Santa Clara County 4-H youth raise animals in the Silicon Valley

4-H youth conduct animal projects at the McClellan Ranch Preserve in Cupertino.

Amid the high-tech companies and the densely populated suburbs of Santa Clara County, UC Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development maintains a vital animal husbandry program at the McClellan Ranch Preserve, reported Allison Williams in the San Jose Mercury-News.

The story said about 15 percent of the Rolling Hills 4-H Club membership are involved with the farm, and a large number of club members participate in other programs, such as entomology, cooking, Lego robotics and archery. But the premise of their involvement is the same whether they're at the farm or learning to handle a bow and arrow.

4-H is providing youth with hands-on learning opportunities intentionally designed around four essential elements
necessary for positive youth development. The program provides them supervised independence, a sense of belonging with a positive group, a spirit of generosity and opportunities to master life's challenges.

4-H co-leader Karen Clayton said she's been involved for four years and decided to help with the pygmy goat project because of her daughter's involvement.

“I think it teaches them leadership skills,” she said, adding that it shows the members that they have a voice.

The McClellan Ranch Preserve, a 23-acre public park in Cupertino, can accommodate steer, sheep, pigs, goats, mini-horses and chickens. In addition, the Santa Clara County UCCE Master Gardener program maintains a vegetable garden on the property.

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