4H, not just about the show

MISSOULA - The 4H year is a journey for all members, especially when something happens to the project animal. Owning livestock provides opportunity for responsibility but sometimes things happen that are out of the owner's control. For some Potomac 4H members this year brought some sadness along with triumphs.

Potomac horse member Emma Richardson is in her eighth year in the horse project. Her horse Calypso was diagnosed with Equine Osteoarthritis in 2013 which has gotten progressively worse. Calypso retired to pasture this 4H year and Richardson was left without a horse project. Then Thoroughbred Tikka came into her life. Within three months Richardson was riding her new horse and working towards the fair. In order to bring awareness and because of her personal connection, she completed a Vet Science project on Equine Osteoarthritis.

"I used Calypso for my poster because I thought it would get the message across that it is a real thing that happens. It isn't something you just read about in a vet book, it happens more frequently than I thought," said Richardson. "I thought it would help people have a better understanding of the disease."

Bowen Olson was also in his eighth 4H year working on his Trail and Western Games projects when his project horse Cowgirl had to be put down in March. His mare contracted cellulitus in her hind legs and the swelling went down into her hooves. Despite care, medications and veterinary help, Cowgirl's fetlocks dropped to an unrecoverable angle and she would have been forever severely lame and in pain.

While Olson had been training a colt too, he did not feel he was ready to be ridden at the fair horse show. He decided he would not take a horse project to the fair.

Gracie Knapp was taking the Breeding Meat goat and Open Class goat projects when her goats were killed by a black bear. Her project animals were the African Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy breeds. She said she tries to talk about Clive, Cricket and Apple since their death because it helps her get used to the fact that they are gone.

Knapp and her project mentor Potomac resident Beth Cromwell worked together to prepare the goats for showing. After they were killed, both she and Knapp were very sad.

"She loved those goats probably as much as me," Knapp said.

Since the loss of her goats, Knapp has been fixing her goat pen and saving up for vaccines, hoof trimmings, events and feed costs for next year.

Knapp said, "I think that every kid should do 4H because I think it teaches teamwork [between 4H members and their projects]." She added that through 4H she has gotten to know her community better. Knapp had brought her goats to the live nativity scene during Christmas Comes Home and really enjoyed seeing how her animals impacted the crowds.

There were several other animal projects in the county that, for one reason or another, didn't make it to the fair. However Extension Agent Campbell Barrett said, "The 4-H and FFA families pulled together for another successful year."