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Minnesota Operation: Military KidsAnimal Science projects
If you love animals, these are the projects for you! Animal Science projects guide youth in learning about raising, feeding, caring for, judging, training and showing animals. You can also explore careers working with animals. Don't have your own animal? You can still do several animal projects or even lease an animal for some projects.
Projects
Exploring Animals
Youth in grades K-3 are guided by helpful adults as they learn the basics in any of the animal science project areas. No animal ownership required.
Pets
Explore small pets such as guinea pigs, iguanas, snakes or frogs. Learn what they eat, how they play and how they stay healthy.
Dog
Learn how to train and show your own dog, discover the world of service dogs and therapy dogs, or explore canine behavior.
Cat
Learn how to keep your cat safe, healthy, and active.
Horse
Learn about show, trail or endurance riding. Test your horse sense at quiz bowls or judging teams, or learn about horse science.
Dairy
Explore the dairy industry, from raising a cow to dairy science and ethics to manufacturing and marketing dairy products.
Beef
Explore the beef industry. Learn about breeds, health, feed, behavior, judging and showing a calf, ethical issues, and more.
Poultry
Explore the poultry industry. Learn about species and breeds, eggs, feather features, health, feeding and more.
Rabbit
Learn about rabbit breeds, health, handling, showing, marketing and careers.
Goat
Learn about goat health, feeding, breeding, management, genetics, industry issues and showing.
Lama
Learn about llama and alpaca care, grooming, feeding, training, showing, judging and careers.
Sheep
Learn about the sheep industry, including sheep care, health, feeding, raising, showing, marketing and careers.
Swine
Explore the swine industry, including breeding, health, feeding, showing, marketing and careers.
Veterinary Science
Learn about preventing disease and improving the health of animals. This could be the start of a career as a vet!
Cloverbuds
4-H Cloverbuds explore and learn about the world in a non-competitive environment by doing fun activities with the guidance of parents or other adult helpers.
Self-Determined
If you find that no single project is quite right for you, you can develop your own project. Be your own researcher, scientist, artist, communicator, and evaluator. Ask your local 4-H leader or Extension staff for resources to help create your own project area.
State & regional events
To view county or local club events, visit the county website.
Livestock Judging Camp
At this camp, you will learn the basic fundamentals of livestock judging and evaluation, receive instruction with oral reasons, and become more confident with livestock judging! All Livestock Judging Enthusiasts 6th - 12th Grade are encouraged to attend! More info
- June 13-15, 2012 University of Minnesota, St Paul Campus
Livestock Quality Assurance & Ethics Training
All youth participating as a State Fair 4-H livestock exhibitor in beef, dairy, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbit, meat and dairy goat, and lama must have completed the Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics workshop. Certification is good for three fair seasons. The level of training required is determined by the grade of the youth at the time the training takes place.
Dates and locations vary by county. Check this list for more information.
4-H Regional & State Project Bowls
Project Bowls are an exciting way for youth to explore a project area. Teams compete in quiz competitions with questions about specific project areas. Project Bowls are available for Dairy, Dog, General Livestock (Beef, Sheep & Swine), Horse, Poultry, Rabbit and Wildlife projects. Winners of the Regional Bowls advance to the State Bowl. More info
4-H Animal judging ontests
Effectively evaluating breeding and market animals is highly important in the animal industry. Judging is an art developed through patient study and long practice. 4-Hers interested in Dairy, General Livestock (Beef, Sheep & Swine), Horses, Poultry, and Rabbits can learn to be a good judge by knowing the parts of the animal and their location, which parts are most important for meat and breeding stock production, making keen observations and comparing to the ideal, weighing the good and bad points of each animal, and much more. More info
- Check with your county for local county judging contests.
- State Fair contest details in the State Fair Premium Book - Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul
Minnesota State Fair
4-H plays a pivotal role in youth development and public education at the Minnesota State Fair. Over 7,000 4-H youth have the opportunity to interact with the public and educate fairgoers through 4-H exhibits, demonstrations, performances, and 4-H promotion. More info
- August 23 to September 3, 2012 - 4-H Building, Minnesota State Fairgrounds
