Final report from Bluffton Cattle 4-H Club

By Hudson Phillips,
Bluffton Cattle Club Reporter

For my final report of the year I would like to share with you some of the events that our club members participated in at the Allen County Fair, some member awards, and what we did for our club's final meeting.

Some fun things that some of us did at fair were dodge ball, a 4H dance, barn games, Bovine Dress-Up, Livestock Scramble, and Livestock Judging Contest.

Many of us show livestock, and we have to care for our animals all year to get ready for the fair.  During the fair we keep busy caring for our animals, cleaning barn, and doing shows and contests.

Also, many do special interest projects like woodworking, gun safety, fishing, beekeeping, sewing, etc. Those can take months to complete and those projects get judged before fair starts. Although livestock projects can take more time, special interest projects are still hard work, but both are fun.

For awards our club did very well this year. We had members twho were able to judge at state fair with special Interest projects. Many members placed with their animals in their livestock shows. Rate of gain was awarded to many members various animals.

Also, we had two members who made it in the carcass show. (If you have never seen the carcass show at Keystone Meats after fair, it is fun.

You get to see the top animal's meat hanging, and hear how it gets judged by Ohio State agriculture students. Plus you get yummy hot dogs and pop.

At our final meeting we played games, talked about the fair, watched a picture slideshow of our club, and had food. We were all sad about the 4H year ending, but Jason Althaus got us pizza and that helped cheer us up. This is Jason's last year in 4H and we will miss him. He is really nice and helped me out a lot in the barn.

We would like to thank Bluffton, Beaverdam & Pandora Buyers Group, Tommy Dotson, and all the people who supported the Allen County Junior Fair 4H program.

Thanks to all those moms, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles who help and support 4H'ers. Finally a big thank you to Alan Begg, Ashley Zeller (Bluffton Cattle Club advisors), and all the 4H advisors who help plan and run meetings and help 4H'ers.

In the group pic from left to right:
Riley Herrimann
Brittany Goodman
Claire Armetrout
Seth Gladwell
Jason Althaus
Courtney Goodman
Branson Hilty
Hudson Phillips
Xavier Navarro
*Not all members present for photo