CASSOPOLIS — Eighteen youth ages from 9 to 15 helped to kick off the “Paint Cass County Green” campaign by experiencing the first ever “Showing Livestock … Fun, Fair and in My Future!” program Monday and Tuesday at the Cass County Fairgrounds.  The program, introduced by Hailey Harman, Cass County 4-H program coordinator, was intended to introduce children with limited knowledge of livestock to several species and what it takes to raise and show them.

Tapping in to several local specialists in their area of expertise, Harman invited speakers to interact with the youth in the individual topics of swine, sheep, goats, horse, poultry and rabbits.  As it turned out, all speakers themselves had been in the 4-H program — all but one in Cass County — and enjoy giving back to 4-H by sharing their experience and knowledge with others, according to Harman.

“That’s what this program is all about,” she said. “An important part of the life skills we learn in 4-H is about giving back and sharing what we know to others. It’s how we continue to grow as human beings.”

The group learned about taking care of their animals, which included proper ways to administer shots, in what circumstances they would need to give a shot to an animal, and the proper place to give one. The hands-on activity included trying their hand with an intramuscular injection on an orange and subcutaneous injections on a chicken breast.  Janice Zerbe, extension educator from Van Buren County, conducted this session, along with an exercise in figuring profitability raising show livestock.

The hands-on sessions did not stop there, as speakers brought sheep, pigs, a chicken and a rabbit to show the future exhibitors how to properly groom and show these species. Extension Swine Specialist Beth Ferry conducted the session on swine, which included a proper cooling of the pigs (and kids) with a garden hose after their short mock show.

Interspersed with the educational sessions were several activities designed to encourage teamwork and sportsmanship. 

Along with Cass County 4-H, also sponsoring the event was the Cass County Fair Board and the Cass County 4-H Leaders’ Association.

The next activity in the “Paint Cass County Green” campaign will be “Kick Off to the 2019 Cass County Fair.” Normally, a few 4-H youth, parents and leaders are counted upon to help clean the Darlene B. Lowe Exhibit Complex prior to the fair, getting it ready for the display of youth still exhibit projects for the fair. 

“This year, we are going to make it an event,” Harman said. “Yes, we will still be preparing the building for the fair but we are going to be having a party to celebrate with food and special activities. Everyone that helps with the building will be invited to stay for the festivities and help us say, ‘let the fair begin.’”

Kick off to fair will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 25. 

“I know many parents will just be getting off from work at 5,” Harman said, “but we’re hoping they will swing by home, pick up the kids and come join us. That old saying ‘many hands make light work’ really rings true with 4-H.”

Cass County 4-H will also be selling “Paint Cass County Green” T-shirts throughout the campaign.

“We literally would like to paint the county green with a sea of these shirts in support of our amazing 4-H youth,” Harman said.

For more information on the 4-H program, contact the Michigan State University Extension office in Cassopolis at (269) 445-4438.