In 1994, at the Ohio State Jr. Fair, seven out of the top 10 market steers and the grand champion market lamb were disqualified for containing an illegal drug and/or a non-animal substance. Since then, further testing in 1995 indicated several animals contained residues due to withdrawal times and label directions not being followed. Some families have ended up disqualified or barred from shows who had no intent of doing any wrong.

More emphasis needs to be placed on educating youth on quality assurance and real world agriculture. Many youth publications and educational programs nationwide have little or no information on quality assurance. 4-H youth development agents, agricultural agents, FFA instructors and fair management teams need to work together to return junior fair projects to a more educational focus and have them relate to "Real World Agriculture."

But how do you encourage youth to learn about quality assurance and food safety issues after you have the materials? We are evaluating knowledge assessment by conducting fun, hands-on, educational events called SKILLATHONS. Youth enjoy showing livestock because it’s fun. Most kids don’t look forward to or enjoy taking a written test. It would be easier to do knowledge assessment by administering a test however, 4-H is known for "Learning By Doing." Therefore, we have tried to create lifelike situations for youth to demonstrate their skills.

Evaluating the animal only to grade 4-H & FFA project work is not fair to the member or the 4-H & FFA programs. Livestock shows are great but they should not be the only factor involved in evaluating youth on project work and knowledge. The main purpose of 4-H is youth development! By taking projects youth learn life skills such as responsibility, decision making, communicating, leadership and learning about animal science. Through project work, youth learn to be responsible, contributing and caring members of society. It is often necessary to remind some adults that 4-H’s first priority is to develop "Champion Kids."

A skillathon or "Livestock Learning Laboratory" is an excellent method of involving FFA and 4-H’ers in challenging, learn-by-doing activities. This method of helping youth develop both their life skills and project skills is designed as a series of mini-learning stations with a facilitator at each one.

The participants rotate from station to station, attempting to perform specific tasks. The station facilitator allows participants to test their own knowledge and abilities. This technique is referred to as experiential learning or learning by doing.

Goals of skillathons include:

1. To provide a learning laboratory which will enhance knowledge of the animal indus try.
2. Help youth feel more comfortable communicating with an adult.
3. To gain self-confidence and skills in one on one communication.
4. Develop responsibility for completing a project.
5. To develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
6. To provide additional opportunities to recognize youth for their accomplishments.

Examples of skillathon stations include:

Feed Records and Feed Program. This could consist of assigning a score to an exhibitor’s feed record book, having them identify feedstuffs and answering questions by reading a feed tag label.

Quality Assurance Youth select a situation statement and a medicine label. Then they determine if it is "legal" to use their given medication for the situation. They are also asked to complete a treatment record chart, determine the first day the animal could safely be sold for food and determine the most appropriate injection site.

Meat Cut Identification Youth select several cuts and then are asked to name the cut, the wholesale cut from which the cut originates and where this cut is located on the animal’s body.

Ear Notching Youth are presented with a situation that requires them to ear notch a new born piglet. They draw out a pig number and litter number and then using real v-cut notchers and a stuffed pig (or a paper pig head cutout) they notch the ears.

More than 1,140 youth participated in livestock skillathons at the 1995 Ohio State Junior Fair and that number rose to more than 1,400 in 1996. OSU Extension specialists, county agents, and FFA instructors provided the educational base for this event which makes learning and knowledge assessment fun.

New in 1995 at the Ohio State Fair was the addition of a program entitled "Outstanding Market Exhibitor." It was offered for market barrows, lambs, steers and meat chicken exhibitors. This new event recognized youth who excelled in the skillathon, showmanship and live animal show competitions and was sponsored by the Ohio Expositions Commission, OSU Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Education Service (FFA). Many counties and a few other states have developed similar programs which they call "Premier Exhibitor."

This new program is a result of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Ad Hoc Livestock Show Committee suggestions and the Ohio Exposition Commission’s support to return livestock projects to a more educational focus. The main purpose of 4-H and FFA is to develop a young person into a champion kid. We also hope these champion kids have learned enough about livestock production to raise champion animals.

1. Making Learning Fun

Showing an animal is fun. Most youth would probably agree that taking a test is not the most exciting and fun thing to do. Therefore, it is important that knowledge assessment for Jr. Fair projects be fun and include hands-on experiences. Skillathons provide an environment that makes knowledge assessment fun! Make sure your skillathons include as many "hands-on" experiences as possible.

Example: Swine Skillathon Ear Notching Station

In a written test youth could I.D. ear notch numbers

In a skillathon they read their situation and draw out numbers and then ear notch with real ear notchers a paper cut-out of a pig head or a stuffed pig.

2. Pre-registration (For Voluntary Programs)

Youth had to register on their state fair entry form for skillathon and showmanship competitions just like they do for the live animal show. This allowed us to plan for number of potential participants and make any necessary arrangements for youth with special needs. (Now that exhibitors are familiar with the program we are no longer doing pre-registration and asking youth with special needs to attach their request in writing and send with their entry form.)

3. Time Frame

Each market species skillathon had four stations. We planned on 12 youth per "line" per hour. (There were four stations in a line) This allows approximately five minutes per youth per station. The fair book had designated times youth were to register by age categories. (see chart below) Since youth had to pre-register we could easily plan for the number of facilitators and needed station materials.

Age of Exhibitor Designated Sign Upas of January 1 & Participation Time

16, 17 & 18 year olds 8:30 a.m.

14 & 15 year olds 10:30 a.m.

12 & 13 year olds 12:00 Noon

11 year olds 2:00 p.m.

10 year olds 3:30 p.m.

9 year olds & 3rd Graders (as of 1-1 current year) 5:00 p.m.

4. Participant Identification

How do you know Joe Doe is Joe Doe? In many counties this may not be a problem, however, if you have a potential of several hundred participants it may be necessary for a participant to "sign in" at each station to verify a participant’s identity.

 

5. Score Sheet

It is probably best not to let participants carry their score sheet from station to station. This arrangement might encourage a participant to skip a station and write in their own score. Have facilitators pass the score sheet or have youth sign in at each station and have each facilitator keep these scores.

 

 

6. Skillathon Participation Tokens

Skillathon participants should each receive a nice participation token (something unique not a small ribbon). At the Ohio State Fair we have given ink pens that included a shape related to their project. These were ordered from Novelty Creations, Inc. (216) 285-7190 at a cost of approximately 55¢ each. We have also given lapel pins for participation tokens. We have found that most of the time older youth appreciate lapel pins and younger youth prefer the ink pens. No awards were given for second place and beyond because this award money was used to finance unique participation tokens.

 

7. Skillathon Awards

a. (in conjunction with The Outstanding Market Exhibitor)

First place winners in each age group 9-18, 10 awards, received a plaque. Winners were pleasantly surprised on show day because first place age winners were recognized during the show while they were showing their respective animals. Skillathon scores were posted by exhibitor number immediately following the live animal show. Posting scores following the show kept the program suspenseful and exciting.

 

b. (When not included in an Outstanding Market Exhibitor Competition)

First place age division winners are given a cash award and a plaque. Participants who achieve the level of outstanding, (everyone who scored 90percent or better is acknowledged as outstanding), are given a satin banner or rosette recognizing them for their outstanding knowledge in their respective project area. These banners/rosettes could be given immediately upon completion of the skillathon or at a "prestigious" time when a crowd is present. This is where we are recognizing youth for competition against peers and also against a standard.

 

8. Skillathon Layout

The order of participation for the skillathon stations should be arranged so the station requiring the most time is first and the station requiring the least amount of time is last. This should keep lines moving in a timely organized manner. It is also important that youth waiting to participate don’t hear or see station material questions and answers (see attachments on skillathon layout). This means that youth should sit with their backs facing the station they are waiting to compete at.

 

9. Avoid Sharing of Answers (Educational Design)

Skillathon stations should be designed so the sharing of answers will not give an advantage to future participants.

 

Example: Skillathon Station Ear Notching instead of every youth ear notching the same litter number and pig number have them draw out numbers. This way the chance of any two youth having the same numbers to notch are greatly reduced.

Example: Read a Feed Tag Youth draw out one of 15 labels and answer the question on the back of the label. The chance of any two youth having the same label with the same question is greatly reduced.

10. Correct Answers

Telling correct answers in a positive manner greatly increases the educational aspect of the program. In some situations, not all, youth are told the correct answers. This mainly depends on the educational design of the skillathon station. (i.e. If you only have five feedstuffs to identify telling the correct answer will diminish the integrity of the skillathon score. If youth are matching up 12 out of 25 possible parts of an animal it is okay to tell them the correct answers because the chance of any two youth identifying the same 12 parts is slim.

(Outstanding Market Exhibitor Program some entitle it as "Premier Exhibitor")

1. Order of Competitive Educational Events

Ideally, youth should participate in the skillathon first, showmanship second, and the live animal show last. This builds excitement and suspense for the program. Youth have to be in the Top 10 of each of these events to be eligible for the Champion Project (Outstanding Market Exhibitor). Therefore, if showmanship is conducted first and one does not place in the Top 10 of their class they may not be very motivated to participate in the skillathon.

2. No Extra Work Recording Results

The design of this program did not alter how the live show and showmanship were currently conducted. No additional recording of show results was required. Points in the live animal show were only awarded and recorded on those who placed and received premium money.

3. Awards Ceremony

Prior to the selection of the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Animals, 10 Champion Project Age Finalists (the Top nine year old, 10 year old, etc. to 18 year old) were recognized in the show-ring and presented with prestigious awards. Then the Champion Project (Outstanding Market Exhibitor) was announced.

4. Money Given to Diverse Areas

A "Caps" program was initiated at The Ohio State Fair for the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Animals which sold through the Sale of Champions. Exhibitors of the Champion and Reserve Champion animals were only allowed to receive a predetermined dollar, "Caps", amount. Monies above the established "Caps" were distributed to other important programs which included:

- Skillathon Age Winners

- Showmanship Age Winners

- Champion Project (Outstanding Market Exhibitor) Age Finalists for 4 species

(The Top 9 year old, 10 year old, etc. to 18 year old)

- Champion Breeding Animal Exhibitors

- Exhibitors whose animals placed in the carcass competition

• Scholarships (16 - $1,000.00 Scholarships representing livestock and non

livestock events)

This Cap disbursement represents a well rounded approach to important segments of projects (knowledge, hands-on skills, quality of finished product, carcass merit, etc.). In addition supporters know they are helping several youth versus 1 or 2 individuals.

University of Minnesota 4-H Animal Science Project Meeting Guide by Dr. Thomas Zarcher.

Quality Assurance and Animal Care: Youth Education Program - United States Department of Agriculture, under special project number 93-EFSQ-4096. Product distribution by Ohio Agricultural Education Curriculum Materials Service, The Ohio State University, 254 Ag. Admin. Bldg., 2120 Fyffe Road, Columbus Ohio 43210-1067.

1995-1996 Swine Skil-a-thon Average Scores

1995-1996 Swine Skill-a-thon Highest Scores

1995-1996 Swine Skill-a-thon Average Ear-Notching Scores

Sheep Skill-a-thon

1995-1996 Sheep Skill-a-thon Average Scores

1995-1996 Sheep Skill-a-thon Highest Scores

1995-1996 Beef Skill-a-thon Average Scores

1995-1996 Beef Skill-a-thon Highest Scores

1996 Poultry Skill-a-thon Average Scores

1996 Poultry Skill-a-thon Highest Scores

1996 Average Score