Fair Provides Life Lessons Outside Classroom

At the Washington County Fair, several hundred 4-H and FFA livestock projects will be culminating in the show ring as months of hard work will be judged and awards will be presented.

Agricultural educators have long understood that significant learning opportunities exist outside the classroom as well as outside the show ring. A livestock project carries the expectation that it serves as a microcosm of the larger industry.

Youth animal science programs are considered model programs for youth development and for public understanding of American agriculture. The obvious purpose of 4-H and FFA animal projects are to teach youth how to care for, feed, fit, and exhibit their animals. The more important purpose is to provide youth with an opportunity for personal growth and development. Therefore, the ultimate purpose and major goal for County Fair animal science projects is to provide opportunities for youth to develop character.

The Josephson Institute of Ethics has identified "Six Pillars of Character" which are important in developing good strong core values in youth. These six core values help to better describe and understand the value of 4-H Livestock Projects. Through practicing certain behaviors, youth develop and strengthen their character.

The first pillar involves trustworthiness. Trustworthiness is learned through daily feeding, adherence to deadlines, use of approved medications and maintaining of accurate records. Respect, the second pillar, is learned by recognizing that domestic animals depend on daily care, providing humane treatment to animals, and listening to and following the advice of parents, leaders, and advisors.

Responsibility is the third pillar which is learned through prioritizing activities knowing that daily feeding is required to produce a high quality project and taking pride in a well done project. The fourth pillar, fairness is a hard character to learn but a very important pillar in one's character. Fairness is learned by feeding only an approved livestock ration, following all show rules and accepting winning and losing with the same grace and dignity.

The fifth pillar of character is caring. Caring is learned with a livestock project by cleaning stall areas regularly, always treating animals humanely, and lending guidance to others at show time. The last pillar is citizenship. Citizenship is learned by following and accepting instructions, helping others less experienced, being a team player with fellow showman, and realizing that having animals is not a right -- it is a privilege

Youth livestock projects offer numerous ways for youth to build character. Parents, leaders, and other adults have the responsibility to ensure that all activities youth participate in are designed to help them grow and build character.

Of course, a young child may not be able to perform all of the tasks necessary to prepare an animal for the show ring. The concept is for parents, leaders, and other adults to insist that each youth perform all of the tasks that he/she is capable of doing. The daily tasks of caring for an animal contribute to the strengthening of at least four of the six core values of character. The size of an animal does not have any effect or influence on the developmental value of the project. A child learns the same things and has the same opportunities to develop and exercise character with a rabbit or chicken as with a calf or horse.

To learn more about 4-H youth opportunities in your community, contact the Washington County Extension Service, 444-1755.

Community on 08/26/2015