Section 6: Ownership Requirements and Expectations

Beef, Goat, Sheep, Swine, Rabbit, Poultry, Dog, or Companion Animal

Animal projects require care for an extended period of time. To grow knowledge and experience, a 4-H member must be involved in the care of project animals throughout the project, thus it is expected that 4-H project members own and care for their animals according to these guidelines:

1. A beef, goat, sheep, swine, rabbit, poultry, dog, or companion animal (county fair only) project may be owned:
   1. Solely by the 4-H exhibitor or
   2. In partnership by the 4-H exhibitor and/or his or her immediate family.
   3. All exhibitor family member names may be on the animal nomination and will be eligible to show that animal.
   4. Immediate family is defined as members of a household including parents, brothers, sisters, and youth in care of the head of the household.
2. When 4-H exhibitor(s) and parent(s) sign an animal nomination indicating the exhibitor(s) will feed and care for the animals, it is expected that the exhibitor(s) will have primary responsibility for the animals. Reasonable modifications are acceptable in cases where the exhibitor may not have primary responsibility for the duration of the project (i.e., separation of parents and more than one residence, group homes, etc.). 

Horses, Dairy Cattle and Dairy Goats

1. An exhibitor in a 4-H show of a horse, a dairy animal or dairy goat, may show an animal owned by someone outside of the immediate family provided;
   1. He or she manages (cares for, feeds, trains, grooms, etc.) and has use of the animal as a 4-H project animal at least 75% of the time during the project year; and
   2. Permission for use of the animal is certified by the owner on the 4-H member’s ID sheet. 
   3. Exceptions may apply for youth in group homes that have the purpose of providing a mentoring atmosphere for at-risk youth.
   4. It is recommended that the same ownership guidelines be used for county only projects (i.e., llamas, pygmy goats, etc.).