Holly Jordan - Buncombe County Extension Director, Abby Whitaker - Buncombe/Henderson Livestock Agent, and Kyla Jo Farmer - Haywood County Livestock Agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension were recognized for their achievements during the 2024 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Annual Conference held in Concord, NC on August 19-21, 2024.

They received the association's "Excellence in Animal Science Award" from NCAE4HYDP for the WNC Dairy Steer Program. Their program package was then sent on and won the Southern Region Award for the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Association.

The WNC Dairy Steer Program started in 2013 to provide a hands-on opportunity for youth interested in livestock. The goal of the program is to teach the participants how to raise a feeder calf while providing a show-ring experience. The program is intended for youth who are new to raising and showing livestock.  Interested youth submit an application in January and are notified in February if they have been selected for the year's program.  Those selected go through extensive training related to feeding, housing, health care, and animal welfare of their calf.  With the assistance of many sponsors/supporters, including the WNC Beef Commission, WNC Communities, Purina and Performance Feeds, Dr. Beverly Hargus with Animals R Us Veterinary Clinic, and County Farm Bureaus, each youth is provided a dairy calf and starter feed.  The youth raise their calf from March until they exhibit it at the Mountain State Fair.  During this time, they participate in monthly check-ins, weight submissions of their calves, work days, and clinics.  The calves are sold at the completion of the program.

The purpose of the North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development
Professionals is to promote the profession of Extension 4-H and youth work in North
Carolina. The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina
Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State Universities. More than 260,000 young people ages 5 through 18 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 16,700 adult and youth volunteers.

You can find more information on 4-H at NC4H.org