4-H, FFA getting ready for ‘07 shows

BRIGHT TAGS mark all the new 4-H and FFA animals registered for showing in 2007.The cold weather had kids and critters all bundled up at the Junior Livestock arena last weekend.

Jasper County extension agent Ricky Thompson said about 70 hogs, 45 goats and 25 lambs were tagged for 4- H and FFA students at the Junior Livestock arena last Saturday morning, Dec. 9.

4-H volunteer sadviser Dru Miller said most students register two animals, if they can, in case something happens to one.

Students invest a great deal of time and money in raising animals to show at the rodeo and livestock shows. A prize-winning animal can go a long ways towards financing a college education, according to Miller.

Current 4-H president Nicole Hamilton took advantage of the crowd to schedule a goat clinic, taught by Jasper High School agriculture teacher Ed Meyers.

Meyers covered tips on how to keep goats healthy and at their best during the stress of shows.

“If you have a goat raised on well water,” Meyers said, “they’re going to turn up their nose at city water with chlorine.” He advised adding cider vinegar to the bucket of water to flavor it.