On behalf of LCI’s Board of Directors and the 150 member organizations, I would like to welcome each of you to the National Youth Livestock Program Ethics Symposium. Those gathered here today represent a cross-section of industry leaders, decision makers and influencers from all across animal agriculture.

This symposium involves FFA and 4-H leaders, agricultural education instructors, extension agents, fair and exposition management professionals, commodity and farm organization representatives, state departments of agriculture - shows and fairs personnel, veterinarians, media and others with an interest in youth livestock programs.

The year was 1916, in the midst of a rapidly prospering society, and the future of the United States’ livestock industry teetered on the brink of disaster. An outbreak of bovine tuberculosis threatened cattle producers, processors, and the health of millions of Americans. In Chicago, Thomas Wilson, president of one of the nation’s major livestock slaughterers, mobilized other meat packing companies and formed the Livestock Sanitary Committee to combat the severe outbreak of bovine TB. Under the leadership of another man, a livestock specialist by the name of Howard Smith, testing cattle for TB became routine; and by 1957, bovine TB was reduced by 99 percent, while the human mortality rate from non-respiratory TB fell by 97 percent. From this fight for the health of an entire nation, the Livestock Conservation Institute was founded with an emphasis on solving problems that cause major losses to the livestock industry.

For nearly 80 years, LCI has been a catalyst for industry efforts in trimming losses due to other costly livestock diseases, including the successful eradication of hog cholera. During this time, LCI has also been instrumental in the ongoing success of brucellosis and pseudorabies eradication endeavors, as well as the Scrapie Certification Program. While disease control, eradication and preventive herd/flock health programs have been the cornerstone of LCI, the organization recognizes other areas of potential concern to animal agriculture.

When bruising of meat products was recognized as a factor in economic losses suffered by producers and processors in the late 1970s, LCI became the industry leader in developing instructional materials on proper handling and transportation techniques. Award-winning videos and pamphlets were produced by LCI and continue to be the industry’s best educational resources for handling livestock properly.

Today, LCI continues to be an advocacy organization for animal health and handling programs while embracing an agenda which involves responding to societal and publicly driven issues, such as animal welfare and food safety concerns. Producers, processors, educators, corporations and commodity organizations work together with government agencies to monitor livestock diseases and develop animal health programs that will, in turn, provide quality assurance to consumers. LCI serves as an umbrella organization with a diverse membership from virtually every segment of animal agriculture. LCI members influence research, product development and regulations related to livestock production for the betterment of the entire industry.

LCI’s mission for the 1990s is to provide a forum for diverse groups to discuss common issues and achieve consensus on the best way to meet the challenges facing the livestock industry. By combining a successful heritage with a progressive modern-day agenda, LCI is poised and ready to impact the productivity and prosperity of the food animal industry across North America into the 21st century.

In the spirit of LCI tradition, this symposium is intended to build consensus among the many segments of animal agriculture.

As you well know, recent times have given rise to the public revelation of unethical, and in some cases illegal, activity associated with youth livestock programs across the United States. From the lamb beating incident in an Arkansas livestock show, to the now-famed Woodville pig incident in Texas, to the documented and prosecuted incidences of anabolic steroid use in steers at major shows all across the country — disturbing incidents of such unethical activity have tainted the very essence of what agricultural youth programs are all about.

Ironically, 4-H and FFA youth programs, with their roots deep in rural America, are both excellent models for other industries and other aspects of our society, throughout this nation and across the globe. Those of us here today understand what these programs stand for:

"To Make the Best Better" reads the 4-H motto. 4-H'ers pledge their head to clearer thinking, their heart to greater loyalty, their hands to larger service, their health to better living, for their club, their community, their country and their world. Youth involved in 4-H programs acquire knowledge, develop life skills and form attitudes that enable them to become self-directed, productive, contributing members of society (Source: National 4-H Council).

"Developing leadership, cooperation and citizenship for tomorrow’s agriculturalists — this is the main goal of the National FFA Organization." The FFA Mission reads: "FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education." (Source: National FFA Organization)

4-H and FFA youth programs are effective in accomplishing their respective program objectives. Simply put, they work. They are working for millions of kids every day, making a difference in their lives, the future of American agriculture and the future of our country.

So, it is important for us to note that the headlines that have been appearing in newspapers across the country have indeed had a story to report. What has been reported is shocking. It’s down-right disturbing.

"Incidents mar livestock shows — Competitive pressures may impair wholesome youth events" - The Dallas Morning News (5/22/94)

"A blue-ribbon year for cheating — Fraud and felonies replace showmanship and hard work at Ohio’s livestock shows" - Columbus Dispatch, four-part series (Oct 30 - Nov 2, 1994)

"Livestock tests send FDA on drug search" - Kansas City Star (4/2/95)

"Packers may reject show stock — Some animals apparently have been drugged and are threat to consumers" - Kansas City Star (4/12/95)

"Cheating growing on livestock circuit" - Associated Press (8/95)

"Scandal in the pens" - The Louisville Courier-Journal (8/25/95)

"Cheating, abuse rear their heads at livestock fairs" - USA Today (9/1/95)

"Grand Champion Cheats — Illegal drug use, deceptions taint junior livestock shows" - Albuquerque Journal (9/5/95)

But, what the newspapers sometimes fail to point out is that the vast majority of our youth are "doing the right thing." Their instructors and adult leaders are teaching "the right things."

However, we cannot be seen as allowing unethical, deceptive or illegal practices to occur in our industry, especially in our youth programs. And as industry and youth leaders, we must demand that this area be cleaned up and these activities be brought to an abrupt stop. Parents and leaders, representing the vast majority who are trying to do things right, must not tolerate the bad element.

We all agree that 4-H and FFA youth programs were not designed to teach kids practices involving cheating and illegal acts. I don’t know what is more disturbing, the fact this is going on in what is supposed to be a wholesome, family environment; or the fact that adults, in some cases parents and youth program leaders, are involved.

While the vast majority of exhibitors at youth and open livestock expositions are responsible stewards of livestock, the actions of these few unethical individuals could endanger the existence of such livestock youth programs. Furthermore, these unfortunate circumstances have implications for the industry as a whole in the areas of food safety, proper handling and care of livestock, and animal husbandry.

The Livestock Conservation Institute (LCI), therefore, wants to assure that the industry responds appropriately to this very critical issue. Organizations such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Animal Industry Foundation, the National FFA Organization and the USDA Cooperative Extension Service (4-H) are joining LCI to support aggressive efforts in ethics education directed to all individuals involved in the exhibition of livestock at youth and open shows.

The National Youth Livestock Program Ethics Symposium Planning Committee has put together an excellent program format. The next two days should prove to be very productive — as we spend today listening, learning and formulating ideas; and tomorrow as we divide into four work groups, roll up our sleeves and produce solutions to our concerns.

The planning committee has been at work for the past six months, and I want to express my appreciation to them. Aside from probably being the first ‘ethics’ symposium in Las Vegas, they have laid the framework for other unprecedented actions to take place this week.

This symposium provides a forum for the industry to address the ethics issue by focusing on four program areas: self-examination, unified effort, education, and enforcement. You will have the opportunity to share information on successful programs, in addition to offering input for a plan of action. This symposium will lay a solid foundation for this effort to build on. However, it is just the beginning.

By your presence here today, you are saying that you will not tolerate unethical or illegal practices. You know the vast majority are doing the right thing. The time has come to deal with those who don’t.

This is a complex issue. There are not only unethical actions occurring, but often these actions have serious animal welfare and/or public health concerns. We are very, very much concerned about this, and we do not intend to tolerate such activity in this industry.

The purpose of this symposium is to:

•  Foster self-examination of current practices and procedures utilized in the exposition of livestock;

•  Provide an opportunity to organize a unified approach to the issues surrounding ethics in youth livestock programs;

•  Establish educational initiatives for both youth and adults by promoting existing resources and incorporating progressive symposium outcomes;

•  Increase awareness of enforcement options and develop a plan of action for enforcing ethics codes and established rules and regulations within events.

In the spirit of LCI tradition, this symposium is intended to build consensus among the many segments of animal agriculture. The presentations shall educate and inform. The work groups shall produce action, so that by tomorrow afternoon when we all go our separate ways, we will have made some vital decisions which will have placed us well on the way toward progressing this issue forward to an end result. We truly hope that each symposium participant — whether from the U.S. or another country, whether a speaker, a panelist, or a member of the media — will experience a very worthwhile symposium. Thank you for your presence here today.