Douglas County 4-H Animal Lease Program
4-H Project Enrollment Deadline – May 1 of the current 4-H year
Animal ID deadline for 2025 - June 15 (2026 Information coming soon!)
Bucket Calf/Breeding Beef | Breeding Goat| Breeding Sheep| Dairy Goat| Poultry| Rabbit | Alpaca/Llama
The Douglas County 4-H program recognizes the educational value of participating in animal science projects. Douglas County 4-H allows the leasing of animal science projects to encourage a greater number of members 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 Douglas County Fair. The 4-H member will gain hands-on experience in managing and showing the 4-H animal science project(s) through the cooperation and mentorship of local animal owners.
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. Douglas 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 swine.
- Bucket Calf
- Alpacas - Llamas
Identification of a Leased Animal
The 4-H member is responsible for completing the 4-H identification process and submitting it to the Douglas County Extension Office due by June 15 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 at the owner’s facility OR the 4-H member’s facility; 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 Douglas County Extension Office/4-H and the Douglas County Fair Board are not responsible for ensuring a safe environment except when the 4-H member(s) is on site at a scheduled Douglas 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 | Alpaca/Llama
4-H Members must check the Douglas County Fair Book for all Douglas County Fair exhibit/show rules.
Who may lease an animal?
Animals may only be leased by one enrolled Douglas 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 Douglas County Fair.
Animal Care and Expenses
The Douglas County 4-H program recommends discussing the following questions with the owner of the animal before making a decision about the lease program.
Housing
Where will the animal be housed?
Feeding
Who will be responsible for purchasing feed and feeding the animal?
Management
What are appropriate training techniques? What type of feed or housing facility is acceptable, etc.? How often do you expect to exercise, run, walk, tie and wash/rinse the animal? How often do you expect to meet to work together on project care and learning (i.e. clipping, showmanship training, animal husbandry experiences such as help vaccinate or tag/tattoo)? What other expectations do you have of each other?
Veterinary Expenses
Who will pay for the following: basic expenses for health and well-being of the animal such as worming, vaccinations, etc.? Show related veterinary expenses that must be done for showing or transporting animals? Additional vaccinations for moving animals in or out of the state, health certificates, etc.?
Grooming
If the animal needs to be clipped/groomed prior to a show and someone to help you as you are learning, who pays for this service?
Show Expenses
What show equipment (i.e. halters, blankets, cages, etc.) may be borrowed or used during the length of the lease? What if an item gets lost, stolen or broken? What supplies are you responsible for purchasing to show the animal? (i.e. clipper blades, soap, fly sprays, show halters, leads, brushes/combs, feed pans/pails, show stick, etc.)
Trucking
Who will transport the animal to and from training, shows and/or Douglas County Fair? Will you be required to pay for fuel or to help with trucking expenses?
Entry Fees, Premiums and Awards
Who pays for entry fees to Douglas County Fair? Who receives premiums and cash awards earned? Who keeps the awards, ribbons, plaques, trophies, or winning banners?
Unanticipated Injury or Death of Animal
Who will be responsible for emergency veterinary care? Who is liable for the loss of an animal?
*Lease FAQ Sheet adapted from the University of Minnesota Extension – 4-H*