It should be fair across the board. I agree with some of the comments it is becoming very lopsided. Those that can spend big money on "show" breed animals just so they can win at the county level make it unfair for those who cant afford to spend big money. I grew up showing at the fair for 15 years. The only time I ever won was with my own dairy cattle from the family farm. The pigs, sheep and beef that we showed were bought from other family farms and were not a high standard as those who paid big money for their animals and barely broke even when it came time for the sale. I have seen things go downhill in what some 4-hers are learning by not doing anything.

They should make standards. Set a price for which you can purchase an animal for so all can afford it. Also how it is raised and how much involvement the exhibitor has to have with the animal. Not everyone can keep a steer and a cooler to allow the hair to grown longer and thicker and eat more than the basic exhibitor who has to keep it in a pasture with a shed.

Showing is about the showmanship learned and about raising your animal, not winning grand or reserve.

Equality is the answer.

Chelleandlou, I've made my living in the agriculture industry my entire life...have you? No need to answer, you haven't. There is also no need to impress us with your showing abilities from 40+ years ago, anyone who has ever shown outside of a county fair knows that showing with a partner in this day and age is more the norm than not and it has nothing to do with the skill level of the showman. Further, it is sad that as a former 4-H leader you now find it acceptable to belittle the majority of the youth and families that show livestock at the fair. As in anything there are those who cut corners and sit back and watch someone else do the work, but I believe that Rock County has some pretty amazing youth and I prefer to recognize the time and commitment that they put into their projects whether they raised them or bought them. Anyone can buy a high-dollar animal, but it takes good management practices, skill, time, and effort to raise that animal into a champion. I support both the breeders of livestock and the parents who have purchased animals for their children to allow them to experience the opportunities this industry has to offer.

I agree with chelleandlou- I believe most kids raise and work their animals for the fair but like everything else these days their are some bad apples in every bunch that in my opinion are spoiled little rich kids that buy their animals and don't touch them until they enter the show ring. And unfortunately they usually end up winning because they have the money to do so. My kids home raise all their animals and even win sometimes. It makes a person feel good when you can actually win with your own animals. The girl who didn't win Champion Steer cried her head off because she got Reserve instead. Ridiculous, but where did she learn it from? She hasn't learned a thing about winning or losing. She just through a fit. So next year her mommy and daddy will spend even more money so she can win. I don't stoop to their level. I am not going to play with the big boys because I want my kids to experience the ups and downs of life.

Jimbob, I'm not stupid and probably know more about agriculture than you do. I was raised on a farm, I have a degree in agriculture, and I'm no slouch.

To tell me that making the statement 'the kids aren't learning anything if they aren't raising the animals' is insulting is hilarious. Anyone can stand in the show ring and hold an for 5 minutes. My brothers and I raised our sheep from lambs, we fed them, cared for them, worked with them, and when we showed we didn't need two or more "helpers" to handle the animal, use a halter, OR have people "set" the animal. I was showing animals anywhere from 100 to 300 lbs and weighed less than 100 lbs myself. I did that for 9 years! Only ONCE did I have an animal get away from me and that was my first year in 4H. I am quite aware of the "purchase date" requirements for animals, doesn't matter people have cheated for years and it's common knowledge that one particular "species" is especially affected by this and nothing can/will be done because the superintendent is involved heavily in the cheating. And I highly doubt in some cases the purchase date is a minimum 2 years...

I was a 4 year FFA member and 9 year 4H member you're not telling me anything I don't know as far as what these organizations are all about. Your comment is insulting. I don't buy for a minute that all 75% of the kids showing animals purchased or from someone else's farm are actually caring for the animals, training them, or know anything about them. My statement is NOT uneducated however yours is. Then again, with a name like "jimbob" what should one expect?

Jimbob, I'm not stupid and probably know more about agriculture than you do. I was raised on a farm, I have a degree in agriculture, and I'm no slouch.

To tell me that making the statement 'the kids aren't learning anything if they aren't raising the animals' is insulting is hilarious. Anyone can stand in the show ring and hold an for 5 minutes. My brothers and I raised our sheep from lambs, we fed them, cared for them, worked with them, and when we showed we didn't need two or more "helpers" to handle the animal, use a halter, OR have people "set" the animal. I was showing animals anywhere from 100 to 300 lbs and weighed less than 100 lbs myself. I did that for 9 years! Only ONCE did I have an animal get away from me and that was my first year in 4H. I am quite aware of the "purchase date" requirements for animals, doesn't matter people have cheated for years and it's common knowledge that one particular "species" is especially affected by this and nothing can/will be done because the superintendent is involved heavily in the cheating. And I highly doubt in some cases the purchase date is a minimum 2 years...

I was a 4 year FFA member and 9 year 4H member you're not telling me anything I don't know as far as what these organizations are all about. Your comment is insulting. I don't buy for a minute that all 75% of the kids showing animals purchased or from someone else's farm are actually caring for the animals, training them, or know anything about them. My statement is NOT uneducated however yours is. Then again, with a name like "jimbob" what should one expect?

Seriously chelleandlou, there is a lot that has changed in the past 25 years. If you know anything about agriculture you should know that the dynamics of the family farm has changed. True, kids who breed and raise their own animals will learn and understand more than the ones who don't. But to make the statement that 'the kids aren't learning anything if they aren't raising the animals' is insulting. If you know anything about purchase date requirements, dependent on species, these kids have had their 4-H project for several months at a minimum and in some cases nearly two years. 4-H and FFA is all about education, the promotion of the agriculture industry, and the opportunity to broaden your horizons and try something new. To think that these kids haven't learned anything after caring for their animals for this amount of time, just because they aren't fortunate enough to have come from a family farm is truly an uneducated statement.

They should of asked how much money these people spend for their animals. It's an awful amount just to say you won
Grand Champion and it is only a county fair!

I think its a shame that only 25 percent of the animals are raised by the kids. When I was in 4H and FFA more than 25 years ago the number was much higher! The kids aren't learning anything if they aren't raising the animals. That's what 4H and FFA is all about ....