Building a 4-H Livestock Judging Program From The Ground Up: Impacting Youth Through Learning Evaluation Skills and Public Speaking
4-H and Youth Programming
Sawyer Fonnesbeck
Assistant Extension Educator
University of Idaho
Malad City
Abstract
The talents and passions of a single person can impact many when shared. The heart of the 4-H youth organization is the sharing of talents and passions from the people who volunteer as leaders. In Oneida County, Idaho, a need was identified in the area of livestock judging. Two leaders who were passionate about livestock judging were recruited by the 4-H office in 2022 to start this program. No other 4-H livestock judging programs existed in any neighboring counties, so these leaders built it from the ground up. Although only three youth were initially interested, this program has grown to more than ten youth being enrolled in the 2023-2024 year. Multiple other youth attended day-camp/seminars which were held on this topic over the past two years. All youth involved have gained knowledge about livestock anatomy, conformation, carcass identification and carcass quality. They have also improved their public speaking skills through learning how to give oral reasons and gained confidence in making and defending a decision. Through this entire process, the club leaders have gathered resources together from a variety of sources to provide accurate and valuable information for the youth to learn from. Many of the youth involved in livestock judging have expressed that this program has aided them when they picked out animals for a 4-H livestock project for the county fair.
This new program in Oneida County has gathered interest from other Extension Educators in Idaho. Relationships have been built and more is being done to gather knowledge and resources to aid other new livestock judging 4-H programs around the state. Through continued efforts, it is hoped that livestock judging will gain popularity among the youth in Idaho. It not only provides animal science knowledge, but it also develops team building opportunities and speaking skills.
Authors: Sawyer Fonnesbeck
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Sawyer Fonnesbeck Assistant Extension Educator, University of Idaho, Idaho, 83252