DIO-Ltucaster Farming Saturday, September 6,1986
BY RICHARD BARCZEWSKI
University of Delaware
NEWARK, Del. - Every
summer I have the opportunity to
serve as a judge for several
livestock shows on Delmarva and
in surrounding areas.
Prior to my arrival at the county
fairgrounds, hogs are washed,
brushed and trained to drive by a
lot of enthusiastic young 4-H and
FFA exhibitors. Hours are devoted
to raising that one animal that will
be named champion of the show.
The champion is then offered for
sale at a livestock auction and
usually fetches a handsome sum
far in excess of the going market
price.
Parents and supporters of such
sales are always trying to find
buyers willing to spend record
amounts of money for an animal
that for all intents and purposes is
worth the market price. Why are
these sales popular and why do we
put so much emphasis on one
judge’s opinion? These are
questions that deserve
thought
Livestock projects provide a
youngster with the opportunity to
raise an animal to market weight.
Along the way, he or she should
leam some of the finer points of
feeding, health and general
management of the livestock
species being raised.
In addition, some general costs
of production should be kept to
determine the profitability of the
project. These records keep
everything in perspective and let
the youngster know how they’re
doing in the hog business. But then,
along comes the champion hog
with its high price tag.
|h While it’s true that selling a
tampion hog at a fair provides a
youngster with money for college
or further livestock endeavors, the
experience doesn’t paint a realistic
picture.’
How many times do we in the
industry get to sell a hog for two,
three, five or 10 dollars a pound or
more? You know the answer is
never. While we like to see a
youngster receive a good price for
a champion, it’s up to us as leaders
of 4-H, FFA and other youth groups
to keep the experience in per
spective.
One of the biggest disap
pointments I’ve had over the past
few years regarding livestock
projects is a direct result of high
selling champion animals. As the
price per pound increases, so does
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Keeping The Show Circuit In Perspective
the amount of money a youngster
will spend for the project animal.
It’s not uncommon at all for kids to
spend a hundred dollars or more
for an outstanding feeder pig. This
in turn makes it next to impossible
for the exhibitor to break even
unless they win the championship.
Believe me, there have been a lot
of disappointed kids when a
judge’s final verdict comes in.
Remember that there is only one
champion, and at larger shows
several youngsters may have paid
big bucks for their project
animals.
Who profits from all of this? You
can’t totally fault the producer,
some
3
become involved in a livestock animals keep a realistic per
project. spective on their projects.
I’m one of the fortunate in- Hog producers can help by
dividuals who became interested making a few good feeder pigs
in livestock through 4-H projects, available for project animals at a
It doesn’t matter how much you fair market price. Invite a
spend on an animal if the main youngster to view the pigs and
objective is learning about provide adequate information
livestock and the livestock in- about them with regard to their
dustry. Learning is a main ob- potential growth rate and ef
jective of 4-H and FFA, and as ficiency. Better yet, become in
project leaders it’s our respon- volved as a project leader for a 4-H
sibility to ensure that the youth club or FFA chapter and share
involved are aware of the realistic some of your knowledge about the
objectives of raising livestock. hog industry.
I’m not trying to say that Working together we can ensure
champion sales should be that knowledge remains the
discontinued, but rather that the number one objective of our junior
youngsters involved in raising livestock projects and shows.
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