West Central Youth Animal Science Field Day

All youth ages 8 to 18 years old are invited to the annual Youth Animal Science Field Day May 24, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Curtis, Nebraska, on the NCTA Campus. Activities will focus on several different aspects of livestock production.

Nebraska Extension along with the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis and the UNL Animal Science Department assist with the field fay. Participants will work on important life skills such as critical thinking and decision making, while attending seven different sessions taught by Extension Educators and NCTA faculty. Session topics include: Plant Identification/What Livestock eat or do not eat, Animal Feeds and Feeding, Pests and Insects Beneficial to Livestock, Meat Science, Horse Color Genetics, Livestock Skillathon and more.

The event is a great opportunity for all youth to learn more about the livestock industry and meet animal science professionals. Youth will also increase their basic understanding of science, ag literacy, and technology. They will be able to apply science skills to their 4-H and FFA projects and explore careers related to AnimalScience. 

This non-competitive field day event is open to all youth ages 8 to 18. There will be two tracts dividing the youth by age so the older youth can explore animal science topics in more depth. Organizers will combine youth into small groups and will be encouraged to work together throughout the day as they rotate through the seven stations. The stations are designed to be learning experiences in a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

The Nebraska Extension West Central District Youth Animal Science Field Day registration is 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. followed by a welcome at 9:45 am.  Stations start at 10 a.m. and wrap up by 4 p.m. 

Preregistration is encouraged and due by May 18. Register online at: http://go.unl.edu/wc-field-day  or call Nebraska Extension- Frontier County at 308-367-4424.  There is a $5 fee for all youth/adult participants, which covers all educational materials and lunch. This fee is payable ahead to your local Extension Office or at check-in the morning of the event. (Make checks out to Frontier County 4-H Council.) The Frontier County 4-H Council will provide lunch. 

The field day is sponsored by the Nebraska Extension West Central Research and Extension District, Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, Nebraska 4-H, UNL Animal Science Department and Nebraska Extension- Frontier County. For more information, call Nebraska Extension- Frontier County at 308-367-4424.

Those youth interested in Livestock Judging are invited to come one day early for NCTA’s Standard of Excellence Livestock Judging Camp on May 24th and 25th. Youth can find more information and register online at the following link: http://go.unl.edu/standardofexcellenceljc or contact University of Nebraska-Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture Division Chair- Animal Science/ Ag Education Dr. Douglas Smith at 308-367-5286.