Teenagers are not growing up on farms like they used to just 30 years ago. To overcome this gap, it is our responsibility to provide the platforms necessary for the next generation of beef cattle producers and industry experts. Can kids who grow up in subdivisions really learn how to work cattle? The answer: Yes! Here is our story in Georgia.
In Georgia, this all started with the request of the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Chapter to start a cattle handling competition for youth in their county. With a little research, we learned that Virginia has been offering these competitions for more than 20 years. They graciously offered their guidelines as a building block to develop our own contest series. Since 2022, we have been offering chute contests across the state with the support of the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension, Georgia FFA, Georgia Young Farmers and the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association. Since then, dozens of students have gotten real-world training to improve their confidence and skills in the beef industry.
When we started our first contest at the county level, we quickly learned the need was bigger than we realized. There just weren’t a lot of opportunities for young people to gain hands-on experience. The contest series, named “Top Hand: Stockmanship and Stewardship,” is just the platform. It takes producers and educators working collaboratively to make it happen.
The 2024 Georgia State Champion Team Chattooga County are Joshua Willingham, Lane Bridges and Carolann Cash. Photo provided by Jason Duggin.
How it works
A three-person team works three head of cattle according to a provided protocol on contest day. The rules outline what will likely take place except for specific products and pharmaceuticals. Students will fill out a processing map that outlines where each product and tag will be administered and located. You can find an example processing map on the UGA Beef website.
- On contest day, each team is provided 20 minutes to look at the products and fill out the processing map. The map asks for product locations, dosage, routes and withdrawals. Common products include a visual ID, e-ID (if a premise ID exists), killed vaccine, TSU sample, modified-live vaccine, and one or two dewormers varying between oral, pour-on and injectable. The students are either provided a weight or work from the scales during processing. The latter is usually the option chosen at the state contest.
- Judges go over the processing map with each team to discuss what needs to be changed prior to working cattle to make sure dosages and products are applied/administered correctly.
- Once at the chute, the students have a few minutes to look at the layout of the area and ask any last-minute questions. Once the students have their gloves on for working with chemicals, such as fly tags, the time begins. Depending on the setup, time frames can be adjusted, but we intend for teams to mix vaccines and work the three head of cattle in under 20 minutes at a maximum. This may sound easy, but we must remember that they will be pulling and mixing vaccines while using a setup they likely haven’t used before. Since the first year, teams have really grown in their efficiency. Many teams will complete the task in 12 to 15 minutes. Time is a factor, but safety and Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) procedures are the foundational points that matter the most.
- Teams are judged according to the provided rubric during the processing time frame. Often, there are two or three judges who share responsibilities focusing on certain areas. Judges can be experienced cattle producers, veterinarians, or extension and university faculty.
Contestants work cattle, eartag, mix modified-live vaccines and do other cattle-raising activities. Photo provided by Jason Duggin.
How to get started
- Find a leader. A cattle producer, an extension agent or an ag teacher can form a three-person team consisting of boys and girls. In Georgia, we do not have any limits other than the age limit of eighth grade to 12th grade. Some of our Young Farmer teachers have put together as many as four teams for one regional contest. However, young people can also form their own team and have parental supervision.
- Get BQA or Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certified. Look up the trainings available in your state, organize your own with your BQA state coordinators or access the BQA training module online.
- Be safe. This is the biggest key. Teach and preach safety at the head and when moving cattle through the alleyways. This is not the time to bring out the ranchy cattle. Yes, they need to learn real-world examples, but not at the risk of serious injury or being so overwhelmed that they are turned away from cattle altogether.
- Look over the rules. Remember, the program is for the young people. You can do this in a county, multicounty or statewide program. Feel free to use our online platform and please let us know if you have any questions.
- Practice. Find a producer or two that needs help or is willing to allow your team to get some hands-on experience. Just so we are all clear, it may be a bit awkward at first. Everyone involved must understand that this is training. It is going to take some teaching and some patience. This is the real benefit of the competition. When students finally “break the ice” of getting those first few through the chute in a calm and safe manner, things tend to get better very quickly.
You do not need to be a pro to get involved. Although prior practice and a BQA certification are required, this is often not a problem with a little planning. This is where the beef cattle community, extension and ag educators can come together to offer various opportunities for youth as well as novice adults. Local producers are often very willing to host interested teams in their communities.
Another option to help address this issue is to host a hands-on field day in your community. You can utilize simulation training options in addition to live cattle, depending on the size of the group. Use some creativity for those first-time tagging opportunities or needle injections to gain confidence before going to the cattle.
Students learned to mix modified-live vaccines using old vaccines that were no longer of any value. Participants were also taught the differences between commonly utilized vaccines and the importance of reading the handling and administration labels. We also utilized a bovine injection simulator to teach those who had not given shots before. Team members also walked students through chuteside safety and use prior to working calves through the system.
Dylan Davis, Marrissa Blackwell and Paula Burke contributed to this article.
