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4-H & Livestock Clubs

BOOTS & BUCKLES DBA THE GIGGLING LIFE

What is 4H

AT BOOTS & BUCKLES DBA THE GIGGLING LIFE 

WE FACILITATE A 4-H CLUB AND CLOVERBUDS:

4‑H is a Community for all Kids!

In 4‑H, we believe in the power of young people. We see that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us.

What is 4‑H?

4‑H programs are grounded in the belief that kids learn best by doing. Kids and teens complete hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and civic engagement, in a positive environment where they receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on proactive leadership roles. Kids can concentrate on one focus area or they can try a variety of programs throughout their 4‑H experience.

We are thrilled to have started our own 4-H Club right here at the Giggling Life Care Farm! 

Boots & Buckles Livestock & 4-H Club

Here are the 4-H Programs GL will offer in 2023: 

  • Cloverbuds: Youth ages 5-7 can join in fun non-competitive activities. (Explained below)

  • Table Top Projects: Ages 8-18 can enjoy amaziing projects such as: Vet science, rocketry, cooking, cake decorating, archery, & so much MORE! You can find them at Adam's County 4-H here: http://adams.colostate.edu/4h/projects.htm

  • Livestock Program: Ages 8-18 can particpate in our Livestock Lease Program. Normally, youth intersted in Livestock Programs would purchase their livestock animal and raise it at their property, however, here at GL, we allow you to lease one of our sheep to show at our Adam's County Fair in late July/beginning August. We want everyone to be able to experience the benefits of raising livestock...even if they are not able to at their own homes! (More animals TBD...more details explained below!)

  • Poultry Program: Youth ages 8-18 can participate in our Poultry Program. They can lease and raise poultry to be able to show at the Adams County Fair in late July/beginning August. (Details listed below.)

  • Market Livestock Program: Youth ages 8-18 that have leased an animal for at least 1 year, can participate in our Market Livestock Program. They will be able to purchase their sheep for market purposes and lease land form GL to raise it on during the 4H season. They will then sell that animal in the Adams County Fair Auction. (More details listed below.)

  • More programs will be coming in the future!

How this works: ​

In order to participate in 4-H here at GL you would have to do the following:

  • Take a look at all of the options for 4-H Programs and Livestock Clubs and choose what projects that would like to particpiate in ex; Cloverbuds, Tabletop Projects, Livestock Clubs, etc..

  • Meetings for Boots & Buckles will be held as a Club on the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00-7:00pm.

  • ​Next, all GL 4-H participants will need to take care of Memberships & Registrations: ​

 

GL/Boots & Buckles Membership:

  • All youth intersted in becoming a Boots & Buckles 4-H member will be required to become a GL/Boots & Buckles Family Member. Membership Cost: $60.00.

  • This membership will provide you with a 10% discount that will apply to ALL programs and merchandise throughout the year, you will also recieve priority registration for ALL classes, be the first to know what is happening at the farm, you will recieve invitations to special private events that happen at the farm, and MORE! (You can pay your Membership Fee online. You are able to make 2 payments, etc.)

  • ​Register here for your Membership: 

Next, you will need to register for 4-H through Adams County Extension Office. 4-H membership is required to participate in Boots & Buckles youth clubs. Follow the steps below:

 

Adams County 4-H Club Fees:

 Paid directly to Adams County
● Deadline for returning members - February 1st
● Deadline for new members - April 1st
● Enrollment Fees- $40/member ($43/member if paying online)
● Scholarships Available

Click Here to Register

Cloverbuds & Table Top Projects
4-H Projects & Clubs:

1. 4-H Cloverbuds:

Membership Cost: GL Family Membership/Registration at Adams County 4-H

AGES: 5-7 (Before 12/31)

  • Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday or Every Month at 6:00-7:00pm

  • GL Membership - You'll receive 10% Off any program/merchandise offered by The Giggling Life

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  • Non-competitive, activity based program for our youngest participants 5-7 yrs old.

  • Meet once a month and usually coordinate activities with farm-based theme.

  • Encouraged to participate in most events at fair, “mini-shows” or fun shows!

  • All run by volunteer leaders.

  • Clover Crew monthly activity packet mailed by ADCO to members

(4 interactive lessons + supplies to complete monthly challenge activity)

Examples:
Assistance with animals, animal crafts, scavenger hunts, etc.

2. 4-H Table Top Projects:

Youth ages: 8-18 

  • Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday or Every Month at 6:00-7:00pm

  • GL Family Membership - You'll receive 10% Off ANY CLASSES offered by The Giggling Life for that current 4-H year AND you will be given priority registration to ALL Programs here at GL, and MORE!

  • All 4-H Projects are run by volunteers.

  • Youth may be meeting with Volunteers in addition to our monthly meeting deoending on their selected project.

  • 4-H has additional requirements:

    • Complete a record book on their project for Adams County 4-H  

    • Youth may show their Projects at the Adams County Fair

Livestock Clubs

3. Livestock Clubs - Goat Lease

Membership Cost: $350.00 every 6 months for 1 year (Cost of lease/payments options available)

AGES: 8+

  • Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday or Every Month 6:00-7:00pm

  • You'll receive 10% Off ANY classes & merchandise offered by The Giggling Life for that current 4-H year AND you will be given priority registration to ALL Programs & merchandise offered here at GL, and MORE!

  • Mandatory- You must visit your animal 2 days per month to work with & care for your leased animal. You may do so by attending ANY Educational Program offered by The Giggling Life. You MUST be enrolled into one Giggling Life Program monthly to participate in Livestock Clubs. It may be monthly GL Program or you may choose to DROP IN to any listed monthly GL Program on the schedule.

How this works:

Participants use an animal that GL owns to participate in fairs & shows.

  • Additional 4-H requirements (meat quality assurance and record book)

  • Lease Payment above pays for feed/supplements/tack and supplies for youth to be able to use to participate in shows and fairs.​
     

Regular Activities:

Raise and care for Sheep in Boots & Buckles year long Livestock Club. Participants will work together to learn hands-on about feeding, nutrition, record keeping, general animal care, maintaining shelters, exercise, and more. Livestock Members will learn so much about what happens when raising animals for multiple purposes!

Members who are leasing animal to show at the Adams County Fair must meet at least twice a month! Preferably once a week! Why?

  • This is when the majority of the husbandry is done by the participants- including cleaning pens and water tanks, checking hay and feeding grain and minerals, handling the sheep, chickens, and rabbits.

  • We also take much needed time to educate members about their feed, nutrition, disease, costs involved, breeding, how to groom, show, weight management, ear tags, worming animals, vaccinations, shearing, bathing, other grooming, and so much more!

 

Annual Events:

This year the Livestock Members will have the opportunity to participate in 1 event, the Adams County Fair. (Next year we will be able to show throughout the year at the The National Western Stock Show in January and most likely the Estes Wool Fest in June.)

Each event has a different focus and gives participants opportunities to practice and demonstrate specific skills they learned at Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life). We are excited to be able to do different events in the future!

The National Western Stock Show focuses on breeding high-quality animals, the Estes Wool Fest focuses on wool production and the Adams County Fair focuses on meat production, showmanship and record keeping. Each event also provides the animals an opportunity to be shown by the participants and to compete against one another and other animals.

 

During each event sheep and goat participants develop their public speaking skills as they interact with judges and be tested on their animal husbandry knowledge. A 4-H membership is required for Adams County Fair Participation, this is completed externally of Boots & Buckles.

Note: Participants are only permitted to enroll in a Market Project (i.e. husbandry for meat production) after 1 year of Livestock Club participation. This is required so that the youth can observe and understand the process start-to-finish first.

 

Market projects include purchasing, owning, and boarding an animal at Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life), along with additional farm chores without staff supervision but with parental supervision. Additional cost are associated with market projects (i.e. purchase of animal, additional feed, etc). First year participants are permitted to participate in other projects and showing animals for other purposes.

4. Livestock Clubs - Poultry &  Rabbit Lease

Anchor 1

Membership Cost: $175.00 every 6 months for 1 year (Cost of lease/payments options available). 

AGES: 8+

  • Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday or Every Month 6:00-7:00pm

  • You'll receive 10% Off ANY classes & merchandise offered by The Giggling Life for that current 4-H year AND you will be given priority registration to ALL Programs & merchandise offered here at GL, and MORE!

  • Mandatory- You must visit your animal 2 days per month to work with & care for your leased animal. You may do so by attending ANY Educational Program offered by The Giggling Life. You MUST be enrolled into one Giggling Life Programs monthly to participate in Livestock Clubs. It may be monthly GL Programs or you may choose to DROP IN to any listed monthly GL Program on the schedule.

How this works:

Participants use an animal that GL owns to participate in fairs & shows.

  • Additional 4-H requirements (meat quality assurance and record book)

  • Lease Payment above pays for feed/supplements/tack and supplies for youth to be able to use to participate in shows and fairs.​
     

Regular Activities:

Raise and care for Poultry & Rabbits in Boots & Buckles year long Livestock Club. Participants will work together to learn hands-on about feeding, nutrition, record keeping, general animal care, maintaining shelters, exercise, and more. Livestock Members will learn so much about what happens when raising animals for multiple purposes!

Members who are leasing animal to show at the Adams County Faitr must meet at least twice a month! Preferrably once a week! Why?

  • This is when the majority of the husbandry is done by the participants- including cleaning pens and water tanks, checking hay and feeding grain and minerals, handling the sheep, chickens, and rabbits.

  • We also take much needed time to educate members about their feed, nutrition, disease, costs involved, breeding, hoow to groom, show, weight management, ear tags, worming animals, vaccinations, shearing, bathing, other grooming, and so much more!

 

Annual Events:

This year the Livestock Members will have the opportunity to participate in 1 event, the Adams County Fair. (Next year we will be able to show throughout the year at the The National Western Stock Show in January.

 

During each event Poultry & Rabbit participants develop their public speaking skills as they interact with judges and be tested on their animal husbandry knowledge. A 4-H membership is required for Adams County Fair Participation, this is completed externally of Boots & Buckles.

Note: Participants are only permitted to enroll in a Market Project (i.e. husbandry for meat production) after 1 year of Livestock Club participation. This is required so that the youth can observe and understand the process start-to-finish first.

 

Market projects include purchasing, owning, and boarding an animal at Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life), along with additional farm chores without staff supervision but with parental supervision. Additional cost are associated with market projects (i.e. purchase of animal, additional feed, etc). First year participants are permitted to participate in other projects and showing animals for other purposes.

4-H Projects - Market Animals - Sheep & Chickens Only

Market Animals

Membership Cost: $200 Sheep/$100 Chickens each market season (March-August)

AGES: 8+

Meeting Dates: 2nd Tuesday or Every Month

  • Must Complete 1 Year of 4-H Lease an animal first to be eligible

  • You'll receive 10% Off Any Class offered by The Giggling Life

  • Mandatory 2 days per week to care for your animal. (Schedule will be provided for certain days.)

  • MUST be enrolled in one Giggling Life Class to participate in Livestock Clubs

How this works:

Participants own an animal & boards it at The Giggling Life

  • Identical 4-H requirements (meat quality assurance and record book)

  • Additional Costs:

    • Purchase price of animal​

    • Feed

    • Increased participation in care of animal

  • Eligible animals:

    • Sheep

    • Chicken

 

Regular Activities:

Raise and care for sheep and chickens in Boots & Buckles year long Livestock Club. Participants will work collaboratively to learn hands-on about feeding, nutrition, record keeping, general animal care, breeding, maintaining shelters and more. Participants will learn the ins and outs of raising animal for multiple production purposes.

Market Livestock Members will meet twice a week. This is when the majority of the husbandry is done by the participants- including cleaning pens and water tanks, checking hay and feeding grain and minerals, handling the sheep and goats, and exercising the sheep and goats. In addition, each week participants spend time learning about all aspects of nutrition, disease management, general animal care, breeding, costs, body conformation, meat production as well as showmanship and showing animals.

 

On an as-needed basis, participants give vaccinations, shear sheep, trim hooves, bathe and groom the animals, band tails, perform weight checks, insert ear tags, perform parasite checks, and take care of any other animal needs. 

Annual Events:

This year the Livestock Members will have the opportunity to participate in 1 event, the Adams County Fair. Next year we will be able to show throughout the year at the The National Western Stock Show in January and moost likely the Estes Wool Fest in June.

Each event has a different focus and gives participants opportunities to practice and demonstrate specific skills they learned at Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life). We are excited to be able to do different events in the future!

The National Western Stock Show focuses on breeding high-quality animals, the Estes Wool Fest focuses on wool production and the Adams County Fair focuses on meat production, showmanship and record keeping. Each event also provides the animals an opportunity to be shown by the participants and to compete against one another and other animals.

NOTE: Participants are only permitted to enroll in a Market Project (i.e. husbandry for meat production) after 1 year of Livestock Club participation. This is required so that the youth can observe and understand the process start-to-finish first. Market projects include purchasing, owning, and boarding an animal at Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life), along with additional farm chores without staff supervision but with parental supervision. Additional cost are associated with market projects (i.e. purchase of animal, additional feed, etc). First year participants are permitted to participate in other projects and showing animals for other purposes.

Team Leadership

Team Leadership

We are so excited to provide our NEW Team Leadership program alongside our 4-H club!

This program was built to help young leaders develop their confidence and leadership skills.

If you are showing at the Adams County Fair for any Tabletop, Livestock, or Market 4-H project with Boots & Buckles (DBA The Giggling Life), it is highly recommended to participate in this program as part of your membership requirement.

This class will cover most skill-sets required and practiced within 4-H, along with lessons on animal husbandry.

The Giggling Life Team Leadership Program includes:

  • 1/2 Time working with animals

  • 1/2 Time working with leadership

Membership Cost: Program available for enrollment at 10% discount for 4-H members!

AGES: 8+

Meeting Dates: Available for sign up on Sawyer soon!

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