Letter from the President

On behalf of the Ponoka District 4-H Beef Committee, I would like to welcome you all to our show and sale. We are extremely thankful to gather again in the spirit of supporting our young members. Our district clubs are growing and for many of our members, this will be their first show and sale. 4-H is modeled around the concept of "learn to do by doing". Whether you have supported 4-H for years, or this is your first opportunity, you will once again see a tremendous group of young boys and girls that have worked very hard to prepare for this event. The Show and Sale has been going on for a very long time, and continues to be a signature event for Ponoka and surrounding area. Many hours of planning and preparing have gone into this event from our boards, parents, volunteers and sponsors, which all our members are extremely thankful for.

At the Show & Sale, you are certain to see some great looking animals, but what you may not see are the hours of dedication put in to get here. Partnerships have been developing between these animals and members of our local youth for the past 211 days. The members walk their animals, wash and brush them, talk to them and give them the best life they can. Our young members learn in many ways throughout all phases of their beef projects, learning the fundamentals about raising beef cattle. Steers are chosen shortly after weaning and official weights are taken in early October to start off their 4-H project. Each member is responsible to capture and retain animal history, feed records, vaccinations, and all costs and activities as a minimum. They are careful with measuring different types of feed to ensure proper growth and health of each animal. We are very excited to welcome back female projects to the show and sale. This year, we will be hosting our female classes May 8th at 7pm. We have seen some great participation and momentum to grow the female portion of our show and encourage your attendance.

What does it mean to be a 4-H member you might ask? Every member may have a bit of a different answer but it is certain to include them using the 4-H’s: Head, Hands, Heart and Health. 4-H is about engaging youth to reach their fullest potential, while developing citizenship, leadership, responsibility and life skills. It is about building relationships with friends, animals and our community. Our world is always changing and kids are adapting and gaining the skills they will need to overcome challenges they may face. We see many past and present 4-H members often referred to as “one of the good ones”. I challenge you to spend any time that you have, visiting with the members, they are really looking forward to it. These kids are making positive impacts to peers, parents, community and our world, with confidence gained on days like today. You will see them again, remember them. They will be there someday as leaders in our workforce, our community or when someone needs help, with the same values.

Thank you again for supporting in any way possible,

Patrick Lentz President, Ponoka District 4-H Beef Committee