4-H livestock program has something to teach children

By By Lance Bruce / 4-H youth agent
May 26, 2004
Have you ever thought how you could teach your children character, responsibility, and a sense of sportsmanship?
If you have asked this question, then the answer is easy: the Lauderdale 4-H Livestock Program. The Lauderdale Livestock Program is based on a foundation that teaches and promotes life skills such as responsibility, sportsmanship, and character.
The program also has a goal of expanding the knowledge and appreciation that youth have for the livestock industry. No doubt you are asking how the Lauderdale Livestock Program will help with life skills?
The animal is a tool to teach young people responsibility and respect. Sportsmanship, honesty, and courtesy are character traits that are also learned through the project in and out of the show ring.
Another aspect of the livestock program is that it can be a family project Parents are going to want to help, and if big brother or sister gets an animal it is not long before the younger siblings have one, too. The livestock program offers many chances for family involvement. Parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters can assist young people with their project animals and most times enjoy it as much as the exhibitor.
I learned many things growing up in the livestock program. The first was that no one was going to do the work for me. My parents helped; however, I did the bulk of the work. Secondly, I learned a tremendous amount about animals and the livestock industry while participating in the program. Responsibility and respect are two character traits that were first instilled in me by my parents, but were magnified in the livestock program. The livestock program even helped me to decide what my college major would be and what type of career I wanted.
If owning an animal is something that you cannot do but you would like to be involved, 4-H offers opportunities such as livestock judging, visual demonstrations, quiz bowls, and cookout contests which help contribute to the personal development of youth.
Most people associate 4-H with the livestock project. However, in today's world 4-H is only a small percentage livestock. 4-H in recent years has become more focused on technology, wildlife, leadership and other project areas. One thing I feel is still certain is that the livestock project is the one area that can effectively teach a young person life skills while involving a whole family in a fun and engaging event.
This is the time of the year that the livestock program gets kicked off. Exhibitors have started buying or at least looking at their animals for the year. If you would like more information about the Lauderdale 4-H Livestock Program or livestock in general, contact the Lauderdale County Extension Office at 482-9764.