4-H Alberta projects – 2023 highlights

4-H members around the province have many opportunities to participate in 4-H Alberta events.

The 4-H Alberta Provincial Carcass Competition is a relatively new competition moving into its fifth year of completion. The program has grown from approximately 40 members to more than 120 members competing in this great initiative that focuses on the carcass animal. Carcass project calves are weighed in the fall at a club’s weigh-in, fed, and then slaughtered within a four to six-week period in May and June.

Carcass project calves meet criteria that lead to the final score for the competition. Projects are judged on their marbling, cut yield, ribeye area, carcass weight, fat thickness, muscling, fat colour, and ribeye colour. The unique part of the competition is that the carcass project still needs to be quiet, halter broke, and clean. The 4-H member can also add points to their final score by completing a presentation. Each carcass project requires a completed 4-H record book.

Added to the Carcass Competition this year are three bursaries for senior members from the Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA).

Another event held each July is the 4-H Alberta Beef Heifer Show. We are going into our 47th annual show. When the show started it was held in Bashaw, AB. It has since moved to the Olds Regional Exhibition and is held in conjunction with Summer Synergy.

The 4-H Alberta Beef Heifer Show allows members an additional opportunity to showcase their beef female project, hone their skills, and gain further knowledge of trends in the industry—all within an experiential environment designed for their learning and development.

4-H members are provided with an educational opportunity at the provincial level to broaden their knowledge of showing, fitting, and judging beef cattle, as well as the general beef industry.

While we move into June there are many club beef achievement days where 4-H members proudly showcase their projects. Many 4-H clubs have charity calves and raise thousands of dollars to go towards very worthy causes. 4-H members are taught that giving back to the community is rewarding and satisfying. Watch for these calves being sold across the province!

For more information go to www.4hab.com.

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This article was first published in Volume 3 Issue 2 of ABP Magazine (June 2023). Watch for more digital content from the magazine on ABP Daily.