Local Programs
Animal Science
Livestock (beef, sheep, and swine) and poultry account for approximately 48 percent of the gross revenue generated in the agricultural sector of Virginia's economy. Additionally, the livestock and poultry industries provide a ready market for many of the feed crops produced in Virginia. For the livestock and poultry enterprises to remain economically viable and sustainable, they must use a systems approach to decision-making that integrates science-based principles in the areas of animal care and management (including health, nutrition, parasites, facilities), the environment (including animal waste disposal), and food quality and safety. Forages (hay, pasture, and silage) are the primary source of nutrition for beef cattle and sheep, as well as horses and goats. Forage quality and quantity can have significant impacts upon cost of production. Effective management alternatives that enhance profitability and sustainability are presented through producer clinics, workshops, on-farm meetings, field days, seminars, fact sheets, and newsletters that deal with methods to improve production efficiency and marketing strategies.
Engaging with Communities
Virginia Cooperative Extension specialists in community viability work with Extension agents, campus-based faculty, organizational partners, communities, and individuals to further opportunity and build capacity in five program areas:
- Leadership & Planning
- Community Enterprise and Resiliency
- Community Food System and Enterprises
- Community Planning
- Emerging Community Issues
Examples of our work include training county elected officials, educating entrepreneurs, facilitating collaborative projects, supporting the growth of community food systems and local economies, enhancing agent skills and community capacity in facilitation and leadership, conducting problem-driven research, and creating publications and tools that address critical community needs.
Do you have a question about Community Viability?
Perhaps one of the Community Viability specialists below can help you. Contact a Community Viability specialist or direct a question to them using our Ask an Expert system.
Community Viability Specialists
4-H Community Clubs in Botetourt County - come and join!
What is a 4-H Community Club?
It is a group of boys and girls interested in learning about a specific topic or a general interest that meets once a month in the evening. Depending on events and special club projects 4-H members may meet more often. 4-H is open to all boys and girls ages 9 to 18, as of September 30 of the current year. Limited opportunities for boys and girls ages 5 to 8 are available, see 4-H Cloverbuds brochure below.
For more information on each 4-H club, click below. If you are interested in joining one of our 4-H Community Clubs or have an interest in other 4-H opportunities, please contact Tyler H. Painter, Botetourt 4-H Extension Agent for more information, tpaint85@vt.edu or (540) 473-8260.
What is a Cloverbud?
Botetourt 4-H Cloverbuds are younger members sharing one common interest - a desire to learn more about 4-H and prepare for membership in conventional 4- H clubs. Clubs that have a Cloverbud component provide younger youth in Botetourt County the opportunity to learn about and increase their knowledge in the areas of cooking, horses, and livestock. Currently, we do not have a general Cloverbud-only club that is not specific to certain focus areas. Are you interested in starting a standalone Cloverbud Club? We encourage you to contact the Botetourt Extension Office.
Who can join?
The 4-H Cloverbud program is open to all boys and girls, ages 5 - 8 as of September 30 of the current year.
How to join?
Pick one or more 4-H Club offerings from the list below and contact the Botetourt Extension Office, at (540) 928-3210 or tpaint85@vt.edu for meeting dates, times, and locations. Botetourt 4-H Clubs that welcome Cloverbuds:
- 4-H Cooking Club
- 4-H Horse & Pony (Cloverbuds)
- 4-H Livestock Club
What do we do?
4-H Monthly Cloverbud Programs:
- Recite the Pledges - American & 4-H
- Educational programs, speakers, and activities
- Plan activities
- Participate in activities
- Receive hands-on experiences
All members must enroll in 4-H annually, but Cloverbuds cannot participate in competitive activities or events. Members are encouraged to participate in club meetings. Members are encouraged to participate in community service projects as a club as well as individually. Most clubs conduct several community service projects each year. Involve parents and adults through volunteer opportunities.
4-H Activities related to Cloverbuds:
- Field trips
- Botetourt County Parades
- Horseless Horse Show
- Botetourt County Fair
- Annual Cloverbud Camps at the W.E. Skelton 4-H Center
- Botetourt County 4-H Presentation Contest
- Botetourt County 4-H Poultry Chain
Who are we?
Botetourt 4-H Cooking Club members are a group of boys and girls sharing one common interest - a desire to learn skills for baking and cooking. This club was organized to allow youth in Botetourt County to learn about and increase their knowledge about food safety, nutrition, baking, and cooking skills and have fun while participating.
Who can join?
The 4-H program is open to all youth ages 5 - 19 as of September 30 of the current year. Any young person, male or female, may participate and join if they want to learn more and be with other youth with similar interests.
How to join?
Contact the Botetourt Extension Office, at (540) 928-3210, or tpaint85@vt.edu to find club meeting dates, times, and locations.
Come and join Botetourt 4-H!
What do we do?
Monthly 4-H Club meetings:
- Elect Officers
- Conduct club business
- Educational programs, speakers, and activities
- Plan activities
- Participate in activities
- Receive hands-on training
All members must enroll in 4-H
Members are encouraged to participate in club meetings and local and state events.
Members are encouraged to participate in community service projects as a club and individually. Most clubs conduct several community service projects each year.
Members are encouraged to participate in other county, district, and state 4-H activities and contests.
Involve parents and adults through volunteer opportunities.
Who we are?
The Botetourt County 4-H Dairy Club members are a diverse group of children with different dairy animal interests, including cows and goats. The club was organized to provide the youth of Botetourt County with opportunities to gain experience in animal care, learn about where food comes from, and compete in competitions like showmanship and judging.
Who can join?
The Club is open to young people between the ages of 9 - 19; and younger youth ages 5-8 (Cloverbuds) as of September 30th of the current 4-H year. Any youth interested in animals, who wants to learn more and be with others with similar interests may join. Not all club members are experienced with livestock; many join without owning their livestock.
How to join?
Come to the club's monthly meeting. Contact the Botetourt Extension Office, at (540) 928-3210 or tpaint85@vt.edu for club meeting dates, times & locations.
What do we do?
Hold monthly 4-H club meetings.
- Elect officers
- Conduct club business
- Educational programs and guest speakers
- Plan activities, field trips, community service projects, and more!
- Prepare for competitive Animal Events and Contests
All members enroll in at least one 4-H project book and are encouraged to complete it to learn more about their project and record 4-H activities for the year.
Anything else?
Members are provided with opportunities to participate in 4-H activities. Members participate in community service projects and fundraising activities. Attending events and functions to promote the Dairy Club.
Learn about Honeybees, manage hives safely, & collect honey!
For Boys and Girls ages 9 – 19 as of September 30th of the current year
WHAT 4-H CAN DO FOR YOU!
Provide you the opportunity to:
- Learn the safe handling of honeybees and their hives under competent leadership of trained adult volunteers.
- Increase your knowledge
- Learn new skills
- Belong to a club
- Be a club officer
- Make new friends
- Gain leadership skills
- Learn to work together
- Take 4-H projects related to Beekeeping Education and other topics
- Practice and improve your skills
- Participate in special programs
- Build self-confidence and a positive attitude
- Learn to set realistic goals and strive to achieve them
- Become more responsible
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Receive awards for your effort
Have FUN!
Learn all about horses: safe handling, horse judging, hippology and more!
For Boys and Girls Ages 5 – 19 (as of September 30th)
WHAT CAN 4-H DO FOR YOU!
Provide youth the opportunity to:
- Learn all about horses: safe handling, horse judging, hippology and more! All under the competent leadership of specially trained adult volunteers.
- Increase your knowledge of horses
- Learn new skills
- Belong to a club
- Be a club officer
- Make new friends
- Gain leadership skills
- Learn to work together
- Take 4-H projects related to Horses and other topics
- Practice and improve your skills
- Participate in local shows and the VA State Horse Show
- Participate in 4-H field trips related to the study of horses
- Build self-confidence and a positive attitude
- Learn to set realistic goals and strive to achieve them
- Become more responsible
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Receive awards for your effort
and have FUN!
What is Botetourt 4-H Robotics?
For rising 8th to 12th Graders in Botetourt County
Botetourt 4-H Robotics is a youth-led team of members who share one common interest - a desire to learn more about STEM-related activities that include designing, programming, and constructing robots while accomplishing one or more challenges. Our robotics team also allows students to learn about the engineering process, critical thinking, business management, communication, and more.
For Boys and Girls ages 8 – 12 as of September 30th, of the current 4-H year
WHAT 4-H CAN DO FOR YOU!
Provide you the opportunity to:
- Learn new skills
- Belong to a club
- Make new friends
- Gain leadership skills
- Learn to work together
- Take 4-H projects
- Participate in special 4-H programs
- Build self-confidence and a positive attitude
- Learn to set realistic goals and strive to achieve them
- Become more responsible
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Receive recognition for your effort
Have FUN!
For Boys and Girls ages 9 - 19 as of September 30 of the current 4-H year &
Cloverbuds ages 5 - 8.
WHAT 4-H CAN DO FOR YOU!
- Learn to care for, train, and show animals
- Learn record keeping on feed and other costs
- Participate in competitive 4-H events
- Earn ribbons and premiums for your efforts
- Complete project books
- Participate in 4-H Club Field Trips
- Make new friends while sharing a common interest
- Learn to work together
- Practice and improve your skills
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Become more responsible
- Attend club meetings once a month
HAVE FUN!
Disciplines offered:
- Rifle
- Shotgun
- Archery
- Air Pistol
- Outdoor Skills
For Boys and Girls ages 9 – 19 as of September 30th, of the current 4-H year
WHAT CAN 4-H DO FOR YOU!
Provide you the opportunity to:
- Learn the safe handling and use of firearms and archery tackle under the competent leadership of specially trained adult volunteers.
- Increase your knowledge
- Learn new skills
- Belong to a club
- Be a club officer
- Make new friends
- Gain leadership skills
- Learn to work together
- Take 4-H projects related to Shooting Education and other topics
- Practice and improve your skills
- Participate in local, district, state and national competition matches
- Participate in 4-H Shooting Education camps and special programs
- Build self-confidence and a positive attitude
- Learn to set realistic goals and strive to achieve them
- Become more responsible
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Receive awards for your effort
Have FUN!
For teens, male & female, ages 14 – 19, as of January 1 of the current year
WHAT 4-H CAN DO FOR YOU!
Provide you the opportunity to:
- Learn leadership skills
- Increase your knowledge
- Learn new skills
- Belong to a club
- Be a club officer
- Make new friends
- Learn to work together/Team Building
- Take 4-H projects
- Develop positive life skills such as goal setting, critical thinking, responsibility, self-motivation, citizenship, and conflict resolution
- Participate in local, district, state and national competitions
- Participate in special 4-H programs
- Build self-confidence and a positive attitude
- Improve public speaking and communication skills
- Learn to manage time and other resources
- Receive awards for your effort
Have FUN!