Hi, my name is Canaan Andrade. I am 14 and I am a member of the Citizen and Leadership 4-H Club. I have been in 4-H for seven years. This year for 4-H I am raising two market swine. I have been raising swine for four years. I also raised market lambs for two years.
In past project years I learned about pig diseases, how to cure them and what I will need to properly care for my animals. As junior teen leader, I now help teach the project and that teaches me leadership skills.
As a member of a 4-H market animal project I learn to be disciplined, organized and accomplish goals because I am required to do the following in order to sell my market animal at fair: I have to attend all my project meetings, at least 80 percent of my club meetings, give a presentation (a talk on a subject pertaining to 4-H in front of my club or county), keep accurate records pertaining to my project and invite buyers to the action.
The need to invite buyers teaches sales and marketing. I share information that helps the buyer understand what they are supporting and what they will receive, such as if you buy a 1,000-pound steer you will receive 440 pounds of meat, if you buy a 250-pound pig you will receive 180 pounds of meat and if you buy a 100-pound lamb you will receive 60 pounds of meat (all nicely packaged for your freezer). And you should know that if your freezer is full you do not have to keep the meat, it can be sold back for the current market value.
The Junior Livestock Auction Committee will also help by appointing a proxy if you are unable to attend the auction on Saturday, Aug. 30 at the Lake County Fair.
4-H is the greatest way to learn because while learning all of this I am with my friends and family having fun.
4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension. For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, telephone 263-6838.
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