Dairy Senior Project Guide

Download PDF for Print

Overview

Georgia 4-H Project Achievement empowers young people with skills for a lifetime. Through a competitive process, students explore their interests, unleash their creativity, share their work, and celebrate their achievements! This guide provides 9th—12th graders with examples for getting started with their project exploration

Overview of Project Achievement Process

4-H’ers may explore the dairy industry including establishing and managing
dairy cattle and milk goat enterprises, by-products, and end-products.
Through this project 4-H’ers may:
• Learn about and acquire skills for animal selection, breeding, feeding, care, production, management, ownership, exhibition, marketing, by products, and end-products of dairy cattle and milk goats
• Discover the industry’s current and historic roles, scope, contributions of science, environmental and societal impacts, and economic significance
• Explore equipment and safety protocols of animal care and production
•Understand cleanliness and sanitation as applied to the production and care of milk and dairy products
• Demonstrate sound breeding, feeding, and management practices
• Develop an appreciation for the production of milk and dairy products and understand their importance in human nutrition
• Study bio-security of the dairy and milk animal industries and food supply
• Understand the role of veterinary care of dairy and milk animals
• explore career opportunities related to dairy and milk industries

Examples of Project Development Experiences

• Attend dairy camps, vet classes, livestock auctions, field days, livestock shows, etc.
• Tour milk processing plant, dairy farms, veterinary clinics, feed stores, and/or animal barns
• Acquire and read books, trade magazines, pamphlets, and online media about the industry
• Raise and show a Commercial Dairy Heifer
•Participate in 4-H Dairy Judging, fitting contest team, and/or Dairy Heifer Record Books
• Interview an animal and dairy scientist, producer, or local dairy farmer and discuss the industry
• Shadow a veterinarian, dairy farmer, and/or animal scientist and learn of job responsibilities
• Join a 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl team

Project Sharing and Helping Examples

•Volunteer as a teen leader and assist with coaching a dairy judging team
•Hold a fitting demonstration for community members, schools, civic groups, etc.
• Host a show preparation seminar for interested youth
• Mentor a younger 4-H’er in showing an animal
• Hold a feeding and management demonstration for dairy heifers
• Start a dairy and milk science project club and lead meetings to share your knowledge with others
• Arrange for industry speakers to discuss agricultural issues for community members
•Demonstrate your work through presentations and exhibits at schools, civic clubs, senior homes, chambers of commerce, etc.
•Write news articles, blogs, or social media posts about your project and your accomplishments
• Set up dairy and milk product exhibits at fairs, libraries, etc.
• Organize a dairy farm or milk processing plant tour or farm day
• Mentor a younger 4-H’er in the Dairy and Milk Science project
• Promote Dairy Month in your community and display posters

Special Consideration

• Actual animal exhibiting is not a requirement of this project.
•This project can address any issue related to the production of milk.
• Members may gain experience in a number of ways, such as assisting with the management of a dairy herd, raising animals, or studying processing and marketing.
• Youth should practice internet safety. A best practice is to include a friend or parent in all communications and interactions.
• Be sure to gain land owner permission prior to entering someone else’s property.
• Exercise safety when handling tools, animals, and equipment.
• Live animals and weapons are not permitted in the presentation.

Recommended Resources

Project Achievement – Georgia 4-H 
Animal Science Programs – Georgia 4-H
Topic Areas | UGA Cooperative Extension
Georgia Department of Agriculture | Farmers, Food Safety & Licensing
Animal Reports and Data | USDA

At Competition

Dairy 4-H projects may use posters, artifacts, biofacts, and/or technology to support their presentation. The time limit for presentations is 12 minutes. Computers, projectors, screens, and other technological devices may be used.

Prepared by: Jason Estep, Keri Hobbs, and Gabrielle Buono
Reviewed by: Heather Shultz and Claire Woodard