Success StoryCooperation between 4-H and FFA



Cooperation between 4-H and FFA

Author: George Heersche

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Cooperation between the Spencer County 4-H and FFA dairy programs are a model example for other counties.

 Spencer County is very active in our 4-H dairy judging program. Many of  their youth trained in the 4-H program eventually represent Kentucky in  the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest and the National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Career Development Event.

 The National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Career  Development Event has a portion where the team has to evaluate the  production practices of a hypothetical dairy farm. They then have to  give an oral presentation elucidating the strengths and weaknesses of  the production practices and suggest changes to rectifying the  weaknesses. Not many of the Spencer County youth are farm youth and none are dairy farm youth so I am involved in teaching them about proper  dairy cattle management practices.

 Spencer County has had the National Champion FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Career Development Event team eight of the last 13 years including 2017. I have helped train all of these teams and they  complement the three National Champion 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging teams I  have coached.

 This is copied from an email from Bland Baird, Spencer County Vo-Ag  teacher: "Dr. Heersche has had a tremendous influence on our students,  and without his help, our competitive success would have not been  possible.






Stories by George Heersche


National Educational Event Involvement

about 6 years ago by George Heersche

I am chairman of the National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest Management Committee, and I serve as ... Read More


Cooperation between 4-H and FFA

about 6 years ago by George Heersche

Cooperation between the Spencer County 4-H and FFA dairy programs are a model example for other coun... Read More


Stories by Animal and Food Sciences


Meeting the educational needs of small egg producers

about 6 years ago by Anthony Pescatore

There has been a trend in Kentucky for many nontraditional clientele to have small egg producing flo... Read More


Horse Academy for Chinese Students

about 6 years ago by Fernanda Camargo

The University of Kentucky China Initiatives Office approached me regarding offering a horse program... Read More


Stories by 4-H Youth Development Programming


Christian County 4-H Camping Program-Growing by Leaps and Bounds

Christian County 4-H Camping Program-Growing by Leaps and Bounds

about 6 years ago by Kaitlyne Metsker

The Kentucky 4-H Program holds the mission of improving people through intentional life skill develo... Read More


Estill County Fair 4-H Exhibits

Estill County Fair 4-H Exhibits

about 6 years ago by Isaac Hilpp

The Estill County Agricultural Fair has been a long-standing event in the local community. Allowing ... Read More