Michigan youth create service projects to benefit Michigan AgrAbility

Bev Berens, Michigan AgrAbility -

Michigan AgrAbility, a partnership between MSU Extension and Michigan Easter Seals, has reached clients in all regions of this state and it’s not just adults taking notice.

Michigan AgrAbility, a partnership between Michigan State University Extension and Michigan Easter Seals, has reached clients in all regions of this state and it’s not just adults taking notice.

The Tri Town 4-H Club in Branch County and the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at MSU both conduct a jackpot show from which proceeds are donated to AgrAbility.

Alpha Gamma Rho sponsors a beef preview show in January at the Mason County Fairgrounds. The 2015 show was by far the largest in the show’s three-year history with nearly 300 steers and heifers exhibited by youth from a tri-state area. The benefit show raised more than $7,000 that was contributed to Michigan AgrAbility, money that goes toward reaching and providing services to farmers with disabilities. The fraternity also spent a Saturday helping install adaptive equipment onto farm equipment owned by Todd West, a young man farming from the confines of a wheelchair.

The Tri Town 4-H Club is planning its sixth Clover Classic sheep and goat jackpot show in Branch County. The May 16 show is open to any 4-H or FFA youth member age 7-21 as of January 1, 2015. The club learned of Michigan AgrAbility in 2014 while club leader Ashley Herman attended the Alpha Gamma Rho beef show.

“I brought the information home to our kids,” she said. “We are always looking for ways to benefit our community. The members thought this was a great cause and we decided to contribute to Michigan AgrAbility.”

Ned Stoller, engineer for Michigan AgrAbility accepted a $2,000 check during the Branch County Fair sheep show in 2014 as proceeds from the event.

The 2015 show will be held at the Branch County Fairgrounds in Coldwater. Registration information can be found on the following websites: www.misheep.org, www.michcla.com or http://michiganboergoat.org/.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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