Learning the ranch life
A new University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development program gave Kootenai County youths the opportunity to spend a weekend as working ranch hands during the first Beef Youth Producer Project, hosted March 1-2 at University of Idaho’s Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension and Education Center in Salmon. From left: Colton Burnside, Sterling Dank, Lexi Jennings and Will Burnett.
Photo courtesy of the University of Idaho
POST FALLS — A new University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development program gave a group of Kootenai County youths the opportunity to spend a weekend as working ranch hands.
During the first Beef Youth Producer Project on March 1-2 at the University of Idaho’s Nancy M. Cummings Research, Extension and Education Center in Salmon, four 4-H'ers got to feed cattle, take turns doing the nightly calf watch, help clean feed bunks and even process calves, working alongside ranch staff.
The research center provides education for the livestock industry and hands-on learning opportunities for students, with a cow-calf and forage research focus, a press release said.
The youth also visited the Nelson Angus Ranch, which sells registered Angus cattle throughout the country. The youth learned how technology, including electronic tags used for tracking cattle, has played a role in herd management for the family.
Sterling Dank, a 4-H member who participated in the trip, said he is interested in pursuing a career as a ranch manager. He said the recent opportunity to experience life on a ranch taught him the importance of managing feed costs and impressed upon him how the business functions of the ranch are just as important as the animal husbandry.
Kootenai/Shoshone 4-H Program coordinator Madison Sotin said she appreciated the chance to share careers in agriculture with youth.
The University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences offers 43 undergraduate and graduate degree programs on a broad range of topics, from animal science to child development. Many CALS students begin their career journeys by participating in a 4-H project.
With a visit to the Kootenai County Fair in August, guests will find the livestock animal barns full of local 4-H youth tending to their projects.
Animal projects are an important aspect of the 4-H program. Considered a model program for youth to experience agriculture for a long time, 4-H livestock projects have moved beyond animal husbandry practices to include intensive scrutiny of how the global food supply functions.