The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service, Kenton County 4-H livestock volunteers, plan and facilitate youth livestock education and activities.  In conjunction with the Kenton County Fair Livestock committee the groups indicated prior also plan and execute the youth livestock shows hosted during the Kenton County Fair. The 4-H livestock projects involves raising and caring for live animals while learning about animal health, nutrition, breeding, selection and marketing. Animal projects offer opportunities for individuals to gain experience in decision making, record keeping, responsibility, and leadership. Kenton 4-H members have demonstrated knowledge, and many are now in professional positions. 

Young adults who have participated in past years are leading activities and project a group. The livestock skillathon and judging team was led by a former 4-H member who worked with youth completely new to livestock and all the processes this year.  The judging team placed in the top ten in all the categories at the state contest in 2022.  The team members literally went from learning the terms “swine and hog” to placing in reasons as a team.  Their willingness to learn and practice was equaled by a coach who was patient and interested in helping them succeed.  

The 2022 county fair livestock judge was a 4-H specialist from Illinois.  She commented on the ability of the 4-H members to adjust their speed and pace, based on her comments in the showmanship competition to the market competition.  She remarked that the 4-H members listened and “applied the pointers and look” (view of the animal) she wanted to see that day.  The ability of the 4-H members to listen, manage their animal, and respond as the judge instructed their next time in the ring was in her words,  “very impressive and they are demonstrating and responding in real time to my preferences”,

In an article from Animal Frontiers Magazine, Martin and Rusk identify that youth livestock programs provide intangible benefits through life skill development.  Martin and Rusk, detail that, “raising and showing livestock results in the acquisition of numerous life skills by youth… some skills include responsibility, time management, and animal husbandry skills, …training animals for the showring”.  Additionally, Martin and Rusk detail that “Youth who compete on judging teams learn to evaluate…”  one 4-H member new to the 4-H livestock program was able to verbally express to her parents, coach, and the 4-H agent, why her animal placed as it did in a local county fair.  She learned to evaluate and remembered what she could improve for future shows.   Livestock youth are having the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.