An article on the front page of this newspaper a few days ago featured small children on a field trip to the county fair to see the farm animals. I was not there to see the expressions on their faces as they saw and touched these animals, and I could not tell much from the picture that accompanied the article. But during most of my adult life, I have had the opportunity to see children and young adults interact with farm animals, so I am well aware of the positive impact that so often results from these encounters.

I personally grew up on a farm along with an assortment of animals. I milked the family cow. I raised chickens as part of a 4-H project and sold enough eggs to buy a new bicycle and shotgun. I raised hogs as my FFA project, and my Hampshire boar won Grand Champion at the Wayne County Fair in 1961.

During my long association with the county fair here in Robeson County, I have been involved with animals in a variety of ways. I have watched exotic animals - such as elephants, tigers, and alligators - as they performed their stunts for amazed onlookers. I have assisted veterinarians with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as they counseled fair workers about animal welfare issues, because they used rabbits, iguanas, or goldfish as prizes; and as they stopped the use of small turtles because of the high likelihood of salmonella.

My staff and I have assisted with barnyard tours in the livestock building, like those featured earlier this week. We have seen how excited young children become when they get close to farm animals. We spend many hours in the livestock building during the week of the fair, so we have the opportunity to watch the reaction of many youth as they walk through the building viewing the animals. We often overhear their parents trying to tell them what each animal is and the purpose of the animal, which many times is an amusing treat.

But I must admit that the greatest satisfaction I get is watching young folks bring their animals to the fair and then show that animal as they compete in one of the featured livestock shows. These are animals that the child has raised from shortly after birth. They have cared for the animal; fed and watered it daily; in some cases, taught it tricks; and in virtually all cases, gave it a name. With these animals, they have learned responsibility; they have learned animal science; they have learned economics; they have learned showmanship; they have learned dependability; but most of all, they have learned compassion.

I am proud of the animal science component of the Robeson County 4-H Program and the work our 4-H staff has done to make sure young people have these experiences. It is just unfortunate that more young people in the county do not have the opportunity to participate.

It is not the young person's fault that they are not allowed to participate in these Animal Science Projects. I have already described how young folks react to animals and how they gain personally and emotionally from these experiences. Unfortunately, it is the parent's fault that they do not have this opportunity. Most parents are not willing to provide the time and effort to help their children learn how to have a positive experience with an animal.

Our 4-H program provides a variety of Animal Science Projects to ensure that as many youth as possible in the county have the opportunity to participate. Since farm animals are not allowed inside the city limits of most of the towns in the county, rabbit projects are ideal for city kids. Many people claim that rabbits are much easier to house train than either dogs or cats and that they make wonderful pets. Youth participating in these projects learn to care for their animals and what they need to do to show their animal in an official show.

Laying hens, goats, and hogs, as well as rabbits, can be project animals for youth living outside the city limits. The animal selected depends upon the youth and what facilities can be provided for the animal. Youth participating in these projects also learn how to care for their animal, how to grow a high-quality animal, and how to show the animal in an official show. These youth then have an opportunity to show their animal at our county fair, and many youth also show their animals at other county fairs in the region and at the state fair.

As I work at the county fair, I have the opportunity to witness both extremes of the fair, from the good to the not so good. I often look across the fairgrounds and see young people who appear to be in hopeless situations. They have no discipline, no morals, no responsibilities, no respect, no compassion, and ultimately, no future. Then I look into the livestock building and I see youngsters the very same age carefully grooming their goat or rabbit, listening intently to a judge trying their best to learn how to do even better the next time they show their animal, showing compassion as they make sure their animal has enough feed and water and enough bedding to stay comfortable, and following their parent's instructions about what needs to be done next. If I had to make a choice of which youth I would want to lead this county in the future, I would place my money on the kids in the livestock building.

Parents, your kids are too young to make these choices now. It is up to you to determine which way your children will go. Will they be with the crowd on the midway or with the crowd in the livestock building?

As you visit the county fair, I encourage you to take a few minutes to talk to Shea Ann DeJarnette, Extension 4-H agent, or Aggie Rogers, Extension 4-H program associate, and ask how you and your children can become involved in 4-H and the 4-H Animal Science Projects. If you don't have time during the fair, then call our office at 671-3276. For your child's sake, it will be one of the most important things you ever do.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 10/15/08