Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Maine also has a big oxen following.
Lucky_P said:Most of the oxen activity I see online is in the Northeast...particularly VT, NH, ME.
I'd not realized that there was a 4-H Oxen program until I ran across the NH 4-H Oxen handbook while doing some searching recently.
Midwest Ox Drovers Assn./Tillers International are headquartered in MI, IIRC.
ValleyView said:My wife and I recently enrolled our kids (1st grade and Kindergarten), almost Irish twins in 4H. We have a small cow calf operation, but don't own any other animals currently. My goal is to eventually raise a calf or two of high enough quality to show and we'll get there eventually.
In your experience(s), what is a good animal to show at those ages? Neither my wife nor I showed growing up. I'm sure we'll learn at the first meeting, but thought you all my have some advice on what to do or what not to do!
Thanks!
Youth shows should all be showmanship classes. My best friend and I have had this conversation several times; Do we pull the best calf out of the feedlot and teach the kids that you "shouldn't buy a win" or do we take his donor cow breed her cluby, and get some ET club calves and teach the kids that " that ribbon or county fair trophy is all that counts" ?
My kids may never win a steer show, but they are going to learn that hard work pays off. And in a showmanship class they will be a force to contend with.
A lot of 4H kids with a cattle background start by showing bottle calves. That's what we did. It's broken up by age groups so all the younger kids just starting out show together.
Good Luck.