Youth learn life skills in livestock projects
Many decades ago, my father took me to my first youth livestock show. It was a heifer show here at the Northwest Georgia Livestock Pavilion. I had seen pictures of my dad showing his FFA steer and in fact, he exhibited the grand champion steer at the Coosa Valley Fair in high school. He said in those days, the Coosa Valley steer show was a big event.
After going to a show, we picked out my first show steer from my uncle, Mr. Dallas Sutherland. We named the Simmental cross steer, Buck. The year was 1980 and being a UGA fan, I named the calf after the UGA quarterback. That first show steer taught me important life skills and also taught me about hard work. When my daughter Kendall was in high school, her high school basketball coach would always end practice with the phrase, “Hard work pays off.” I think that is a fitting phrase for Georgia 4-H and FFA youth livestock projects.
By the time this article goes to print, the dust would have settled on the 2017 Georgia Junior National. This is the largest 4-H and FFA youth livestock event in our state. Approximately 2000 youth will be showing steers, heifers, breeding does and ewes, dairy heifers and market hogs. The event is held annually in February at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Today, I would like to share information on these programs and how showing livestock help prepare a youth for the game of life.
When I agreed to show a steer back in 1980, I never knew that it was going to be a learning experience. The first thing showing livestock taught me was responsibility. It takes a lot of work to get that animal to the show ring. You just do not show up and the animal is ready to go. You have to halter break the calf, train the hair coat, feed, water, keep records, pay entry fees on time, exercise and try to train the calf for show ring situations.
In my days as a 4-H agent, I had one young man that spent every free minute he had in the show barn. All the hard work paid off because he probably graduated with more showmanship wins than any youth that has ever participated in Georgia youth livestock events.
The program also teaches teamwork and can give quality family time. Teamwork can come in many different facets in a youth livestock program. The family has to work as a team. Yes, the youth is the one going in the ring, but most families go to shows together. Someone is normally in charge of driving the truck and trailer. Other members may help unload while others are making the beds for the animals and setting up the tack for the show. At the end of the day, you understand what hard work can be, but you are doing it as a family. A showing family is no different than families going to ball tournaments or performing arts events. You normally do it together. Some of the best times our family has experienced is when we were riding the roads looking for the next show animal for someone in the family to exhibit.
You can learn good sportsmanship from showing livestock in a 4-H or FFA program. By nature, I am a competitive person. I always have and always will be, but with age I have mellowed somewhat. My wife will beg to differ when UGA is not playing well or if the girl’s team is not playing great. If you show livestock, I will guarantee that some events you will get the blue ribbon, but you will also see the view from down the line in a class at other shows. Judges are human and they are giving their opinion or evaluation of the livestock on that day. We have won our fair share of trophies and awards, but I think you may build just as much character when a young person does not come away as the overall winner. As kids get older, they form bonds with their fellow exhibitors. I see a lot of good sportsmanship when you see that young person who did not win be the first to congratulate the exhibitor that did get the trophy. We should always strive to do our best, but showing livestock will teach you to tip your hat to the other person, too.
Finally, I think showing livestock will teach you a life skill of self-evaluation. This evaluation can be of ourselves as an exhibitor or how your animals compare to other livestock in a show ring aspect.
When I judge a show, many times in showmanship classes I will ask an exhibitor if they could change one thing about their animal, what would it be. Many youth will give a very detailed and thoughtful response. I also see youth willing to take advice on how to be a better showman.
In Gordon County, approximately 50 youth will show animals of various species. At the end of the day, yes we are showing livestock, but the best result is when a young person grows into a positive and productive member of society.
For more information on Georgia Junior Livestock programs, contact UGA Extension- Gordon County or email gbowman@uga.edu.