This series is offered in connection with the University of Wisconsin Madison Animal & Dairy Sciences Department, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and Division of Extension.

The Wisconsin Youth Livestock Program (WYLP) is excited to offer these LIVE Virtual Zoom educational programs for the spring of 2022.  These current topics are for youth and adults alike and occur on the second Thursday of the month from January through May.  Each session begins at 7 p.m. CST with a presentation followed by the question-and-answer time.  Register for any or all the events to get the connection information by email.

These sessions will provide awareness and knowledge of animal agriculture in the challenge areas listed.  They will also give details on careers and how this area connects with your animal project.  There will be a case study to further develop discussion skills with a local project leader, agriculture, and or science teacher on the discussion topic. Younger youth can learn through a take-home activity they talk about with parents and or project leaders.

Register for Sessions

Recordings of Sessions

January 13 – Grand Challenge:  Animal Health & Welfare
Speaker:  Dr. Sarah Adcock, UW Madison Animal & Dairy Sciences Department
Take-Home Animal Observation Activity
We Care Videos from the National Pork Board
Animal Care Video from the Wisconsin Beef Council of Wisconsin Beef Producers
Please fill out the evaluation if you reviewed the session.

February 10 – Grand Challenge:  Precision Agriculture, Use of Technology in Agriculture
Speakers:
Dr. Rex Sun, North Dakota State University, Utilizing thermal imaging to measure the temperament of livestock.
Justin Miller, Datamars, Activity monitoring devices for livestock (Fitbit for animals)
Joe Liefer, John Deere, Autonomous Tractors
Precision Agriculture Video from the Wisconsin Beef Council of Wisconsin Beef Producers
John Deere Autonomous Tractor Video
Please fill out the evaluation if you reviewed the session.

March 3 – Grand Challenge:  Food Safety, Pork Live & Carcass Evaluation, Fabrication and Cooking with Pork
Thank you to our sponsors:  UW Platteville, provided pigs; Wisconsin Pork Association monetary donation to offset expenses, Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Building staff & graduate students
Speakers:
Jim Murray, National Pork Board and Certified Executive Chef
Dr. Jeff Sindelar, Extension Meats Specialist
Bernie O’Rourke, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist
Jim Magolski, Perdue Farms
Food Safety Video from the Wisconsin Beef Council of Weber’s Meat Processing, Cuba City, WI
A User’s Guide to USDA Pork Carcass Cutout
Meat and Food Science Careers
Swine selection
Pork Carcass Evaluation

Please fill out the evaluation if you reviewed the session.

May 12 – Grand Challenge:  Land and Water and Biomedical Advancements
Susanne Wiesner, Biological Systems Engineering, UW- Madison
Vanessa Leone, Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery, UW-Madison
Video 1 from the Wisconsin Beef Council on Sustainability
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
Please fill out the evaluation if you reviewed the session.

Some of the questions we hope to cover:  Why are we concerned? What is the scientific problem?  What do we know?  What more do we need to learn? How does this apply to my youth animal project?  What are the career opportunities?

Please have the Educational Verification Form printed before the session begins.  You can write down thoughts throughout the session. Complete the form and turn it into your county fair and or livestock committee to verify your participation.  These activities can serve as “county educational requirements”.

Questions, contact Bernie O’Rourke, UW- Madison Animal & Dairy Science Extension Youth Livestock Specialist at (608) 263-4304 or borourke2@wisc.edu.