Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Routt County Extension Office is hosting an informational meeting for 4-H families on a proposed program that would require all 4-H members to register their livestock with the state.

Extension Director C.J. Mucklow said the effort is meant to educate and gather input from families about the program, which is a part of a larger U.S. Department of Agriculture effort called the National Animal Identification System. Premise identification helps the state track communicable diseases among livestock, he said.

While premise identification is voluntary, state 4-H officials have proposed making the program mandatory, which many Routt County families oppose, Mucklow said.

"That's why we decided to have this meeting, because some of our families are very upset with the policy and vehemently opposed to registering their livestock with the government," he said.

Monday's meeting will include presentations from "both sides" of the premise identification debate including Dr. Jeff Goodwin, director of Colorado 4-H; John Reid, a member of the Colorado Coalition Opposing Mandatory 4-H and FFA Premises Identification; John Heller, program administrator of Colorado Animal Identification; and Leellen Koroulis, a 4-H parent opposing the program.

"It's designed to be fair," Mucklow said. "We're hoping to have a good open discussion."

The Routt County Board of Commissioners suggested the meeting as a way to get public input on the project. The board likely will use what is said at the meeting in drafting a letter to the state supporting or opposing the program.

Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak said she hopes the meeting will be productive.

"We'd like to have a good discussion to know how our citizens feel," she said.