Livestock Mentor Program

The purpose of the Texas 4-H Livestock Mentor Program is to provide training for 4-H livestock project leaders, equipping them with a valuable set of resources and tools from which to build and support families enrolled in a specific livestock project. The overall goal of the training program is for volunteers to return to their home county and work cooperatively with the County Extension Agent to provide support and leadership to the 4-H project, members and leaders, thereby enhancing the project experience for youth. Livestock Mentors must be willing to commit service time back to the project area in their home county.

The 4-H Livestock Mentor program provides project leaders with two central themes of training.

•      The species-specific subject matter provides volunteers an overview of the animal industry and current practices related to health, feeding, nutrition, selection, daily care and animal evaluation.

•      The youth and volunteer development portion of the training provides volunteers with information about serving in a coaching/mentoring role when working with youth and adults. The topics include ages and stages of youth development, goal setting, developing people of character, additional 4-H project opportunities, positive reinforcement, teamwork and useful resources and tools that the volunteer can use with families and County Extension Agents.

Livestock Mentor trainings are offered for horse, beef, swine, sheep & goat, and now small animal (poultry and rabbit) livestock projects. Every year, each region will be responsible for hosting one Livestock Mentor training with training on two species offered at each one. Training on beef and swine species will be conducted together in two regions each year, while the other two regions will host training on sheep & goats and small animals. Regions will then rotate the species subject matter training offered the following year. The horse mentor training will also rotate throughout the four regions, being offered on an annual basis.

For more information on the 4-H livestock mentor program, contact your county Extension agent!

Potential Livestock Mentors should be adults who are registered 4-H volunteers and have a clear interest in helping youth and families with their livestock projects. The training is not targeted for new volunteers; instead, it is targeted toward 4-H project leaders who are willing to commit the time to return to their home county and work with 4-H members that are in their first and/or second year of their livestock project.

One of the items that will be more heavily emphasized in Livestock Mentor trainings is the role of the adult volunteer as a "mentor" or "coach" to youth. Becoming a successful coach takes practice and patience from adult leaders. Adults who are successful coaches:

  • have a defined coaching philosophy and objectives,
  • understand the importance of effective communication,
  • provide positive reinforcement, and

  • motivate youth.

Contact Information

Mr. Kevin Chilek
Extension Program Specialist - 4-H
P.O. Box 2150
Bryan, TX 77843-2150
Phone: 979-845-6800
Fax: 979-845-6501
E-mail:  kchilek@ag.tamu.edu