Whoa! I was a lot surprised to hear this about 4H, that I have quoted below from another thread, by Cyndi.
I have to say that it is as far away from our experiences here in our district as could be possible. Our 4H program is very much community sponsored, lead by dedicated people, with real concerns for children and a commitment to raising livestock healthily and humanely.
What are your experences with 4H? Any other horror stories out there?
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm
NW IL
Zone 5A
I have to say that it is as far away from our experiences here in our district as could be possible. Our 4H program is very much community sponsored, lead by dedicated people, with real concerns for children and a commitment to raising livestock healthily and humanely.
What are your experences with 4H? Any other horror stories out there?
__________________Are you sure about that?? I would have thought so too until my son participated in his first 4-H show this past summer showing hogs. The vast majority of rest of the 4-H exhibitors bought their hogs from commercial hog farms when they were about 4-5 months or they picked one out and had the hog farmer raise it with the rest of the 4-H hogs (on cement). The kids really didn't know squat about their hogs or how they were raised and for the most part either treated them badly or couldn't handle them at all. These pigs looked like hogs on steroids because of all the high protein feed they were being given plus all the antibiotics, etc that were given to the rest of the hogs in the operation. I swear these hogs had hams on top of their hams!! I saw one exhibitor (the one that won showmanship) repeatedly coax his hogs out of their holding pens with food, then slam the metal bar door into their head, sometimes knocking them on their butts. I was very, VERY dismayed and disappointed!!! Maybe because my 10 yo son raised his pair of hogs on pasture since they were weanlings. He was the sole caretaker for 5 months. His hogs had a good lean to fat ratio but compared to most of the rest of the hogs, they looked very chubby.
I heard over in the steer showing, the 4-H participant that won had a professional groomer come in. I never realized how competitive 4-H livestock shows could be!! This could be a regional thing, but I won't be letting my son show large livestock at 4-H any more. This year he's signed up for poultry (he'll be taking heritage turkeys and chickens) and woodworking.
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm
NW IL
Zone 5A