Small Animal Association Master Stockman program seeks funds, youth participants
MONROE — The Monroe County Small Animal Association Master Stockman program is short on funds this year.
“This program operates on $550 per year. Our goal is to raise $600. We are looking for some help from our clubs (and others) this year to continue with this program," said Julie Linn of Carleton, Small Animal Master Stockman superintendent since 2018.
In the past, donations for the program have come from 4-H clubs, 4-H alumni and area businesses.
"I reached out to a couple clubs, and they said they were hoping to get me a check in the next month. I am assuming that with the rising cost of everything, everyone is a little tighter with their funds," Linn said.
The donated money in given as awards to 4-H youth who compete in the program. In addition to showing their animals at the fair in the traditional 4-H animal categories, Master Stockman participants also complete an additional project to learn even more about the animals they show at the fair.
“The most exciting part of the program is members are awarded with a monetary gift in each small animal category. Last year we had 20 youth participants, and 11 youth received a monetary award,” Linn said. "The (number of awards given) depends on how many different species are represented."
Linn also encourages more 4-H youth to compete in the Master Stockman program. Monroe County has a Large Animal Master Stockman program and the Small Animal Association Master Stockman.
Small animals include dogs, cats, rabbits, poultry, guinea pigs and pocket pets, such as hamsters, gerbils, mice and ferrets. All youth competing in the Small Animal Master Stockman program must take a written test and then complete a project, such as showmanship, public speaking, record keeping, animal science exhibit, essay writing, promotional poster, graphic design, poultry judging contest or presentation.
"If youths were showing rabbits, for example, they could do a demonstration with their rabbit, make a promotional poster advertising rabbit breed identification, enter pictures of their rabbit, record keeping (record amount of feed and weight gain) and rabbit showmanship," Linn said. "Each division awards a separate score. Then on Wednesday of fair week, the youth participating take the written test for their species. Youth receive a score on the test based on the number of questions they get correct. The scores are tabulated and the youth compete against other youth showing rabbits. If their score was the highest for rabbits, they would win $50. If they had the highest score out of all the small animal species youth, they would win $100."
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The winners are announced at the Small Animal Banquet in the fall, Linn said.
To learn more about Monroe County Small Animal Association Master Stockman program, email Linn at jjlinn96@gmail.com.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Small Animal Association Master Stockman program seeks funds, youth participants
