The first of a series of Summer Day Camps for Dickens County 4-H was held on June 23. Members traveled to the Texas Tech Veterinary School, where they toured the facility, including classrooms, radiology, anesthesia and the models. They were able to do some of the tactile skills
AMARILLO ANTICS at the annual 4-H Summer Day Camp excursion to the Texas Panhandle included a side trip to the Cadillac Ranch. | COURTESY PHOTO that vet students have to learn, such as putting a puzzle together in a closed box without looking, and were able to see how the students practice skills on life-sized models of cows and horses.
On to Mariposa, where the live animals are housed, and the members saw how students are taught to handle the large animals in safe ways. A quick trip to the famous Cadillac Ranch for a little community service and recreation followed. Dickens County added several more layers of spray paint to those cars and then helped by picking up three large bags of leftover empty cans and trash left by others.
The last stop of the day was Keeling Cattle Feeders in Hereford. Here participants saw how feedlot animals were kept in top nutritional status. They observed how steam flaked corn is made, mixed vitamins and minerals, with the amount of feed regulated per pen based on the animals’ needs—all important information to keep the nation’s beef industry safe and healthy.
