STOUGHTON - The Stoughton 4-H Club was first established in 1933.
In 1950 the Rock Lake 4-H Grain Club came to life and in 1965-66 the Stoughton Crossroads Multiple Club came together. The clubs morphed into one and is the club it is today.
Jeryn Tanner is the general leader of the club and has held this position for seven years. Danielle Gibson is also a leader and Carolyn Chaytors is a volunteer.
They have six kids in the club, one intermediate, three juniors and two cloverbuds. The 4-H motto is “Learn to do by Doing,” and they work hard to keep this motto.
Kids ages six to 21 years may join 4-H and can join as many clubs as they choose.
Meetings are held at the Poplar Tree Inn once a month. Right now, they do not have a set night for meetings.
The focus is on beef calves for this season. Each youth selects a calf they will focus on for the year.
They are taught how to select a top-notch beef calf, one that is healthy to raise, show and eventually be sold.
During the next several months the students will be responsible for the feeding program, which includes amount of feed, which feed and how much the calf grows.
Socializing the calf is extremely important as the judge will walk around the calf closely, and touch the animal to check for body condition. The calf must stand still.
As the animal grows it will be halter broken to lead and enjoy many baths and brushed regularly.
The club will host clinics to help the kids learn all the aspects of grooming and showing.
One such clinic is called fitting cattle. Although the leaders are there for guidance, they let the kids try things on their own and figure out a solution, so they can take this and practise on their own yearling.
Fitting cattle is a term used to prepare cattle for the show ring. This includes bathing the animal several times a week to remove the ground-in dirt.
Once clean they are dried, foam is applied, similar to mousse for hair, and then glue is added. This is compared to hair spray for people which helps the hair to pop out.
Cattle are to look fuller and fluffy, appear filled out and well proportioned. It is much different than showing horses, as their hair is to look sleek. Cattle hair is also groomed against the hair as well, this helps the hair to stand up better.
These calves will be finished in 12-15 months. They will be shown in Estevan in July at the annual regional show.
After this event they are sold. The better the animal looks and grades the higher the price. The kids receive the money and must pay the judge and any other expenses incurred.
Next season they will focus on archery in Heward.
Tanner said they are always looking for more members and she will gladly entertain any questions about the Stoughton Crossroads Multiple 4-H Club.
