Opportunities

1. Quality Counts -GOLD Opportunities

2. Overview • Importance of extracurricular activities to young people • Opportunities available for young people in agriculture • Defining success • Preparing young people for adulthood and careers

3. Importance of Extracurricular Activities • Other opportunities besides showing livestockmust be presented to young people. • Extracurricular activities help young people gain leadership and life skills. • Opportunities include: • Judging contests • Livestock camps • Scholarships • Skillathons • Career preparation

4. Importance of Extracurricular Activities • Young people should know that extracurricular activities require commitment. • Adults must support and encourageyoung people in their activities. • Many young people are unsurewhether they have what it takesto be leaders. • Introducing young people to opportunities in agriculture can stimulate their interest. • In many extracurricular activities young people can form close-knit groups.

5. Extracurricular Activities and Service Learning • Leadership skills gained from extracurricular activities can be used in service learning projects. • Service learning integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities • Service learning activities helpyoung people engage in selfreflection and self-discovery,and acquire values, skillsand knowledge.

6. Service Learningand Livestock Projects Example: A showmanship clinic conducted by senior members for younger kids • Seniors plan the event and work one-on-one with younger kids. • Seniors gain communicationand leadership skills.

7. Respect ThroughService Learning • Participants learn to respect the leaders of organizations. • Learning respect is an example of positive character education. • Respect focuses on honoring the worth and dignity of others, as well as themselves. • Young people learn to deal respectfully with others, even those who seem not to deserve respect.

8. Opportunities for Young Peoplein Agriculture • There are many opportunities, such as 4-H and FFA events that occur year-round. • Some opportunities allow young people to travel across Texas and the U.S. • Opportunities can be competitive or strictly informational. • These events acquaint young people with agricultural careers.

9. Opportunities for Youth • Beef • Beef Quiz Bowl • Beef Educational Presentation / Method Demonstration • Sheep and Meat Goat • Texas 4-H Goat Camp • Howard College Goat and Lamb Camps • Aggieland Lamb and Goat Camp • Goat Judging Contest and and Goat Bowl • Goat Kid Giveaway Program • Texas Sheep and Goat Youth Leadership Workshop • Sheep Skillathon • Sheep and/or Goat Educational Presentation/ Method Demonstration • Sheep and Goat Showmanship Clinics

10. Opportunities • Swine • Texas Pork Producers Association Pork Leadership Tour • Texas Junior Livestock Association Pig Camp • Swine Skillathon • Swine Educational Presentation/Method Demonstration • Judging • 4-H Livestock Judging • FFA Career Development Livestock Judging • Texas A&M University Livestock Judging Camp • Mohair Judging Contest • FFA Career Development Wool Judging Contest • Wool Judging Contest • For other 4-H and FFA activities see: http://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/index.html or http://www.texasffa.org/

11. Defining Success • Success – the achievement of something desired, planned or attempted • Failure – not achieving what you desire, plan or attempt • Success is not about winning or losing.

12. Characteristics of Successful People • Confident • Hard workers • Failure increases their motivation to work harder • Challenge themselves • Take credit for success and take responsibility for failure

13. Characteristics of Unsuccessful People • Doubt themselves and are anxious • Don’t work very hard • Give up when things don’tgo well • Just go through the motionswithout much effort • Believe someone elsecontrols whether theysucceed or fail

14. Preparing Youth for Adulthood and Careers • Adults are responsible for helping young people explore career options. • Adults can help young peopledetermine if college is right for them. • Adults can help with collegeapplications and with loanand scholarship applications.

15. Preparing Youth for Adulthood and Careers • Adults can help young people connect with those who can answer questions about college and careers. • County Extension agents, ag. science teachers and 4-H specialists can help. • If given the resources, young people can see the opportunities available in agriculture.

16. Career Selection Process • Career selection starts about age 10. • Adults must help in the career selection process. • Young people who participate in agricultural activities will know about agricultural career options.

17. Overview • Adults should guide and encourage young people as they explore different career and college paths. • Whatever path a young person takes, it is the adults’ responsibility to guide and support. • Adults should emphasize the importance of striving for success in whatever they do. • Getting young people involved in extracurricular activities associated with agriculture increases the likelihood that they will pursue agricultural careers.