Hey Giants, ever wonder what the College of the Sequoias Tulare Campus’ Livestock Club is like and what it has to offer for our education? The Tulare campus has many programs that focus on Agriculture and Animal Science. One of those is a club called The Livestock Club. It is for students who are pursuing a career in the livestock industry and are trying to gain hands-on experience for caring and handling livestock, as well as gain knowledge of animal science and exposure to animal agriculture.
Russell McKeith is the main Animal Science Instructor for the Livestock club on the Tulare campus. He has been teaching at the Tulare campus since 2014. Inspired by his father who was also an animal science professor, Mr. McKeith explained that he wanted to pursue the same career choice because he always had a love for animals. He adds that he is passionate about teaching and sharing knowledge about animal science with his students.
The Livestock Club is also a part of the AG Council, an organization that is constructed by about eight agriculture-related clubs on the COS Tulare Campus. Those clubs include: The Livestock Club, Ornamental Horticulture, AG Business, Cultivating Change, Crops Club, AG Mech, OH Business and Equines. Prof. McKieth explained that, “AG Council is our overarching club since we’re over here at the Tulare campus. And any AG student or any student interested in AG can be a part of the AG Council.” Prof. McKieth further explained that The Livestock Club welcomes any and all students who are interested in learning about livestock and animal science.
The Livestock Club has many activities including field trips, running a livestock show team, volunteering at the Tulare County Fair, and managing livestock shows and auctions. The club annually participates in the Fall Harvest Festival, the Tulare County Livestock Judging Contest and Ag Ventures. The Livestock Club’s Show Team even participates in collegiate competitions that allow the students to enter their livestock ranging from cows, sheep, and pigs. With this students gain hands-on experience with handling cattle, sheep and pigs owned by the school.
During the Fall Harvest Fest, the club also organizes a petting zoo for the community to enjoy. Students serve as officers, volunteers and paid herdsmen for feeding and caring for the animals in the livestock club during these events as well. Students in The Livestock Club will also assist with raising livestock for 4-H and FFA projects and help facilitate livestock auctions at the Tulare County Fair.
The Tulare County Fair is actually where the Livestock Club truly shines! While participating in the fair, the club’s students will also have the opportunity to learn how to cosign the livestock that is brought to the fair. The Livestock Club cosigns registered livestock to be sold at these events. The more common livestock that gets cosigned by the club are heifers and shorthorn steers, so this method allows students to understand the process of marketing and merchandising livestock. The COS Tulare Campus’ Livestock Club helps students develop public speaking and interpersonal skills that are important for future careers in Animal Science, Agriculture, Veterinary assistant/technician and farm or ranch manager and ect. So to any students interested in pursuing a career in livestock handling, just submit a form or contact the Tulare Campus’ Animal Science Program and click the link on the COS Website.
