4-H Livestock
Arkansas is proud to have an active, successful, and nationally-recognized youth development and educational 4-H livestock program. The Arkansas 4-H livestock program teaches skills to youth who carry them throughout their adult lives. 4-H'ers learn to make decisions, keep records, manage money, take responsibility, manage time, communication skills and many other important life skills through participation in livestock judging programs, livestock skillathon events, quiz bowls, camps, public speaking events, and livestock projects.
State 4-H Livestock Contests
2024 State Contest Date: Friday August 9th
Resources:
Livestock Skillathon Activity Information
Quizlet Study Resource
Retail ID Intro & Beef Cuts - Dr. Janeal Yancey
Retail ID Lamb & Pork - Dr. Janeal Yancey
Junior All Multiple Choice Quiz - Includes Breed ID, Equipment ID, Retail Meat Cut
ID, Feed ID, Quality Assurance, and Quiz
Junior Quiz - Includes Breed ID, Equipment ID, Retail Meat Cut ID, Feed ID, and Quiz
Senior All Multiple Choice Quiz - Includes Breed ID, Equipment ID, Retail Meat Cut
ID, Feed ID, Quality Assurance, and Quiz
Senior Quiz - Include Breed ID, Equipment ID, Retail Meat Cut ID, Feed ID, and Quiz
Box Folder Resource Link
2024 Contest Date: Thursday August 8th
2024 Contest Date: Wednesday, May 1st
Resources:
Grassland Evaluation Activity Information
Livestock at O-Rama
Animal Science Talks and Veterinary Science Talks give 4-H’ers an opportunity to Junior and Senior 4-H’ers to give a presentation on the topic of their choosing. Lists of approved topics are included in the rule books below. For seniors, these are district qualifying contests for the State O’Rama.
Livestock ID is an identification contest for all things livestock with some similarities to Livestock Skill-a-thon. Students will identify breeds, feeds, equipment, meats and plants related to livestock production. For seniors, Livestock ID will be a district qualifying contest for the State O’Rama Livestock ID contest.
New in 2024, we are adding a State Only Sales Talk contest. This is modeled after Cattle Sales Talk like seen at Junior Nationals. Our version of Sales Talk will require youth to pitch their own livestock project animal (cattle, swine, sheep, goats) to judges. Youth will use a photo or video of their animal to accompany their pitch.
Mr. Bill Outstanding Animal Science 4-H'er Award and Scholarship Application
The Mr. Bill Outstanding Animal Science 4-H'er Award and Scholarship was created to continue the legacy of Mr. William "Bill" Dorough. Mr. Bill was a pillar of the Arkansas State Fair having worked there for over 40 years and exhibiting dairy cattle as a young 4-H'er. He was a graduate and friend of the UA Animal Science Department receiving the 2009 Graduate of Distinction Award. Mr. Bill was a 2008 Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame Inductee. It's no secret he was an avid supporter of 4-H livestock projects and programs as well as the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Mr. Bill loved working with youth and this memorial scholarship is awarded to an Arkansas 4-H'er who has exhibited at the Arkansas State Fair, exemplifies excellence in leadership, and has demonstrated a commitment to pursuing a career in animal science or a closely related industry.
Past Recipients:
2023 - Samual Shipley, Clay County
2021 - Eva Berryhill, Hot Spring County
2020 - Victoria Lehmann, Conway County
2019 - Julie Griffin, Benton County
2018 - Katie Head, Greene County
2017 - Laykyn Rainbolt, Searcy County
Livestock Events
The Careers for Arkansas Livestock Leaders (CALL) Tour will provide 20 high school
students with the opportunity to tour industry leading business outside of Arkansas,
explore career opportunities in the field of animal science, cultivate professional
networks, and develop career-readiness skills. This 4-day experience will leave youth
with a skillset that will make them more competitive in college and job applications
in the future. Applications include a resume, cover letter, short essays, and interview. Those
selected will be expected attend the CALL tour, attend a Zoom training, and work with
fellow 4-Hers to lead educational workshops and 4-H promotion efforts.
2024 Contest Date: Friday February 23rd
Resource:
Beef Quiz Bowl Activity Information
UADA and U of A Rich Mountain are partnering to offer our Livestock Judging Camp this summer. This will be held at the UARM campus in Mena, AR on June 11-13. Youth must be 14 to attend. Registration for this event is due May 31st. See the attached flyer for more information.
Additional Livestock Resources
Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) is a national multi-species quality assurance program for youth. YQCA is designed as an annual education and certification program focused on food safety, animal well-being and character awareness for youth producing and/or showing pigs, beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, market rabbits, and poultry. The program has been designed by extension specialists and national livestock program managers to ensure it is accurate, current and relevant to the needs of the animal industry and shows and is appropriate for youth.
All Arkansas youth participating in YQCA must use the FFA & Independent Login.
There are 3 ways Arkansas youth can become YQCA certified: through an in-person instructor led training, online training, or through the test-out option.
