According to the official 4-H Web site, the program began back in the 1890s to provide young people throughout the country with an agricultural education. Since then, the program has expanded to include many other activities like woodworking and forestry, but the main focus of 4-H clubs remains the same: teaching children how to become responsible, caring adults.In the Falcon area, 4-H families are doing that by teaching their children how to raise and care for livestock.Tongue in cheek, Chris Glaser, father of 4-H sons Chase and Bryce, said, “4-H is the best family orientated program because the children do all the work. The parents can’t do it for them.” But his wife, Vickie, a group-leader for the Plainsmen Pig Club, and Chris spends hours hauling his sons and their animals to and from 4-H events. Like most families whose children participate in the El Paso County Fair, they spend the entire week in Calhan, so 4-H is very much a family activity.Chase, age 11, said the qualities he looks for when selecting a pig are muscle, balance, and soundness. “Plus, you have to train them when they are young and spend time walking and cleaning them,” he added. His younger brother, Bryce, said, “I like to play with the pigs.” Both boys appeared to be at ease moving and caring for animals that weigh three times as much as they do.Shane Weatherford, a 15-year-old sophomore, has been a Plainsman 4-H member for the last 10 years. “I like to raise pigs because of their personality,” he said. “They are very smart.” Everyday he said he walks and cares for “Tom Cruise” and “Vin Diesel,” the 200-plus pound porkers he purchased in the fall when they weighed a mere 80 lbs.Shane is currently the vice president of the Plainsmen Club and looks forward to putting the money he makes from the sale of his pigs towards a car. He said the pigs generate more income than other farm animals because their feed is relatively inexpensive, and they gain weight quickly.His brother, Colton, raises sheep and has already won Grand Champion and Showmanship ribbons. Colton lost one of his lambs this year because it was born during a February snowstorm, but he was able to save the other one. Both brothers said that it is difficult to send their animals to market after caring for them for an entire year, but it is all part of the learning process. Farm animals are raised for breeding or market.The Gackle family has three children involved in the Plainsman 4-H Club: Mathew, age 15, Ryan, age 13, and Megan, age 11. When they first started in 4-H, they raised chickens and showed dogs. All three children also participated in the Shooting Sports program. Now, Ryan and Megan raise pigs and spend a lot of time keeping the pen neat and clean on the family’s 6.5-acre lot in Falcon.Mathew said he took part in the “catch-a-calf” event at last year’s El Paso County Fair and caught a 200 lb. calf. He said that 4-H participants are allowed to compete in the event yearly, and if they catch calf during the allotted time, they are awarded a 600 lb. calf in the fall. Normally, an animal that size would cost about $1,000. “But once you win a calf, you can no longer participate in the contest,” Mathew said.His steer has now at least doubled its weight and will sell for around $2,000, unless he wins a Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion ribbon, which will boost the price to around $5,000. Mathew is shooting for the latter amount, but even if he doesn’t achieve his goal, his experience gained won’t go to waste. He hopes to attend Colorado State University and become a large animal veterinarian.
