Larimer Dairy Project

"4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills."
​​​​​​​​​​​​​2020 Schedule (subject to change)

​Workshops for the year will be held the last Friday of each month, January through April.

  • January 31st:  (6:30pm at extension office). New members 6pm & returning members 630pm.  Pizza, Difference in breeds of dairy cattle, Hoards Dairyman judging kick off.  WANT TO GET A HEAD START ? Regular printed copies will be handed out at the meeting. We may have guest speakers to give some advise on evaluating dairy cattle and judging contests at our January meeting.  2020 Classes now available online. It is free to register on the Hoards Dairyman web site to see the judging classes. Link to Hoards Dairyman HERE. You can enter the contest online as an individual or as family. However, I will need your results of the classes to enter us as a 4-H group and for our county judging contest. Remember this is a required event for the Lease-A-Dairy and Cow-less Dairy projects. This is also the tiebreaker for the Mike Dickinson Award. There are some very informative videos on the Hoards Dairyman website under the Youth tab about judging this contest. You can contact me about any questions.
  • February 28th: 6pm new members, 6:30pm returning members at extension office in Fort Collins. Hoards Dairyman judging continued (if needed), Dairy project selection, Training tips, What's new in dairy farming! or Topic chosen by group. Snacks provided
  • Livestock field day - February 29th at The Ranch. This is an opportunity to meet the Meat Quality Assurance (MQA) and Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) requirements and learn so much more. 
  • March 1st - Mike Dickenson Scholarship application due >apply here
  • March 10th:  Last day to turn in Hoards Dairyman contest results to Shari
  • Effective March 13, 2020, all face to face Larimer County 4-H events, meetings and activities are suspended (cancelled) until May 15, 2020.
  • March 27th: (6:30 at extension office). Safety First! Why record keeping is important, Topic chosen by group, Fun activity about project - CANCELLED
  • April 24th:  At Dyecrest Dairy (weather pending). Showmanship and other topics TBA - CANCELLED​​​

2020 Larimer Dairy Clinics

Larimer County 4H Dairy Project

COVID-19 and the Dairy Program - March 18th


   All dairy clinics previously scheduled are canceled. This will not effect the eligibilty for the Lease A Dairy participants because this is out of your control.
   Those who own their dairy cattle that are at your residences, you can continue to practice and care for your cattle as usual.
   Lease A Dairy participants – Unfortunately at this time you are not allowed to go to your sponsors farm to select and/or work with selected cattle if already selected as of March 13th until further notice. I know this is disappointing and can make you feel sad, but don't give up! I was informed today by Brittani Kirkland, the 4-H livestock extension agent, that this will be reevaluated in a few weeks. There MAYBE a chance to select and start working with your project calves sooner then the May 15th date. We feel for you all because of what happened last year with the VS virus and you all had to cancel your plans last minute to show your cattle at fair. Hopefully this will not happen again this year with this Covid-19 virus. 
   I talked to Keith Maxey today about the Dairy Youth Extravaganza. This will be held at Island Grove Park in Greeley, May 31 to June 2. At this writing it is still on. This event is not required but is a excellent opportunity to learn more about the Dairy industry and your Dairy projects. More detailed information will be sent out later date. The Extravaganza is making exceptions for our Lease A Dairy participants. Even though you may have to wait as long as May 15th to select your cattle, you can still enter the event. Entries are due May 8th! If you don't know breed or age of your dairy cattle or how many showing, Keith said to send in your entry form and fill out as much as possible. When you do choose who you are bringing you can update it to Keith as soon as possible. If for some unforeseen reason the Extravaganza is canceled, we will let you know as soon as possible and you will receive refunds.
   This would be a good time to do some self study to learn about dairy industry and cattle on your own and maybe do your Informational Posters for fair!
    Again, sorry this happened and so many restrictions on the 4-H dairy project and other 4-H projects and events but this is for the good of all people. Prayers for all effected by health or other situations related to this rare event. There could be more changes. Hopefully the virus will end soon and things can return to normal but we all need to do our part.
Take care, Shari Stroup
Note to first year participants: Luckily dairy calves can usually be broke to lead quickly. When we are released to work with the calves we will try help you as much as possible to get them ready for show.

4-H/Dairy Scholarships

Larimer Diary project

Dairy Project Meeting Information:


We have 4 meetings during the year and Lease-A-Dairy members are required to attend at least 3 of these.  LEASE-A-DAIRY Members - Record Books begin in January.  Books are available from Shari and online from the Extension Office.

Thank you to the following dairies/farms for supporting this project: DyeCrest Dairy; Ft. Lupton Dairy, Mountain View Dairy & Shani McBride (Severance)


Here is the link to another good site about getting ready to show.  MSUcares​