For most kids, the Charles County Fair is about the rides and games, but for 4-Hers, the fair is about so much more. The fair is about showcasing that year’s projects and exhibits. Youth who raise livestock work hard all year to prepare their animals for the show, proudly displaying their farm name and educational information about their animals, all leading up to the sale night. 4-H youth spend long hours at the fair caring for their animals before the gates open to the public and close for the night.
The livestock auction is where youth sell their animals that are finished and ready to go to market, sold for breeding stock, or pets. Youth receive checks from the livestock auction that help support their next year’s projects. This year,124 animals were sold at the livestock auction on Saturday, the 14th. The auction thrives on community support where local businesses and families purchase farm-raised animals from the next generation of agricultural leaders.
These youth are learning skills through 4-H to manage their own farm business, if they choose that career route. They are responsible for feeding and caring for their livestock projects and keeping records; they are required to turn in a record book at the end of the year to learn if their business was a profit or loss. These skills allow the youth to reflect on that year’s projects to help make decisions for next year’s animals.
Youth exhibitor, Riley Herbert says that, for her, the fair is about work. Her time in 4-H has given her perseverance, sportsmanship, and a community. Riley says 4-H has allowed her to grow her own cattle herd and support her goals of a secondary education. Riley spends her fair weekend prepping her animals for all four livestock species shows and preparing for the auction Saturday evening. Riley says the barns are protective; they harbor a safe environment of fellowship with peer 4-Hers and their families, and a friendly competition among exhibitors who are proud to showcase their animals.
4-Hers are not required to sell their animals in the auction; some exhibitors focus on growing their herd through breeding stock, like youth exhibitor, Claire Bright. Claire owns a dairy goat herd that she’s been growing since her early days in 4-H. Claire noted the responsibility she has gained through 4-H, by daily feeding and watering her animals and daily milking her does (female goats). Claire uses her goats’ milk to produce cheese and yoghurt. Claire says, “It’s not just a farm, it’s a business.” She must make decisions on how to market her products, when to sell goats out of her herd, and many other things to ensure quality assurance and care for her animals.
David Hancock, owner of Hancock Family Farms, contributes a lot of his success to 4-H. He says 4-H taught him invaluable skills that he now uses in his everyday life. As a 4-Her, David mainly showed cattle and hogs. He was on the livestock judging team and attended camp. David uses skills instilled in him from raising livestock, and livestock judging, to make decisions on what animals will be the best for breeding, meat, or other purposes. Hancock Family Farms is a pillar in our community that supports other local businesses and pours back into the 4-H livestock auction as well as being a 4-H volunteer.
4-H youth are able to harbor relationships with other agricultural industry partners like the Farm Service Agency , which provides loans for youth entrepreneurship to help with the costs of 4-H projects. Youth also get the opportunity to partner with the SMADC Junior Meats program. 4-H doesn’t only teach youth valuable skills, but introduces them to organizations that they could be working with later in life, like Hancock Family Farms.
Want to learn more about the 4-H program for youth? Visit here.
