By Heather Cassill

Each year, the Clark County 4-H program places 20 incubators into third grade classrooms at Strode Station, Shearer, Justice and Conkwright elementaries, St Agatha Academy and Calvary Christian School.

The chicks that hatch are then adopted out to various families throughout Clark County in groups of no less than six chicks per group.

It was discovered over the years some families understood the impact of caring for baby chicks and some families did not.

As a result of these discoveries, it was determined Clark County 4-H needed to revive and change its thought process concerning the health and well-being of these chicks and families.

In 2018, the Clark County 4-H program under the guidance of two 4-H volunteer leaders will offer the opportunity for families interested in adopting and learning about the care of poultry to participate in the 4-H Chick Chain Poultry Project.

The program is designed to help youth (and their families) learn how to raise baby chicks into productive adulthood.

This program will not only teach youth responsibility but also about ethical treatment of animals, biosecurity, record keeping and communication skills.

Youth will receive eight to 10 baby chickens at the end of March and April and raise them over the summer.

At the culmination of the project is a show and tell so youth can showcase what they have learned and their projects.

The program is currently open to youth ages 9 to 18 (prior to Jan. 1, 2018).

Youth will participate in seven to eight meetings from February to May with the culminating event at the end of summer.

Even if a youth already has birds, we invite them to enroll in this program with the option of adopting additional chicks or not.

Deadline to enroll is Feb. 1.

For more information about this program and other 4-H programs, contact the Clark County Extension Office at 744-4682 or visit the Clark County 4-H webpage at http://clark.ca.uky.edu/content/4-h-youth-development.

Heather Cassill is the Clark County agent for 4-H youth development.