Youth participated in a pilot program of the LSU AgCenter’s new online livestock quality assurance and ethics training during the 2010 LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. Completion of the online educational program will be mandatory for all 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors who participate in AgCenter shows during the 2011 season.

News Release Distributed 05/03/10

The LSU AgCenter is implementing an online quality assurance and ethics training program for 4-H and FFA members and their families who are interested in participating in its youth livestock projects.

A voluntary pilot version of the program was offered to youth during the 2010 LSU AgCenter Spring Livestock Show held at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center during February 2010. The complete certification program will be available for 4-H and FFA members and their families later this summer and will be required for the 2011 show season.

“Many 4-H’ers and FFA members completed the program and provided positive feedback on the training during the livestock show this spring,” said Dr. Bobby Fletcher, assistant director of the LSU AgCenter’s Extension Service. “The online program provides educational materials on ethical treatment and showing of animals and features a short certification process at the end of the program for each species of animal students plan on exhibiting. “

Beginning with the 2011 district and state livestock shows sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, all 4-H and FFA members must complete the certification process prior to entering their animals in any of the LSU AgCenter livestock shows.

“Livestock projects have long been a major part of the Louisiana 4-H and FFA programs, and tens of thousands of Louisiana 4-H’ers and FFA members have learned lifelong skills such as individual responsibility, hard work, citizenship and personal ethics raising and showing livestock in the 4-H and FFA programs,” said Dr. Gary Hay, interim director of the LSU AgCenter’s Department of Animal Sciences. “Whether it’s beef or dairy cattle, sheep or swine, livestock projects teach young people not only the everyday responsibilities of feeding and caring for living animals but also the patience, dedication and attention to detail associated with training an animal to show as well as grooming and preparing an animal for competitive showing.”

Officials stress personal ethics has long been a major part of the educational process associated with livestock projects and that ethical care and handling of animals is a key area of emphasis in the 4-H and FFA livestock programs.

“Proper feeding, housing, health care and overall living conditions are critical for the health and performance of animals,” said Dwayne Nunez, state livestock and horse show leader for the LSU AgCenter. “Those are values our exhibitors have known throughout the 75-year history of our livestock shows.”

Before exhibitors will be allowed to enter animals in any of the district competitions leading up the LSU AgCenter’s state livestock show in 2011, they will be required to supply a copy of the certificate showing they have completed the online training and received the proper certification. A copy of the certificate must be supplied to LSU AgCenter county agents or FFA instructors at the time entry forms are filed by potential participants.

“This new opportunity is another part of the ongoing educational experience that is 4-H,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter and director of its Extension Service. “Ethical care and showing of livestock is a fun and exciting tool to teach students responsibility and ethical behavior.

“And, of course, responsibility and ethical behavior are two of many lifelong citizenship skills learned in the 4-H and FFA programs.”

For more information about the Louisiana 4-H program or the LSU AgCenter, visit www.lsuagcenter.com.

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Contacts:
Bobby Fletcher
Gary Hay 
Dwayne Nunez
Writer:
Tom Merrill