By linda denicola
Staff Writer
On July 5, the second annual Monmouth County 4-H Stars and Stripes Invitational Show at the Horse Park of New Jersey, Route 524, Upper Freehold Township will kick off with a check-in and vet inspection at 7:30 a.m.
The rules are that a certificate of veterinary inspection dated within 30 days of the show must be presented to the designated livestock inspector listing each sheep and goat to be shown.
From that beginning, the event schedule includes a poultry show, goat showmanship, a mounted drill team, a small animal show, sheep showmanship and show, a costume class, small animal showmanship, round robin and an ice cream social at 5 p.m. At that time there will also be a door-prize drawing as well as side-saddle riding and jumping.
There will also be a number of fun events, such as a horseless horse show in which, as Kelly L. Dumas, a spokeswoman for the event, explained, children play the part of a horse and have a kind of relay race. This show is open to the public.
In addition, there will be a costume show where the children and animals dress up as a historical figure from any period in history and another one where they dress up as a cartoon, television, movie or literary character.
"Last year they were dressed as Uncle Sam and as Lilo and Stich characters," Dumas said. "They also had a llama that dressed as a farmer and the child dressed as a tomato."
The object of the costume class is to allow 4-H members and FFA members to demonstrate their creativity and imagination, as well as their showmanship skills. The club member and the animal walk together around the ring in a manner appropriate to the showing of the particular species.
Jersey Bred/Jersey Fresh has awarded this show a grant to provide hands-on education to show participants. The 4-H’ers’ educational displays will feature ultrasound technology to determine market lamb quality, ethical treatment of livestock and good environmental practices, learning how to create nesting boxes for poultry and small animals, and how to identify internal parasites under a microscope from fecal samples.
There will be special demonstrations like sheep dog trials and pigeon release.
The purpose of the show is to offer 4-H and FFA members a chance to meet, receive training and compete. The event will provide participants with the opportunity to practice showmanship, build self-confidence and continue to make the best better, said Dumas.
The 4-H development program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Now celebrating its 100th year, 4-H offers educational programs to all youths in grades K-13, on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. For additional information contact the Monmouth County 4-H Office at (732) 431-7263 or www.nj4h.rutgers.edu.