Cooperative Extension Service Communications and Technology Department 3354 1000 E. University Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 (307) 766-6342 • fax (307) 766-3998 • www.uwyo.edu

 

For Immediate Release

Story Contact:

Doug Hixon: (307) 766-3100

 

 

Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor

Phone: (307) 766-6342

E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

Archived News Site www.uwyo.edu/agadmin/news/news.htm

 

Date: May 17, 2006

Animal young meet human young at UW pre-Mother’s Day event

Kid met kid and other animal young met human young last Friday – two days before Mother’s Day – during the University of Wyoming’s School Days at the Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Teaching Arena west of Laramie.

            Sometimes, kid met kid, as when College of Agriculture student Kellie Chichester of Laramie and other Department of Animal Science students introduced baby goats to area kindergarten through second graders.

            More than 600 children and adults toured a series of pens containing goats, pigs, sheep, donkeys, cattle and horses.

            The College of Agriculture’s Department of Animal Science sponsors the annual event with its staff and faculty members and students volunteering to organize School Days and serve as tour guides.

            School Days began in the early 1990s, and average attendance is 600 to 800, said Doug Hixon, professor and head of the animal science department.

            “These are young kids, but they are never too young to learn about animals in a positive light,” he said. “One of the interesting aspects of discussions between the tour guides and the little kids is how the young animals and children are similar or different. Discussion items include their size, their care and what they eat. These youngsters often have some very insightful questions.”

            The event consolidates requests from school groups each spring to visit baby animals, said Hixon.

            “We wanted to accommodate these requests, but it took a tremendous amount of time if we did whenever they requested it,” he said. “School Days became a viable alternative for multiple reasons. We have everyone in one location and just have everyone attend on the same day. The Cliff and Martha Hansen Livestock Teaching Arena is a tremendous central facility to use for such an event.”

            The young students aren’t the only ones learning – so are the college students and adults.

            “Communication skills are critical to everyone’s success,” said Hixon. “You have to be able to communicate with clientele, no matter what their age or level of expertise. I believe this is a pretty good exercise in communications for undergraduate or graduate students, as well as a staff or faculty person. It also allows us to dispel many myths that people of influence, such as teachers and their assistants for example, might have related to animals and their care.”

            The recent Albany County Cow-Belles Ag Expo at the arena provides agriculture information to Laramie-area third graders. Last fall, the animal science department hosted Laramie High School vo-ag students who were completing an animal science unit.

            “A full day of speakers and tours of laboratory and animal facilities allowed them insight into careers and research activities associated with our animal and veterinary sciences curriculum,” said Hixon.

UW students participating in School Days were undergraduates Kellee Cremeans, Laramie, and Kelly Lawson, Garrett, and graduate students Becky Atkinson, Britney Burt, Chichester, and John Willford, all of Laramie, Travis Smith, Torrington, Platt Price, Malad, Idaho, and Keith Underwood, Shallowater, Texas.

            UW Livestock Farm staff participating included mechanic Doug Predmore, sheep livestock manager Brent Larson, and manager David Moore.

            Animal science department staff and faculty members participating were Ed Van Kirk, research scientist; Steve Paisley, assistant professor; Steve Horn, professor; Kathy Austin, senior research scientist; Lance Miller, program associate; Brandi Brewer, accounting associate; and Hixon. Pepper Jo Six, admissions representative from the Office of Academic and Student Programs, also assisted.

            On the Web: http://www.uwyo.edu/anisci/Default.asp

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