4-H Dairy Showcase: An Innovative Alternative to Auction Based Recognition for Livestock Programs Bradley W Rugg Director, Animal Science and Fair Programs Jan Albrecht Dairy Showcase Committee

MN Youth Enrolled in 4-H YearTOTAL MEMBERS Percent Increase , , , , , , , ,

2011 MN 4-H Overall Enrollment Project Area 2011 Total Enrollment 2011 State Event Participation 2011 % State Event Participation 1 Photography Crafts and Fine Arts Food and Nutrition Shop Self-Determined Clothing and Textiles Cloverbuds4307NA 8 Flower Gardening Horse Vegetable Gardening Shooting Sports - Wildlife Management Dog Beef Rabbit Poultry Pet

2011 MN 4-H Animal Science Enrollment Total 2011 AnSci Enrollment = 26,447 Project Area Total Enrollment State Event Participation % State Event Participation 1Horse Dog Beef Rabbit Poultry Swine Dairy Sheep Goat Lama

MINNESOTA 4-H UNIQUE GIVENS State Fair  6,500 4-Hers participate at the State Fair, most with overnight lodging and meals.  2,700 4-Hers participate with Livestock Exhibits.  All State Fair 4-H participants “win” a trip with their project. This is done through a State Fair line-up selection process done at the completion of project judging at County Fair.  4-Hers are allowed to bring only 1 animal and 1 General Project to the State Fair.  4-Hers must have completed the 6 th grade to compete at the State Fair.

MINNESOTA 4-H UNIQUE GIVENS State Fair – AnSci Projects  All State Fair Livestock participants participate in an interview process to gauge knowledge and growth. The top 20% receive polo shirts and the top 2% receive director’s chairs.  All State Fair Livestock participants must be certified in MN 4-H Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics.  Minnesota 4-H offers lease opportunities for most species in the breeding classes.  County species delegations participate in a 3-4 hour intensive consumer awareness program designed to educate fairgoers on any aspect of the respective species.

MINNESOTA 4-H UNIQUE GIVENS Auction  4-H Auctions are held in 86% of all counties.  Over $1.3M generated annually at MN 4-H auctions.  Average auction – over $19,000; some grossing over $70,000.  Auctions must begin with a 4-Her delivered statement indicating participation in the auction is a “privilege – not a right.”  All auctions are premium only – no animals are sold.  Only purple, blue and red ribbon winners are allowed.  No Cloverbuds.  A minimum of 20% of each auction dollar must go to the 4-H program.

State Fair Purple Ribbon Auction Results BeefSwineSheep YearTotalTop Bid Ave Non ChampionTop Bid Ave Non ChampionTop Bid Ave Non Champion 2012$445,265$16,000$6,201$9,600$3,776$5,500$3, $368,140$15,000$5,537$7,100$3,196$5,700$2, $327,375$14,600$4,750$7,000$2,933$5,500$2, $315,125$14,500$4,216$6,200$2,749$5,500$2, $317,000$14,000$4,984$8,000$2,530$5,100$2, $280,000$13,700$4,320$7,100$1,999$5,000$1, $235,000$13,600$3,626$6,500$2,018$4,850$1, $230,000$13,500$3,472$6,000$1,757$4,700$1, $200,000$12,500$3,017$5,500$1,430$3,900$1, $175,000$11,000$2,807$5,300$1,225$3,100$1, $131,000$10,500$2,133$5,100$1,071$2,750$1, $104,000$10,000$2,463$3,500$624$2,700$ $104,000 $9,000 $1,705 $5,000 $702 $2,400 $ $94,000$10,000$1,642$4,700$612$2,000$888

DAIRY SHOWCASE How it was born…  Three years of research: tracking scholarship vs. competition in livestock.  Increasing inquiries from Dairy leadership in terms of Auction participation.  A series of meetings with the Auction Committee to consider inclusion.  A strong desire to focus on scholarship above competition.

Establishing Partnerships Primary Programmatic Partner

Dairy Showcase Committee Partner Small Executive Committee (all share a common understanding and respect for Total Youth Development) with Representation from Primary Partner - MLBA Industry – Marketing Industry – Media Industry – Dairy Farmer University of Minnesota Animal Science Department Minnesota 4-H

Media Partners Develop strategies for insuring positive and CORRECT messages for: –Print, radio, TV and Showcase presentation

Funding Partners Track old and recruit new funders –Follow up and appreciation key

Other Partners Key Dairy Leaders Dairy Businesses and Organizations 4-H Dairy Youth Minnesota State Fair

Champion Steer vs. Kern Scholarship Comparison 2012 Champion Steer –Award based solely on State Fair placing –$16,000 – 20% = $12,800 paid to the 4-Her –Total paid immediately – no strings attached – No other 4-H activities or leadership required 2012 Kern Scholarship –Award based on well rounded 4-H career including leadership –$1,500 per year X 4 years = $6,000 maximum –Paid out over 4 years if 4-Her maintains a 3.0 GPA. 4-Her must reapply each year of eligibility

AUCTION ISSUES WE WANTED TO AVOID  Expectation of exceptional breeding and/or high price paid to be competitive  ‘Last minute’ dollar expectation that often comes with participation  ‘Strong arming’ potential and current buyers  An auctioneer approach vs. opportunity to showcase accomplishments

Showcase Scorecard

Showcase Profile

HOW DID WE DO?

Sheep Interview Results *Indicates Champion or Reserve Market Lamb Score # of IntermediatesPremium $# of SeniorsPremium $ 220 5$5,000* 210 5$2,500, $4, $2, $2,30015$3, $3, $4,10022$3,100, $2,900, $2, $3, $5,500*, $2,500, $2, $2,400, $4,70019$3, $2,250, $3, $2,200, $3, $2,900 79$3,

Sheep Auction Participants Showmanship ‘PA’ indicates participation Interview Finalists ‘X*’ indicates an interview winner Judging participant and project bowl ‘no’ indicates their county offers it but did not participate

Swine Interview Results *Indicates Champion or Reserve Champion Market Barrow **Does not include 5 exhibitors that did make up interviews (including the Grand Champion Barrow exhibitors, $9,500, $3,400, $3,000, $4,000, $3,950) Score # of IntermediatesPremium $# of SeniorsPremium $ $3, $4,150, $3,000, $3, $2,600, $4,22519$6, $2,750, $3,400, $2,75035 $3,100, $2,900, $3,700, $3,000, $4,600, $2, $5,10032$4,400, $3,100, $3, $3,10038$2,750, $3, $3,675, $3, $3,00035 $7,650*, $3,000, $3,000, $3,350, $5,000, $3, $3,500, $2,

Swine Auction Participants Interview Finalists ‘X*’ indicates an interview winner Judging participant and project bowl ‘no’ indicates their county offers it but did not participate

Beef Interview Results *Indicates Champion or Reserve Market Beef **Indicates Champion or Reserve Dairy Steer *Does not include 4 exhibitors that did make up interviews Score # of IntermediatesPremium $# of SeniorsPremium $ $4, $11,000*, $7,200, $10,200, $5, $6,000, $4,375, $4,600, $6,500, $3, $5,60039 $6,525, $5,500, $6,900, $5,000, $3, $16,000*, $4, $6,150, $10,000, $5,950, $5,050, $6,000, $3, $5,500, $6, $3, $5, $9,600**

Beef Auction Participants Showmanship ‘PA’ indicates participation Interview Finalists ‘X*’ indicates an interview winner Judging participant and project bowl ‘no’ indicates their county offers it but did not participate

Dairy Showcase Model 2012 Interview Finalists ‘X*’ indicates an interview winner Judging participant and project bowl ‘no’ indicates their county offers it but did not participate Placing Award Premium Leadership Profile Score Showmanship Placing Interview Finalists (top20%) 2011 Judging Participant Project Bowl 2012Show Placing 1 $ 2,500 XXX*XXP 2 $ 2,150 XXX*XXP 3 $ 1,800 XXXXxP 4 $ 1,500 XX XXP 5 $ 1,325 X X*XXP 6 $ 1,150 XXXXXP 7 $ 1,025 XXX*No P 8 $ 925 XXXXXB 9 $ 850 XXX*XXB 10 $ 800 X XXB 11 $ 700 X XXP 12 $ 700 XX XXP 13 $ 700 X XXXB 14 $ 700 X XXB 15 $ 700 X XXXB 16 $ 600 X XXXB 17 $ 600 X X*NoXB 18 $ 600 X XXP 19 $ 600 X XXXB 20 $ 600 X X*XXP 21 $ 500 XX XNoP 22 $ 500 XX XXP 23 $ 500 XXXXXP 24 $ 500 X XXXP 25 $ 500 X XXXB

QUESTIONS AND DIALOG

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