Meat Masters and Animal Adventures — two summer day camps — were offered by the Bradford County 4-H Program in July.
These camps provided local youth (ages 8-18) with fun, hands-on, educational experiences in the animal and livestock industry.
Animal Adventures featured educational activities on cattle, swine, horses, chickens and rabbits. Participants received an introduction to the animal and livestock industry in a classroom setting, learning about the various animals and their roles. They then had the opportunity to visit different livestock operations, seeing firsthand how their newfound knowledge is applied in real-world settings.
To add an artistic touch to the camp, the children engaged in crafting 3-D animal models using clay pots, pinecones, milk jugs and rice socks. These activities not only provided a fun way to be creative, but also reinforced camp participants’ understanding of the animals they studied.
Meat Masters featured comprehensive lessons on meat processing, food safety and meat-preparation practices. Youth toured the University of Florida meat-processing facility and saw firsthand the equipment used for beef and pork processing. Participants also learned food-safety practices used within the meat-processing industry to ensure that a safe, wholesome product is delivered to consumers. They then got to apply this knowledge when preparing both pork and beef cuts for their lunch that day. This activity included creating their own seasoning blend and assisting in grilling their creations.
Bradford County 4-H is proud to provide such educational opportunities as summer day camps for youth in the community. The youth-development program also offers community clubs, school enrichment and a variety of activities throughout the year.
Open enrollment for the new 4-H year will begin in mid-August.
For more information on the Bradford County 4-H Youth-Development Program, call 904-966-6224. You can also learn more by following the “UF/IFAS Extension Bradford County 4-H” page on Facebook.
