Building Relationships & Expanding Opportunities...With 4-H Livestock Projects

4-H livestock projects allow numerous learning situations for youth and adults, in addition to providing opportunities for consistent family interaction.  Savvy county agents understand the lifelong lessons that can be gained by youth feeding and exhibiting livestock, but, opportunities exist for the county agent too!  County programs deemed “successful” generally have active youth and adult programs and the two feed off each other.  Agriculture or natural resource agents wanting to develop strong(er) adult programs should initially focus on their youth programs, more specifically, the youth livestock program.

Unfortunately, some people base their opinion of the ability of a county agent on the number of blue ribbons garnered at livestock shows.  While we know this is a ludicrous evaluation, it is a reality for some and one that must be addressed.  In fact, agents should feel challenged by this misconception and use it to their advantage.  Agents that are seen as livestock show “specialists” tend to have close relationships with the parents of their 4-H members.  By showing interest in and caring about the development and success of the county’s youth livestock program, an agent can earn the respect and confidence of leaders and parents, thereby, gaining access to potential leaders for the county’s adult extension program.  These adult volunteers can be valuable program area committee members, result demonstration cooperators or more importantly, energized advocates.

All extension positions present unique challenges each day.  At the county level, the youth livestock show program can be described as a “full time job” by itself.  Managed correctly, it will yield numerous leaders (both youth and adult) while forging meaningful relationships with key people in the agriculture industry.  If the livestock show program is ignored, an agent is clearly missing an opportunity to grow the youth program and the adult program.  Successful agents have the ability to seize opportunities and utilize resources to the benefit of the entire county program.  And that leads to a successful county program!

Cullen D. Tittle

CEA-ANR

Burleson County

TCAAA President, 2007-2008