4-H and Youth

4-H Livestock Projects

Appointment: 100% Extension (4-H Livestock Projects)

Education: B.S., Kansas State University; M.S. and Ph.D., Colorado State University

Extension Interests

 
Address & Contact Information:
Purdue University
Department of 4-H and Youth
Agricultural Administration Building
615 W. State St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2053
Telephone: (765) 494-8427
Fax: (765) 496-1152
Email: rusk@purdue.edu

Major Extension Activities

• Indiana State Fair - Dr. Rusk is responsible for the organization and implementation of the 4-H livestock shows held during the State Fair. His duties include: coordinating entries, hiring judges, lining up awards, working with county educators and volunteer leaders, as well as enforcing the terms and conditions to insure a fair and equitable program for all exhibitors. There were 11,379 4-H livestock exhibits in the 2000 Indiana State Fair.
• Judging Contests - as chairman of the Ag. Judging Committee, Dr. Rusk oversees the 13 state judging contests held each year. Prior to joining the staff at Purdue University, Dr. Rusk coached the livestock judging team at Colorado State University for 10 years. Because of his background, Clint is well aware of the valuable training that comes from these leadership development activities. Dr. Rusk says, "Judging contests do more to develop self-confidence, speaking ability and leadership in young people than any other program I have ever been associated with." There were 1898 4-H and FFA entries in the state judging contests last year.
• Animal Science Workshop for Youth - Dr. Rusk serves as a co-chairperson for this educational event held annually for the past 26 years at Purdue University. 4-H members in the 9^th - 12^thgrades participate in 9 specie groups to gain valuable "hands on" experience with their favorite animals. The 2000 workshop was attended by 230 youth from five states.
• Junior Pork Day - Dr. Rusk and Dr. Brian Richert organize this educational program for 4-H members interested in furthering their knowledge of the swine project. Participation in a judging contest and skill-a-thon activity provided a full day for the 250 young people who took part in 2000.

Invited Extension Presentations

• "Fitting and Showing Market Lambs", Boone County Sheep Meeting, May 1997.
• "What Judges Look For in the Beef Project at County Fairs", Huntington County Beef Meeting, June 1997.
• "Utilizing Animal Projects to Develop Life Skills in Youth", LaGrange County Volunteer Recognition Banquet, September 1997.
• "Motivating and Preparing Youth Teams for Competition", State Horse and Pony Leader’s Conference, November 1997.
• "Youth Competition: Blue, Red, White….and Green?", State P-Caret Meeting at Purdue, November 1997.
• "A Common Sense Approach to Presenting Oral Reasons", Rush County Livestock Meeting, November 1997.
• "Leadership Development and Livestock Selection", Randolph Southern High School, November1997.
• "The Recipe for a Successful 4-H Sheep Project", Hoosier Sheep Industry Symposium, January 1998.
• "Selecting a 4-H Lamb Project", Whitley-Kosciusko Sheep Meeting, January 1998.
• "Sportsmanship and Ethics in the Horse and Pony Show Ring", Putnam County Horse and Pony Club, January 1998.
• "Leadership Development Through Judging Team Participation", Delaware County Horse and Pony Club, January 1998.
• "Leadership Development Through Livestock Selection", Hamilton Southeastern FFA Banquet, February 1998.
• "Learning to Judge Anything", Sonshiner’s 4-H Club in Tippecanoe County, February 1998.
• "Selecting Steers and Heifers for 4-H Projects", Huntington County Beef Meeting, February 1998.
• "What’s Up Doc?", Frankfort Rabbit Workshop, March 1998.
• "The Virtues of Showing Livestock", Central District 4-H Judges and Leader's Clinic, March 1998.
• "Sheep Selection and Showmanship", Sickels Lamb Camp, June 1998.

Extension Publications

• Dog Record, 4-H 390 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Swine Enrollment Form, 4-H 514 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Beef Cattle Enrolment Form, 4-H 515 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Horse and Pony Enrollment Form, 4-H 516 (Revised)
• 4-H Dog Showmanship Score Sheet, 4-H 650 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Sheep Enrollment Form, 4-H 670 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Dairy Cattle Enrollment Form, 4-H 678 (Revised)
• 4-H Animal Affidavit, 4-H 836 (Revised)
• Indiana 4-H Horse and Pony Color Guard, 4-H 853 (Revised)
• Horse and Pony Lease Agreement, 4-H 869 (Revised)
• Veteran Dog Score Sheet, 4-H 870 (New)
• Rabbits, Rabbits, Rabbits, 4-H 288 (Revised)

Funded Projects for Extension

• To revise the 4-H CCS swine curriculum, $30,000 from the University of Minnesota.
• To investigate the use of electronic identification of 4-H animal projects, $27,150 from Purdue CES.
• To develop a computer tabulation program for carcass contests, $10,000 from Purdue CES.
• To support the 13 Agricultural Judging Contests, $4,750 (annually) from the Indiana Sate Fair Commission.
• To send the winning livestock judging team to national competition, $600 (annually) from the Indiana Farm Bureau.