Got Milk?

This is old news, but I wanted to share it anyway.  Back in January our group took a trip over to Gilchrist County where we got to tour two separate dairy farms owned by DPS Dairy.  First we went to the farm in Branford where our kids got to see the milking parlor and even try their hands at milking! They also got the see how the milking cows are housed, rotated through the milking process, etc.  We left there and headed down to the Bell farm.  I think this was their favorite part, because this is where all 1500+ baby calves are kept and of course they couldn't keep their hands off of them.  The kids really got a kick out of it when the calves started sucking on their fingers!! 

The DPS staff were nice enough to accommodate us on a Saturday and they were very patient with our kids and very informative to the kids AND the parents!  DPS also included a little write up about our visit in their February 2011 "Moosletter"!  I am sharing the link so that each and every one of you can take a look at it and remember what a great time we had on our "first group trip"!
DPS Moosletter - February 2011

They Survived...

Well, 4-H Camp 2011 has come and gone and the campers survived! Four out of the five who went were first time campers and I think they faired better than their mamas did without them.  They all made it home and have lots of stories to share.  The kids got to participate daily in a number of classes of their choice, everything from  kayaking, canoeing, fishing, archery, arts & crafts, sewing, and much, much more! They also had free time throughout the day to swim and play sports and other games with their friends.  Skits, dances, group games and campfires also occupied their time at night.  They were also joined at camp by 4-H kids from Citrus and Hernando counties so they have made many new friends and memories.  I'm sure there is so much more that I haven't been told about yet (as my child is the type that you have to p-u-l-l the information out of).  All I know is that they had fun and that's all that matters!!! 

Horsin' Around

Last night we had a great 4-H meeting!  We had a special guest, Charley Nelson, and he gave us a little talk about horses - their uses, how to care for them, and some general horse safety.  We also got the to watch Mr. Charley freeze brand a horse.  He showed us the whole procedure, from start to finish and, and explained why it is necessary to brand a horse.   This was a great learning opportunity for the entire group and we are thankful that he chose to join our club for the night!

Y'all Come On In....

Welcome to the blog of Livestock 4-H Club.  We are located in Lake City, Florida and our club is open for enrollment year round to kids ages 5-18.  Our main focus is on livestock animals, however there are times when we discuss and learn about other subjects.  We try to stay very active, keeping our club members involved with hands on demonstrations, trips, community events, camps, etc.  Our club members participate in the Columbia County Youth Livestock Show and Sale in October/November of each year.  We typically meet on the second Tuesday of each month* at the Mason City Community Center in Ellisville - about 12 miles south of Lake City.  If you or your child is an animal lover, wishes to explore the world of animals and agriculture, or is just looking for a bunch of fun kids to be with, then we would love to have you as part of our group! 

*Meeting dates are subject to change due to scheduling conflicts - so please call first!  Club leader: Casey (386) 623-9088