Spring AG-ventures:
Livestock Judging Triumphs, Leadership Growth, and Youth Show Highlights
The blur of March as been one for the books from livestock judging success, leadership conferences, to the Suwannee Valley Youth Livestock Show and Sale.
As the Livestock Agent the most rewarding part of my job is by far coaching the Suwannee County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. On my team I have 15 talented youth members that I am able to share my passion for the livestock industry with. The members learn how to judge breeding and market stock of beef cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. While members of the team think they are just judging livestock, they are really growing their skills to be the best versions of themselves, and that is what is rewarding to me. Watching their growth from knowledge gained, confidence built, making strong decisions, and even presenting their placings with confidence when asked to give oral reasons is an awesome feeling. In March members of the livestock judging team attended the judging contest at the Alachua County Fair and the Bradford County Fair. The 4-H teams took home 3rd place team in Alachua County and 1st place junior team at the Bradford County Fair.
This month was also Seminar Three for my Florida Farm Bureau Leadership Team. My team and I traveled to Omaha, NE for the American Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference. We had several excellent break out sessions to help guide our ag interest and farming operations. The most intriguing session I attended was the session of the economic outlook of the ag Industry that gave a detailed description of the upcoming Farm Bill and how funding is broken down. While in Omaha we were able to go out on industry tours, on my tour we got to go to the Claas Combine manufacturer. We were able to see the process from start to finish of the assembly of a combine, the computer trouble shooting center to ensure the computer system in the machine is working correctly before it is distributed, and the academy classroom where educational seminars are held to train folks that work on the machinery.
I also had the opportunity to share my cattle knowledge with an excellent set of ladies at the Florida Cattlewomen Quarterly held in Gainesville, Fl. at the UF Beef Teaching Units. Ladies in attendance learned from multiple extension professionals about cattle selection, cattle nutrition, and calving difficulties.
March also has my absolute favorite week of the year, FAIR WEEK for the Suwannee Valley Youth Livestock Show and Sale. Growing up as a livestock exhibitor I always looked forward to the fair and exhibiting my animals along with spending time with friends and family. As life as changed and I am now leading a 4-H club it is exciting to watch the children I have been able to work with show their skills off that they have learned throughout the year. Children from my 4-H club exhibited heifers, steers, pigs, and sheep this year. My 4-H Club Small Town Clovers also had a club pig, a black Hampshire cross pig named Darla. Darla was exhibited by a young lady in our club who had never shown before. This young lady had the opportunity to learn how to exhibit a pig, how to properly care for a pig, and how to prepare them for their show. Many of the members whom attend the showmanship clinic hosted in early February received call backs in showmanship or placed in their age division.
A very exciting month to learn, educate, and advocate for the industry that I love.
Erin Jones serves as a 4-H leader for the Small Town Clovers 4-H Club and works to coach the Suwannee County 4-H Livestock Judging Team. Erin says working with the youth and building the next generation of agriculturalists is truly one of the most rewarding parts of her job. She also serve as a member of Class Ten for the Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Team.