how to use them as well as view common parasites. 4-H Teen Leaders then gave a presentation about intestinal parasites and spoke about the effects these parasites have on our livestock and the importance of treating animals.  All participants were able to view the parasite that the Teen Leader had found and through a digital eye piece in the microscope were able to see it projected on a large screen. To top off the day, 4-Her Sierra Scholzen demonstrated how to listen to heartbeats and the rumen of her lamb.

The Payoff

There were many positive outcomes from the day including a better understanding of the livestock judging process, higher scores, collaboration with neighboring county 4-H programs, a continued partnership with CSU Chico, and positive media coverage.

 

Author: Lisa Humphreys, 4-H Program Representative, Glenn County