DEPARTMENT 10
4-H & VOCATIONAL
ELIGIBILITY
4-H Club members must have passed their eighth birthday but not have passed their nineteenth birthday by January 1 of the current year. Exhibitors must be 4-H members with a project in the field in which they wish to make entry and be under the supervision of Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Service by July 1 preceding the Fair.
Students enrolled in an accepted Vocational School Curriculum must be conducting a project in the class in which they wish to make entry. Students enrolled in General Home Economics in a comprehensive High School are considered as qualifying. All entries shall be approved prior to the Fair by a member of Pennsylvania Department of Education, Agriculture or Family and Consumer Science staff, or their designated representative.
Where there is reference to 4-H and Vocational classes, the Cambria County Fair has the option, if a sufficient number of available exhibits, to divide the show into two parts, one for 4-H and one for Vocational, or they may be shown together.
THE PURPOSE OF YOUTH (4-H & FFA) LIVESTOCK PROJECTS
One purpose is to teach young people how to feed, fit and show their animals. The more important purpose is to provide an opportunity for personal growth and development of the young person.
The Josephson Institute of Ethics has developed a curriculum which identifies six core values which may help to better describe the value of youth livestock projects. This curriculum also presents the idea that people develop and strengthen character by practicing certain behaviors just as muscles are built through exercise.
Therefore, the purpose of the youth livestock program (4-H and FFA) is to provide opportunities for young people to develop character. The character traits identified and some practices (exercises) that may build character follow:
Trustworthiness - includes honesty, promise keeping and loyalty
1. Daily feeding and watering of animal (promise keeping).
2. Adheres to possession deadlines (honesty)
3. Adheres to withdrawal times on drugs and de-wormer
4. Only the appropriate use of approved
Respect - Includes courtesy and proper treatment of people and things.
1. Proper handling of animals, treat humanely
2. Proper care of animals
3. Listens to and follows advice of advisors
4. Recognizes that animal projects are dependent on 4-H’er and provides daily feed and water
Responsibility - includes the pursuit of excellence, accountability and perseverance.
1. Daily feeding and watering (even on the busy, difficult days)
2. Goes beyond providing the daily needs of the animal in giving additional time and attention to produce a winner.
3. Adheres to deadlines for entry forms and for arrival at livestock shows.
4. Never gives up in the show ring (perseverance).
Fairness - involves consistently applying rules and standards appropriately for different age groups and ability levels.
1. Feed only approved livestock rations
2. Only the appropriate use of approved drugs
3. Accepts winning or losing with grace
4. Conduct in the show ring follows recommended procedure
5. Fitting and grooming of animals follows recommended procedures
Caring - promoting the well being of people and things in a young person’s world. It denotes action and not just feelings.
1. Daily feeding and watering
2. Provides clean barn/stall for animal
3. Treats animal humanely at all times
Citizenship - includes making the home community and county a better place to live for themselves and others.
1. Accepting instructions
2. Winning and losing with grace
3. Helping others at stock shows
4. Teaching younger members
5. Treating animals humanely
6. Ensuring that your meat animal is safe for consumption
CAMBRIA COUNTY FAIR
The 4-H Livestock Committee will select show stewards to observe the handling of all animals both in and out of the Show Ring and will have the authority to disqualify any exhibitor for unethical practices or failure to comply with show rules and regulations. If the animal poses to be a safety risk to any of the exhibitors or other animals, it will be removed from the ring at the discretion of the Superintendent/ Show Stewards. This in turn will forfeit any class placing and the animal will be ineligible to be sold through the Livestock Sale.
Any proceeds from an animal resold during the auction, die to a donation back cannot be given to the exhibitor. Money from the sale of an animal can only go to the exhibitor once. A resale should be designated back to a Club or Organization-not an individual.
All Livestock Club Secretary books must be presented to the 4-H/Youth Agent no later than August 1st prior to the Cambria County Fair. Any questions concerning any 4-Her’s eligibility to show during the Fair must be expressed to the Extension Agent prior to the Fair or by 5:00 PM Sunday, the first day of the Fair.
All youth must present an up to date Project Record Book to the Extension Office by August 1st in order to be eligible to show. (The up to date Project Book will be completed except for premiums won, weight for end of project and sale price.)
Grooming products used should be those approved for use on meat producing animals when fitting any animal for show. Unapproved products may contain ingredients that result in unacceptable residues in the meat. If you are not certain that a product is safe and approved for use on meat animals, DO NOT USE IT.
No exhibitor or other person leading animals will be allowed to enter the arena unless attired in suitable uniform.
Any animal entered in the Livestock Show or Sale shall not receive any treatment with drugs or biologics within the withdrawal time prior to slaughter. Withdrawal times for drugs and biologics are all stated on the directions for use. Label directions must be followed at all times. If upon slaughter, a recent treatment with drugs or biologics is found to have been administered prior to the sale and the treatment is the cause of condemnation of a carcass, the loss of the carcass will be borne by the exhibitor.
Any Special Needs exhibitor will be permitted assistance in the Show Ring from a parent, 4-Her or designated adult.
CAMBRIA COUNTY 4-H & FFA SUBSTITUTE SHOWMAN RULE
As adopted on March 15, 1994 by the 4-H Livestock Committee
The purpose of the Cambria County 4-H Livestock Shows held during the Cambria County Fair is to enable youth to have a satisfactory experience in the Show Ring. Therefore it is the responsibility of the 4-H Exhibitor to show his/her own animal. The only exceptions allowed will be as follows:
If sickness or physical injury after arriving at the show prevents the exhibitor from showing his/her own animal. In the case of a previous injury or illness prohibiting an exhibitor from showing, a doctor’s excuse will be required.
If the exhibitor has two or more animals in the same class or owns a different species of animal that is being shown at the time.
If the exhibitor finds it impossible to attend due to direct participation in Scholastic/School Activities or Military Commitments, verification of this activity must be confirmed in writing to the County Extension Agent. This written verification must be presented at check-in, and have been signed by an event supervisor (i.e. teacher, coach, etc.) Each circumstance will be reviewed by the County Extension Agent. If there is conflict of interest, please notify the Extension Office at least two weeks prior to the show/sale.
In the above instances the exhibitor may request a Substitute showman. If approves, a written Substitute Showman Permission Slip will be given to the exhibitor. The Substitute Showman must notify the Ring Manager when entering the ring that he/she is not the owner.The Substitute Showman must be another 4-H or FFA member and cannot be considered for a Master Showman award
Any exhibitor receiving a Substitute Showman Permission Slip who attends the show and is physically capable of showing will be disqualified.
In the case of an unruly animal, adult supervision will be provided at the ringside for the exhibitor. In any case, the exhibitor must remain with the animal.
