COARSEGOLD – Coarsegold 4-H did great at Small Animal Expo, a test to measure what we are learning in our projects. Small Animal Expo is for dogs, poultry, rabbits, and dairy goats.
We had members test in poultry and rabbit this year. Each expo includes a written test and then a skills test.
The written portion of the tests ask about parts of your animal, parts of an egg and the reproductive system for poultry, how to fill out an entry form, and questions about your species. For example, how long does it take to hatch a fertilized egg? It takes 21 days for a chicken egg.
Each level gets harder in the number of parts you have to know and how difficult the questions are. We are tested on our species and there are four levels for each species. We are being tested on what we know so it is not a competition.
At the Skills Expo, we must identify equipment that might be used to care for your animal, different types of feed, different breeds, and showmanship. For example, there might be an egg candler or a poultry leg band and we should be able to write what it is. There are also different kinds of feed and we have to be able to look at it and write what it is.
If we get a score of 80% or more on both tests, we get a medal and we can put it on our 4-H hat to show how smart we are. When we pass all 4 levels, you can return to expo to judge other members who are still testing. Everyone who attempted the test medaled this year and Eden Hussey was a poultry judge. Congratulations everyone!
Large Animal Expo for Sheep, Goat, Swine (pig), and Beef will be coming up next month.
In 4-H, anyone under 9 years old is a mini-member. Junior means members in 4th and 5th grade. Intermediate means they are in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Senior means they are in high school.
Our leader is Pat Strimling and if you would like to join our 4-H, you can call her at 683-5149. Anyone can join! You don’t have to be a student at Coarsegold Elementary to be a member of Coarsegold 4-H, you can live anywhere in Madera County as long as you can come to our meetings and you can join at any time.
Now you can also follow us on our new website at www.coarsegold4h.com or Facebook. Our club meetings meet every 2nd Thursday of each month at 7pm at the Coarsegold Community Center.
4-H Statement: Madera County 4-H Youth Program is a non-profit organization for youth who are 9 years old or who have completed the 3rd grade and up to age 19 years of age. All youth and adults in Madera County are invited to participate in the 4-H Program regardless of race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, mental or physical handicap.
Emma is a student and Coarsegold 4-H Club Reporter.
