The Ardmore 4-H Beef Club held its annual show at Cold Lake Ag Society Exhibition Grounds on Sunday.
Club members exhibited their project animals—steers, heifers, and one cow/calf pair—for judging. The participants’ animals were assessed for conformation, showmanship and grooming, and rate of gain.
The weekend’s Ardmore club show is a preparatory event for the Bonnyville District show and sale which will also be held at Cold Lake Exhibition Grounds May 26.
The beef program involves the 4-H member raising a yearling calf for a year. The member’s responsibilities include keeping the animal fed and watered, monitoring and looking after its overall health, and bringing it to market weight.
The cattle are auctioned off at the show and sale, and the member gets to keep the sale proceeds to offset costs and to use as they see fit. Many save their earnings for their education.
The 4-H (“Head, Heart, Hands, Health”) movement has its roots in agriculture. Alberta’s 4-H clubs provide young people with practical training in animal husbandry, gardening, and farm management. The emphasis is on learning by doing.
But the program has evolved to include a wide range of projects including robotics, photography, small engines, cooking, and leadership development. Youth ages 9 to 20 participate in local clubs that emphasize mentorship, goal setting, record keeping, and public speaking.
The 4-H movement has been active in Alberta since 1917.
Winners from Sunday’s Ardmore 4-H Beef Club show were Autumn Cory, Grand Champion (market steer), and Adley McMann, Reserve Champion (market steer).
