Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 29, 1995                   TAG: 9508290018
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL R. McKINNON
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN LIVESTOCK SHOWS, THE KIDS WIN

My concern was that the article tended to paint all youth who exhibit livestock with the same brush. A more balanced and informative presentation would examine the Virginia situation and the overwhelmingly positive aspects of junior livestock events.

The reprehensible acts of cheating cited were the result of overzealous parents and other adults. These adults have lost the focus as to the primary goals of junior livestock programs. These ``win at all costs'' adults forgot that the goal is youth development, not having the champion steer, lamb or hog.

Most Virginia 4-H and Future Farmers of America families would disagree with Scott McEldowney's attitude. He fed clenbuterol, a banned muscle-enhancing substance, to his daughter's steer and was caught. McEldowney seemed focused on creating a winning steer instead of rearing a well-rounded child who values integrity.

Volunteer leaders and parents of the Montgomery 4-H Livestock Club always stress showmanship over the placing of the animal. In showmanship classes, the skills of youngsters exhibiting their animal in the ring are evaluated. In the showmanship ring, it's the young person and the time invested in training the animal on display. The most economically disadvantaged youngster with the poorest quality animal can excel in showmanship.

The article quoted an Oklahoma official who estimated cheating incidents at 20 percent. Having worked with Virginia 4-H livestock exhibitors for 20 years, I would put the occurrence of cheating in Virginia at a small fraction of that estimate. Most young people showing livestock despise the few well-publicized cheaters, and resent the black eye given to a wholesome activity.

The one-sided nature of the article failed to recognize positive features of youngsters raising and showing livestock. The livestock show is the culmination of a months-long livestock project. The show is the payoff for months of feeding, training and grooming animals, and barn cleaning. Before the time of the show, young people have gained knowledge in animal evaluation, genetics, nutrition, economics and marketing. Few activities reinforce the importance of responsibility as does the everyday care of an animal.

Another positive aspect of the livestock project is that it's a family activity. In most cases, parents are needed in the initial halter training, hauling, financial assistance and moral support. On show day, typically the whole family shows up to support the 4-H or FFA member. Few youth activities in today's society encourage such total family involvement.

Young people around Virginia are busy feeding, leading and grooming their project animals. Termination of many 4-H and FFA animal projects will occur at the Virginia State Fair in Richmond in late September. These young folks will show their animals in competition against their friends from other regions of Virginia. The vast majority of livestock exhibitors will leave the show ring with clear consciences.

Bill R. McKinnon of Christiansburg has worked with Virginia 4-H livestock exhibitors for 20 years.