Animal Lease Program

The Atchison County 4-H program recognizes the educational value of participating in animal science projects. The Atchison County 4-H allows the leasing of animal science projects to encourage a greater number of students to have the opportunity to experience the showing of livestock projects. This program is designed to make it possible for a 4-H member to have a non-owned 4-H project that can be exhibited at the County Fair. The 4-H member will gain hands-on experience in managing and showing the 4-H animal science through cooperation and mentorship of local animal owners.

Atchison County Livestock Lease Documentation

General Project Requirements for Leased Animals

Lease Arrangement:

The lease arrangement is between the 4-H member and the animal owner. The 4-H member is responsible for identifying the animal owner from whom they would like to lease the animal and planning for use of the animal as a 4-H project. The 4-H member and animal owner may choose to enter into a formal (written lease) agreement or a less formal (verbal) agreement. The Atchison County 4-H recommends a lease agreement be completed by the 4-H member and kept as a personal record for the 4-H project.

Choosing an Animal:

Market animals are not eligible for the lease program because they are a terminal project. A 4-H member may lease a maximum of two animals per species. The following animals may be leased; rules for exhibiting/showing vary and are outlined later in this document.

Breeding Animals: beef, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep, and
Bucket Calf
Horses

Identification of a Leased Animal:

The 4-H member is responsible for completing the 4-H identification process and submitting it to the Atchison County Extension Office due by June 1st of the current lease year. This process includes verifying that the lease requirements and rules for showing outlined in the lease information form are being followed.

Housing:

The animal may be housed with the owners OR 4-H member. However, the 4-H member must have significant access to the project animal(s) and must assume a role for the care, training and feeding of the animal(s).

Project Learning:

The 4-H member must participate in learning about the care, training, feeding and other management practices associated with the species of animal they are leasing. The lease program is designed to have 4-H members actively involved in the learning process throughout the entire length of the lease.

Liability:

The Atchison County Extension Office/4-H and the Atchison County Fair Board are not responsible for ensuring a safe environment except when the 4-H member(s) is on site at a scheduled Atchison County 4-H event. The parent/guardians of the 4-H members are responsible for providing the appropriate supervision for their children.

Exhibiting/Showing Leased Animals

Bucket Calf | Breeding Animals | Horses

4-H Members must check the County Fair Book for all County Fair exhibit/show rules.

Who may lease an animal?

Animals may only be leased by one enrolled Atchison County 4-H member during the time of the lease.

Showing of the Animal

Once a lease agreement is in place, refrain from allowing any other individual including the owner to enter/exhibit the animal in any show/exhibition during the time this contract is in effect. Only the 4-H member identified on the lease may show at the Atchison County Fair.