FAQs about Michigan 4-H

December 8, 2015

What are the four H's?

Head, Heart, Hands and Health

• Head – 4-H lets kids take the lead—with the help of adult partners—in thinking, learning and problem-solving.
• Heart – 4-H helps kids build strong relationships with peers and adults based on caring and respect.
• Hands – 4-H lets kids learn by doing and then use their talents and skills to make their communities better places in which to live and grow.
• Health – 4-H helps kids make healthy choices to keep them physically and mentally able to do what they need to at school, at home and in their communities.

What is the 4-H pledge?

I pledge…

My head to clearer thinking,

My heart to greater loyalty,

My hands to better service,

My health to better living,

For my club, my community, my country and my world.

Who is involved in 4-H?

4-H Youth Development is located in every corner of Michigan. Each year, more than 200,000 youth and 17,000 adult and older teen volunteers from major cities, suburbs, towns and rural communities participate in 4-H. Nationally, 4-H youth programs involve more than five million young people from all 50 states and many U.S. territories.

Who operates 4-H?

4-H Youth Development is delivered locally and operated at the state and national levels through a partnership between county governments, Michigan State University Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This partnership ensures that what 4-H promises in outcomes for young people is backed by the research and knowledge base of the nation’s premier land-grant university and the support of county, state and federal governments.

How old do you have to be to join?

4-H programs are open to youth aged 5 to 19. Adults age 19 and older are encouraged to join 4-H as volunteers.

How do you join 4-H and how much does it cost?

Call the closest MSU Extension office by dialing toll-free 1-888-MSUE-4MI (1-888-678-3464) and entering the first five letters of your county's office. Ask to speak with someone about joining 4-H.

To join a club, the participation fee per youth is $20 per year or $60 per family (with three or more youth). Some types of projects have additional costs for supplies, equipment, travel, etc.

What do 4-H volunteers do?

Adult and teen volunteers work at the local and state level to support experiential learning activities for youth. 4-H volunteers are club, group or resource leaders, middle management leaders, advisory council members and Michigan 4-H Foundation trustees.

How do you become a 4-H volunteer?

Information on becoming a volunteer is available in the Become a Volunteer area of this site.

What do 4-H state and county staff members do?

4-H staff members lead and support the work of 4-H volunteers and members in each county. They cooperate with other MSU Extension campus and county staff members, with local, regional and state partners, and are oriented toward a multidisciplinary approach to program design, implementation and evaluation.

Who are state 4-H specialists?

State 4-H specialists have part- or full-time appointments within MSU academic departments including Animal Science, Crop and Soil Science, Family and Child Ecology, Fisheries and Wildlife, Forestry, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Horticulture, Human Environment and Design, Veterinary Medicine and the MSU Museum. Specialists provide links between academic departments, content area expertise and research opportunities.

What is the 4-H mission?

Our mission is to create non-formal, experiential, educational opportunities designed to connect in-school learning with out-of-school time activities that help youth thrive in a complex and changing world.

Our promise is that young people involved in Michigan 4-H are uniquely prepared to step up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. Young people develop the skills and assets needed to be successful today and in the future through experiences that are:

• youth directed and adult supported,
• connected to the cutting-edge research of the land grant universities, and
• supported by volunteers grounded in principles of positive youth development.

What is our programming philosophy?

• Provide age-appropriate life skill development
• Emphasize research-based experiential learning
• Involve volunteers
• Engage a variety of partners
• Include families
• Reach both diverse and underserved audiences
• Be accessible
• Promote a multicultural perspective and appreciation
• Have fun!

Learning Materials

More information on learning materials available to support 4-H activities can be found in resource section of any 4-H topic or program or through the MSU Extension Bookstore.

Training & Events

For upcoming 4-H training and events, check the "Events" area of this site.

Tags: 4-h, academic success, animal science, arts, careers & entrepreneurship, citizenship & service, community service & service learning, environmental & outdoor education, global & cultural education, healthy youth, leadership, life skills, science & engineering, volunteering & mentoring, youth entrepreneurship, youth money management

Related Topic Areas

4-H Animal Science, 4-H Arts, 4-H Environmental & Outdoor Education, 4-H Community Service & Service Learning, 4-H Science & Engineering, 4-H Global & Cultural Education, 4-H Leadership, Citizenship & Service, 4-H Volunteering & Mentoring, 4-H Life Skills, 4-H Healthy Youth, 4-H Careers & Entrepreneurship, 4-H Youth Entrepreneurship, 4-H Youth Money Management, 4-H

For more information visit:

MSU Extension

Generally, dairy farming FAQ (frequently asked questions) are those questions which are frequently asked by the beginner or existing dairy farmers. All these questions are very important for starting and running a dairy farm, and every new and existing dairy farmers should learn more about these.

As a dairy farmer, you must have to know about the dairy farming FAQ for starting and running a successful dairy farming business. Actually, people are raising dairy animals for long time as a consistent food supply source. But today, total world population has increased and food demand has also increased greatly.

So, along with own food supply, commercial dairy farming business can be a great way for earning some extra cash. And you can also take this business as your main income source. Currently popularity of dairy or milk products has increased and now commercial dairy farming business is definitely a profitable business.

Raising dairy animals involves lots of tasks and it’s not that easy. Although if you are passionate about dairy farming and really willing to do this business, then it will be relatively easy for you. You can start with small scale by using your family labor and expand gradually.

Dairy farming FAQ (frequently asked questions)

There are many dairy farming FAQ about starting and operating this business.. You need to know the answer of all these questions whether you are a new or existing dairy farmer. Here in this guide we are trying to discuss more about these dairy farming FAQ. And we hope you will be able to make good decision after reading these questions and answer series if your are a beginner. And for the existing farmers, it will be more easy to run your farm perfectly.

Q: What is dairy farming?

A: Dairy farming means ‘raising milk producing animals for the purpose of producing milk’. For example, if you raise cows, buffaloes or goats for the purpose of producing milk, then you are in dairy farming business.

Q: Why dairy farming is important?

A: Dairy farming is important because it is a great food source. And it can also be a great source of additional income. Total investment is relatively high, but dairy farming business has high ROI (return on investment) ratio.

Q: What is dairy farm management?

A: Providing your dairy animals with sufficient feed, water, shelter, health care and other facilities are very important for keeping the animals happy and productive. And all these activities right from caring them to marketing the product's are called as ‘dairy farm management’.

Q: How to start dairy farming business?

A: This is probably the most common dairy farming FAQ. Staring a dairy farming business is not that easy and it involves lots of tasks. And you can do all these activities if you are really passionate about dairy farming. However, here we are trying to describe more about the steps for starting a successful dairy farming business.

• First of all, try to learn more about dairy farming business and total management system from any existing farmers or any of your nearest govt. or private organization.
• After having practical knowledge, try to select a very good location for starting your farm. Try to select the area far from residential area or town. Doing so will help you to save some money for purchasing land.
• Build a good house for your animals with all required facilities.
• Purchase or build all the required equipment for running a dairy farming business.
• Determine which animal you are going to raise for producing milk. You can choose cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats etc.
• Choose a good breed after determining the animal you are going to raise. Try to purchase the animals from reliable source (trusted breeder or farm).
• Bring the animal home and feed them with quality feeds.
• Always try to provide them with adequate clean and fresh water.
• Keep good contact with a vet in your area.
• Try to determine the demand of milk in your area and set your marketing strategies.
• Keep record of everything (total costs and income from the business).

Q: What should I choose cows or buffaloes?

A: It’s all depends on your own preference and there is not exact answer of this question. Generally, cows produce more milk than buffaloes. But milk of the buffaloes has higher butterfat content than cows.

Q: Which cow breeds are good for milk production?

A: Generally, Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Hariyana, Gir etc. are good for milk production.

Q: Which buffalo breeds are good for milk production?

A: Hariyana, Nili Ravi, Mehsana, Surti, Jaffarabadi and Murrah buffalo breeds are considered as best buffalo breeds for milk production.

Q: What is lactation cycle in dairy farming?

A: Lactation cycle is the calving cycle. For example, second lactation means the animal has given birth for second time.

Q: Why lactation cycle is important in dairy farming business?

A: 2nd and 3rd lactation animals are preferred in any commercial dairy farming business. Lactation cycle is important because it is directly related to milk production.

Q: How to identify lactation of buffalo?

A: It comes by experience. It’s generally easy to identify first lactation and over third lactation. But it is pretty difficult to differentiate between 2nd and 3rd lactation.

Q: What is heat cycle in dairy farm business?

A: Heat cycle is the period when the animals are ready to get pregnant again. This usually lasts for 12-24 hours. And during this period the animal has to be bred by a male animal. Identifying the heat cycle comes with experience.

Q: Which goat breeds are good for milk production?

A: Generally Beetal, Jamunapari, Saanen, Toggenburg, Alpine, Anglo Nubian etc. are good for milk production.

Q: How much milk do goats produce?

A: Depending on the breed, goats generally produce 2-3 kg of milk per day.

Q: How much milk do cows produce?

A: This also depends on the breed. Depending on the breed, cows can produce up to 20 kg milk and some cows can produce even more.

Q: Is dairy farming really profitable?

A: Dairy farming is really profitable if you can do everything perfectly.

Q: What to feed the dairy animals?

A: Feeding the animals with green fodder is very important. You can’t expect good milk production without providing the animals with green feeds. You can do your own green fodder production for feeding your dairy animals.

Q: How to become successful in dairy farming business?

A: Taking good care of the animals and good farm management can ensure good return from this business.