4-H'ers qualify in livestock show

by Caitlyn Bidart, fourth year 4-H member Divine Swine

Douglas County 4-H Livestock members from the Carson Valley Shepherds, led by Nita Vick; Divine Swine, led by Skyler Zulian; and Carson Valley Beef, led by Todd Gansberg, began the 2009-10 4-H year in full throttle.

Our 4-H year begins in October and we kicked it off once again with the Fall Family Festival and Pumpkin Patch in October, having fun painting faces, spraying hair, and shooting hoops and selling pumpkins.

At our first livestock meeting in November we voted in this year's officers: Cheyenne Bidart - third term president, Griffin Frensdorff - vice president, Emily Hone - secretary, Leah McKinney - treasurer, Caitlyn Bidart - reporter, and Grace Bonafede - sergeant-at-arms. Congratulations to you all.

December brought around the excitement of helping others through Project Santa Claus and the process of selecting our first project animals.

January rolled in and the work begins. Each member has searched, found and purchased their animals. The CV Shepherds are steady with 12 lambs, Divine Swine have increased to six swine, and CV Beef has one steer and one heifer.

February and March was full of workouts for the members and their animals so that the animals learn what is expected of them in the showing and the kids learn how to teach them the proper way. They also learn how to feed properly, house their animals, wash and clip their animal, and raise them to their full market potential.

April 17 has brought us to the Nevada Junior Livestock Show qualifier, where each of our members did an excellent job in presenting their animals. Every one of our Livestock Club members was awarded a blue ribbon for their animal and for their ability to show their animals. Way to go.

We would like to thank Judge Vance Vesco for taking the time to come out and qualify each of us for the show on April 29. Thank you to Carson City 4-H for hosting us and to the Douglas County Farm Bureau for donating prizes for the winners.

If anyone is interested in viewing the show, please come to the Reno Livestock Event Center April 29-May 2. The sheep and pig shows start at 8 a.m. April 30 and 31, followed by beef, goats, and dairy. The sale starts 9 a.m. Sunday, May 2, if anyone is hoping to purchase delicious, naturally grown market animals or if you have any questions you can call (775) 782-9960.

Douglas County 4-H is a youth development program of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

Douglas County 4-H members exhibiting at the Carson Livestock Show on April 17 at Fuji Park were:

Cheyenne Bidart-sheep

Caitlyn Bidart-swine

Connor Billman-swine

Grace Bonafede-sheep

Josh Brown-sheep

Sarah Cook (independent)-sheep

Levi Costa-sheep

Griffin Frensdorff-sheep

Bailey Gansberg-swine

Jessa Gansberg-sheep

Dominique Groffman-sheep

Emily Hone-sheep

Anna Lekumberry-Beef

Etienne Lekumberry-swine

Ethan McKinney-sheep

Leah McKinney-sheep

Marshall McKown-sheep

Kelsey Nalder-sheep

Lane Smith-Beef (heifer)

Ethan Usher-swine

Alex Westre-sheep

Amy Westre-sheep