4–H starts up for the season

Tegan Miller

The United Beef Club started up again on, Wednesday, May 10th at 7:00pm, at the home of the McQuaker’s. The meeting was started with the 4-H pledge, then we went around the room and introduced ourselves and our animals. Next our volunteer leaders, Bud McQuaker and Cindy Nielson, each gave us handouts titled: Breeds and Crossbreeds, Selecting and Raising Heifers. After that we chose our officers: our President this year is Jared McQuaker, Vice- President is Mitchell Haw, Secretary is Tyler Nielson and the Press Reporter is Tegan Miller. Our other members are: Daniel and Meagan Anderson, Kevin Gemmell, Matt McQuaker, Jay Neilson, Ben Miller, David Nussbaumer and welcoming three new members: Jessica Haw, Damon Short and James Westover. Once we were done choosing our officers we then went over the code of conduct and filled in our animal identification sheets. When all of that was finished we discussed when we should have our next meeting, which will be held on, Tuesday, May 23rd at 7:00pm at the home of the Nielson’s. The meeting was then adjourned, and we enjoyed some tasty refreshments.
The second meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm at the home of the Nielson’s. We started the night by going around the room and telling the other member’s our favorite breed; then one of our members read the roll call, on Breeds and Crossbreeds, which we received last meeting. We discussed that handout for a few minutes, next we read , “A Look At Some Breeds.” After reading that Cindy had each of us draw out a bull breed, from a container, next she had us talk about that breed, like where it came from originally, it’s description, qualities, average weight and milk yield. When we finished that another one of our members read, Choosing a Breed, some moments later Cindy handed out a “Choosing A Breed” activity, where we had to match the bull we had picked and put into a good farm, based on the information given on the sheet. Then later Bud talked to us about developing a breed program as he handed out a sheet about EPD’s (Expected Progeny Differences). He also explained a registration sheet for pure breeds, then we read “Specific Breeds Systems” and “Rotational Crossing”. After talking about that one member read “Composite Herd”. Next our leader Bud handed out a sheet about “Practical Herdsman Skills”. Some time later we talked about when the next meeting would be held and where. We decided that it would be held at the Haw’s home on June 8th at 7:00pm. The meeting was then adjourned and we all enjoyed some tasty treats.