What does it really mean to make the best better? Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve. These are meaningless words that are not worth the paper they’re written on, unless they are taught and practiced by those who recite these creeds each month at meetings of 4-H and FFA across the United States. As a former member of both youth programs and now a concerned parent who has children nearing eligibility for participation in 4-H, I feel it is the responsibility of the parents, 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, and show management to assure and maintain the highest level of integrity, in order to give these programs their maximum potential for teaching animal husbandry to our youth. Not only do the exhibitors attain an education in animal husbandry that includes selection, genetics, nutrition, health, fitting, showing, economics and marketing, they are also developing such life skills as communication, leadership, cooperation, discipline, responsibility, and financial management, that the future leaders of agriculture need to keep our industry competitive into the next century.

Since my occupation is a banker, let's put it in financial terms and look at both sides of the balance sheet. On the asset side you have all the aforementioned: education, honesty, and integrity. But the liabilities far outweigh the assets when you have deception, cheating, fraud, collusion, unethical and inhumane treatment of animals, and dishonesty, to name just a few debits. As with any business when the current position of a customer becomes inverse (with more current liabilities than assets), the banker re-schedules that debt into the intermediate position on the balance sheet to correct the short-term position. This might be disqualification from a show for cheating, but still allows that individual the opportunity to continue showing. As time goes on and the individual gets more involved, the stakes get higher, cheating becomes not only a choice but a preferred practice for winning. Again in viewing the balance sheet of this exhibitor it shows his current position is again inverse and needing to be re-scheduled in order for him to stay in operation.

The exhibitor gets another chance to keep operating, but again falters, and his intermediate position is full and needs to be re-scheduled into the long term. Now you have a heavily leveraged customer who not only puts himself at risk of going out of business, but also puts the lender in jeopardy of losing out on his investment.

You, the extension agents, livestock shows and expositions are the lenders, and the exhibitors are the borrowers. It is very evident that livestock shows have a select group of very heavily leveraged exhibitors that are on the verge of becoming insolvent. There are also some other exhibitors who are comfortable with the idea that cheating may be the only way to compete and win.

In the previous scenario the only thing the banker would lose is his money. But the show ring can ill afford to continue to give second chances to the dishonest and lose the credibility of teaching our youth not only agricultural education, but moral values as well. The time has come to stop the unethical and deceptive actions of the few involved in the 4-H and FFA programs who give these programs a bad name, and put those individuals out of business. In other words, a one strike and you're out policy, or zero tolerance.

Unless the livestock show associations (specifically the American Livestock Show and Rodeo Managers Association, International Association of Fairs and Expositions, the Western States Fair Association) and all other affiliate shows take action now, the chances for the continuance of junior programs will be bleak at best. The fair and livestock expositions must take the stance of zero tolerance on cheating, or their existence may become extinct in virtue of future lawsuits and liabilities. The shows must take a pro-active stance to uphold the integrity and fair competition that they guarantee each exhibitor in their premium lists. Again, unless livestock shows back up what they have in print, it is not worth the paper it is written on, and they open themselves up to more scrutiny by the exhibitors, and the general public’s view of the industry itself.

Some of the major livestock shows like the National Western Stock Show, State Fair of Texas, Tulsa State Fair, and Ohio State Fair have taken extensive measures to curb this problem with stiffer penalties, including the loss of privilege to show. All shows must follow their lead and communicate to eliminate violators from participation. The American Livestock and Rodeo Managers Association took a united stance earlier this summer by adopting The National Show Ring Code of Ethics as well as developing a rule infraction data base for participating shows to reference if there is a question of eligibility of an exhibitor.

But all of this cannot happen unless the education starts at home with the parents of these exhibitors. Children respond to what they are taught. If they are instructed to compete fairly and learn through perseverance and hard work, the winning becomes more rewarding due to the learning experience to get there. And, as with any educational experience, learning from their mistakes to do better the next time. This also enables exhibitors in the future to draw on the educational and memorable experiences he/she had while participating in the junior program. The focus, however, should not be placed on winning at all costs, but the experience and learning involved in the care and preparation of the animal during the course of the project.

There are some states that have started programs requiring exhibitors to take a class or seminar dealing with show ring ethics and fair competition before being allowed to show at the local and state level. This will assure Fair managers that exhibitors know the rules and what is expected of them before they enter a show. Exhibitors will be required to sign a statement confirming they did attend and understand the rules and regulations governing the shows they exhibit at.

If children are taught to bend the rules and cheat, they will respond accordingly. These exhibitors will feel it is okay to be dishonest if they see others doing it without recourse! They will also find it acceptable to allow others to do the work for them and in turn reap the benefits of winning. This type of guidance is unacceptable and those parents, educators and others who teach this behavior need to be relieved of their responsibility to educate and participate in Junior programs altogether.

Think of the impact your actions have today, and the influence you have on shaping the educational experience and ideals of tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture. Which side of the balance sheet do you want to present to the exhibitors, and the general public? A solid business with great equity in education, high morals, integrity, honesty, and sportsmanship. Or a business with heavy liabilities that include a lack of character, deception, greed, and dishonesty. It is my hope that you as parents, extension agents, and educators will not succumb to the pressure of those who wish to pursue dishonest and deceptive practices at all cost to win. I guarantee you that the only ones who will be knocking at your door to complain will be those who it will affect the most-those individuals who have been using and abusing the show ring system of live animal husbandry education for monetary gain.

Those who have been caught this past year physically altering livestock through the use of illegal drugs and substances have not only been inhumane to the animals involved, but have also put in question the integrity of the junior programs.

It is important that something is done about this problem, as it will only continue to add fuel to a fire that is currently burning with animal rights advocates and consumer groups looking for a reason to question the safety of our livestock industry’s products.

By adopting a zero tolerance stance on cheating we can put the education factor back into the equation, and limit the spoils of winning, and promote educational programs and their benefits. Let us continue to teach our future leaders of agriculture how "to make the best better, learning to do, and earning to live," have real meaning in the process of developing their future in agriculture. Isn’t it worth the time to stand up for what is right, and defeat and correct what is wrong? Obviously your presence here today proves there is concern over this issue, and if the proper action is not taken to correct the problem, the junior programs as we know it will be in jeopardy of extinction.

If the parents and professional fitters want to show livestock, there are programs available for them. Therefore, it is only fitting that the livestock shows and fairs keep the intent and purpose of the program's integrity, which is for the junior exhibitors.

Hold the individuals responsible that have the privilege (yes privilege) to participate and instruct our youth in these programs. The process of correction starts at home with the basic teaching of right and wrong; and continues like a road map thorough participation and contact with leaders, advisors, and show officials along the way who instruct our youth.

By taking a stance of zero tolerance on cheating, you will find that entries and participation will increase due to the level playing field provided by holding individuals accountable for their actions. The benefits and rewards of this action will add up to a strong balance sheet, a clear conscience, and a solid educational experience by all involved.