Article on youth programs - good read

[BTDT]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/08/26/piggy-bank/?tid=sm_fb

Thought this was a really interesting read.....  lots of good points on both sides.
Everyone thoughts?

 

[jwfarms]

Great find.  A quote that really sticks out.

"The man who ultimately decided the fates of porcine competitors at this fair, judge Tom Farrer, has grown and sold seed stock for 25 years. Where he’s from, in Indiana, he’s noticed that some 90 percent of kids now buy pigs for their 4-H projects — exactly reversed from 15 years ago, when 90 percent grew their own.

Something in there is lost, Farrar thinks, when a kid buys an elite pig for a few months and then sells it, rather than thinking through the process end to end."

 

[Will]

I find the article some what disturbing.  We as agriculturist and especially families that show livestock have to be very cautious about these kind of articles.  There are a lot of people out there that would would love to see the showing of livestock stopped.  Plus this kind of negative attention can effect the people that support these type of programs. 
I will admit it can be discouraging for a child to see a kid win that buys an expensive project and has a hired crew doing the work for them.  But I would bet for every family that has the resources to spend big money and hire a crew that there are a handful of families working their backside off together as a family to get into the winners circle.
In the article they touched a little bit on the fact that a lot of families and kids are very dedicated.  They do not go on vacations or to the lake because their projects are in the barn and it is hot or cold and they feel like they need to do the work to get into the winner circle or at least feel pride in knowing they maximized their animal.  It is rare for those families that are dedicated to come in last,  they may not win but they can be proud of their accomplishments and for time to time they will win a show or two.

 

[herfluvr]

While I found the facts of the article to be fairly accurate is was the insinuation that what was going on at the hog shows is a bad thing. 

Life is a competition.  From peewee little leagues, rocket football, science fairs, GPAs, jobs, and the list goes on.  There will always be the those that have deeper pockets and those that don't.  What can give a person a step up is the ability to purchase better.  What you can't purchase is drive and ambition.  You all know of a sleeper animal someone bought cheap and because of elbow grease and knowledge they made it better and won.  This article makes it seem like it is the have and have-nots that compete with only the "haves" doing the winning.  Maybe it's also the fact they strive to be the best.  No one walks into any sporting event, test, or competition to lose.  Livestock kids of any kind are some of the best kids in this country.  They understand work and where it will take them.  They know an industry that thrives on competition, friends and family.  Does everyone get along?  Does everyone get along at work?  At School?  At Church?  To say this is a cutthroat industry is unfair.  Is there any competitive event that doesn't have all the same aspects of finding the right coach/trainer/breeder, paying for training/knowledge/genetics,and working your butt off to be a winner and even being defeated by a better competitor or even fate. 
Sorry but I don't think competition is bad.  You are as good as you want yourself to be and having money may make the way a little easier but it doesn't ensure you will be always on top. 

 

[chambero]

I thought it was a terrible and poorly written article.  So no kids that can't have breeding stock to raise their own animals should be allowed to show?

Last I checked all livestock are bred to serve at least some role in food production.

 

[vc]

Saw this on face book

http://farmprogress.com/blogs-dear-world-please-stop-casting-family-farmers-vs-everyone-else-8879

 

[BTDT]

I thought it was a terrible and poorly written article.  So no kids that can't have breeding stock to raise their own animals should be allowed to show?

Last I checked all livestock are bred to serve at least some role in food production.

That is 100% wrong.  I know plenty of "breeders" who raise livestock simply for the purple banners.  That is a far cry from "role in food production."

The article was not poorly written, nor was it terrible. It was simply stating the truth.  I firmly believe that plenty of non-winners give up vacation time, free money, and sacrifice just so they can show and stand dead last... which in my opinion is far more honorable than those that spend thousands, hire it all done, and then lead the animal in to get the purple. 

 

[shortyjock89]

If they worked that hard, I doubt they'd get dead last.  You say honorable, I say foolish.  If you really love showing livestock that much and have a will to do your best, you can do quite well on a small budget.

 

[vc]

The article had a hint of pore me to it, as well as a little "its not fair." It starts out with how out of three sows they ended up with zero pigs farrowed, that is a lesson in its self, then she had to settle for what sounds like commercial hogs. The girl did not put herself in any kind of position to be competitive. She sounds like a lot of the people at our county fair, buy the cheaper hogs feed them low end feed and blame others for their situation. The boy I helped the last 2 years did not spend a ton of money on his calves 1800 the first steer and a little more on the second, but the rumor around the fair was 4500 the first and 8000 on the second, I got that same kind of feeling from the article.
We had a family that spent stupid money on steers and hand hired help, and it was sweet when they got beat, the other families that were competitive did their homework put in the work and it paid off, there will always be families with more than others, just have to work harder.
We bred our own hogs for showing, we had one retired market gilt that cost 200 when we purchased her as a prospect. Feeding them was the more intense part of the hog deal, makes feeding calves seem easy.
If I'm not mistaken a 500 dollar hog won, I don't know about their state fair but that is cheap for state fair type hog.