Duane A. Lienemann,
UNL Extension Educator,
Webster County
June 23, 2012 Edition
I have had the opportunity for over 40 years to work with the agricultural youth of South Central Nebraska in a myriad of ways. Whether it be sports, agriculture education, FFA or 4-H, I have always marveled at the energy, their robust love for life and their affinity for life in small town Nebraska and especially in agriculture. This weekend what I have learned about these young people over the years intensified while witnessing a diverse and very talented group of 4-H kids plan, organize, set up and run a livestock show. After conceiving the idea to bring back the spirit of progress shows that used to be part of the fabric of the youth livestock programs over the last 35 years, these kids did something about it.
I am sure these young people heard from their parents or relatives involved in the livestock industry about a very successful run of a progress show that was held for 25 years in Hastings called the Twin Valley Livestock Exposition and then an offshoot, to fill the void when that show expired, to a Webster County Beef Progress Show. This was held for several years at the Webster County Fairgrounds, but it also experienced the fate of many other shows like it. It takes a lot of energy, manpower and support to do these shows, and they take their toll on volunteers who see the benefit of these shows for our agricultural oriented youth. As a result, these opportunities for young people to take part in progress shows before their own county fairs is limited because of those simple facts, and they come and go depending upon the vitality of the community and those within it. If the young people who love raising and exhibiting their livestock projects many time have to travel many miles with high expense in order to take advantage of these opportunities.
A year ago these young people took upon themselves to rekindle the interest of the collective community in providing a showplace once again for local livestock exhibitors as well as other youth across Nebraska and northern Kansas in by studying, planning, raising funds and putting together their own livestock exhibition progress show. They decided to call this show the “South Central Nebraska Livestock Exposition.” All their planning took shape and they had created their own enterprise. They gained strength and learned from their experience and decided that they could make it bigger and better, and they did just that. On June 22-23 they had their second exposition and it was a big success. But that is just a small part of the story. These young people from different families, different communities and schools, with different backgrounds all had one thing in common, they love animal agriculture. But I saw something a lot more important.
These young people exhibited more than livestock, they exhibited what we just don’t seem to see with many adults, organizations, and yes even politicians. They worked together. They formed a team, divided up responsibility and discussed and then formulated what they could do to pull off a remarkable accomplishment. They tackled what many adults would not do. They stepped outside of their comfort zone and approached individuals, businesses and organizations to help fund their extensive undertaking. What I found even more extraordinary is that they went much further than what they even knew. They did some critical thinking and most importantly developed life skills that will serve them well into their futures. I believe that life skills developed as youth have a direct impact on their eventual careers.
When youth like the Webster County 4-H Junior Leaders participate in events like their progress show, or livestock projects and team events, it helps teach and develop life skills such as a good work ethic, responsibility, time management, decision making, critical thinking, oral and written communication, record keeping, team work, and problem solving. Successfully implementing these skills in the lives of our youth better equip them for future educational and career opportunities. I think most people know that I gravitate towards the livestock end of my career choice and it is an easy thing for me, because I have found that most youth have a natural affinity to and curiosity about livestock. I believe that by using livestock as a tool, we can provide our future leaders with opportunities to develop life skills while also making them a more informed consumer. God knows that in our world we have to develop and teach agricultural literacy in order to survive in the long run. We have to have informed consumers or agriculture is on really shaky ground.
Additionally, these young people who step up to the plate, like this group of young 4-H people, may eventually seek a career in the livestock industry. Through activities like this, they will gain a great deal of knowledge and experience through the educational opportunities provided by this undertaking. Not only do these young people learn life skills they demonstrate citizenship, leadership and positive life skills and the whole collective community with the development of future citizens who positively contribute to society. Whether or not kids who grew up on a farm or ranch return to production agriculture or not, these skills are carried on into their adult lives.
These values are what make youth in agriculture the most sought after segment by employers. I have routinely over the years received questions from prospective employers of past students or 4-H and FFA members that I have had the opportunity to work with, and almost always I hear about the work ethic that is missing in so many areas across the Nation, and these employers value that attribute that our kids have. I salute the Webster County Junior Leaders for their inspiration, hard work and contributions to our community and the livestock industry. They are a sampling of what the youth all across South Central Nebraska exemplify. They make us all proud. Don’t take these kids for granted….They are our future!
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: www.webster.unl.edu/home
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