THE NORTHWEST LAMBOREE: A SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEER-LED EDUCATIONAL EFFORT Kerr, S.R., WSU-Klickitat County Extension Director, 228 W. Main Street, MS-CH-12 Goldendale, WA 98620 ABSTRACT In 2005, a small but dedicated group of Klickitat County (WA) 4-H sheep project leaders approached county Extension personnel to discuss the need for a high-quality but affordable educational event for area sheep project youth. Novice and non-farm youth, in particular, needed to learn how to select, care for, feed, fit and show their project animals successfully. However, these volun-teers wanted to sponsor an event that would highlight the entire sheep industry, not just the youth market lamb project. Thus, the Annual Northwest Lamboree was born. Each Lamboree has included educational workshops highlighting the nature and importance of each segment of the sheep industry; educated youth and adult pro-ducers about the importance of quality assurance; helped producers improve their management skills; promoted networking, interaction and camaraderie; and provided a fun, memorable and affordable educational event for families in the northwest. Lamboree attendees participate in supplemental activities such as halter making, felting, knitting, spinning, a skillathon and more. Four excellent meals are provided, including a restaurant-quality lamb dinner. Assessment of the 2006 Lamboree revealed at least 40 people volunteered over 551 hours to the event; this donated labor was valued at $11,271. Participants’ evaluations document the educational impact of this program. Volunteers continue to be the heart of the Lamboree, creating a well-regarded program that attracts more than 100 people annually. SITUATION/NEED Fewer parents and leaders have direct experience with sheep production Packers are concerned about quality assurance issues with youth-raised livestock Youth need to learn basics about selection, feeding care, quality assurance, fitting and showing to be successful with a sheep project Producers need current information and advice as they strive to produce quality products profitably INPUTS/RESOURCES County fairground, facilities and staff Local professional mobile catering company Presenters from throughout the northwest 4-H/FFA advisors, volunteers, aides and youth Planning committee volunteers County economic development funds National Lamb Board promotional items Exhibitors (displays by feed dealers, etc.) Donated craft items (fleeces, dyes, etc.) Wool processing items (wheels, carders, etc.) Resource library Local and regional producers Donated door prizes and awards Superior Farms (cash & USDA-inspected lamb) Registration fee ($25) OUTPUTS/ACTIONS Four Lamborees have been conducted, including: Educational workshops and presentations Multi-level skillathon Exhibitors’ booths Four meals Door prizes Educational packet Activity stations Educational poster contest WORKSHOP TOPICS Show Lamb Track Quality assurance Selection Nutrition and feeding Show ring ethics Judging Ultrasound Fitting Showing Showmanship questions Skillathon Commercial Track Nutrition Sheep production systems in other countries Q&A with panel of experts Selection Ultrasound Fiber Track Felting Dyeing Overview of weaving Needle felting Spinning Fleece skirting and sorting Cooking Track Traditional Chilean lamb roast Shanks Chili Roast leg of lamb FEEDBACK FROM YOUTH “ I liked how the presenters thoroughly explained their topics and how we did hands on work. Thank you for this great experience.” “ It was great! I loved it and learned a lot. “ The fiber [track] was awesome. The packets to take home were cool. The showmanship was good too.” “ I liked how it taught us about what the judges like, how to slick sheer, and how to show. I learned a lot about what the judges expect of me at judging and fair. I never knew how to slick sheer but now I know. Even though I know a lot about fitting and showing, I though you taught it good to the novice and kids that don’t know how to show good.” “ THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TEACHING ME ABOUT SHEEP!” FEEDBACK FROM ADULTS “ The advanced showmanship class was top notch! The advanced judging was very clear and understandable. Great job! Worth the trip.” “ I thought this was a great lamb camp. Lots of information for the kids to use. The speakers were great, the show-men/instructors were also very knowledgeable. It was very affordable and the food was great.” “ I think the “hands on” experiences were very helpful—I saw my daughters go from 0 confidence to ready to try most anything with different size/age/breed of sheep.” “ My child was very excited with the information she learned from both days.” “ Fiber arts were great! It was great to have a flexible schedule so you could go to more than one class in different tracts. Food was awesome! Thanks so much for hosting this event.” “ I liked the variety of topics and the number of experienced people there to teach.” “ We always won in our county and get blown away at state and the couple of other shows we attended. We now have some real ways to become more competitive." CONCLUSIONS The Lamboree’s origination and continued success depend on a core group of dedicated and well-connected volunteers from all aspects of the sheep industry. Donated goods and services from a private catering company, totaling $2,000-5,000 annually, are key to keeping the Lamboree an affordable event with excellent lamb meals. Program planners make significant changes in each year’s Lamboree to address current issues, keep the program fresh for repeat attendees and respond to suggestions on program evaluations by participants. Changes being considered for future Lamborees include reducing the event to one day and/or combining the Lamboree with similar educational events for swine (“Porkapalooza”) and beef (“Beef-O-Rama”) youth and adult producers. 29.3 to 46.6% My understanding of the sheep industry Reported increase in skills and/or knowledge (range between years) Examples of questions asked on program evaluations (retrospective pre-test/post-test self report design) 21.0 to 55.5% My understanding of quality assurance 29.1 to 62.0% My ability to promote the sheep industry 12.7 to 41.8% My ability to show a sheep with confidence 27.0 to 63.0% My ability to fit a sheep for showing 24.2 to 35.0% My ability to help others with less sheep experience 23.9 to 62.1% My ability to select a breeding ewe or ram 21.9 to 62.8% My ability to select a market lamb 32.5 to 77.0% My ability to judge sheep SELECTED OUTCOMES/IMPACTS

ABSTRACT

In 2005, a small but dedicated group of Klickitat County (WA) 4-H sheep project leaders approached county Extension personnel to discuss the need for a high-quality but affordable educational event for area sheep project youth. Novice and non-farm youth, in particular, needed to learn how to select, care for, feed, fit and show their project animals successfully. However, these volun-teers wanted to sponsor an event that would highlight the entire sheep industry, not just the youth market lamb project. Thus, the Annual Northwest Lamboree was born. Each Lamboree has included educational workshops highlighting the nature and importance of each segment of the sheep industry; educated youth and adult pro-ducers about the importance of quality assurance; helped producers improve their management skills; promoted networking, interaction and camaraderie; and provided a fun, memorable and affordable educational event for families in the northwest. Lamboree attendees participate in supplemental activities such as halter making, felting, knitting, spinning, a skillathon and more. Four excellent meals are provided, including a restaurant-quality lamb dinner. Assessment of the 2006 Lamboree revealed at least 40 people volunteered over 551 hours to the event; this donated labor was valued at $11,271. Participants’ evaluations document the educational impact of this program. Volunteers continue to be the heart of the Lamboree, creating a well-regarded program that attracts more than 100 people annually.

SITUATION/NEED

Fewer parents and leaders have direct experience with sheep production

Packers are concerned about quality assurance issues with youth-raised livestock

Youth need to learn basics about selection, feeding care, quality assurance, fitting and showing to be successful with a sheep project

Producers need current information and advice as they strive to produce quality products profitably

INPUTS/RESOURCES

County fairground, facilities and staff

Local professional mobile catering company

Presenters from throughout the northwest

4-H/FFA advisors, volunteers, aides and youth

Planning committee volunteers

County economic development funds

National Lamb Board promotional items

Exhibitors (displays by feed dealers, etc.)

Donated craft items (fleeces, dyes, etc.)

Wool processing items (wheels, carders, etc.)

Resource library

Local and regional producers

Donated door prizes and awards

Superior Farms (cash & USDA-inspected lamb)

Registration fee ($25)

OUTPUTS/ACTIONS

Four Lamborees have been conducted, including:

Educational workshops and presentations

Multi-level skillathon

Exhibitors’ booths

Four meals

Door prizes

Educational packet

Activity stations

Educational poster contest

WORKSHOP TOPICS

Show Lamb Track

Quality assurance

Selection

Nutrition and feeding

Show ring ethics

Judging

Ultrasound

Fitting

Showing

Showmanship questions

Skillathon

Commercial Track

Nutrition

Sheep production systems in other countries

Q&A with panel of experts

Selection

Ultrasound

Fiber Track

Felting

Dyeing

Overview of weaving

Needle felting

Spinning

Fleece skirting and sorting

Cooking Track

Traditional Chilean lamb roast

Shanks

Chili

Roast leg of lamb