Each year thousands of 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members raise a market animal for their local county fair. Commitment, responsibility and lessons in business are a few of the things learned by these young people.
4-H members can begin a market animal project at the age of nine. That is a lot of responsibility for a nine-year-old. What does it take to raise an animal? What benefits does the youngster receive? What are the financial aspects of the project?
The Project
The main large animal projects are steers, hogs and lambs. Some fairs also exhibit and sell goats, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. Exhibitors decide which species they wish to raise and the commitment begins. As a member of a 4-H or FFA organization, exhibitors are guided within project groups by experienced advisors and leaders. Selecting an animal is the first task at hand.
Members learn care, nutrition and handling of their species. Calendars, goals and target dates are set. The exhibitor becomes responsible for raising and having the animal market ready by the fair date.
Lambs and hogs have to be owned for at least 60 days, steers for 120 days. This is the minimum. Most exhibitors typically have their hogs and lambs for at least three months. Steer exhibitors have ownership for at least six months. It is a large time commitment.
Benefits and Responsibilities
By participating in the livestock project, exhibitors gain a lot of responsibility. The care of their animal must come first and sometimes other events and activities must be forfeited. The animal must be fed twice a day, have fresh water, a clean living environment and be gentled down. If an animal becomes sick, it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to take necessary action. All of this takes time.
Exhibitors benefit from these tasks and are given an idea of responsibilities they will have later in life with jobs and families.
Finances
Project animals teach the exhibitor a lot about marketing and finance in the livestock industry. Exhibitor must purchase their project animal, feed, veterinary supplies, tack and other miscellaneous items. Budgeting is very important. Often, project loans or scholarships are available for the first time exhibitor. These loans are low or no interest and are paid back at the conclusion of the project.
Budgets may look something like this:
Steer Hog Lamb
Cost of feeder animal $800 $250 $250
Feed $600 $200 $100
Miscellaneous Costs $100 $50 $50
Total Project Cost $1500 $500 $400
Break Even Per Pound $1.20 $2.10 $2.85
Based on Sale Weight 1250# 240# 140#
Current Market Value $1.15/lb $0.95/lb $1.41/lb
The cost of raising a 4-H or FFA animal is higher than costs incurred by commercial livestock producers. The individual attention given to the animals with feed and care comes at a higher cost than producers using pastures or feedlots. For this reason, exhibitors usually receive more than the market value of their animal. Although this may not be realistic to some, it balances with the higher expenditures.
Many 4-H and FFA exhibitors establish college funds with their earnings from project animals.
Learning the budget process and taking part in a real market commodity is a valuable experience for these young people.
The market animal experience is a great one. I can speak from experience, having participated for eight years as a youngster and helping my children with their many years of projects. There is nothing quite like it to teach responsibility. The key is to let the exhibitor be in control and experience the whole opportunity that is there for them.
Valerie Lakey - My name is Valerie Lakey, I live in one of the most beautiful places ever! I am married with a son and a daughter. We are ranchers in ...
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