Education

1. Quality Counts -GOLD Education

2. Objectives • Understand the importance of character education for Texas 4-H and FFA members. • Ensure that all 4-H and FFA livestock projects meet food quality standards. • Promote a positive image of youth livestock programs.

3. What is character education? • Character – The combination of qualities or featuresthat distinguishes one person, group or thing fromanother (American Heritage Dictionary) • Developed through day-to-day behavior • Demonstrated by the way people act and the things they are involved in • Young people emulate character traitsof adult role models. • Important to have role models whodemonstrate good character traits

4. Six Pillars of Character • Trustworthiness • Respect • Responsibility • Fairness • Caring • Citizenship

5. Trustworthiness • Recognizes that animals depend on their caretakers • Feeds only approved livestock rations • Feeds and waters animals daily • Adheres to the possession deadlines • Adheres to withdrawal timesfor drugs and dewormers • Uses only approved drugs

6. Respect • Showmanship • Handles and treats animals humanely • Cares for animals properly • Listens to and follows advice of advisors • Recognizes that animals depend on their caretakers

7. Responsibility • Feeds and waters animals daily (even on busy, difficult days) • Goes beyond providing the daily needs of the animal by giving it extra time and attention to produce a winner • Adheres to deadlines for entry form and for arrival at livestock shows • Feeds only approved livestockrations • Uses only approved drugs

8. Fairness • Feeds only approved livestock rations • Uses only approved drugs • Accepts winning or losing with grace • Follows rules in the show ring • Follows recommended procedures for fitting and grooming an animal

9. Caring • Feeds and waters the animals daily • Keeps the stall and barn clean • Handles and treats animals humanely

10. Citizenship • Accepts instruction • Accepts winning or losing with grace • Helps others at stock shows • Teaches younger members • Handles and treats animals humanely • Ensures that meat is safefor consumption

11. For additional information and activities on the Six Pillars of Character in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 5 • Activity 1 – Defining the Six Pillars of Character • Activity 2 – Applying the Six Pillars of Character to Livestock Projects • Activity 3 – It’s a Question of Ethics • Activity 4 – Tight Spaces

12. Purpose of 4-H and FFA • Important for young people to understand the mission and purpose of both 4-H and FFA • Helps them appreciate each of the organizations and the privilege of membership • Each organization promotes the following • Life skills • Success • Leadership • Educational experiences • Personal growth • Challenges • Competencies • Preparing young people • Potential

13. For additional information and activities on the Purpose of 4-H and FFA in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 2 • Activity 1 – Understanding 4-H and FFA • Activity 2 – 4-H and FFA Building Character

14. Purpose of Livestock Projects • Teach young people how to feed and care for animals, work cooperatively with others, and exhibit animals properly • Teach life skills • Encourage responsibility in civic duties: • Excellent classroom grades • Exemplary behavior in schooland community • Follow all rules relatedto showing livestock

15. For additional information and activities on the Purpose of Livestock Projects in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 1: Introduction to “Quality Counts,” Lesson 3 • Activity 1 – The Real Purpose of Livestock Projects • Activity 2 – Name that Skill

16. Making Decisions / Setting Goals • Learning to set goals is importantto youth development. • Young people who write clear,defined goals are more likelyto achieve those goals. • When writing goals, focus onraising and caring for livestock,practicing showmanship, andhelping others.

17. For additional information and activities on Making Decisions/Setting Goals in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 4: Showing With Sportsmanship, Lesson 1 • Activity 1 – What motivates us to have livestock projects? • Activity 2 – What is success? • Activity 3 – Writing Personal Goals

18. Effect of Livestock Projects on the Red Meat Industry • Texas had 76,326 livestock entries by 4-H and FFA members in 2006. • Texas leads the nation in the number of livestock projects exhibited. • Young people are paidpremiums for theiranimals at local andcounty livestock shows. • Young exhibitors should be producingsafe, wholesome food products.

19. For additional information and activities on the Impact of Livestock Projects on the Red Meat Industry in the Quality Counts curriculum see: Quality Counts - Gold: Marketing Livestock Section

20. Animal Identification and Tracking • Identification is important for tracking animals. • Helps tell the history of the animal • This may include: • exhibitor / owner • birth date of animal • location of animal • genetics of animal • If ID is lost or falls out, a newone must be put in.

21. For additional information and activities on Animal Identification • and Tracking in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 1 • Activity 1 – Ear Notching

22. Responsibility to Producea Safe Product • Young people should understand: • Food Quality Assurance • HACCP Plans • Effects of improper medications and incorrect feedstuffs • Producing unsafe food can bedetrimental to the food supply. • Consequences include: • Contamination • Pesticide or drug residue problems • Food recalls

23. For additional information and activities on Responsibilities of Producing a Safe Product in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 2: Food Safety, Lesson 2 • Activity 1 – Create Your Own HACCP Plan • Activity 2 – Identifying Hazards • Activity 3 – Broken Needles

24. Medication Use / Readingand Following Labels Young people should know: • how to read medication labelsand give proper injections • the difference between label,off label and extra label drugs • how to give injections properly • injection site blemishes causemuscle cuts to be discarded

25. For additional information and activities on Medication Use / Identifying and Following Labels in the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 2 • Activity 1 – Reading a Medication Insert • Activity 2 – Reading a Feed Tag • Activity 3 – Label Use of Drugs • Activity 4 – Medication Labels • Lesson 3, Administering Medicines • Activity 1 – Livestock Injection Sites • Activity 2 – Banana Injection • Activity 3 – Injection Site Blemish • Activity 4 – Burrs on Needles • Lesson 4 – Drug Withdrawal Times • Activity 1 – Record Keeping • Activity 2 – Calculating Withdrawal Times • Activity 3 – Treatment Record • Lesson 5 – Drug Residues • Activity 1 – Disappearing Residue • Activity 2 – Sunscreen No No

26. Animal Care and Well-Being • Provide proper facilities for livestock. • Facilities should be well ventilatedand protect animals from extremetemperatures. • Provide fresh water and feed daily. • Proper bedding helps preventdisease and bacterial infections. • Use low-stress methods whentransporting animals.

27. For additional information and activities on Animal Care and Well-Beingin the Quality Counts curriculum see: • Chapter 3: Proper Care of Livestock, Lesson 6 • Activity 1 – Defining Character and Ethics • Lesson 7, Caring for your Animal’s Health • Activity 1 – Calculating Average Daily Gain • Activity 2 – Calculating Dosage from Medicine Labels • Activity 3 – Estimating Show Weight • Activity 4 – Keeping Records for a Livestock Project

28. Final Thoughts • Adults should embrace all educational aspects of livestock projects. • When showing livestock, exhibitors should not be focused on winning or losing but on gaining life skills and learning good character traits. • Adults should emphasize the eight core concepts of Quality Counts: • Six Pillars of Character • Purpose of 4-H / FFA • Purpose of livestock projects • Making • Effect of livestock projects on the red meat industry • Responsibility to produce a safe product • Medication use / reading and following labels • Animal care and well-being