There’s a Cow in My Marshmallow?

Jessica Lemmel

CLA Helps Teach 4th Graders at the Food 4-Ever Agricultural Fair

Greeley, CO – The Colorado Livestock Association participated in the 4^th annual 4th grade agricultural fair, known as Food 4-Ever hosted by the Windsor School District and the Windsor High School Future Farmers of America this past Wednesday. CLA was asked by Andy Klatt, a physical education teacher from Weld RE-4 School District who organized the fair, to help teach the students and community about livestock production through a lesson or hands-on experience.

Nearly 500 students from the Windsor-Severance Re-4 School District, rotated through different presentations given by industry groups and agribusinesses covering everything from setting irrigation tubes, livestock nutrition, composting, honeybees, plant breeding and grain production.

For as long as animals have been used as a food by humans, their by-products have been just as important. Cattle, sheep, and pigs provide numerous by-products that we use daily. Parts of the animal, other than meat and milk, are used in the manufacturing process for many industrial, household and health products.

CLA staff member Kellee Mitchell taught the students by asking them to identify whether everyday household items like shampoo, band-aids, crayons and glue are made with by-products from cattle, sheep and pigs. The students were surprised to learn about all of the things, that we use daily, that are made using by-products from livestock. Everything, but the ‘moo,’ the ‘baa’ and the ‘oink’!

Colorado Livestock Association (CLA) was formed in 1998 through a restructuring of the then 43-year-old Colorado Cattle Feeders Association (CCFA). CLA members are cattle and sheep feeders, cow/calf producers, dairy farmers, swine operations, and industry partners. CLA works on behalf of its members in the regulatory and legislative arenas in Colorado. For more information about CLA visit www.coloradolivestock.org