“More Than a Show Ring: Character Through Livestock”

In this episode of The Extension Connection Podcast, we’re diving into the barn boots-first to explore how 4-H livestock projects build more than just blue ribbon animals—they build character. From learning how to bounce back after setbacks to developing discipline, commitment, and real-world soft skills, our 4-H’ers are gaining life lessons that go far beyond the show ring. Whether it’s a steer, a pig, a rabbit, or a goat, these projects teach youth the values of resilience, responsibility, and leadership—one feeding, one halter, and one show day at a time.

Tune in and discover how the barn becomes the classroom, and how livestock helps raise not just animals—but future leaders.

Transcript

Speaker: 0:01

Greetings 4 H Family and welcome back to another episode of the Extension Connection Podcast. I'm your co-host, Jessica Jackson, the four H agent here at the Polk County Center, and I'm so glad y'all are tuning in today. Today's episode is called More Than A Show Ring Character Through Livestock. I wanted to bring you this episode now because we are currently in the middle of our poll. Hooves and Halter four H Livestock Camp throughout the week. The youth have been introduced to several different livestock species, learning the ins and outs of animal care, showmanship and responsibility. But as we'll talk about in today's episode, this experience goes way beyond learning how to walk an animal in the ring. It's about character development, work ethic. Responsibility, patience and teamwork skills that stick with our youth long after the animals go home. Let's talk about something that isn't flashy. It's not something you can pin to a banner or take home in a trophy box, but it might be one of the most valuable things our youth walk away with after working with livestock. I'm talking about resilience. Now, if you've ever worked with livestock or honestly just tried to lead an animal somewhere and it doesn't want to go, you know exactly what I mean. Training a 600 to a thousand pound animal to walk calmly beside you sounds simple until you're actually in the pen. It can be frustrating. It can be messy, and sometimes it can be downright defeating. You'll get stepped on drug through the dirt or watch your animal take off mid practice while you're left holding an empty halter in your pride. And here's the thing I love most about these moments. They build grit because in that moment, that kid has a choice. Stay down, give up, feel sorry for themselves. Or they can stand up, dust themselves off, get control, and try again. That is the very definition of resilience, and that's what showing livestock teaches better than almost anything else. You don't always win the class, you don't always get the judge's nod, but the real victory is found in you showing up again the next day, still trying, still learning, still growing, and that kind of mindset that sticks with you for life, whether it's bouncing back from a tough test in school. Dealing with a disappointment or pushing through fear to try something new. Resilience is the quiet strength. Our four hres carry with them long after fair week, or when a competition ends. I didn't show livestock myself growing up, but getting to teach it now, watching these young people learn how to handle an animal, manage frustration and try again even when they're tired or discouraged. I see growth. I see transformation. They're not just learning how to lead an animal. They're learning how to lead themselves through tough life's toughest moments. And to me, that's what makes livestock such a powerful part of four H. Now y'all, we just talked about resilience and how learning to bounce back after getting knocked down in the show ring builds strength the last lifetime. But let me tell you. Resilience doesn't stand alone because once you've gotten up, dusted yourself off and grabbed that haltered again, you've got to keep showing up every single day. That brings us to another huge life lesson. Livestock teaches us responsibility and commitment because, let's face it, animals don't care if you're tired, if it's raining or if you're running late. They need care daily with no excuses. When a young person takes on a four H Livestock project, they're not just learning how to feed or lead an animal. They're learning how to be consistent, reliable, and accountable. Because if they don't show up, that animal suffers. It won't gain weight, it won't train properly. It could even get sick, and that's tough, but a powerful lesson because the barn doesn't give out participation trophies. The barn teaches reality, but here's the cool part, because early morning feedings, those after school rinse down those little choices to keep showing up. That's where character is built. It's not just about show day, it's about the kind of person they're becoming. The kind of person who shows up for work on time. The kind of person who meets a deadline, the kind of person who keeps a prominent. Promise. Even when it's inconvenient, those are soft skills. Yes. But in today, today's world, they're considered superpowers and it all starts right here in a dusty barn with a bucket of feed and a kid who says, I got this. This is my job and I'm going to do it right. That's four H. That's livestock and that's what we're all about. Growing, capable, committed, and responsible young people. One project at a time. We've covered a lot already throughout this podcast. Resilience, responsibility, commitment, but now it's time to step into the show ring because let's be honest, there's nothing quite like it. You've spent weeks, maybe months, getting your animal ready, you've fed, walk, rinse, brush, practice your turns, memorize your cues, and now it's go time, all eyes on you and your animal. This is where the lessons hit differently. The show ring isn't just about ribbons and trophies, it's about what you bring to the table. After all that hard work, it introduces you to a healthy, co healthy competition. The kind that builds character, not ego. It teaches you how to push yourself, how to bounce back when a judge walks right past you, and yes, how to stand tall when you do win without rubbing it in. Because four H isn't just about raising grand animals, it's about raising great humans. We talk a lot about sportsmanship and four H, and that's because it matters when you've worked hard and still come in second or third or even last. That's a tough pill to swallow, but guess what? That's where growth happens. That's where you learn to say, I'll be back. I'll do better, and I'm proud of what I did today. Okay. And the kids that get that, they carry it with them forever. Now, let's talk about work ethic, because this right here is where it separates the average from the exceptional, all those early mornings, late nights, the moments where you'd rather be hanging out with your friends, but instead you're cleaning out stalls or working on a showmanship practice in the heat. That's not just animal care. That's draft discipline and determination. And here's the best part, that work ethic, it doesn't stay in the barn. It's gonna show up in job interviews, on college applications, and in every challenge, life throws your way. So by now we've talked about grit. We've talked about showing up, we've talked about giving it your all in the ring. Win or lose. But here's something that doesn't always get the spotlight in the livestock world. Financial savvy. Yep. Money matters y'all. And let me tell you, four H livestock projects, don't shy away from that one bit. When you step into livestock projects, they're not just brushing animals and walking laps around the pen. They're learning real world financial skills. We're talking budgeting, feed costs, tracking vet bills, keeping record books, calculating profit and loss, and maybe even figuring out how to fund next year's project. That's investment strategy 1 0 1. They're learning it while wearing boots and covered in hang. And honestly. These are skills that most people don't learn until adulthood, and by then you can feel a little overwhelming. I'll never forget my first summer job. I worked in an optometrist's office and one of my tasks was filling out the deposit slips for the checks. Now, at the time, I just thought, okay, this is something I gotta do. I didn't really understand the reason behind it or how I could apply it later on in life. But fast forward a few years, I became a bookkeeper at a grocery store in my hometown, and suddenly those little task clicked. I was tracking every penny in the store, making sure the door was balanced, making sure we were never off. And yes, chasing that beautiful moment where everything hit zero perfectly. It was a thrill, y'all, a weird kind of thrill, but a thrill nonetheless. And it taught me the valuable of precision record keeping and the attention to detail skills I never expected to fall in love with. And now. I see that those same light bulb moments happening with our four Hs, they're learning how to set goals. They're understanding profit margin. They're thinking again, saying, how can I afford next year's steer or lamb? And here's the best part, they're walking into adulthood feeling prepared, not panic when it comes to money. Even now, I'm still learning about money investments. Savings, budgeting, it never really stops. And honestly, that's the fun of it. There's always something new to figure out, and the earlier we start building those habits, the stronger and more confident we become. So yeah, livestock teaches a lot, but when we talk about financial literacy, this is one of those hidden gems that deserves a whole lot more credit. We just talked about finances. And how four H teaches our youth to track expenses, budget, smart, and plan for the future. I mean, those skills adults are still trying to master, and our kids are out here learning them in a barn before they even have their driver's license. But let's be real for a second. Livestock projects aren't just about dollar sign and feed receipts. They're about family. We're gonna switch gears just for a bit because. While these projects teach resilience, responsibility record books, they also do something just as powerful. They bring families together showing livestock. It's never a slow solo act. If you've ever been to a show, you've probably seen the real in MVP standing right alongside. I'm talking about the parents holding halters, brushing tails, handing over last minute spray bottles. And wipe a manure off a leg with lightning speed before the judges lays an eyes on an animal. You've probably seen the drill, but it doesn't stop with mom and dad. The whole crew shows up, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, neighbors, family, friends. It truly takes a village. And then the livestock world, the village shows up big time. And now, as a mom myself, I cannot wait until my little one is old enough to get involved in four H. Even now, just watching her, her to learn her learn a new world word or figure something out, it's exciting. I'm already seeing the world through her eyes, and I know that when her four H journey begins, I'll be there cheering her on from the sidelines every step of the way. Because at the end of the day, whether you're in the barn or the boardroom, it's not just about what you know, it's about who's in your corner. And speaking of people in your corner, let's talk about something that's at the heart of it all. Gratitude. No matter how much or how little effort a person puts in a project, one thing is always true. They didn't get there alone. Behind every animal in the ring is a whole team of people who help make it happen. The parents, the ag teachers, the four H leaders. The community members who donate their time, their knowledge, and yes, their wallets at the local auction. These folks show up not for fame or recognition, but also because they believe in these kids, and that that deserves a whole lot of gratitude. I always remind our youth say, thank you, mean it, remember it, because those lessons are in appreciation. They stick with you. And they matter far beyond the show ring. So yes, showing livestock is fun, is competitive, it's challenging, it's a wild ride full of dirt, sweat, and aca, who knows, an occasional goat escape. But more than anything, it's transformational. It teaches the kind of character that doesn't show up in a trophy cage. The kind that shows up in your work ethic, your relationships, your leadership, and your heart. It's about working hard, playing fair, giving thanks, and showing up every single moment of the journey while also enjoying it. Because at the end of the day, four H Livestock isn't just shaping showmen, it's shaping future leaders. There you have it, folks, whether it's a rabbit. Pig cow or even a horse livestock showing is so much more than ribbons and the spotlight. It's about building character, learning life skills, and making re memories that stick with you for a lifetime, whether you're a season four HR, a first time camper, or just curious about what makes a program so special. Remember this every early morning in the barn. Every challenge faced head on and every step you take with your animal is shaping you into a leader ready to take on the world. Thank you so much for tuning into the Extension podcast. I'm Jessica Jackson, your Polk County four H agent, reminding you that four H is where growth happens. One project, one lesson, and one amazing youth at a time. In until next time, keep learning, keep leading, and most importantly, keep showing up. Y'all take care out there. Be sure to tune in next week for a special episode with our very own livestock agent, Cassie LA Masters. You won't wanna miss it.