Interested in learning more about livestock? Join us for the Madison 4-H Dairy Project to learn more about dairy calves. This project will allow youth to get hands on experience with gentle calves while learning about their life cycle, animal care, the dairy industry, and preparing for a show. Children ages 10-18 are able to participate in the project. There are only twelve spots available, so please sign up ASAP.
An interest/introduction meeting will take place on August 8th, 2023 at 4:00pm at the Extension Center for those signed up and for those on the waitlist.
This free project is sponsored a local Madison County farmer, Matthew Cody with Lyndel Farms. Each calf is approximately 4-5 months old and will be halter broken at the end of this project. The calves will be housed behind the animal shelter in Marshall, so no barn, pasture, or facilities at home will be required. Twice a week we will visit the calves to practice. A care schedule will be made for each child to take a turn caring for the calves on non-practice days (in the evenings after school, as well as on the weekends). Each calf will be assigned two children to work with it, so encourage a friend to sign up with you!
The two practice days are Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm and Thursdays 4:00-5:30pm beginning on August 22nd, 2023 and ending on September 30th (Saturday show at Madison County Fair).
Practice Schedule Dates:
August 22nd – Mandatory for participant and parent/guardian
August 24th
August 29th
August 31st
September 5th
September 7th
September 12th
September 14th
September 19th
September 21st
September 26th
September 28th
September 30th – MANDATORY – Show Day!
The goal of this project is for each child to participate in showmanship with their calf on Saturday, September 30th, 2023. Attendance on this date is mandatory. Participants and parents/guardians are also required to attend the first practice August 22nd. Children are expected to attend practices in appropriate clothing such as work jeans and boots/tennis shoes. There will be muddy days along with the sunny and hot days, so please plan accordingly. This is NOT an easy project, but it is incredibly rewarding to watch a child lead their calf through the show ring all by themselves after just six short weeks. Our goal is to create a confident child who can do all these things themselves. If you do not have annual 4-H enrollment forms on file at the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Madison County Center, you will also be asked to complete those online for insurance purposes. For more information and to sign up please call Peyton Duckett at 828-649-2411 or email at peyton_duckett@ncsu.edu.
The link to sign up
