4-H?ers trained on good production practices

Iowa 4-H'ers produce 17 million pounds of meat a year. They are significant contributors to the food industry. As a 4-H food producer, it is important they follow good production practices which leads to healthy animals which leads to safe food for consumers.

Washington County 4-H requires all members who show livestock that may enter the food chain to participate in a Food Safety and Quality Assurance training. Saturday, March 29, 122 4-H?ers paraded the Washington County fairgrounds attending seven different educational sessions.

Tom Miller, ISU Swine Specialist, Terry Stinehart, ISU Livestock Specialist, focused on treatment records and youth practiced completing a treatment record for a mock animal treatment situation. Terry Stinehart, ISU Swine Specialist, displayed the many ways to temporarily or permanently ID an animal.

Participants matched the correct ID technique with the correct species. Gene Mohling, ISU Region 15 Director, shared several different scenerios and youth had to decide if they were ethical or unethical situations.

Kerri Bell, 4-H Youth Committee member, led a science session on drug residue. Youth experimented with several types of chocolate milk and how many rinses it took to remove all the residue from the glass.

Dr. Alana McKnutt from Schlapkohl Vet Services in Kalona shared about the veterinary career and how to foster good vet/client relationships. Youth also had the option to attend two different livestock sessions of their choice led by 4-H volunteers Jayme Sieren, Brent Schneider, Donnie Hiller, Anne Miller, Megan Miller, Todd Schmitz and Clara Schmitz.

Washington County junior 4-H?ers who still need to be trained can participate in a second FSQA training on April 7 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Johnson County Extension Office. Intermediates and seniors may take the recertification test at the Washington Extension Office by appointment.

For more information regarding FSQA or getting ivolved with 4-H program in Washington County, please contact the Extension Office at 319-653-4811.