As July unfolds, county fairs are in full swing around the United States. This time of year makes me think of members of agriculture youth programs, like 4-H and FFA, who are stepping into the show ring for a chance to compete for champion with their livestock projects.
Learning life lessons
Not everyone can win grand champion, however everyone involved in 4-H and FFA walk away with life lessons that are much more valuable long-term. One of the biggest lessons I learned is responsibility. I got my first steer when I was eight and started learning what it means to take care of an animal. I was responsible for feeding him twice a day and making sure that he had clean fresh water. By the time I was in high school and had more animals to care for, I had to wake up at four a.m. every morning to feed them before school. Caring for these animals taught me how to be responsible for not only myself but for others too.
Youth programs like 4-H and FFA also teach valuable skills like record-keeping and managing finances. In my 4-H club and FFA chapter, I had to keep records to continue showing my livestock at my county fair and to be eligible for awards. I had to make sure I kept feed and hay receipts, wrote down dates I participated in 4-H or FFA-related events, and made note of veterinarian visits. I also learned how to manage my finances by keeping track of all income and expenses that I had throughout the year. This information helped me to make decisions for the future.
Making memories
While I learned a lot from my livestock projects, there were many opportunities that I was able to take advantage of simply because I was involved in 4-H and FFA. I made some of my best friends through these programs and learned a lot about friendship. Some of my best memories come from being at my county fair with some of my friends from my 4-H club and FFA chapter, having water fights with hoses at the wash racks on hot days, playing board games during our free time, helping each other with schoolwork, and having movie nights in our campers before a show the next morning.
Youth agricultural programs also provides opportunities for members to learn other skills including leadership. Programs like 4-H and FFA provide growth opportunities at the local, state, and national levels. During my time in agriculture youth programs, I was able to hold officer positions where I learned many different skills including active listening, conflict resolution, and communication.
Whether or not you grow up on a farm or have the chance to work with livestock, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and learn valuable life lessons. I attribute much of my success today to 4-H and FFA. I learned so much during my time in the programs, and it’s helped develop me into who I am today.
All posts are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the view of the Animal Ag Alliance.
The post A Love Letter to 4-H and FFA appeared first on Animal Agriculture Alliance.
