The 2024 WNC Dairy Feeder Calf Program has 19 youth participants from 7 counties. The kids have had their calves for five months now and have completed the following:

• In-depth orientation
• Program Application
• Hands-on Training and calf pick up
• 4 Zoom Check In’s
• 10 weight check in’s using their weight tapes.
• Bottle Feedings twice a day
• Adding grain into the calf's diet
• Daily care and chores
• Halter breaking
• May 18th Workday (calves were vaccinated, dewormed, dehorned, castrated, weighed)
• Calves were shown at Junior Beef Round-Up this past weekend!

Calves are gaining as much as 3.4 lbs a day and continue to grow well! Almost all of the calves weigh between 410 - 499 lbs as of this weekend. We are super proud of these kids and excited to see how much they learn this year! We're excited to see the calves growing and the kids improving at the Mountain State Fair in a month!

Calves will be sold in lots after the Mountain State Fair, contact Abby at 828-255-5522 if you are interested in supporting this youth livestock project.