4-H to host Livestock Symposium in Antelope Valley Jan. 22

If you’re interested in learning about working dogs or knowing how to select and feed market sheep, swine, beef and goats, the 2011 Livestock Symposium in the Antelope Valley should provide lots of valuable information. The symposium, which will be hosted by the Antelope Valley 4-H Council, will be held at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (located at Avenue H and Highway 14) on Saturday, January 22. The event will start with registration at 8:15 am and conclude at 1:00 pm. Although there will no fees at the registration table, a donation of $1 will be requested.

This year, the symposium will bring together prominent speakers who will discuss how they are dealing with the challenges of the current livestock industry in California. There will be workshops on beef nutrition and selection, feeding and showing of sheep, swine, rabbits, and pygmy goats, to name a few. There will even be a horse showmanship clinic. In addition to the program, the event will include vendors, a food booth and many door prizes.

“This will be quite the livestock event. Due to the many wonderful supporters and participants, we will be able to bring a high-quality program to the Southern California livestock community,” says Charlene Moore, UC Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program coordinator.

As part of the University of California Cooperative Extension, 4-H has been active for more than 100 years. 4-H has a rich history of teaching rural children to raise animals; and in recent years, 4-H has had a more urban twist, offering more than 80 projects that range from marine biology to photography.

For more information on this event, please contact Charlene Moore at (661) 974-8826, moore@ucdavis.edu, and for more information on 4-H activities, please visit http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/4H_Youth_Development_Programs/.