When Mike Bradley asked us to talk, it gave us the opportunity to reflect on what we have been doing and what paths we have chosen to take. Our point of view is from a parent's and a judge's perspective. Our thoughts will "tell it like it is," controversial but true.

Showing livestock has been a great family experience. In 1996, our kids showed ducks, rabbits, goats, dairy, hogs, sheep and a draft horse, traveled seven states putting 35,000 miles on a pickup; and spent approximately 60 days at 20-25 shows. This is not excessive for us and we sometimes ask, "Are we doing enough?" We do not think this is excessive as we do all this as a family. Why do we think that you might ask. We begin each year with a family meeting and ask the kids, "Do you want to show?" Actually we ask, "Do you want to compete?" Just participating is not an option. We, as parents, would like to go fishing for a change, but the kids are adamant, "yes we want to show livestock, at even more shows."

Why do we do it? We say we do it for the kids, but a friend in Minnesota describes 4-H as a program to teach kids how to be 4-Hers when they grow up. Seriously, we do it for the kids development to compete not participate: and it teaches life skills, competition, birth, death and daily responsibilities.

One subject to touch upon would be "crooks." There are some out there and we are very supportive of cleaning it up. It was very disappointing to have been the judge at the 1994 NAILE when the drug tests proved positive for both the Grand and Reserve Champion lambs.

Just because you win and are successful does not make you a crook. It seems that we have reached a time when winners are "guilty until proven innocent." The 1995 Indiana State Fair was one of the happiest and saddest days for our family. Amy was fortunate to have Reserve Grand Champion with her Champion Dorset wether. Threats were made on our other sheep and lies or rumors were plentiful. For our family to achieve such success was exciting and very humbling. It was hard to enjoy the moment for the kids as well. They could hear what was going on . In retrospect, we had more fun winning a very small family weekend show.

Proven crooks, all of us should not sell to them or buy from them and they will soon have no place to do business. Our family has been offered free lambs if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Proven crooks are needed here at this symposium. The people running livestock shows need to be smarter than the crooks just as police need to be smarter than criminals.

Rules should be fair, not vindictive, practical, enforceable and smarter than the participants. Show managers must have the backbone to enforce all rules for all participants. LCI could perhaps form a committee for guidelines on running livestock shows so consistency and fairness would be seen at all shows.

Our top dumb rules:

1. This rule will be enforced. This exact line was printed under a rule in a state fair 4-H rule book. Does this mean no other rule will be enforced?

2. Signed affidavits by 4-Hers saying that their animal is honest. In our opinion, if fairs need to make 10- year-olds sign a piece of paper saying they are subject to perjury just to show livestock, something is wrong. Can't logical rules in the premium book accomplish the same task?

3. Only a family member or legal guardian may help rule. This does not make the best better. It discriminates against those beginners with supportive parents or single parent families.

4. Nose prints. Qualified experienced readers are needed along with someone to back up the decision of the reader of the noseprints. Noseprinting is a great deterrent of cheating, but enforce the rule with knowledgeable people.

Exhibitors must not only meet rules at the show but what about the moral and ethical treatment at home, how we feed or starve, how we train or abuse, child fits the animal or professional, child feeds and cares for the animal or parents.

Very few judges are at the LCI convention. Judges are very important as they validate the child's efforts. A judge can influence the show greatly, not only they type of animal selected but by the

comments and actions. The judge should make the atmosphere comfortable, relaxing and fun for the participants. Don't make the judge enforce rules.

Judge selection is done many different ways. There is a need for a database or reference book with names and biographies. Judges are often selected by hear say. Personally, I know of four times when judges brought the champion animal with them the day of the show. These people are also still judging. Don't use those types of judges.

Criteria for a good judge is honest, popular with kids and parents, consistent and up to date, with knowldege of the whole livestock industry. Don't keep the judge's name a secret, especially for junior shows. We believe that it is only a good learning experience to go and watch the judge you are to have a prior show in order to learn his or her tendencies and likes and dislikes.

Future outlook should be proactive not only reactive. Committees need to have people that have been there and done it. In other words, the committee should have show livestock at many shows and they need to be at least as knowledgeable about livestock shows as are the exhibitors. Lead and be ahead of the rules breakers instead of only chasing crooks with sticks and bad press. All parents, show officals, and judges should work together.

In closing adult involvement what is excessive? The right kind of adult involvement is never excessive. The wrong kind of adult involvement, one-tenth of one second is too much. It takes not only parents but all adults to help teach a young person.

All of us that touch the lives of young people must keep in mind the intent and purpose of these projects and that the impact on young people. The development of today's youth through livestock projects is important to many families. The reactions, remarks, and ethics that we as adults convey to young people, can influence them for the rest of their lives.

We are all in the kid business of helping to properly develop today's youth. Let's all do it in a constructive and honest way. The following short story was written to make all of us think before we act. The story was written as fiction, let's all work to keep it fictional.

When Tommy was 8 years old, his father registered a lamb born December 24 as being born on January 2. His father said to Tommy, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 9 years old, his father bred the family’s flock of purebred ewes with a ram of another breed and registered the lambs as purebreds. His father said to Tommy, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 10 years old, his 4-H leader and county agent tagged and weighed newly purchased lambs a month after the ownership deadline. They both told him, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 11 years old, his parents bought him a registered ewe lamb to show at the county fair and changed the ear tag to their own flock tag. His parents said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 12 years old, his grandparents bought him a show lamb and left it with the breeder who fed and fit the lamb until the day before the county fair. The breeder and his grandparents said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 13 years old, his veterinarian issued health papers for sheep he never inspected and that had foot rot and lamb fungus. He said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 14 years old, his neighbor used an electric animal prod on his lambs to get them to brace. He told Tommy, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 15 years old and after winning the Grand Champion Market Lamb at the county fair, he saw his dad having a beer with the judge and paying the judge $200.00 for making his son’s lamb champion. The judge and his father said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 16 years old, his FFA advisor falsified the numbers on Tommy’s winning sheep proficiency award entry. His advisor said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 17 years old, his uncle used Lasix on his market lamb at the state fair to make it weigh into a lighter class. The uncle told Tommy, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 18 years old, his older brother pumped the loin of his lamb at a national sheep show. His brother said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 19 years old, his entire family was aware of the clenbutural being given to his market lambs. They told him, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was 20 years old, a friend offered him some cocaine. His friend said, "It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it."

When Tommy was arrested later that night for using cocaine and called his family to ask them to bail him out of jail, they told him, "How could you have brought such disgrace to your family, you never learned any of this at home, where did you go wrong?" After hearing of his arrest, Tommy’s 4-H leader, FFA advisor, county agent, grandparents, uncle, veterinarian and neighbors were also shocked.

If there is one thing the adult world can’t stand, it’s a kid that breaks the rules.