This year, our Airdrie Beef and Sheep Club had the privilege of raising the charity lamb for the Calgary 4-H Region.
The charity lamb is raised by the 4-H club members and then sold, with proceeds going to a charity of the club's choice. Every year, a different club in our 4-H region has the opportunity to raise the charity lamb.
Our club voted to donate the funds raised by our charity lamb project to CP Kids and Families. This charity helps families navigate the medically complex journey of cerebral palsy (CP), which can affect speech, vision, cognitive function and mobility in children.
CP Kids and Families is a passionate group of parents who have children affected by cerebral palsy, offering support, hope, resources and opportunities. Their program is so successful it now includes children with other disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism.
Airdrie Beef and Sheep Club has an honorary member who is personally affected by CP. Tyler Oldale, along with his sisters and brother fed and cared for the charity lamb, which was named Kermit.
To help spread the word about our charity lamb project and to raise donations, club members set up a table at both the Crossfield Farmer’s Market and the Airdrie Farmer’s Market. Our Cleaver members (ages six to nine years old) also contributed to the project by decorating birdhouses that were sold at 4-H on Parade. Kermit was auctioned off on the final day of the 4-H on Parade regional show and sale.
It was incredible and heartwarming to see the support that came forward from the community to support our project. The charity lamb was sold and then turned back in to be re-auctioned over and over again. In the end, there were six interested buyers and the total donation presented to the CP Kids and Families organization at our awards banquet on June 17 was $24,910.55.
Club members are very proud of the donation that they were able to give CP Kids and Families and we were recognized for this contribution by the Airdrie Pro Rodeo committee who invited club members to ride on their float in the Airdrie Canada Day Parade and to be recognized at the July 1, 2022 Rodeo.
—Submitted by Amy Nielsen, club reporter for Airdrie Beef and Sheep Club
