Youth learn valuable animal care, nutrition skills

Extension Specialists and Students from Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine taught area youth Sunday how to safely care for and feed animals.

Through hands-on demonstrations and learning opportunities, young animal caretakers practiced good wound care, proper methods for taking animals' temperatures, listing to an animal's heartbeat, methods for administering medications, identifying parasites and more.

Veterinary Science students from WSU visited the Colville Reservation to deliver a 4-H Livestock Nutrition and Health Workshop featuring hands-on education. A representative from WSU Academic and Student Success and other Extension experts were also present to share their knowledge about WSU and college life. Local Veterinarian Charlie McCraigie demonstrated how to perform a basic physical exam on animals.

"Showcase posters" were on display, highlighting reservation residents who work in animal related careers. The posters provided personal testimonials on the importance animal health and nutrition plays in their respective careers. Those who were showcased included a K9 officer, barrel racer, Cattle ranchers, a veterinarian, and a Fish & Wildlife program manager.

Youth participants from 4 – 17 divided into age-appropriate groups, then worked their way through eight hands-on learning stations. The youth voted for "People's Choice" awards for their favorite stations. Results were – 1st place Wound Care, 2nd place Live Animal Physical exam, and 3rd place Injecting Medications.