4-H Livestock Show And Sale Starts Friday

The Hawaii County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale this weekend features competition among the Big Island’s best 4-H livestock projects.

The 4-H members’ projects are their farm animals, which the youth have been feeding, caring for and training for months in anticipation of this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, after the judging, the projects will be sold at auction.

The show begins with small animals — poultry and rabbits — 3 p.m. Friday, June 13, at Mealani Research Station, 64-289 Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea.

The large animal show starts 8 a.m. Saturday with the market lamb, hogs, beef market steer and breeding heifer classes.

Buyer’s registration and lunch starts at 12:30 p.m. The auction starts at 2 p.m.

The 4-H youth members’ livestock projects will be judged in the livestock show on both the quality of their animals and on their showmanship, their ability to present their animals effectively, and their specific knowledge of the project.

Grand Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons and trophies are awarded for each species of animal, as well as Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Junior and Senior Showman.

The 4-H livestock program provides youth from five to 18 with opportunities to learn animal husbandry, humane handling skills, record-keeping and financial planning for their projects, along with the rigor of daily responsibility, said a 4-H release. The first livestock club program formed in 1918.

“Supporting young people in agriculture is one of the most effective ways, besides buying local, to contribute towards the sustainability of our island home,” the release said.

For more information about 4-H, contact CTAHR extension agent Becky Settlage at [email protected]; for more on the 2014 4-H Livestock Show and Sale, contact Michelle Galimba at [email protected].