4-H youth raise heifers, gain knowledge through Treasure Valley program

Nayeli and Priscilla Garcia have been following in the footsteps of their grandfather — former Kuna dairy worker Efren Garcia — since they turned 8, routinely seeking his insights on hay market and milk price trends to guide their budgeting.

For several consecutive years, Nayeli, 13, and Priscilla, 16, of Nampa, have raised dairy cows in their grandpa’s pasture as participants in an intensive, year-and-a-half-long program open to University of Idaho Extension 4‑H Youth Development and Idaho FFA members in the state’s southwest region.

Since 1994, Idaho dairymen and other state dairy service providers have collaborated in running the Treasure Valley Dairy Heifer Replacement Program — one of two 4‑H programs, along with a program in Magic Valley, teaching youth to raise dairy heifers while educating them about the Idaho dairy industry. Dairy is the largest sector of Idaho’s agricultural economy, with a production value of nearly $4 billion in 2024, ranking fourth among U.S. states.

Local dairies involved in the Treasure Valley program sell heifer calves from their herds into a pool. Youth participation is capped at the number of available dairy calves — the 2025 pool includes 19 calves — and interested youth offer their preference of breed and get to choose a calf based on a lottery system. Throughout the process, veterinarians, Extension educators, genetics company workers, hoof trimmers, dairymen and other industry professionals teach the youth relevant skills. The dairy heifers are bred through the program, and most of them are ultimately sold back to local dairies, where they typically remain in milk production for years to come.

A family’s dairy legacy

Nobody has taught the Garcia girls more about caring for dairy animals than their grandpa, Efren.

“Sometimes we don’t make any money, but it’s OK because you make a lot of memories,” Efren said. “I never miss a show because it’s important for me to see the kids showing these animals. They know I’m in the bleachers watching.”

Based on the knowledge she’s gained about dairy cow health, Priscilla, who is president of the Kaveman Kritters 4‑H club in Nampa, plans to pursue a career as a large-animal veterinarian, after serving in the military. She’s currently taking high school zoology and agriculture classes for college credit.

“I’ve always just had a heart for dairy heifers because of how nice they are and how calm they are,” Priscilla said. “I love these animals. All the heifers I’ve gotten, they’ve just been such sweethearts to me.”

As a novice in the Dairy Heifer Replacement Program, Priscilla beat out much older youth to win grand champion. She’s earned the award several times in the ensuing years, often facing the stiffest competition from her younger sister.

The girls’ mother, Maricela Garcia, serves on a 14-member Dairy Heifer Replacement Program steering committee, comprising 4‑H leaders, Extension educators, FFA advisors, dairymen, parents, agricultural teachers and others.

Maricela has watched her daughters grow in confidence, become more responsible, improve financial management skills and learn good sportsmanship through the 4‑H program.

“I also grew up showing 4‑H animals since I was 8 years old,” Maricela said. “I’m grateful my dad has the land so they can have the same opportunity.”

Raising a dairy heifer

Prior to being accepted into the program, a steering committee member visits the site where each youth applicant plans to raise his or her animal to make sure the accommodations are adequate.

“Last year, we had two kids whose heifers were housed at a 4‑H advisor’s property,” said Cheyanne Fisher, a UI Extension 4‑H educator based in Canyon County, who serves on the program committee.

The heifer calves are born in September or October. Youth pick their calf at a selection-day event, hosted in April at the Treasure Valley Auction facility in Caldwell. The selection event also includes presentations on animal nutrition, the ideal shape of a dairy cow, halter breaking, proper feeding techniques and breeding for desirable traits.

In November, participants bring their heifers — now over a year old — to M&M Feedlot in Parma for Reproduction Day. Each animal is weighed and vaccinated and left in the facility’s care for a couple of months to be artificially inseminated under a veterinarian’s care. Select Sires donates bull semen, and the youth get to pick a good bull to match with their heifer from a catalog. Dairies planning to buy their heifer back during the program’s concluding sale, hosted in late August at the Western Idaho Fair in Boise, often aid the youth in choosing a bull.

If a heifer is not pregnant following three attempts at artificial insemination, she is paired with a live bull to be naturally inseminated.

In May, participants with pregnant cows have the status of their bred heifer’s pregnancy evaluated. For participants who just chose their calf in April, the clinic offers lessons on calf care such as hoof trimming.

At this stage — a few months before the sale of the prior year’s projects — the Garcia girls typically own two heifers each.

Youth are required to show their heifer in June at Meridian Dairy Days, as well as at their local county fair and at the Western Idaho Fair.

Dairy Days, a century-old tradition, awards tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to 4‑H and FFA youth entering agricultural fields and supports 4‑H groups attending national conferences. Furthermore, Dairy Days adds $100 onto the sale price of each Replacement Program heifer sold at the Western Idaho Fair.

Hans Bruijn, a former dairyman who serves on the heifer replacement program committee, manages the premium office for the Western Idaho Fair and serves on the Meridian Dairy Board.

“Without the Heifer Replacement Program, I don’t think Meridian Dairy Days would have a dairy show,” Bruijn said. “About 85% to 90% of the cattle in the show at Dairy Days are part of the Heifer Replacement Program.”

Without the Idaho dairy industry’s support, Fisher believes the Heifer Replacement Program wouldn’t be possible. Fisher intends to invite Idaho dairymen, state agricultural entities and officials involved in Idaho agriculture to an advisory meeting in January to gather feedback on how to improve and grow the program into the future.

“Your dairy projects are being raised to go into a production system, where hopefully they can last for seven, eight or nine years,” Fisher said. “This program gives kids the opportunity to be a part of agriculture and know there is so much to it. I don’t think kids truly know the career opportunities unless they are raised in agriculture.”

For more information about the program or how to apply, email inquiries to canyon@uidaho.edu.