About Us
County Impact Statements - White County
Youth Livestock Projects Produce Blue Ribbon Kids
The youth of today have many choices and pressures these days. Our youth need
projects that develop life skills, responsibility and discipline. Youth
livestock projects provide all these and more. The White County Junior Market
Animal program has grown from 34 in 1995 to 70 animals in 2003. Youth who
participate in the program tend to be better managers of finances, responsible
and disciplined.
The White County Junior Market Animal Program main goals are not only
instilling life skills, responsibility and discipline. It also promotes family.
Most of the youth involved work closely with their parents on these projects.
Most of the youth belong to youth organizations such as 4-H and Future Farmers
of America throughout the county.
Other goals, for the program, are to educate youth about agriculture and its
importance to the county, state and nation. The livestock project involves an
entire year of taking care of a steer, lamb or hog. These animals are raised and
cared for by the youth and shown at the county fair. The youth, with these
projects, raise these animals just like a producer does.
The program is also supported by the community. In 1995 there were 43
businesses and individual supporters and in 2003 there were 132 supporters.
These supporters financially reward these youth for a job well done on their
projects. Because of these rewards many youth have been able to attend college.
This program has resulted in better youth for White County and Arkansas.
All of the youth’s hard work through-out the year is shown off
at the White County Fair.
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Impacts
- Youth involvement has increased by 50% since 1995.
- The success rate of responsible youth graduated from the program is 75%
or greater.
- The number of supporters has increased by 65%.
- Financial rewards increased by 57%.
- Forty-one attended 2 Livestock Workshops to help with their projects.
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