Managing Livestockand Horsegoals And Overview

History and Goals of 4-H Livestock & Horse Projects

Texas 4-H and Youth Development

Objectives

• The Beginning of Livestock Exhibition

• The Growth of Livestock Projects

• Life skill development through livestock and animal science participation


The Beginning of Livestock Exhibition

• Limited written documentation on where and when livestock exhibition was introduced

• Elkanah Watson “father of U.S. agricultural fairs”(International Association of Fairs & Expositions, 2002)– First sheep fair in 1807 in Pittsfield, Mass. – Wanted to prove U.S. sheep produced equal

quality wool to that of England• Today well over 3,000 fairs across the

country annually.


The Beginning of Livestock Exhibition

• Provide industrial exhibits, demonstrations, and agricultural commodities aimed to increase quality of agriculture

• Provide competition for youth to exhibit livestock for show

• Most importantly, raising and exhibiting livestock has proven to develop and enhance life skills in youth


Growth of Livestock Projects

• Calf, swine, and dairy clubs increased significantly during World War I through 4-H due to increased support of private donors

• 1917 states began to have youth shows• First youth show in Minnesota (Wessel and

Wessel, 1982)• Minnesota State Livestock Breeders’ Association

was first show to offer youth cash prizes to help counties hold calf and colt shows.

• T.A. Erickson and W.A. McKerrow joined this livestock breeders association to establish first junior livestock show


Growth of LivestockProjects

• 2000, Texas 4-H and FFA members accounted for over 75,000 county livestock show entries for cattle, swine, meat goats, and sheep across the state.

• Roughly half were from the Texas 4-H program.


Life Skill DevelopmentThrough Livestock Projects

• Six major benefits as a result of competition through showing livestock:– Social relations– Character– Family– Competition– Learning new cultures and environments– Helping finance the youth’s education



• Study done with 4-H alumni showed specific life skills that included:– Ability to make decisions– Development of a spirit of inquiry– Ability to relate to others– Maintaining of records– Public speaking – Give positive self-esteem– Help accept responsibility

• 4-H animals science programs have a positive influence on life skill development Texas 4-H and Youth Development


• Boleman (2003) asked parents of youth exhibiting livestock projects their perceptions on life skill development

• Parents stated life skills were enhanced and the following skills were increased:– Accepting responsibility– Setting goals– Develop self-discipline– Self motivation– Knowledge of the livestock industry– Build positive self esteem– Decision making


Conclusions

• Understanding the history of Livestock projects is important for County Extension Agents

• Life skill development is an important topic that should be discussed with stakeholders.

• The ultimate goal for County Extension Agents is to develop youth!!


Overview of the 4-H Livestock Project


Objectives

• General information

• Did you know?

• Benefits of Competitive Livestock Showing

• You are a role model

• Livestock Shows

• Summary


General Information

• Takes a total commitment from youth, parents, County Extension Agents, volunteers

• Responsibility of CEA to provide oversight and leadership to 4-H livestock program


Did you know?

• Texas is the number one state in total livestock shows, major livestock shows, prize money rewarded to youth, premium auction sales, youth participation, volunteer support, and scholarships provided


Benefits of Competitive Livestock Showing

• Learn Seven Life Skills– Responsibility– Setting Goals– Develop Self-discipline– Self-motivation– Knowledge of the livestock industry– Build positive self esteem– Decision making

• Important to emphasize life skills as well as demonstrate them.


You are a role model

• County Extension Agents have a responsibility to be a role model for youth and adults

• Agents must do the following:– Demonstrate ethical practices dealing

with livestock projects– Demonstrate good sportsmanship – Provide resources to youth


Livestock Shows• Livestock shows go year around

• County Agent responsible for making sure that families have all necessary tools to raise a livestock project and to follow rules and guidelines

• List of major 4-H livestock project types:

Breeding sheepBreeding goatsBreeding SwineBreeding CattleDairy CattleDairy Goats

Market steerMarket lambMeat goatsMarket swinePoultryRabbits


Conclusions• It is very important County Extension

Agents promote life skill development associated with livestock projects

• It is the Agents goal to develop blue ribbon kids vs. blue ribbon animals

• “Always keep your focus on the right end of the halter.”


Overview of the 4-H Horse Project


Objectives• General information• Western Emphasis• Hunter• Drill Team & Precision Riding• Ownership, Age and Competition Rules• District-Wide Competitive Activities• Texas State 4-H Show• Additional Educational and Competitive

Activities and Events• Educational Support• Additional Information


General Information

• Opportunities exist at the county, district, and state levels, with additional competitive activities at the Southern Regional, Western and National levels

• Texas has excellent support from volunteers and very active 4-Hers!!

• Major objective of the Texas 4-H horse program is to help initiate, support and promote education via hands-on involvement with horses.


General Information

• 8,000 – 10,000 youth enroll annually in Texas 4-H Horse Project

• Encourages 4-H youth to identify and maintain one or more horses of various ages as a project on or before May 1st of each year.

• Horse project is first and foremost, a horsemanship project area, with additional opportunities present


Western Emphasis

• Judged Western – Showmanship, trail, western pleasure, western horsemanship, reining, western riding & halter conformation

• Speed Events – Pole bending, barrel racing, and stakes racing

• Cattle-related – Working cow horse, team penning, cutting, team roping, breakaway roping, and tie-down calf roping

• Futurity projects – Reserved for older, more experienced 4-Hers who are ready to accept the (Western Pleasure) or three-year old (Stock Horse)


Hunter (English Emphasis)

• Hunter under Saddle

• Equitation

• Hunter Hack

• Working Hunter

• Equitation over Fences

• Jumping

• Hunter Showmanship


Drill Team & Precision Riding

• Introductory Precision work advancing up to more advanced Mounted Drill Team competition


Ownership, Age and Competition Rules• Show rules and regulations available on 4-H

and animal science web-sites. • Key points include:

– 4-H year starts on September 1– Horse(s) must be owned by May 1 of the current 4-H

year– May 1 deadline strictly enforced by countywide Horse

Validation process– Horse project(s) must be owned by the 4-Her, parent,

grandparent, sibling, or legal guardian. Leased, loaned, borrowed or rented horses are not eligible

– Validated Horses for each 4-Her are maintained in County, District & Statewide databases

– Only horses owned and validated on or before May 1 each year can be shown in 4-H shows


District-Wide Competitive Activities

• 12 district horse shows across the state in June of each year

• Showcase 20 + counties that come together for competitive activities

• 4-Her must enter and show their district horse to have a chance to qualify for the state show.

• Over 1450 youth participate at the district horse show


Texas State 4-H Horse Show

• Held last full week of July in Abilene

• Over 800 youth bringing over 1,000 horses in various emphasis areas

• State show culminates a year of activity, progress, and effort with one or more horses


Additional Educational and Competitive Activities and Events

• Horse Judging – County teams of 3 or 4 members

• Method Demonstration and Public Speaking – County teams of 1-5 members, or individuals

• Horse Quiz Bowl – County teams• Hippology – County teams of 3 or 4

members• Record Books – Individual record

keeping and Record Book CompetitionTexas 4-H and Youth Development

Educational Support

• Early summer Horse program assistants trained and sent to 35-40 counties to put on two or three day trainings

• Information about trainings is available in the September and January issues of the CEA Horse Newsletter

• Programs are hands-on, learn-by-doing• Clinics taught from late May to early July


Educational Support• Specialty Clinics – Offered with

emphasis on:– Reining – Team Roping – Calf Roping -

Working Cow Horse– Horse Judging Team Coaches’ Clinic –

Youth Horse Judging Camps– Master Volunteer Leader Training


Additional Information• CEA Horse Newsletter – published in January, May &

September posted online at http://animalscience.tamu.edu – sent to all County Extension Agents electronically

• Texas 4-H Horse Show Rules and Regulations – updated annually

• Texas 4-H Roundup Guide – Rules and procedures on Horse Judging, Method Demonstration, Public Speaking and Quiz Bowl.

• Youth & Collegiate Horse Judging Leader Guide –available in print and DVD.

• Texas 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl Guide – available via the 4-H Office

• Texas Horse Owners’ Reference Guide – available from http://tcebookstore.org


Conclusions• There are numerous opportunities

available to youth through the 4-H Horse Program.

• Nearly 8-10 thousand youth participate a year in the horse program

• Opportunities other than horse projects are also available

• Youth should be aware of all the rules and regulations in the horse program.


Managing Livestockand Horsegoals And Overview

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