New skill-a-thon at 4-H Livestock Day

WEST PEORIA, Ill. — If you ask most working adults about their required annual certification processes, you may get an eye roll with their response.

But if you ask local 4-H youth about their required annual Youth for the Quality Care of Animals certification you will get an earful as they tell you about everything they got to do at 4-H Livestock Day.

Each year, Peoria County 4-H Program Coordinator Kristi Smith takes the YQCA training and “super sizes” it.

“This is one of my favorite programs to plan for our members,” she said. “We have so many local experts who are just as passionate as I am and we all want to help our 4-H members learn more and stay excited for what they can do in the ag industry.”

More than 50 youth from Peoria, Fulton, Mason, Tazewell and Knox counties gathered in February at Raber Packing Co. for the third annual 4-H Livestock Day. This event focuses on livestock management, as well as the YQCA required certification.

“This year, we added a skill-a-thon to the hands-on activities of the day,” Smith said. “It included stations on general livestock facts, equipment recognition, medication labels and livestock breeds that all reinforced important concepts in animal science. The Illinois State 4-H Skill-a-thon Team provided the materials.”

In addition to YQCA, youth heard from industry professionals about best practices for care of their animals and had fun practicing their showmanship skills.

One participant remarked that their favorite part of the day was the skill-a-thon. It challenged them to think critically and test their knowledge in a fun way.

Livestock Day provides participants with the opportunity to develop skills in decision-making, showmanship, biosecurity and practical knowledge that they can take back to their own farms and share with their families.

For many, it serves as preparation for the upcoming show season.

“4-H Livestock Day gives our members the confidence and knowledge to succeed in the show ring and beyond. It’s about building skills that last a lifetime,” Smith said.

“I love seeing the camaraderie among participants. Throughout the day, youth work together, share insights and encourage one another. You can see the positive and supportive 4-H spirit in action.”

Other perks of the day included a delicious lunch by Rabers and a tour. Participants also received a T-shirt from the Peoria County 4-H Auction Committee and meat thermometers from Illinois Pork Producers Association.

As Peoria County 4-H continues to expand opportunities for youth in agriculture and beyond, events like this remain an invaluable part of the program’s mission, Smith said.

Whether a first-time attendee or a seasoned livestock enthusiast, she said, everyone walked away with new knowledge, strengthened skills and a deeper passion for animal science.