The Cowichan Exhibition is a 3-day fair that 4-H members look forward to every year. It is a small, rural fair that gives 4-H members the opportunity to show off their projects to the public, get to know their fellow members
in a relaxed, fun environment and gives the kids the chance to answer questions from the public.
This is a busy time for the Cowichan 4-H Holstein Club as the members not only get to speak with the public showing of their calves, but they also get to do their annual fundraiser, selling ice cream! A fundraiser that has been going strong for over 20 years! In fact, I remember participating in this fundraiser as a kid myself, many years ago! For anyone interested come visit us in the “Scout Hall” next to the livestock ring. All proceeds will directly benefit our members families, helping with club trips off island.
This year six clubs from the Cowichan Valley will be attending. Those being beef, dog, horse, dairy, sheep and small engines clubs. I have had the unique experience to be both a 4-H member (horse an holstein), and now a 4-H leader (for 3 years of the dairy club.) The thing that I enjoy the most about the program is seeing the members at the fairs. You not only get to see the new friendships made throughout the course of the year amongst members, but you get to see how hard these members have worked throughout the course of the year. This year, in the dairy club most of our members are brand new. They have learnt everything from how to put on a halter correctly, to how to tie their calf, to now fitting their calves themselves, and leading them in front of a judge. It is
incredible progress to see.
4-H is a program that encourages kids to “learn to do by doing,” and members from all walks of life are encouraged to participate. The program is offered to ages 9 and up. In the dairy club, several of our members have no prior dairy experience. They are learning absolutely everything from scratch! We have some amazing leaders, and farmers in the community who are often willing to help someone find a project animal if they are eager to learn. This not only applies to the dairy club but many of the clubs in our area. In the dairy club, the animals join their herd mates at the end of the year and eventually go on to milk in the dairy herd. Other clubs, such as the beef club; members have the choice to take on a female project animal which will then mother future calves, or they have the option to take on a steer project; which they may auction off at future fairs. The small engines club members have the choice to auction off their engines as well. The 4-H Auction typically happens at
4pm on Saturday night at the Cowichan Exhibition for anyone who may be interested in making a purchase. If anyone has a child interested in 4-H, the fairs are a great way to talk with leaders and put your name on a list for future membership, we hope to see you at the fair!
Michelle Laszczyk,
Cowichan District 4-H