NILE Merit Heifer Program helps youth enter production agriculture
The NILE Merit Heifer program heads into its ninth year and continues to be one of the most unique youth programs in the country. This Live-Animal Scholarship, sponsored by Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and Pfizer Animal Genetics, selects 25 youth each year based upon merit and matches them with 25 heifers donated by ranches across the region.
The purpose of the project is to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business by awarding heifer calves to project participants chosen based on merit, need, future goals and ability to care for the animal.
Any youth ages 13-17 (as of Jan. 1), who is a 4-H or FFA member may enter. Entries are not limited to Montana. Entries are made in the form of an application, (think of this as applying for a live animal scholarship) with a deadline of Sept. 15. Project participants are selected by Oct. 1 and recognized at the NILE Stock Show in October.
Each program participant will own their calf jointly with NILE until the completion of the program, at which time NILE officials will sign off and the participant will take full ownership of the heifer and her offspring. During the program duration, participants are responsible for raising the heifer, arranging for her to be bred, completing the record keeping procedure and bringing the animal back one year later as a bred replacement heifer for exhibit at the Nile Stock Show in October.
The program is completed after the heifer is determined bred, all record keeping has been completed and the heifer has been shown at the NILE. Nearly 200 4-H and FFA members from across the western U.S. have had the opportunity to participate in this program since its inception in 2002.
A major component of this program is the generosity and support of the ranches that donate a heifer. Since the program started, a multitude of ranches representing registered, purebred and commercial breeders have donated a heifer.
This year the NILE Merit Heifer Show during the NILE, sponsored by the Montana Stockgrowers Association, will take place on Friday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. During the show, the Top Herdsman Award will be selected based upon the monthly reports, interview, record book, and showmanship skills. In addition, all 2011 Merit Heifer Recipients and Donors will be recognized.
The NILE Merit Heifer program heads into its ninth year and continues to be one of the most unique youth programs in the country. This Live-Animal Scholarship, sponsored by Northwest Farm Credit Services, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and Pfizer Animal Genetics, selects 25 youth each year based upon merit and matches them with 25 heifers donated by ranches across the region.
The purpose of the project is to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business by awarding heifer calves to project participants chosen based on merit, need, future goals and ability to care for the animal.
Any youth ages 13-17 (as of Jan. 1), who is a 4-H or FFA member may enter. Entries are not limited to Montana. Entries are made in the form of an application, (think of this as applying for a live animal scholarship) with a deadline of Sept. 15. Project participants are selected by Oct. 1 and recognized at the NILE Stock Show in October.
Each program participant will own their calf jointly with NILE until the completion of the program, at which time NILE officials will sign off and the participant will take full ownership of the heifer and her offspring. During the program duration, participants are responsible for raising the heifer, arranging for her to be bred, completing the record keeping procedure and bringing the animal back one year later as a bred replacement heifer for exhibit at the Nile Stock Show in October.
The program is completed after the heifer is determined bred, all record keeping has been completed and the heifer has been shown at the NILE. Nearly 200 4-H and FFA members from across the western U.S. have had the opportunity to participate in this program since its inception in 2002.
A major component of this program is the generosity and support of the ranches that donate a heifer. Since the program started, a multitude of ranches representing registered, purebred and commercial breeders have donated a heifer.
This year the NILE Merit Heifer Show during the NILE, sponsored by the Montana Stockgrowers Association, will take place on Friday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. During the show, the Top Herdsman Award will be selected based upon the monthly reports, interview, record book, and showmanship skills. In addition, all 2011 Merit Heifer Recipients and Donors will be recognized.
