Summer 4-H Activities Inclusive of Animal Science Events Cancelled or Postponed
There will be no in-person summer programming offered by the university through the end of July. This announcement encompasses all in-person, Delaware 4-H related activities both on and off campus. This is inclusive of YQCA trainings, livestock shows and judging contests, Harness Racing Camp and Cow Camp all scheduled in June, and will also involve 4-H related animal science activities at the Delaware State Fair. This decision and any future revisions to this action will stay aligned with ongoing guidance and direction provided by our State government and public health authorities. This does not include livestock, dairy and horse shows and associated activities that fall under the umbrella of the Delaware State Fair.
We share the same disappointment you are likely feeling regarding this news. Our summer camping programs as well as the 4-H State Fair activities have been highlights of our 4-H year for decades, and the opportunities for personal growth, mentorship and learning are sources of pride for generations of Delaware 4-H members. Please remember that this difficult decision was made with one priority in mind: the safety of our youth, volunteers and staff. During this process, please know we are reviewing any and all options as to how any of these activities can be held or provided in a virtual or any other alternative environment. We are in discussions with staff and volunteers who are also very interested in reviewing all potential options.
2020 State 4-H Avian Bowl Study Sections- POSTPONED- NEW DATE TO BE DETERMINED
The Avian Bowl is a knowledge based quiz bowl style competition that focuses on poultry and eggs and poultry industry topics. The 2020 Delaware 4-H Avian Bowl will be Saturday August 1st at 1:00 pm in the Centre. All questions and answers will come from the following material in the 2016 version of the Avian Bowl Manual:
· Raising waterfowl (Sources through General Breeding Management) – pages 26-30
· Avian systems (The Feather) – page 43
· Growing Blue Ribbon Pullets (All) – pages 57-65
· Breeds, Varieties, and Strains (Introduction, Bantams, Americans, and Asiatics) – pages 69-73
· Eggcyclopedia (Curdling through It’s All in an Egg) – pages 118-136
· Ratites (All) – Pages 171-173
· Commercial Poultry Industry (All) – Pages 175-176
· Embryology (Parts of the Egg through Candling) – Pages 186-192
Note: The above study material came from the National 4-H Avian Bowl Manual revised in 2016.
For more information on the Avian Bowl please consult the contest rules and guidelines which can be found on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage: https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/animal-science/Delaware-4-H-Avian-Bowl-Rules-and-Guidelines-2020—Susan-Garey.pdf
Online Resources to Support Continued Horse Project Learning
While we may not be able to meet face to face there are still lots of good resources to support horse project learning experiences during this time.
· Consider joining our Facebook Delaware 4-H Horse Project Leaders group where we share learning and project support resources in real time.
· Free download and print horses inside and out coloring activity pack for children. This children’s activity pack contains several anatomical colouring activities, some skeletal and muscular system facts, pictures to colour, a word search and a quiz. This is something to keep a pony mad youngster happily occupied. Although designed for children, the labelled diagrams could also be of interest to anyone starting out on an anatomical journey or who just enjoys mindful colouring. Visit: https://www.horsesinsideout.com/shop?fbclid=IwAR3jALIO4ZUxY3_Mh6AK-OHEU2WZJVDu9DgnXYMHXT776y6FAkZeCMAeZFE
· Free webinar on horse digestion and forage by Standlee Hayspecifically for youth equine organizations. Register and access the recording: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5437420756623255309?source=Promoboxx
· Join the Louisiana Master Horseman Page on Facebook for free access to webinar recordings on Pasture, Hay, Navicular Disease, Manure Management, Deworming and much more. https://www.facebook.com/groups/157870920897902/
· Affordable online youth horse courses($10.00 each) from colleagues at the University of Nebraska!
o BEGINNING HORSEMAN: 4-H LEVEL 1
o INTERMEDIATE HORSEMAN: 4-H LEVEL 2
o HORSEMAN: 4-H LEVEL 3
To get access to courses, please visit: Level 1: https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/programs/horseman-1.html?fbclid=IwAR3ZsyJhBMbHcsppDtE24ggWRnRWnmkDDQRzl0gAYO2RSgt6lO41u5gPtEI Level 2: https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/programs/horseman-2.html?fbclid=IwAR0YsapgnJC1VVNc-bKXmHBF-Bq8NcNEbG4O9X7PikLaaaOuq_blVvm9sI4 Level 3: https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/horseman-3.html
· Visit My Horse University for free online learning modules and courses from university equine experts! https://www.myhorseuniversity.com/
· The Connecticut 4-H Program put together a great online resource page to help 4-H Youth continue to learn for 4-H Horse Judging and Hippology since their contests will not be held. These resources are organized into age appropriate modules and can be found here: https://blog.extension.uconn.edu/4-h_horses/?fbclid=IwAR0LMTqWXWp_64LqfbjAEuvMbU2dVJ52-9kr4jP1iN–DoUa2ii43RKxpoI# · Another online resource for practicing horse judging skills is www.livestockjudging.com They have free online classes, including the horse judging classes from the National 4-H Horse Judging Contest.
Final Delaware Junior Dairy Futurity Payment Extended May 22
The third payment for futurity animals entered for the 2020 Delaware Junior Dairy Futurity is due May 22 to volunteer Charmayne Busker. Calves MUST be exhibited by a Delaware State Fair Junior Dairy Exhibitor. Leased animals are eligible and an exhibitor must be named on the last entry on May 22, 2020. For more information please consult the 2020 entry form posted on the State 4-H animal science page at https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/2020-Delaware-Youth-Dairy-Futurity-Entry.pdf or email Charmayne Busker cpbusker@gmail.com
Dairy Leasing Agreements Due to County Offices – Revised Deadline May 22
2020 Delaware Youth Dairy Leasing Agreements must be turned in to county offices for county agent signatures or to Susan Garey by May 22. Copies of dairy leases will be forwarded on to the Delaware State Fair. The leasing agreement is posted on the state 4-H webpage under the “Dairy” heading. https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic-development/4H-youth-development/project-information/animal-science/ This is the only version of a leasing agreement that is accepted for Delaware shows. You may also scan and email completed leases to Susan Garey truehart@udel.edu if you wish.
National 4-H Dairy Conference Application Due- Revised Deadline May 22
The 2020 National 4-H Dairy Conference is September 27-30, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. The conference is for 15 to 18 year-olds who have participated in the 4-H Dairy Program for at least three years, who are currently enrolled in 4-H and have an interest in the dairy industry. The Delaware 4-H Foundation provides funding for two delegates and one chaperone each year.
The conference will be held concurrently with the World Dairy Expo. National 4-H Dairy Conference delegates may not participate in the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest or exhibit cattle at the World Dairy Expo due to time constraints. You may not have previously attended National 4-H Dairy Conference. For more information on National 4-H Dairy Conference please visit https://national4hdairyconference.org
The updated application is available on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage under the “Dairy” heading https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/personal-economic-development/4H-youth-development/project-information/animal-science/ and is due to Susan Garey by May 22.
Quality Assurance Certification Requirement for All Delaware State Fair Market Animal Exhibitors- YQCA Face to Face Trainings Canceled
All Delaware State Fair junior livestock exhibitors showing a market animal (steer, market lamb, market goat or market hog) are required to have a current quality assurance certification in order to exhibit in a market class at the Delaware State Fair. The Swine Department will accept either an existing Youth PQA certification that is still valid through July of 2020 or a current Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certification. The Youth PQA program no longer exists to train new youth or recertify. The YQCA program is a national certification that now covers all livestock species with a single certification for all youth ages 8-21 nationwide. Program ages are calculated as of January 1 of the current year. Current options for obtaining a qualifying quality assurance certification in order to be able to show a market animal at the 2020 DSF are:
· Ages 5-6- A parent, guardian or responsible adult must have a current quality assurance certification. Options to fulfill this requirement include PQA(Pork Quality Assurance) or BQA (Beef Quality Assurance https://www.bqa.org/certification/online-certification) adult online trainings. Please contact Susan Garey if you would like to be granted access to the online Adult PQA certification training to cover youth ages 5-7. An email address is required.
· Ages 7-18- The youth exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification obtained either through an YQCA classroom training session or YQCA online.
· Ages 19-21- The youth market exhibitor must have a current YQCA certification that can only be obtained online as per the YQCA program rules.
Youth YQCA certification is valid for one year.
In order for youth ages 7-21 to participate in an online YQCA training session, they must register and create a profile at http://yqca.org For youth age 8-12, parents are required to register their youth on the YQCA website. The YQCA online training costs $12.00. This fee are paid online and go directly to YQCA. Youth completing the online YQCA training will take the online module that corresponds to their age as of January 1 of the current year.
Due to COVID-19 in person YQCA training classes have been canceled and youth must utilize the online YQCA certification option at http://yqca.org
If you have trouble accessing these training resources or have questions about fulfilling your Quality Assurance certification requirement, please contact Susan Garey (302)242-1510 or truehart@udel.edu
1st State Livestock Jackpot Show Canceled for 2020
The Kent County 4-H Livestock Advisory Committee regrets to have to announce that due to challenges and issues related to COVID-19 and group gatherings in the coming weeks, the 2020 1st State Livestock Jackpot Show is canceled. Other shows associated with the new East Coast Livestock Association points circuit may still possibly occur based on the guidance in other states and rescheduled dates. Please follow the East Coast Livestock Association (ECLA) on Facebook for the latest updates. Look for our return in 2021!
2020 Delaware State Fair Livestock Tagging Dates- REVISED
Tagging dates for market lambs, market hogs, market goats, market steers and feeder calves for the 2020 Delaware State Fair are:
· Saturday May 2- CANCELED
· Saturday, May 16, 8 am-12 pm – Delaware State Fairgrounds
· Saturday, May 23, 8 am- 12 pm – Delaware State Fairgrounds
· Tuesday May 19, 5 pm- 8 pm- CANCELED
· Sunday, May 31, 8 am- 12 pm – Delaware State Fair (Kent County) REVISED FINAL TAGGING DATE
These dates may possibly be subject to change based on our constantly evolving community health issues and the Governor’s State of Emergency
Online Resources to Support Continued Livestock and Dairy Project Learning
While we may not be able to meet for face to face learning right now, there are plenty of good online resources to support livestock project learning.
· University of Wisconsin Virtual Farm tours- these are current farm tours done during the month of April at the beef, sheep and swine units on the University Wisconsin. Videos are posted on YouTube and have accompanying activity sheets. https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/youthlivestock/2020/04/15/virtualfarmtours/
· University of Wisconsin online learning webinars. Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program did these videos in 2014 for beginning project members and 2016 for older members (Beef, Sheep, Swine and Meat Goats). If you have limited internet, you can acquire the audio file and a copy of the slides to follow along here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl3EqGUag9cyb6E_-R0Sfj7syeme0g0Ch
· Animal U is a new online virtual livestock learning space for beginners developed by Iowa State University. This is a brand new fun and engaging online learning resource that was in production prior to COVID-19 and will at some point have a cost associated with it. Use it now while it is free! https://www.extension.iastate.edu/animalu/?fbclid=IwAR3BmUnEexTrph5Y_cakdlxzA8Pyn3I-Aj-sXw3NmjXyPgWHPt10CkK9sig
· Travel for farm tours without leaving your home- Online Virtual Farm trips to Beef, Swine and Dairy Operations in Ohio, NY and Indiana. https://virtualfarmtrips.com/free-virtual-farm-trip-recordings-available-for-students-teachers-affected-by-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR3C_eIzIjkyS95u4HHlaHdQNQPbUyQEoOgznh45frp832F6500R618ZoVw
· Stock Show U Online- offered by Sullivan’s Supply for beef cattle exhibitors. Video series covering current trends for grooming and presenting cattle. https://www.sullivansupply.com/stock-show-u/online/
· Livestock related activity sheets that can be downloaded from Ranch House designs for our younger youth (3rd grade and under). https://ranchhousedesigns.com/free-agricultural-education-downloads/?email=irishwoman0%40gmail.com
· The Stock Show classroom videos by Show Rite are particularly relevant to those getting project animal right now. They cover topics such as selection and evaluation of livestock and giving your young animal a good start once you bring them home. They have been continually adding to this content over the last month. Everyone can learn something from these industry experts! The video series can be found here on demand: https://go.alltech.com/showrite-stock-show-classroom?fbclid=IwAR1BOtR6tmOGQjYDzZLVv1p4qOlCPq-WKoUY21rtQnObpeRHuKgI_1qPXnQ
· Sure Champ also has an excellent resource library covering topics like selection, nutrition and feeding, and show equipment and also have interactive activities such as quizzes and puzzles. https://surechamp.com/sc-classroom-resources/?fbclid=IwAR1gs0Hzkj212bPB19KAykrKw0hqMa3fAaVuaxWsUWDiUpraiTMiLYD4iPk&utm_campaign=SC+in+the+Classroom&utm_content=March+2020&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook
In addition, they also offer online judging classes for youth to practice their evaluation and selections skills and a series of how to videos for pigs and cattle covering things like tying animals safely, how to read an ear notch, how to build pig pen and how to clip your animals. https://surechamp.com/blog/category/judging/ https://surechamp.com/preptowinvideos/
· Another online resource for practicing livestock judging skills is www.livestockjudging.com They have free online classes and are currently running a weekly online judging contest through May 29 where youth can be eligible to win cash and prizes for entering the virtual judging contest. Excellent examples of oral reasons for classes are also shared here.