Urban Cowboys: 2012

Urban Youth Livestock Program

What is the Urban Youth Livestock Program?

A bucket calf is an orphan or newborn calf purchased when they are 1 to 10 days old. The calves may be male or female, beef or dairy. The calves are started on a bottle (or bucket) and nipple. Our bucket calves were purchased at 30 days old from a local dairy farmer. All of our calves are male. 4-H members across the country are raising bucket calves.

This year, the Fred Meyer Fund generously donated money to the Bannock County 4-H Program specifically to create an urban youth livestock program. Our neighbors in Bingham County have successfully raised bucket calves at the local fairgrounds for three years. This grant gave us the opportunity to try it in Bannock County with youth who live in the urban area of Pocatello and Chubbuck.

Twenty-one 4-H members are raising calves at the north Bannock County fairgrounds in Pocatello. The calves are housed, two per stall, in the race horse stalls. The 4-H members come twice a day to care for their calves. These youth are responsible for taking the temperature of his or her calf, feeding them, cleaning the stall, and exercising the calf.

These calves will all be shown at the north Bannock County fair, August 18th and then returned to the dairy farmer who gave them to us.

We will post updates regularly on this blog. Check often to see our progress!

Friday, June 22, 2012

URBAN COWBOYS

News Story!

In case you didn't catch it on the news... http://www.kpvi.com/content/news/local/story/City-Kids-to-Get-a-Taste-of-Farm-Life/YKahUWERM0Wf_kpU5jM5nQ.cspx

A state economist says family farms are on their way out, but one local group is looking to continue agriculture's storied tradition in the Gem State.

Monday, Bannock County 4-Hers were getting stalls ready for the urban livestock program and Missy Cummins, Extension Educator, says the goal of the program is simple.

“The idea is to reconnect kids to basically where their food comes from and also to give them the country ethics of working hard and raising livestock animals,” said Cummins. “It isn't like raising a dog.”

Started with $20,000 grant from the Fred Meyer Foundation the urban livestock program will allow 20 city-kids to experience farm life first hand. Rather than making their way to a ranch, the 4-Her's calf will be housed at the Bannock County Fairgrounds. The kids will care for it and eventually show the calf during the county fair.

“A lot of them really don't know what to expect but they're pretty excited,” Cummins said. “4-H is about teaching life skills to kids, it helps them to become better people, it teaches them to be responsible and to learn how to set goals. I'm hoping that's what this program will do for these kids.”

One of those lending a hand Monday afternoon was Sierra Shoemaker. And for her 4-H has been a family tradition

“My mom and grandmother both did 4-H,”said Shoemaker. “I've been doing 4-H for seven years now, since I was about ten and I love it, its real fun and you learn a lot.”

But for others helping out, their reasons for joining 4-H are a little simpler.

“Because we learn a lot and I really like everybody who does it,” said Alex Jensen. “It's just a lot of fun to do.”

The urban livestock program will be getting their calves Tuesday.

MORE PICTURES TO COME

Urban Cowboys

Urban Youth Livestock Program

Getting Started

The calves are here!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Meet our calfs

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Heidi and Taco

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Friday, June 22, 2012

News Story!

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