Red Deer West 4-H Beef Club reunites for another season – Sylvan Lake News

The Red Deer West 4-H Beef Club is back for another season of exciting events and activities. The typical club season runs from October to June.

“The year of our club is going well, so far everything is going well! We’re happy to be able to host face-to-face reunions this year as it really helps kids feel like a club and bond. We have a good sized club this year with three Cleaver kids and 18 4-H members, and lots of parent facilitators and volunteers, ”said Jennifer Ramsay, assistant host and club administrator.

Even though the club is based in Red Deer, half of its participants are Lakers. The club caters to people aged nine to 20 and has met twice this season where they voted for leadership positions, followed by a regular reunion.

“The aim of 4-H is to develop citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills of young people through experiential learning programs and a positive approach to youth development. Everything revolves around children! Ramsay said.

Club registrations take place before the season starting in October and the weigh-in takes place in November. Those wishing to join can contact 4-H Alberta at 780-682-2153 and find out which club they can join. Information about the program is available on their website at www.4hab.com.

“Our club has a meeting once a month from October to June, we also meet for other activities. Our club is a beef club so our members do steer, carcass and female projects. They feed and work with the projects in order to participate in the Show & Sale in June.

“All the while, they keep a monthly ledger in which they record feed, growth and progress charts. In June our clubs have a Show & Sale at the Westerner where two more 4-H clubs join us and we show their latest steers and girl project and kids can show up for prizes like Grand Championship and Showmanship etc. On the last day of the show, each member sells their steer to the public. The last two years have been changed due to COVID-19, but the kids were able to do an online auction last year, ”Ramsay said.

Being a volunteer club, it relies on fundraising to stay afloat. The battery and tire recycling campaign and the annual highway cleaning for the highway. 11 from Sylvan Lake to Red Deer each May are two popular fundraisers. Anyone wishing to donate to the club can email them at reddeerw@gmail.com. Visit the Red Deer West 4H Beef Club Facebook page for club updates.

The club is looking forward to the Christmas party scheduled for December 13. The club’s 4-H public speaking event will be the next event scheduled for January 30 at 10 a.m. at Ridgewood Hall.

The District Public Talks, Judging Clinic, Mock Show, and Awards Banquet are some of the other events scheduled for this season.

“Without the involvement of parents, this club would not be possible! The kids are really excited about a “more normal end-of-the-year show and sale” and we’ll do our best to help them prepare for it! Ramsay concluded.