The 2015 State 4-H/FFA Livestock Roundup will take place Sept. 16-20 at West Virginia University Jackson’s Mill. Heading into its 85th year, the annual West Virginia 4-H/FFA Youth Development event is the longest running feeder calf show and sale in the nation.
The event allows youth to exhibit cattle while offering the general public and producers throughout the state to come together, share knowledge through demonstrations and support the industry by participating in the auction.
“As with each of our 4-H exhibitions, youths put a huge amount of time and effort into this,” said Kevin Shaffer, WVU Extension livestock specialist. “The Livestock Roundup teaches not only work ethic, but also how to properly care for animals.”
According to Shaffer, the Livestock Roundup is an event that 4-H and FFA communities look forward to each year.
“The event allows us to not only let 4-H and FFA youth showcase the work they’ve put into the cattle but also allows us to connect and cultivate relationships with producers around the state,” said Shaffer.
The event is free and open to the public and offers a fitting and showing clinic demonstration in which more experienced farmers will host education programs to illustrate the proper ways to fit and groom an animal.
The public is invited to attend a number of shows held during the multiday roundup. Farmer steer, market heifer, junior steer and breeding heifer shows will be held throughout Friday and Saturday. The weekend closes with a livestock auction on Sunday. In addition to those opportunities, the evenings will be both fun and educational, with a fitting demonstration on Friday and a “beef bowl” and cornhole tournament on Saturday.
For more information on show times, contact Kevin Shaffer at 304-293-2669 or Kevin.Shaffer@mail.wvu.edu.
To learn more about how West Virginia 4-H positively impacts the lives of West Virginia’s youth, and how it continues to be a leader in areas like camping, agriculture, robotics, technology and more, visit ext.wvu.edu, or contact your local WVU Extension Service office.
-WVU-
bd/08/26/15
CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu
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