Gardening has been found by San Antonio, TX to be the most effective solution to the youth problem. It is much more effective than sports. Records show that after students are involved in gardening that their school attendance, morale and grades improve.
Gang activity decreases sharply in neighborhoods where the youth are engaged in gardening.
Mini-ranching will be even more effective with some youth and it can be done in the city. Intervention and prevention before the kids are caught up in the justice system is much less costly in human lives and dollars. I have never had a kid involved in 4-H in juvenile court. I shout-A year in Judge Dorn's Juvenile Court, Ed Humes. The second priority is a decent, regular job.