The Henry County 4-H Livestock Club started only three year ago, but has made great programming strides in a short time.  The young club began with 9 members and one project animal per member.  The first year in existence the club worked on the basics of caring for their animal, grooming, and showing.  The second year because of the County Agriculture Investment Program (CAIP) over half of the club members were able to use matching funds to purchase more show animals and equipment.  Within a years’ time the number of animals in the county program doubled. Due to the increase in participants (now numbering 25) and animals the club decided to fund raise to purchase needed equipment, such as: a grooming chute, clippers, blower, and a trailer to transport the equipment to shows. This past year club members showed all breed species and many members show two or more species.  

To fulfill part of the CAIP loan agreement all of the livestock club members taught an educational session at the 4-H Youth Ag Event.  The daylong event is attended by all of the 4^th graders in the county.  The goal of the event is to bring an awareness of the importance of agriculture to the economy of the county as well as how it relates to the food on our tables.   Attendees are allowed to get up close and personal with the animals and learn more about them and the crops that are grown in the fields across the county.  The teachers that accompany the 4^th graders have been very complimentary of the quality of information delivered by livestock club members.

An educational series on beef finishing, marketing, and carcass contest was put together by the county agriculture agent.  Six youth, two of which were from the livestock club, chose a beef animal to work with from March – September and to use the principles outlined.  Each member of the group was scored on individual speeches, marketing plans, and the animal carcass score.  Youth as well as parents indicated how beneficial the program was for all involved.

This past year a group of adults that were interested in supporting the youth in livestock  formed the Henry County Youth Livestock Foundation.  There were 15 club members that chose to participate in the auction and the total taken home by those members in that one evening was roughly $32,000.  The success of the auction was overwhelming to the youth involved with many looking to increase their number of show animals for the upcoming year.

As the club members have matured there has been a greater interest in livestock judging, so this year that component has been added.  This dedicated team of nine youth have grown in knowledge and skill in a very short period of time.  They travel to judging clinics to hone their skills and work in extra practice sessions along with regular livestock club meetings.  There is already talk to begin a Livestock Skillathon team for next year.

This year for the first time, a Livestock Scholarship in the amount of $500 is being offered to a senior member that is pursuing a degree in an agriculture related career.  It just so happens we have our very first senior this year that has played a significant role in growing this club.  

The leadership, knowledge, skills, and dedication of this group is impressive.  To have been on the ground level of this power house of a club and to see where there are now is awe-inspiring.  Once again proving that when dedicated youth, parents, leaders, and community come together possibilities abound.