Hands-On Learning at Our First Beef Clinic of the Year

In January, our members kicked off the beef clinic season with our first hands-on Beef Clinic of the year, joined by friends from the Foothills Sheep & Multi 4-H Club. It was a great day of learning, mentorship and confidence-building for members at all stages of their beef projects.

Maddie doing a demonstration with her heifer project

The focus of the clinic was showmanship, with members practicing proper handling, positioning and presentation of their animals. We were grateful to have Alumni Member, Jaimie Chouhan share her knowledge and experience, along with strong mentorship from our Senior members, who helped guide younger members through the skills and terminology involved in the show ring.

Peyton helping one of our first year Beef Members

For many of the projects, this clinic marked their first trip off the farm, making it an especially valuable experience. Being exposed to new sights, sounds and smells helps both animals and members gain confidence, and this early exposure will pay off as we head into future clinics and show days later in the season.

We also loved seeing members step outside their comfort zones - including a brand-new member who is showing sheep this year and came out to experience what a beef project is all about. Opportunities like this are a perfect example of how 4-H encourages learning, exploration and trying new things in a supportive environment.

First time leading a Beef Project!

Overall, it was an excellent start to our beef clinic season. With more clinics planned in the coming months, our members and their projects are off to a strong start, and we’re excited to watch their skills and confidence continue to grow.

As we move further into the year, clinics like this play a key role in helping our members grow - not just as beef project members, but as confident, capable young leaders. With more hands-on clinics planned in the months ahead, we’re excited to see both members and their projects continue to develop through learning, teamwork and mentorship.

Follow along as our 4-H beef members build skills, confidence and memories that will carry them all the way to Achievement Day and beyond. 💚