Animal Science Updates: November 2019

Delaware Youth Dairy Futurity- 1st Entry Deadline November 11
The first entry deadline for the 2020 Delaware Youth Dairy Futurity is November 11.  The futurity is open to all breed summer calves born between June 1, 2019 and August 31, 2019.  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 1, 2020. The entry form and official rules can be found on the State 4-H Animal Science webpage https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/2020-Delaware-Youth-Dairy-Futurity-Entry.pdf

Delaware 4-H Horse of the Year- Deadline November 11, 2019
Have you ever wished that you could have a model of your own favorite horse or pony to cherish forever? Here’s your chance!

Peter Stone of Stone Model Horses (www.stonehorses.com) has volunteered to create a model horse to honor the great horse or pony selected as Delaware’s “4-H Horse of the Year”. The winning 4-H member will be announced at the Horse Bowl contest and awarded their horse/pony model horse at the winning member’s county achievement banquet in fall of 2019.

Any currently enrolled traditional Delaware 4-H member (Cloverbuds are not eligible), can nominate their beloved horse/pony by completing these steps:

  1. Complete the Nomination Form 2020.
  2. Provide Four (4) 4×6” full color photos of your horse/pony in natural light (not in the barn): front, back, left side and right side. Attach to the provided page. These photos will not be returned so make sure you have copies.
  3. Add an essay of 500 to 1000 words written by the 4-H’er (age of 4-H’er will be considered in writing quality). The award will be chosen based on how well the 4-H member can answer the following topic:  “The Outside of a Horse is Good for the Inside of a 4-H’er…
    1. Should be a horse or pony you have owned or worked with in some way
    1. Do NOT include your name or the horse/pony’s registered name in the essay.
    1. Use the horse’s unregistered nick name or pet name in the essay.
    1. Not required to own the horse or pony being nominated.

The nomination with the essay must be postmarked by November 11, 2019.

Nomination forms, the scoring rubric used by judges https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/animal-science/Delaware-Horse-of-the-Year-Scoring-Rubric.pdf and more details are available on the state 4-H animal science webpage and/or from your county office.

https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/animal-science/2020-horse-of-the-year-application.pdf

State 4-H Hippology Contest for Horse Project Members- Contest December 7
The State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee will be holding a Hippology Contest for statewide 4-H Horse Project Members at Heartland Equestrian Center in Frederica on December 7 from 9:00am -1:30 pm. What is Hippology?  Hippology is an activity that can enhance learning for 4-H members by letting them exhibit their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry in a competitive setting. The term “Hippology” comes from the Greek “hippo”, meaning horse, and “ology”, meaning “the study of”. Participants will be able to demonstrate their experience and knowledge gained in their horse projects, horse judging, horse bowl, demonstrations, and practical horse management.  Contests are typically set up in a station format where participants are asked to complete tasks such as identifying feeds, judging hay, matching body parts with the correct names, putting together a bridle, bandaging a leg, etc.  The contest guide and entry form can be found at https://www.udel.edu/content/dam/udelImages/canr/pdfs/extension/4H/2019-Delaware-4-H-Hippology-Contest-Final.pdf

Entries are due November 11th. We are always looking for adult volunteers to help facilitate the contest as station monitors, timers, and scoring.  Please contact Susan Garey for more information.

Delaware Equine Council Scholarship- $1500

Eligibillity:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen and a Delaware resident or Delaware Equine Council member. ($10.00 to become an individual member)
  • Must be enrolled and in good standing in an agriculture, equine, veterinary or vet tech program in the United States.
  • Must submit a typewritten 400-word essay :

“How I plan to use this course of study to further the equine or agriculture industry.”

  • Must complete a typed application and include a transcript of a minimum of one full semester’s grades from an accredited college or university.

All awards are given without discrimination as to race, sex, or creed.

Application postmark deadline is January 31, 2020. Winners will be notified in February and awarded at the scholarship dinner on the evening of March 14, 2020 at the Harrington Moose Lodge.  To download the application or for more details please visit:

https://delawareequinecouncil.org/scholarships.php

Adult National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training Offered November 16th What: Beef Quality Assurance Training
When:  Saturday, November 16, 2019
Where: UD Kent County Cooperative Extension Office
69 Transportation Circle, Dover, DE 19901
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch: Lunch will be served

Join your fellow producers and the Delaware Extension team for Beef Quality Assurance training.  Following the workshop, producers will have the opportunity to take the National Beef Quality Assurance exam and become BQA certified.  This is one option for parents of Cloverbud age (5-7 years old as of January 1) to fulfill the requirement for a current Quality Assurance/YQCA certification for their child to exhibit a market animal at the 2020 Delaware State Fair.

We will wrap up with lunch that is sponsored by the Delaware Beef Advisory Board.

The meeting is free and everyone interested in attending is welcome.  If you have special needs in accessing this program, please call the office two weeks in advance.

To register or request more information, please call the extension office at (302)831-2506.  For questions related to Delaware State Fair Quality Assurance certification requirements, please call Susan Garey 730-4000 or truehart@udel.edu.