4-H: turning the youth of America into cold, unfeeling animal killers

[tombogan03884]

Last time we raised a pig I was happy to to put a bullet in the squealing, demanding, escaping bast*rd.
I was PO'ed, Dad would not let me kneecap the SOB first.   

[PegLeg45]

We hope to ship three off to 'college' next week.   

[alfsauve]

I feel so cheated by my parents and grand parents.

I missed out on all of this.    NO NO.  I was in 4-H.   I was gung-ho 4-h.  Won awards.  But for everything EXCEPT those involving animals.   I went to 2 week 4-H camp at Rock Eagle TWICE every year.   I participated in every program except those involving animals.   WHY?           I grew up (till I was 13) on A TREE FARM.

Yes, (weeping) I admit it.   I'm heartless and cruel when it comes to pulpwood and lumber.     I named and even hugged my trees, but didn't hesitate a minute to break out the chainsaw and "KILL" those suckers when the time came.     I even mutilated the bodies. Ripping them from end to end and then mercilessly letting the carcasses slowly dehydrate.  Sometimes taking many months until I put them out of their misery and turned them into actual lumber.



Alf (where "hugging a tree" might have had more to do with arresting my fall than any particular affection)

[Pathfinder]

If ya want good meat, feed 'em marshmallows and maple syrup with their corn...........  

And besides, they're easier to kill if they'll come to ya.      

Now you tell me. Two of the buffalo - the bull and one of the cows, trailered up no problems when it came time to turn them into steaks, but the other cow refused to go near the trailer, even though I had left it in the corral for 2 weeks, and fed them corn in it. After dropping and quartering the first 2, next morning I had to drop the last cow, on the run, with a lever-action .30-30. Talk about old school cowboy s..t!!

[bulldog75]

I raised 4 hogs two years ago and butchered all of them. They tasted great. I used them to clean all of the bad produce out of my garden. I did not waste a thing that year. One large male was the first to go. He would get loose and tear things up. I was so happy to get rid of him. My dads old single shot .22 put him and the rest down with one shot, no squeals just instant lights out. My kids have been putting animals in the fairs for years.

[Sponsor]

[Bidah]

My kids darn well know where meat comes from.  Yes they name the animals, and take care of them like pets at times.  When it comes time to eat them, yes they can be said, but we raised them to eat.  They certainly are far from heartless.  4-H is teaching them how to run a business, and how to work together.  City folk don't work together, they are at each others throats.  Then they come out here in the sticks to "rest" and bring their crappy attack everything attitude with them.

-Bidah

[CJS3]

My granddaughter asked me (during a long trip across Texas) why there were so many cows on the farms/ranches that we passed. I told her they were being raised for food. She thought about it for a while, and then asked if we could stop at McDonalds in the next town.

[fightingquaker13]

My granddaughter asked me (during a long trip across Texas) why there were so many cows on the farms/ranches that we passed. I told her they were being raised for food. She thought about it for a while, and then asked if we could stop at McDonalds in the next town.

You raised her right. When I was into the falconry thing, my friend had taken on a new apprentice. Anyway, we were going to go help him train his bird, and he brought his six year old daughter with us. I was a little sketchy about this because our first stop was at a farmers market to buy a couple of baby rabbits for training/ hawk food purposes. Sure enough, she spent the car trip playing with them in their box (and they were cute), and I'm thinking "This will not end well". We get to the field and she pulls one out and says "Here daddy, this one's the fattest, you should use him first". Now THAT is good parenting.
FQ13

[2HOW]

I was not brought up in 4-H or hunting , and when I moved to TN. I realized this stuff is a heritage thing. Its been passed down for hundreds of years. This IS AMERICA, its an integral part of our culture. DAM its one of the last true AMERICAN cultural experiences the azzhats haven't tried to stop.

[tt11758]

Talk about getting it 180 degrees wrong 

4-H and FFA teach youth how to raise and care for their animals, and it gives them first hand experience as to where food comes from and the sacrifices needed to feed us all a healthy diet.

Anyone that thinks it desensitizes them needs to spend some time with these youth as they talk about the values of the animal they have raised, groomed and shown, and as they put them on the truck to go to market.


Minnesota State Fair 4-H grand champion market lamb and grand champion advanced showman 2004

 
Minnesota State Fair 4-H grand champion swine advanced showman 2005


2003/2004 Minnesota State Beef Queen

Did I mention 2010 bride of the year 


OK, maybe I went over the line with that one, but I don't have any of the cattle show photos saved and needed to fill the spot.

That girl looks a lot like your daughter!!!