4-H Pocket Pets

What is a cavie?
What goes into the proper care and feeding of a hermit crab?
What is a parakeet’s favorite treat?

All these questions can be answered by 4-H members who have Pocket Pets projects. They’ll be showing their animals Friday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. Heritage Building.

Pocket pets help youngsters learn how to care for small animals, how to choose the right pet for their circumstances and how to show them. The pets can include reptiles, amphibians, birds and small mammals. The project is popular with urban 4-Hers whose parents haven’t given into their pleas to keep a horse in the back yard.

For more information, contact Roni Baker at (406) 698-6838 or 256-2828.

About 4-H

4-H is a nationwide youth development program that emphasizes practical, hands-on learning in a broad variety of subjects relating to health, citizenship, science and technology. 4-H was started to create opportunities for rural youth, but it has since expanded to include young people from urban areas as well. 4-H is for young people ages 9-19 and a program called Cloverbuds serves younger children.

There are 4-H clubs in most every county in every state in the nation, and participation in fairs is a hallmark of the organization. About 400 4-H youth from 20 clubs in Yellowstone County participate in the MontanaFair.