The animal science curriculum may be for you! Explore animal husbandry and dive into learning about individual species through project books and record books.

The Florida 4-H Hog and Ham Program is a statewide 4-H program which takes the participant through the total process of pork production from beginning to end. Youth select a feeder pig and grow it to harvesting weight, all the while keeping records on feed amounts and costs, health care, expenses, weights, etc. After harvesting the hog and processing it into wholesale or retail cuts, 4-H'ers cure the hams and prepare bacon and sausage for smoking. The project concludes by participating in a retail comparison project, completing a record book, and presenting a demonstration or illustrated talk to the other participants.

Enrollment in Hog & Ham is limited to a maximum of 30 4-H members. The number of youth per county will be determined by the number of counties participating. The complete program procedures and schedule are emailed to agents in the winter and can also be found on this site.

Interested in learning more about horses? Want to compete in area and state horse shows? Read below for more on the Florida 4-H Horse Program!

Interested in showing your horse project at our area show or in the state horse show? 

Each year, Florida 4-H hosts Area Shows to qualify for the State 4-H Horse Show. Area South Horse Show is being split into three different shows to help in keeping families from having to spend the night in a hotel and keep the length of each event down. 

Dates:

April 9th - English/Dressage at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Palm Beach county.  Address:  7500 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach 33413

April 23rd - Western division at Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center in Okeechobee county.  Address:  4601 FL-710, Okeechobee, 34972

May 29th - Speed division at St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, Equestrian and Event Center in St. Lucie county.  Address:  15601 W. Midway Road, Fort Pierce, 34945

If you want to compete at your Area Horse Show, you need to be aware of the following items:

1. January 1, 2022- The Florida 4-H Horse Certification Form should be submitted to the county 4-H on or before January 1, 2022, to qualify to participate in the Area South Horse Show and the State 4-H Horse show. This form must be completed each year, even if you are using the same horse as a previous year. A youth should do this for each horse they intend to show or use to participate in 4-H shows with. Find the form here: Florida 4-H Horse Certification Form

2. January 1, 2022- A Horse Lease Form should be completed and submitted if a youth wants to participate with a horse that is not owned by the youth. Even if you are borrowing the horse without a fee, youth must have a Horse Lease Form on file with the local county 4-H office. Find the form here: Horse Lease Form

3. The Florida 4-H Horse Project Record Book is a great way to track and demonstrate your growth throughout the year. Find the project book here: Florida 4-H Horse Project Book. 

Have a passion for Beef Cattle? Whether you are raising a breeding animal or a market animal, we encourage you to participate in a Beef Project and learn more about the industry! 

Need help getting a blue ribbon in your livestock record book? For the Record Livestock Record Book Help Guide Series is here to walk you through the process! Check out the Blog for more information:  http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/leeco/2021/02/04/for-the-record-livestock-record-book-help-guide-series/