Problem Livestock is a major part of Marshall County Agriculture. Animal related sales makeup 68% of the total agriculture products sold in the county. Unfortunately, livestock related 4-H programming has been absent from the county for some time but after receiving many verbal requests from farm families, Nicole Bell, Marshall County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, acted. Even though Nicole has no appointment in 4-H, she volunteered to reestablish the Marshall County Kentucky 4-H Livestock Club. With her 4-H agent’s blessing, Nikki started the club in the spring of 2018. Goals and Objectives 

? Engage 9-18-year-old youth in livestock related education 

? Increase participants knowledge of agriculture and food production 

? Increase participants understanding of livestock skillathon topics 

? Increase participants understand of livestock judging topics 

? Encourage participants to start 4-H Livestock Projects 

? Improve participants public speaking skills 

? Provide new opportunities for new experiences to participants 

? Tour agriculture businesses, covering many different areas of livestock production 

? Increase participation in livestock contests and shows in Western Kentucky 

? Explore possible career choices in livestock related fields 

Teaching Methods and Activities 

Several educational programs were held at the Marshall County Cooperative Extension Office in Benton, KY. Club members engaged in lessons regarding livestock judging, showing and skillathon topics. In the peak of “training season,” the club meets weekly to study topics related to the production and management of beef cattle, meat goats, sheep, and swine. They study the different breeds, external parts, and skeletal anatomy of livestock, feedstuffs, equipment used in the raising, showing, and processing of livestock, wholesale and retail cuts of meat, expected progeny differences (EPDs), common calculations used to measure animal performance and profitability, and the judging of hay, meats, and performance classes of livestock. Indoor lessons often featured teachers, sometimes Nikki, who utilize props to create “hands-on” lessons when the club meets indoors. Classroom learning sessions are crucial and ensure the members encounter all the information relating to the 3 main focus areas of the livestock club but Nikki’s main objective when teaching youth audiences is focused more on general agriculture education. Following 4-H’s motto, “Learn by Doing,” Nikki feels passionate about taking children outside and into new 

environments. Nikki believes classroom lessons may be forgotten, but knows real-world experiences tend to remain in our memories. Therefore, when scheduling conflicts arose with the certified leaders, Nikki volunteered to lead the club on field trips. Misty Ramsey, the Marshall County 4-H Livestock Club coordinator, described Nikki as being, “instrumental in the forward progress of the Livestock Club. She has been able to facilitate learning opportunities for the club, as well as assist the coordination of club members, parents, and community supporters.” Nikki has provided numerous opportunities for the club participants to experience agriculture first hand. These activities included but were not limited to touring: 

- The Murray State Swine Facility where they learned the fundamentals of judging swine. (This was the closest one participant had ever been to swine.) - A cow calf operation where participants practiced judging heifers up close. - A clinic where they practiced presenting oral reasons to the Kentucky State 4-H Livestock Coordinator. - A feed mixing and farm supply business where they learned about feedstuffs, feed mixing and rations. - A workshop where a 4-H family shared and demonstrated tips related to showing cattle. - A farm store where they studied livestock related tools in preparation for the state skillathon contest. - A local butcher shop where they practiced meat identification and judging. - A feeder hog operation where they learned about hog production practices and biosecurity. Evaluation 

Nikki uses these items to evaluate the success of the club: enrollment and participation numbers, the participant’s understanding of covered topics, the number of 4-H Livestock Projects, participation and achievement at the 4-H Communications Contest, participation and successes at livestock contests and shows, surveys, verbal confirmation and ultimately the successes the participants achieve in their future endeavors. 

Results By studying livestock topics at the educational opportunities offered, the youth are better prepared for 4-H contests. Less than six months after club creation, two members of the Marshall County 4-H Livestock Club placed at the Western Rivers Regional Livestock Contest. They brought third-place ribbons in both oral reasons and dairy goat judging back to Marshall County. Only one month later, a member placed in the top 10 of the swine division at the Kentucky 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. Livestock was not the only 4-H area where they developed skills. Multiple members are utilizing information they learned, as well as, skills they developed in Livestock club in the 4-H Communications Contest. One parent indicated, “my daughter and her friends would never have had the opportunity to experience the things they have experienced without the club. She (her daughter) is writing all about the importance of livestock and agriculture in her contest speech.” 

Even though the club is small, the number of committed members quadrupled from 2018 to 2019. Not only have the club’s numbers grown but participants are now pursuing new larger commitments. Many members are starting 4-H Livestock Projects in 2019. Livestock projects provide youth the opportunities to expand their knowledge of the agriculture industry while also accepting responsibility for a living animal. In doing so, participants will build their critical 

thinking, decision making and communication skills. The club member’s involvement in projects will increase the participation in Western Kentucky livestock shows. Most importantly, the educational opportunities the youth in the club experience will help them develop skills useful in real world applications and possibly future careers. Thus, making them positive contributors to society.