DECATUR, Ill. — Teens with an interest in livestock production may participate in an overnight University of Illinois Extension 4-H conference to build their skills in livestock management and marketing. The conference is Jan. 26 through 27 at the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center. Registration closes Dec. 17, and cost is $165 for the weekend training.
The Youth Livestock Conference is organized and taught by members of the Illinois 4-H Livestock Ambassador Team, an elite group of 4-H livestock members and alum who have received training from industry experts.
Participants will learn basic herd health practices, including how to suture and vaccinate animals. Participants will also practice basic dissection, in-vitro insemination and embryo transfer techniques, and meat identification. They will learn how to promote animal science and respond to public inquiries into livestock production practices.
Pork producer and popular blogger Thomas Titus of Elkhart is the keynote speaker Sunday. Titus’ #RealPigFarming blog addresses current issues of the pork industry. He has nearly 25,000 followers on Facebook and 5,000 followers on Twitter.
The conference is open to 4-H members in seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. One may register online at go.illinois.edu/4Hlivestock. Participants should arrive by 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 and remain until 11:30 Sunday morning.
— Judy Mae Bingman, University of Illinois Extension
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