In 1994, at the Ohio State Jr. Fair, 7 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. Many youth publications nationwide have little or no information on Quality Assurance. USDA has funded two grants in previous years that have resulted in informative materials to teach industry issues including Quality Assurance. They are:

A. TQM (Total Quality Management) authored by Nebraska and Iowa Extension project #92EFSQ-1-4070 includes a teaching guide and 7 videos. Ordering contact: Doyle Wolverton, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, C 204 Animal Science, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908.

 

B. Animal Care and Quality Assurance for Youth Producers authored by Extension personnel from Washington, Oregon and Ohio project #93EFSQ-4096. Includes 1 video with 7 teaching segments, a curriculum guide and learning laboratory kits for beef, dairy cattle, sheep and swine. Each State 4-H Office was mailed this video, curriculum guide and beef kit in January of 95. To order materials contact: Ohio Curriculum Materials Service, 254 Agricultural Administration Building, The Ohio State University, 2120 Fyffe Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1067; phone: (614) 292-4848.

 

But how do you encourage youth to learn about Quality Assurance and Food Safety Issues after you have the materials? In Ohio 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, enjoy or have fun 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 project work is not fair to the kid or the 4-H program. 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 participant to test their own knowledge and abilities. This technique is referred to as experiential learning of learning by doing.

Goals of skillathons include:

1. To provide a learning laboratory which will enhance knowledge of the animal industry.

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 read a medicine label, complete a treatment record chart, determine the first day the animal could safely be sold for food and determine the most appropriate site for injection.

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 1140 youth participated in skillathons at the 1995 Ohio State Junior Fair. OSU Extension Specialists, County Agents, and FFA Instructors provided the educational base for this event which makes learning and knowledge assessment fun.

New this year at the Ohio State Fair was the addition of a program entitled "Outstanding Market Exhibitor". It was offered for market barrows, labs, 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).

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.

For more information on the Outstanding Market Exhibitor Program contact:

Animal Sciences Department

Attn: Jodi Black

2029 Fyffe Road, Room 222

Columbus, OH 43210-1095

(614) 292-0587

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 junior 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 they ear notch

with real ear notchers and a paper cutout of a pig head or a stuffed pig.

2. Preregistration (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. (There also was a section on the fair entry form to indicate if there were any special requests or needs.)

3. Time Frame

Each market species skillathon had 4 stations. We planned on 12 youth per "line" per hour. (There were four stations in a line) This allows approximately 5 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 preregister we could easily plan for the number of facilitators and needed station materials.

16, 17 & 18 Year Olds 8:30 a.m.

14 & 15 Year Olds 10:30 a.m.

12 & 13 Year Olds 12:00 Noon

11Year Olds 2:00 p.m.

10 Year Olds 3:30 p.m.

9 Year Olds & 3rd Graders (as of 1-1-95) 5:00 p.m.

4. 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 include a shape related to their project. These were ordered from Novelty Creations, Inc. (216) 285-7190 at a cost of 51 cents each. We have also given lapel pins that cost around $1.05. 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 2nd place and beyond because this award money was used to finance unique participation tokens.

5. Skillathon Awards

a. (in conjunction with The Champion Project Program)

First place winners 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 animal. 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 a Champion Project Program)

First place age division winners are given a cash award and a large felt banner or plaque. Participants who achieve the level of outstanding are given a satin banner or rosette recognizing them for their outstanding knowledge in their respective project area. (i.e. everyone who scored 90% or better is acknowledged as outstanding). These banners/rosettes could be given immediately upon completion of the skillathon or at a "prestigious" time when a crowd is present.

 

6. 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 busy 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.)

7. Avoid Sharing of Answers

Skillathons 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 or Food label-Youth draw out 1 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Scoring

How do you score making it fair for a 9 year old versus an 18 year old? Only compare 9 year olds against 9 year olds. If participation levels are high enough have 10 age divisions (9, 10, & 11 through 18). If numbers are smaller then break skillathon age classes the same as showmanship age classes. Use their "age" class rank as their score (i.e., 1st place 100 pts., 2nd place 98 pts.).

1. Awards Ceremony

Prior to the selection of the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Animals, 10 Champion Project Age Finalist (the Top 9 year old, 10 year old, etc. to 18 year old) were recognized in the showring and presented with prestigious awards. Then the Champion Project (Outstanding Market Exhibitor) was announced.

2. 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. A percentage of these moneys went to:

·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.

3. 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.

4. 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.