The junior livestock program is a unique opportunity to use live animals to develop youth. The main objectives of the program deal with the young person, not the animal. Youth do learn about agriculture and livestock production and develop an appreciation for the livestock industry, but the focus is on teaching life skills and helping youth become productive citizens of our society. Youth exhibitors learn from adult and youth leaders through hands-on activities, while developing integrity, citizenship, and sportsmanship. I believe The boy and girl are more important than the project.
Youth are their own best exhibit.
No award is worth sacrificing the reputation of a member or leader. Competition is a natural human trait and should be recognized as such in club work. It should be given no more emphasis than other fundamentals. Learning how to do the project is more important than the project itself. Many things are caught rather than taught.