Skillathon and Hippology

Animal science knowledge is put into practice as youth have to make identifications and solve problems relating to specific species and types of animals.

The learning starts here.

Skillathons provide an event where 4-H’ers can demonstrate their abilities and skills that have been developed through working with their animal science projects.  Youth will be evaluated on all aspects of their projects from basic management, health and nutrition to industry standards and retail cuts.  This experience brings all aspects of animal science projects together to enhance the learning process.  Contact your County Educator for more information.

Learn about:

  • Animal Care and Ownership
  • Animal Health and Biosecurity
  • Quality Assurance and Food Safety
  • Animal Housing and Facilities
  • Animal and Environment Relationships
  • Human Health
  • Ethics and Communication

PA 4-H Livestock Skillathon

The contest is designed to give 4-H members with beef, swine, goat, sheep and alpaca/llama projects a format for enhancing their education.  Stations may include, but are not limited to:  anatomy/body parts, breeding and reproduction, feeds and nutrition, current events, diseases, equipment identification, forage id/judging, quality assurance, breeds, fiber, marketing, meats (retail id and judging), and keep/cull decision making. This event will be used to select the PA State Skillathon team (senior members only) for the National Contest at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY. 

The Keystone International Livestock Exposition’s Stockman’s contest and the PA Farm Show Skillathon contests participation is encouraged as additional practice opportunities.

Hippology

Hippology is the study of horses. The hippology contest uniquely blends a variety of educational activities offered in the 4-H horse program into one unified event.  The contest will include the following:  judging, written exam, identification/anatomy, and team problems.  The winning senior division team will be eligible to represent Pennsylvania at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and at the Quarter Horse Congress Youth Horse event in Columbus, OH (provided all members meet the contest rules.)

Explore more programs and events

Pennsylvania State 4-H Office

Pennsylvania State 4-H Office