Cow Camp- It Takes A Team!
46 campers from all three counties participated in Cow Camp at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in early July. Campers learned about fitting and showmanship, milk quality, picking the right bull for breeding and the dairy related careers that go into producing a glass of milk, assisted in preparing materials to educate the public for the calf raffle booth at the state fair, in addition to participating in team building activities and caring for their heifer calf throughout the weekend. Congratulations to Stanley Gaffrey our 2014 Cow Camp Champ who will be joining the planning team for Cow Camp 2015!
We couldn’t have an event with this many campers and animals without the essential help of lots of volunteers- Charmayne and Sara Busker, Lee Dulin, Eddie and Leslie McClements, Len Green, Sara Jastrebski, John and Ron Hickey, Stephanie and Gregg Knutsen, Richard Morris, Bonnie Smith, Cheryl Vest and the many parent chaperones. Special thanks to the past Cow Camp Champs for all their help in planning and carrying out this year’s camp- Joe Anderson, Holly Anderson, Laura Emerson, Emily Smith, Ryan VanSant and Spring Vasey. Thanks to Robin Breeding, John Hickey, Cheryl Vest. Thank you to Sharon Anderson for serving as our camp nurse, Colleen Anderson for being our official Cow Camp photographer and Dan Severson the New Castle County Extension Agricultural Agent for serving as our judge. Thanks to the Delaware State Fair for allowing us to escape the heat and sleep in the air conditioning! Last but not least extra special thanks to the Busker family and Bob Moore for providing extra heifer calves for the campers that needed them.
State 4-H Horse Show
The 49th Annual Delaware State 4-H Horse Show was held in the Quillen Arena on Friday, July 25 during the Delaware State Fair. The show is put on by the State 4-H Horse Advisory committee, a group of horse oriented 4-H volunteers with members coming from each county. This year, the highest number of exhibitors in at least the last decade turned out for the event which included 57 horses and ponies. Kennis “Buttons” Fairfax of Livingston, New Jersey judged the show along with the trail judge, Jennifer Dill of Wyoming, Delaware.
Each division champion was awarded an embroidered hay bale bag sponsored by the Delaware Equine Council. The reserve division champion awards were embroidered duffel bags sponsored by the Delaware Quarter Horse Association
The Betty Niblett Perpetual Trophy was awarded to the exhibitor with the most points acquired in showmanship and equitation/horsemanship. This year it was awarded to Jacob Blacksten riding Orkies Feature
The Delaware 4-H Horse Advisory Committee is really looking forward to celebrating a half a century of the State 4-H Horse show next year with the 50th annual show!
Saddle up with 4-H!
The annual State 4-H Trail Ride sponsored by the Delaware 4-H Horse Advisory Committee will be held on October 12, 2014 at the Blackbird State Forest with the ride off occurring at 10 am. Please note the change of location this year! This is a fun family event with riders of all ages and experience level. There will be some volunteer walkers as well to assist our less experienced riders if needed. Following the trail ride there will be a picnic in the pavilion beginning at 11:30 am. ASTM/SEI hard hats are required for all riders. Proof of negative Coggins Test and a certificate of vaccination for Equine Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis (EHV) within the past 180 days are required to participate. For more information please see the flyer posted on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage https://extold.anr.udel.edu/4h/files/2012/02/2014-4-H-Fall-Trail-Ride.pdf To RSVP, please contact Susan Garey at (302)730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu no later than October 6th.
Delaware Livestock Exposition
The 2014 Delaware Livestock exposition is coming on October 11 and 12th at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. This is a breeding animal show for junior exhibitors ages 21 and under as of January 1 of 2014 showing meat goats, swine, sheep and beef cattle. The exhibitor handbook and entry form is available on the expo website at http://delawarelivestockexpo.com/files/documents/Showring-Catalogue-2014.pdf Entries must be postmarked by September 19, 2014. Late entries will be accepted this year but at double the regular entry fee. Judges are Kyle Fleener of Pennsylvania for the beef and swine departments, Dan Shell of Ohio for the sheep department and David Carter of Virgina will be evaluating goat entries. For more information please contact Susan Garey at truehart@udel.edu or Kristin Cook at kristin@udel.edu or by phone at (302)730-4000.
“Horse Sense” Youth Equine Farm Safety Course Now Available Through eXtension
Equine Farm Safety Training: Improving Safety For Youth Working on Horse Farms. Expand your knowledge of horse safety practices by taking this free online course! Have you ever worked on a horse farm or equine facility? Maybe you’ve dealt with a bad-mannered horse, or possibly know someone who has been injured while working with horses. Now you have an opportunity to learn how to be safe while working with horses at any equine facility.
Equine experts from Michigan State University’s My Horse University and eXtension HorseQuest are proud to offer a new course for youth called “Horse Sense” – Equine Farm Safety Training. This course is designed for youth who currently handle work with horses or desire to be involved with horses in the future.
The training program contains eleven short courses, which all include videos, links and activities, while providing important horse safety information. Students who complete each course will receive a certificate of completion.
These courses are self-paced and chocked full of videos, activities and interactive learning opportunities. The courses are free of charge and open to anyone interested in working with horses. Build your equine resume by completing any of the following courses (take just one or take all 11—you decide!):
- Horse Behavior
- Horse Handling
- Horse Manners
- Grooming
- Horse Keeping – Daily Care and Management of Horses
- Training & Exercising
- Machine & Chemical Safety
- Traveling with Horses
- Biosecurity on Horse Farms
- Horse Health
- Employer/Employee Relations
Visit the following website for more information and to enroll. http://www.extension.org/pages/67890/horse-sense-youth-equine-farm-safety-course-now-available#.U_Spsf5OW70
The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.
Winter Care of Backyard Poultry Flocks- Free Webinar September 25, 7:00 pm
Fall is the time to prepare your flocks and coops for the toils of winter. Dr. Brigid McCrea from Delaware State University will cover the activities that are recommended for such preparations. Whether this is your first or fortieth flock, take the time to learn about changes to your management and biosecurity routines so that your flock stays happy and healthy all winter long. More information is available at https://learn.extension.org/events/1479#.U_SrWf5OW70
to connect to the webinar click on https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/poultry