February 8, 2024 – According to Nebraska Extension “It seems far too often we place too much emphasis on winning and losing at Jr. Fair livestock shows. Unfortunately, many times adults consider 4-H and FFA livestock projects a failure if their son or daughter does not win. If our only goal at a livestock show is to win, maybe we need to make some adjustments in our goals and in understanding the benefits our youth are gaining from livestock shows. Ideally, 4-H and FFA livestock projects should be a family affair. If the right percentages of time and energy are spent by youngsters and parents together, these projects can help our young people learn the basic life skills and eventually help them develop into better citizens. If the percentage gets out of hand, we see a group of spoiled kids who parents are sore if they don’t win, constantly criticizing the judge and trying any trick possible to win. Very few 4-H and FFA livestock projects are economically sound. However, neither are having children, paying for band lessons, taking them to summer recreation programs, buying them bicycles and paying for other youth activities. If a parent’s
goal is to invest in the future and to help their son or daughter develop as a person, learn responsibility, set goals and gain some knowledge about livestock production, then 4-H and FFA livestock projects are good investments. Most likely we will have livestock shows as long as there are youngsters who have parents and grandparents. However, let’s keep these shows in proper perspective. They are not beef shows, swine
shows and sheep shows but they are KIDS SHOWS! The animal is simply the ticket for the youngster to take part.
As we analyze all the new and innovative ideas, many of which are quite sound and very excellent methods, we find 4-H and FFA livestock projects are one of the oldest and greatest teaching tools that we have to teach youth life skills”. To promote the youth involvement in agriculture and livestock projects, the Northeast Texas Livestock Association (NETLA) will be hosting the 2024 Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show & Sale February 22-24, 2024 at the Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Come and support our young exhibitors during the event!. For more information on this contact NETLA, the Hopkins County Extension Office (903-885-3443) or your school FFA chapter.
