Looking for a meaningful, hands-on opportunity for your youth?
Jones County 4-H Livestock Projects give youth ages 5-18 the chance to learn, grow, and gain real-world experience through agriculture. From raising animals to showing them in the ring, youth build confidence, responsibility, and valuable life skills every step of the way.

Livestock projects provide youth with practical, hands-on learning experiences that go far beyond the classroom. Participants learn how to care for animals while developing important life skills they can carry into the future.

Through these projects, youth will:

• Learn proper animal care, feeding, and health management
• Build responsibility and time management skills
• Develop confidence through hands-on learning
• Gain experience in handling and showing animals
• Understand where food comes from and the role of agriculture

No prior experience is required.

While North Carolina 4-H offers a variety of livestock opportunities at the state level, the following projects are currently available locally through Jones County 4-H:

• Chicken Project | January - May
  Youth learn how to raise and care for chickens while exploring egg production and poultry showmanship.
• Goat Project | January - Easter Weekend
  Youth gain hands-on experience raising goats, including feeding, daily care, and showmanship skills.
• Pig Project | January - Easter Weekend
  Youth raise a market pig from start to finish while learning responsibility, animal care, and showmanship.
• Dairy Project | August - September
  Youth learn dairy animal care, milking basics, and how to properly handle and show dairy animals.

In addition to project participation, youth may also join Jones County 4-H livestock clubs. These clubs provide opportunities to:

• Connect with other youth interested in agriculture
• Build leadership and teamwork skills
• Participate in group learning activities and events

• Youth ages 5-18
• Must be enrolled in 4-HOnline
• Open to all experience levels

Interested in getting your youth involved in a livestock project?
Enrollment is completed through 4-HOnline, and project details - including timelines and requirements - will be provided after registration.

For questions or more information, contact the Jones County 4-H Agent, Samantha Bennett, at sjwiggin@ncsu.edu or 252-448-9621 (MON-THURS 8AM-5PM & FRI 8AM-12PM).