WHATʹS THE REAL PURPOSE OF YOUTH (4-H & FFA) LIVESTOCK PROJECTS? One purpose is to teach young people how to feed, fit, and show their animals. The more important purpose is to provide an opportunity for personal growth and development of the young person. The Josephson Institute of Ethics has developed a curriculum which identifies six core values which may help to be er describe the value of youth livestock projects. This curriculum also presents the idea that people develop and strengthen character by practicing certain behaviors just as muscles are built through exercise. Therefore, the purpose of the youth livestock program (4-H and FFA) is to provide opportunities for young people to develop character. The character traits identified and some practices (exercises) that may build character follow: A. Trustworthiness - includes honesty, promise keeping and loyalty. - daily feeding, watering of animals (promise keeping) - adheres to possession deadlines (honesty) - adheres to withdrawal times on drugs and de-wormer - only the appropriate use of approved drugs B. Respect - includes courtesy and proper treatment of people and things. - proper handling of animals, treat humanely - proper care of animals - listens to and follows advice of advisors - recognizes that animal projects are dependent on 4-Hʹer and provides daily feed and water C. Responsibility - includes the pursuit of excellence, accountability and perseverance. - daily feeding and watering (even on the busy, difficult days) - goes beyond providing the daily needs of the animal in giving additional time and a ention to produce a winner - adheres to deadlines for entry forms and for arrival at livestock shows - never gives up in the show ring (perseverance) D. Fairness - involves consistently applying rules and standards appropriately for different age groups and ability levels. - feed only approved livestock rations - only the appropriate use of approved drugs - accepts winning or losing with grace - conduct in the show ring follows recommended procedure - fi ing and grooming of animals follows recommended procedures E. Caring - promoting the well being of people and things in a young personʹs world. It denotes action and not just feelings. - daily feeding and watering - provides clean barn/stall for animal - treats animal humanely at all times F. Citizenship - includes making the home community and county a be er place to live for themselves and others. - accepting instructions - winning and losing with grace - helping others at stock shows - teaching younger members - treating animals humanely - ensuring that your meat animal is safe for consumption 31
2015 LIVESTOCK LIVESTOCK RULES AND REGULATIONS 1. All 4-H and FFA members enrolled in a food animal project (including beef, sheep, swine, dairy ca le, meat and dairy goats, rabbits and poultry) must complete the appropriate level of MSMQA (Missouri Show Me Quality Assurance) certification to be considered a member in good standing, and thus eligible to exhibit livestock at the Clark County Fair by June 1, 2015. 2. In cases where a member has more than one animal in a class, the other animal may be shown by another Clark County 4-H or FFA member in good standing. 3. Evidence of ownership and production plans and records shall be available for presentation to a livestock superintendent upon request. 4. Ownership of Animals: one of the objectives in owning an animal is to learn new skills in animal breeding, feeding, management and health. To accomplish this, members should secure their animals as early in the year as possible. Livestock shows and exhibitions set up minimum dates for ownership necessary for exhibiting. The following Ownership Dates apply for the Clark County Fair. Ca le Swine Sheep Steers & Market Heifers 2/14/15 Market Lambs 5/2/15 Breeding Stock 5/1/15 Breeding Stock 5/1/15 Goats Market Hogs 5/2/15 Market Goats 5/2/15 Breeding Stock 5/1/15 Breeding Stock 5/1/15 Poultry and Rabbits must be owned 45 days prior to the show. 5. Each exhibitor may weigh in up to four (4) market animals per species at the official pre-fair weigh-in (Steers/Market Heifers 2/14/15 and Sheep/Goats/Swine 5/2/15), but will only be eligible to show two market animals per species. 6. All species exhibited in the rate-of-gain will have proof of ownership by the Clark County ear-tag that will be inserted on the official weigh-in date of each species. Ear-tags are required at the expense of the exhibitor at the cost of $3.00 per tag. 7. Any special conditions or misunderstandings should be brought to the a ention of the appropriate livestock superintendent. 8. All animals must remain on the fairgrounds until released by the superintendent. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of all premiums. If early release of the livestock is needed due to limited space, heat, etc. breeding stock animals will be the first to be released. This decision will be left to the discretion of the superintendents and the Fairboard Youth Representative. 9. Any entries in the livestock show not in compliance with the health regulation will be subject to expulsion from the grounds. 10. Exhibitors are limited to (2) entries per exhibitor in each class per breed. 11. All exhibitors will care for their livestock and furnish their own bedding and feed. Water will be made available. 12. All livestock exhibitors are required to clean their stalls and pens, after the removal of their livestock, by noon on Sunday, or they will forfeit any premium money. 13. Where there is no competition, or only one exhibitor entered, animals will be awarded premiums according to the merit of the animal. 14. Animals may not be shown in both breeding and market classes, except for the use of (1) gilt in the pen of three market swine. 15. All males in market classes must be castrated; no stags. 32
16. Barns, aisle, and pens must be kept in a neat, orderly manner and cleaned for daily inspection by 9:00a.m. 17. On Wednesday following weigh-in each exhibitor must check-in at the announcers stand to confirm entries. 18. Uncontrollable animals or animals which an exhibitor can not handle alone, may be disqualified by the superintendent and be required to leave the ring. 19. Only those animals shown as market animals will be considered in the rate-of-gain class in each species. 20. All exhibitors with eligible animals are required to show in the showmanship class for their species. All exhibitors must show their own animals in the showmanship class. No bucket calves or bulls are allowed to show in the showmanship classes. 21. Livestock sold through the Livestock Sale will remain the responsibility of the exhibitor until it is removed from the fairgrounds. All exhibitors are responsible for the delivery of animals sold in the 4-H & FFA Livestock Sale. Once a market animal has been offered for sale or is sold, it is not allowed to be shown at the Missouri State Fair. (Exception will be made only if so designated before the sale as premium only.) 22. Clover Kids may exhibit any project made in correspondence with their Clover Kids Projects. Clover Kids entries are not judged and will not receive premium. Clover Kids are not allowed to exhibit live animals with the exception frogs, toads, birds, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, cats, chinchillas, dogs, fish, hedgehogs, lizards, mice, rabbits, rats, and snakes. 23. All animals must stall in the barns overnight. No tie outs will be allowed. 24. Trailers may park on the fair grounds, but only in the designated area. 25. In order to be considered for a Champion, an entry must have earned a blue ribbon in their respective class. 26. Any errors in classification or paperwork may be corrected at the discretion of Extension Staff. Herdsmanship The Herdsmanship program at our fair is designed to encourage and acknowledge the good work of 4-H and FFA exhibitors as they care for their livestock at the fair, and work effectively with superintendents as well as the public. A good Herdsman takes thorough, timely care of their animals from first thing in the morning, through the day and into the evening in terms of the animal s health, feeding, watering and cleanliness. Being at the fair, and being shown at the fair, is stressful on animals! A good Herdsman does their best to minimize the stress on their livestock from before they leave home until after the fair is over. It does not cost a great deal of money to be a good Herdsman. It does mean that the member is actively involved with the care of their animals and presents their animals, pens, stalls and equipment in a way that shows the best of 4-H and FFA to the public. A good Herdsman does their best to show their animals in all available classes, including Showmanship. A good Herdsman is ready to show and on time or in line early for all classes. A good Herdsman is helpful to other exhibitors, the public, superintendents, sale commi ee members and others that are making the fair possible, and to the public viewing the exhibits. 33
A good herdsman may depend upon the help of other family members or club members to care for their animals from time to time but, as the exhibitor, the responsibility for their care feeding, and management of show animals is in the hands of the member exhibiting them. A strong dependence on others to do the work for you is not the sign of a good Herdsman. The fair is a wonderful chance to demonstrate the good work you do to the entire community. Make the most of this opportunity! Exhibitors are requested to maintain their pen areas as orderly as possible. Exhibitors must keep their part of the building neat and a ractive in appearance. Exhibits may be judged several times daily. These awards will be presented before the Livestock Sale on Saturday. Herdsmanship is awards for Beef, Swine, Sheep, and Goats. Golden Shovel The Golden Shovel is a traveling award that is judged randomly throughout the fair by an anonymous commi ee to inspire youth exhibitors to: Keep the barns clean. Contribute to a ractive stalling and display areas. Provide the public with accurate information. Demonstrate outstanding helpfulness. Senior Livestock Showmanship This award will be presented to the youth, fourteen (14) years of age and older, who is judged to be the most outstanding show person at the Clark County Fair. Each exhibitor must show their own animal in the showmanship class of their species. This contest will include winners of senior showmanship in beef, swine, sheep, and goat divisions. For the overall showmanship class animals will be selected which none of the participants have handled. In case the same exhibitor is chosen in more than one species, no reserves will be pulled up to enter. Organizational Pen of Three A cash prize of $30.00 will be presented to the club or organization that has the most outstanding Pen of Three market animals. There must be more than one group participating in this class for these awards to be given. There must be a minimum of two separate exhibitors in order to show in this class. At least one exhibitor from each organization must enter this class on their pre-fair entry forms in order to participate. These classes will be judged at the conclusion of each show. Organizational Pens of Three are judged for Beef, Swine, Sheep and Goats. Carcass Classes The carcass class is based on data collected from an ultrasound preformed the day of weigh-in. There is a nominal per head charge for the ultrasounding and a minimum weight per species. Sponsors are make donations to help cover or lower the cost. Any uncollected balance will be assessed to entering the class. Ultrasound cost Weight minimum Ultrasound cost Weight minimum Beef $10 930 lbs Swine $5 220 lbs Sheep $5 90 lbs Goats $5 50 lbs Rate of Gain Awards Exhibitors with the top 10 rate of gain entries in each species will receive prize money. The top entry receives a cash prize of $10, second receives $9, and so forth with tenth place receiving $1. These awards will be presented at the conclusion of the show of each species. 34
Clark County Ca leman s Award The Clark County Ca leman s Association will sponsor two (2) five hundred dollar ($500) cash prizes to be used toward the purchase of a yearling heifer. The recipients of this award will be decided by a drawing. To be eligible, the 4-H or FFA member must be enrolled in and exhibiting Beef during the 2015 Fair. To enter, a form must be completed, signed by the parent stating that the exhibitor will care for the animal and that the animal will be exhibited at the 2016 Fair. Forms must be turned in with your entry forms for the 2015 Clark County Fair. Members must be 17 years of age or younger to enter. Previous winners are not eligible. Winners will be announced prior to the Livestock Sale Pepsi Cola Award The Memphis Pepsi-Cola Bo ling Company and the Keokuk Pepsi-Cola Distributor sponsor three cash prizes awarded toward the purchase of breeding stock. To be eligible, the 4-H or FFA member must be exhibiting livestock (beef, swine, sheep, or goats) at the 2015 Fair. Winners will be decided by drawing. To enter, a form must be submi ed by the livestock entry date, and signed by a parent or guardian stating that the exhibitor will care for the animal and exhibit the animal (and/or in the case of a gilt, two of her progeny) at the 2016 Fair. Winners will be announced prior to the Livestock Sale. Previous winners are not eligible. Beef $100 Gilt $50 Ewe/Nanny $50 2015 Livestock/Art Hall Sale 2015 Sale Order: Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Rabbits, Poultry, and Art Hall Items This sale will be held in the livestock barn area. Animals from the market classes with be sold at auction by the head, using weights taken on fair entry day, with the floor price rounded to the nearest dollar. Art Hall items will be sold following the livestock sale with items designated at Art Hall Entry Night. Members must be present to sell their own items. Sale consignments will be limited to one (1) steer/market heifer, or two (2) hogs, or two (2) market lambs, or two (2) market goats, or any combination with a limit of two (2) animals per exhibitor, which can include no more than one (1) steer/market heifer. A meat pen of three (3) rabbits or poultry may also be sold; they will count as one (1) animal. Art Hall items are limited to two (2) items per member. Each fair exhibitor will be limited to two entries total in the Livestock/Art Hall Sale. The Clark County Fair Livestock/Art Hall Sale will be a premium sale. With a premium sale, the purchaser pays the difference between the actual market price and the price they bid for an animal. The seller has the option to keep the animal to sell at market or to show at later shows, such as the state fair. Animals to be retained by the seller will be designated PO (premium only) on the sale sheet. Those lots designated BC (buyers choice) allow the purchase to purchase the animal for meat purposes, by paying the entire cost and taking possession of the animal. Livestock must meet the following weight minimums: Beef 930 lbs Swine 220 lbs Sheep 90lbs Goats none Rabbits 3.5-5 lbs Poultry 3lbs Art Hall items must have received a red or blue ribbon. No food or perishable items may be sold. For safety reasons, members selling Art Hall items will enter from the south end of the sale ring and avoid areas where livestock are being led into the sale ring. 35