Many still ask what is 4-H and what is its purpose? According to the University of Kentucky’s 4-H Youth Development website, 4-H is a community of young people across Kentucky who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. There are many words within this brief statement to explain what 4-H does, but what stands out the most is young people learning. Learning takes on many forms, especially differing from individual to individual. According to Jeanne Ellis Ormrod, learning is defined as a long-term change in mental representation or associations as a result of experience. This research based definition leads to the approach that 4-H, not only in the state of Kentucky, but worldwide allows youth to experience learning. This approach is commonly expressed as the “learn-by-doing” approach. 

Every club and activity that 4-H provides keeps this approach in mind. In Owen County, the 4-H Livestock Program flourishes and thrives upon this approach. The Livestock Club begins meeting in September of the 4-H program year. They meet at least once a month through May allowing opportunities to not only learn material, but to experience it through hands on application such as a farm visit or project work. The certified livestock leaders have been trained to provide this learning approach and understand how to coordinate appropriate activities and lessons that will enhance their individual projects. For the 2017-2018 4-H Program Year the Owen County 4-H Livestock Club had a total of 25 youth actively involved in the Livestock Club. Keeping their month to month meetings, 17 of these youth went on from these meetings to compete in livestock shows across the state including county, district, and state level shows. All 17 youth were then qualified for our local youth livestock sale, which is not an easy task. To qualify for this sale, the livestock committee has created a set of rules that must be met prior to being eligible for the livestock sale in September. These rules include showing at the Owen County Fair, two other county fairs, one district show, and the Kentucky State Fair or one youth livestock expo. 

Once a 4-H member qualifies for the Livestock Sale, there is much more work that must take place on top of their livestock project. They must also attend the mandatory Livestock Sale planning meeting one month prior to the event. At this meeting, they learn which buyers to contact as well as that they are required to provide a 2-3 minute presentation to give description of their 2017-2018 livestock project and the work they have contributed to it. This year for the Livestock Sale, there were 46 buyers, which is a record setting number for Owen County. Youth must also write a thank you card to each buyer of their livestock project as well as providing a 5% donation back to the program for livestock club needs for the next year. This requires them the experience giving back and generosity. At the end of this process, each youth is required to sit down and evaluate the good, the bad, and the ugly of their project and how they can improve future projects. 

In conclusion, youth not only learn but experience livestock hands on through this club. They gain knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation through the Livestock Club. This years feedback from businesses that were a part of this were phenomenal and positive as they feel that every youth involved in this livestock program gained knowledge and learned what achievement is. They look forward to being a part of this program for years to come.