A 4-H’ers View
“4-H is all about learning by doing. Kids work on projects related to agriculture, science, and citizenship, helping them grow into confident, skilled leaders in their communities.”
Two local 4-H students answer the question: “What would you want the non-farming community to know about farming?”
Caring for Cavies
By Rebecca Wagaman, 17
One of my favorite 4-H projects is the Cavy project. Cavies, more commonly known as guinea pigs, are in the rodent family. There are 13 different breeds of cavies, and they tend to live five to seven years. Once cavies are fully grown, they typically weigh between two to 2.6 pounds. Cavies are a common pet in the United States, especially among children.
Sadly, there are a lot of misconceptions about what is healthy for them. To start, there are some unhealthy options for housing. For one cavy you should have a cage that is 30 to 36 inches. If you choose to use wood shavings as bedding, pine and cedar wood should be avoided because they will cause respiratory problems. You also don’t want to have the bedding wet all the time since that can cause bumblefoot, an infection of the feet caused by an unclean environment. It is very painful and if left untreated, can kill them.
We all love to give our cavies treats, and they love eating the treats, but there are some treats that are detrimental to their health. Cavies thrive on veggies, hay, and fruit. But even then, they should not get fruit every day. They should not eat alfalfa hay due to high sugar content or really eat any sugar at all or treats with seeds.
Sugar needs to be carefully regulated. I feed my cavy one sugary treat a week at most. Even my “sugary” treats have a low sugar content. My favorite treats to feed are little bites of fruit like apple or pear and natural fruit and hay-based treats from Kaytee or Oxbow. There are foods they should not eat as well.
Other things that are bad for guinea pigs are usually done because they are cute. Swimming is something cavies should never do. Not only is being submerged in water bad for them but there is a considerable amount of stress involved in swimming. Cavies are not built to swim and do not swim naturally. Along that line, cavies self-groom and should not be given baths unless it is absolutely necessary, or you are told to by your veterinarian.
Another thing people do to cavies is dress them up. Cavies are not prey animals, and it stresses them out to be put in a restrictive position. Not only that, but they do not adjust to having something on them like dogs or cats do. It will continually cause them stress. Causing your guinea extreme amounts of stress may cause them to be aggressive or afraid all the time.
Overall, the worst thing you can do for your cavy is use them for entertainment. There are so many healthy things that a cavy does that are adorable and silly. One of those is popcorning, which happens when the cavy is very excited and happy. Popcorning is when a cavy jumps in the air. They will also wiggle and run when popcorning. When a cavy trusts you, they might cuddle with you or will talk to you. They will also gently nibble on you as a sign they love you. Cavies are
such a fun pet and companion but need proper care to live their best life.
Why Farming is Good for Our Planet
By Aadaeze Genda, 10
Farming is important for many reasons, like feeding the population, which means people can eat corn, apples, bananas, and other foods grown on farms.
Environmental benefits: Farming can help the balance of life in the environment by reducing erosion, improving water conservation, sequestering carbon in soils, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving and restoring habitats, and improving soil and water health. Agriculture provides raw materials for food and other products such as cotton and wool. Agriculture can reduce the risk of food shortages by contributing to food security. Agriculture can create a good landscape. Agriculture can contribute to the maintenance of local communities.