Education

• Understand the importance of character education for Texas 4-H and FFA members.

• Ensure that all 4-H and FFA livestock projects meet food quality standards.

• Promote a positive image of youth livestock programs.

Objectives

• Character – The combination of qualities or featuresthat distinguishes one person, group or thing fromanother (American Heritage Dictionary)

• Developed through day-to-day behavior

• Demonstrated by the way people act and the things they are involved in

• Young people emulate character traitsof adult role models.

• Important to have role models whodemonstrate good character traits

What is character education?

• Trustworthiness • Respect• Responsibility• Fairness• Caring• Citizenship

Six Pillars of Character

• Recognizes that animals depend on their caretakers

• Feeds only approved livestock rations• Feeds and waters animals daily• Adheres to the possession deadlines• Adheres to withdrawal times

for drugs and dewormers• Uses only approved drugs

Trustworthiness

• Showmanship• Handles and treats animals humanely• Cares for animals properly• Listens to and follows advice of advisors• Recognizes that animals depend on their

caretakers

Respect

• Feeds and waters animals daily (even on busy, difficult days)

• Goes beyond providing the daily needs of the animal by giving it extra time and attention to produce a winner

• Adheres to deadlines for entry form and for arrival at livestock shows

• Feeds only approved livestockrations

• Uses only approved drugs

Responsibility

• Feeds only approved livestock rations• Uses only approved drugs• Accepts winning or losing with grace• Follows rules in the show ring• Follows recommended procedures for fitting and grooming an animal

Fairness

• Feeds and waters the animals daily• Keeps the stall and barn clean• Handles and treats animals humanely

Caring

• Accepts instruction• Accepts winning or losing with grace• Helps others at stock shows• Teaches younger members• Handles and treats animals

humanely• Ensures that meat is safe

for consumption

Citizenship

For additional information and activities on the Six Pillars of Character in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 5Activity 1 – Defining the Six Pillars of CharacterActivity 2 – Applying the Six Pillars of Character to Livestock ProjectsActivity 3 – It’s a Question of EthicsActivity 4 – Tight Spaces

• Important for young people to understand the mission and purpose of both 4-H and FFA

• Helps them appreciate each of the organizations and the privilege of membership

• Each organization promotes the following • Challenges• Competencies• Preparing young

people• Potential

• Life skills• Success• Leadership• Educational experiences• Personal growth

Purpose of 4-H and FFA

For additional information and activities on the Purpose of 4-H and FFA in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 2Activity 1 – Understanding 4-H and FFAActivity 2 – 4-H and FFA Building Character 

• Teach young people how to feed and care for animals, work cooperatively with others, and exhibit animals properly

• Teach life skills• Encourage responsibility in civic duties:

– Excellent classroom grades– Exemplary behavior in school

and community– Follow all rules related

to showing livestock

Purpose of Livestock Projects

For additional information and activities on the Purpose of Livestock Projects in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 3 Activity 1 – The Real Purpose of Livestock ProjectsActivity 2 – Name that Skill

• Learning to set goals is importantto youth development.

• Young people who write clear,defined goals are more likelyto achieve those goals.

• When writing goals, focus onraising and caring for livestock,practicing showmanship, andhelping others.

Making Decisions / Setting Goals

For additional information and activities on Making Decisions/Setting Goals in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 4: Showing With Sportsmanship, Lesson 1Activity 1 – What motivates us to have livestock projects?Activity 2 – What is success?Activity 3 – Writing Personal Goals  

• Texas had 76,326 livestock entries by 4-H and FFA members in 2006.

• Texas leads the nation in the number of livestock projects exhibited.

• Young people are paidpremiums for theiranimals at local andcounty livestock shows.

• Young exhibitors should be producingsafe, wholesome food products.

Effect of Livestock Projects on the Red Meat Industry

For additional information and activities on the Impact of Livestock Projects on the Red Meat Industry in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Quality Counts - Gold: Marketing Livestock Section

• Identification is important for tracking animals.

• Helps tell the history of the animal

• This may include:– exhibitor / owner – birth date of animal– location of animal– genetics of animal

• If ID is lost or falls out, a newone must be put in.

Animal Identification and Tracking

For additional information and activities on Animal Identificationand Tracking in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 1Activity 1 – Ear Notching

• Young people should understand:– Food Quality Assurance– HACCP Plans– Effects of improper medications and incorrect feedstuffs

• Producing unsafe food can bedetrimental to the food supply.

• Consequences include:– Contamination– Pesticide or drug residue problems– Food recalls

Responsibility to Producea Safe Product

For additional information and activities on Responsibilities of Producing a Safe Product in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 2: Food Safety, Lesson 2Activity 1 – Create Your Own HACCP PlanActivity 2 – Identifying HazardsActivity 3 – Broken Needles

Young people should know:• how to read medication labels

and give proper injections

• the difference between label,off label and extra label drugs

• how to give injections properly

• injection site blemishes causemuscle cuts to be discarded

Medication Use / Readingand Following Labels

For additional information and activities on Medication Use / Identifying and Following Labels in the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Lesson 4 – Drug Withdrawal Times Activity 1 – Record KeepingActivity 2 – Calculating Withdrawal TimesActivity 3 – Treatment Record

Lesson 5 – Drug Residues Activity 1 – Disappearing ResidueActivity 2 – Sunscreen No No

Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 2

Activity 1 – Reading a Medication InsertActivity 2 – Reading a Feed TagActivity 3 – Label Use of DrugsActivity 4 – Medication Labels

Lesson 3, Administering MedicinesActivity 1 – Livestock Injection SitesActivity 2 – Banana Injection Activity 3 – Injection Site BlemishActivity 4 – Burrs on Needles

• Provide proper facilities for livestock.

• Facilities should be well ventilatedand protect animals from extremetemperatures.

• Provide fresh water and feed daily.

• Proper bedding helps preventdisease and bacterial infections.

• Use low-stress methods whentransporting animals.

Animal Care and Well-Being

For additional information and activities on Animal Care and Well-Beingin the Quality Counts curriculum see:

Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 6 Activity 1 – Defining Character and EthicsLesson 7, Caring for your Animal’s Health

Activity 1 – Calculating Average Daily GainActivity 2 – Calculating Dosage from Medicine LabelsActivity 3 – Estimating Show WeightActivity 4 – Keeping Records for a Livestock Project

• Adults should embrace all educational aspects of livestock projects.

• When showing livestock, exhibitors should not be focused on winning or losing but on gaining life skills and learning good character traits.

• Adults should emphasize the eight core concepts of Quality Counts:– Six Pillars of Character– Purpose of 4-H / FFA – Purpose of livestock projects– Making– Effect of livestock projects on the red meat industry– Responsibility to produce a safe product – Medication use / reading and following labels– Animal care and well-being

Final Thoughts