Any youth who walks into the show ring with their animal will gain new knowledge about raising livestock for conformation, temperament, color, and more. Whether they’re raising stock for the sale market or for breeding, they’ll learn about what characteristics a high-quality animal possesses. These lessons come from judges’ critiques and from the advice of bystanders and other competitors. And the lessons don’t end there. Perhaps even more important than the knowledge that wins ribbons, youth gain skills that shape their lives, including showmanship, sportsmanship, and integrity.
Max Dixon, a 10-year-old Wyoming poultry showman, feels that the show ring – or, in his case, show table – is one of the best places to put practice to the test. He explains, “It’s an even playing field, and it comes down to what you put into it. If you put in the work and know your animal inside and out (literally), you can go far. Even if you don’t win, you can leave the table knowing you did your best. Also, don’t be afraid to help someone else if they need it. We all need a little helping hand sometimes, and the best way to share what we love about poultry starts by being kind in the ring.” He brings up a valuable trait found again and again in the livestock community – camaraderie.
The livestock world brings together youth from all walks of life. While these youth compete against each other, they ultimately strive toward the same goal: improving their own breeding lines and the industry as a whole. Interest in agriculture, including livestock production, has been declining over the decades. No matter their age, people involved in ag depend on each other to sustain and hopefully grow the field. Providing encouragement and support to those just starting out is key.
Olivia Neff (age 17) of Pennsylvania believes there’s a place for everyone in agriculture. She shares, “Don’t compare yourself to others. A lot of people compare themselves to kids who seemingly have an advantage, such as coming from money or a show family. As long as you’re putting in honest, hard work, you should always be proud of the outcome. Be you and stay strong, but also don’t be afraid to take advice from those who are more advanced than you.” She’s entirely right; we often let our assumptions play too much of a part in determining our outcome. No matter who’s competing, put in your best effort and rest easy knowing that no matter who takes home the blue ribbon, you’ve put your all into your project.
Eighteen-year-old Sarah Baer is an Ohio 4-Her and is competitive in the swine and sheep rings. 4-H has impacted her as well: “I’d say that the biggest thing being in 4-H and showing livestock has taught me is how to stay disciplined. Training animals can start to feel very monotonous after a while, when you do the same exact thing for long periods of time day after day, but accomplishing my goals has been so rewarding. 4-H also forces you to put the animal before yourself, which I genuinely believe makes a difference in the type of person that many 4-Hers grow up to be. We have a better understanding of the value of hard work than many other people our age, which, at least in my experience, has kept me grounded and grateful for everything. All the lessons I’ve learned in 4-H have made me a better person and have better equipped me for life.”
Ultimately, any task can become monotonous. However, as Sarah shares, seeing that dedication pay off makes the repetition worthwhile. Another member of Ohio 4-H, Aaliyah Moore (age 18), agrees that the reward of a banner, or, even better, the praise and feeling of accomplishment, justifies the effort. Learning ways to balance the menial tasks with more meaningful ones adds to the overall enjoyment of the process. This ingenuity, initially found in mucking stalls and washing lambs, applies everywhere. It’s a worthy trait no matter where life takes you.
While Aaliyah and Sarah find joy reaping the rewards of their dedication, 18-year-old Star Heldman admits and embraces the reality that sometimes, despite all efforts, you can still fail. “Livestock showing teaches you to handle pressure, take criticism, and stay dedicated – all things the real world demands. You learn quickly that hard work doesn’t guarantee a win, but giving up guarantees nothing. It’s not just about ribbons; it’s about building grit for life outside the ring.” There are always going to be hard days, whether in school, extracurriculars, college, the workforce, or family life. In some instances, no solution feels right, and it’s okay to not know how to make it better immediately. However, you must keep moving forward and searching for answers. Eventually, you may find that the goal you once had, whether a trophy or a big promotion, might not have been the thing you needed to chase. At times, life leads us in directions we never expect, and one failure can bring us closer to an even greater success. Sooner or later, hard work does pay off, though it may not be in the way we expect.
Beyond the lessons of producing quality animals, there’s much to be learned in the realm of showing livestock. According to USA Today, around 6 million youth across the United States are involved in 4-H or Future Farmers of America (FFA), and even more participate in showing livestock independently. When you compare that with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2022 survey that tallied 3.4 million ag producers in our country, it becomes clear that these youth have a huge potential to guide our agricultural future. It’s essential that these young people continue to have opportunities to grow. While the knowledge learned in the ring helps build the future of agriculture, the life lessons taken home sustain humanity.
Youth in Ag Spotlight: Kaden Gordillo
High school sophomore Kaden Gordillo is an ambassador to the ag industry. The Texas native is a member of 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA), the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the Texas Rabbit Breeders Association, and Scouts BSA. Kaden is a dedicated rabbit breeder, and he raises Dutch, Palomino, Netherland Dwarf, and New Zealand rabbits. He also works with the recently recognized Blue Holicer breed. He’s the president of the Lonestar Legacy 4-H club and serves on 4-H county and district leadership councils. He appreciates these opportunities to help younger members discover their interests.
Sara Bailey is an Ohio 4-Her passionate about exploring the future of agriculture. She’s currently studying at Ohio State University as an animal sciences major and plans to one day pursue a career as a livestock and equine veterinarian.
Originally published in the September/October 2025 issue of Grit magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
