Abstract
The Sale of Junior Champions is a premier livestock auction and youth scholarship program held at Dixie Nationals as a part of Mississippi’s junior livestock program. The sale is open to 4-H and FFA members who qualified their livestock at the annual Dixie National Junior Round-Up. While youth livestock sales programs are commonly found at state and county fairs throughout the United States, demographic information and information concerning financial and life skill impacts of the program on participants is limited. Therefore, a survey instrument for the 2018 sale was designed to determine how the event has impacted the financial burden of continued education and life skill development of youth participants. Paper and electronic surveys were distributed during and after the event. Responses (n = 176) reflected a diverse group of participants including 4-H/FFA members (22%), parents of youth (22%), volunteers (21%), Extension employees/FFA advisors (22%), sale buyers/sponsors (12%), and others (2%). Most participants (45%) were older (40-60 years old). Almost half of the respondents (43%) had attended the sale 6 or more times, while 10% were first-time attendees. A driving force for attendance appeared to be the scholarships as 33% received or had a youth receiving a scholarship. Program participation promoted improvement in all life skills measured. Future educational goals in youths were reported to be positively impacted by sale participation (p < 0.001). Understanding of sale participant demographics and financial and life skill impacts will assist in program justification, future program growth, and identifying groups where participation can be strengthened.
Highlights
Youth programs such as 4-H and FFA were established decades ago in order to help youth continue to develop various life skills (Lockman, 2017)
As for Mississippi, the Dixie National Junior Round-Up (DNJR) is the premier junior market animal show where youth exhibit market animals from which the Champion and Reserve Champion animals are selected to be auctioned through the Sale of Junior Champions (Jousan, 2018)
Often coordinators of these youth programs will visit with participants and families in person to get input on these programs, but the application of survey instruments has proven to be a useful tool for documenting specifics on program benefits and weaknesses (Taylor-Powell, Steele, & Doughah, 1996)
Summary
Youth programs such as 4-H and FFA were established decades ago in order to help youth continue to develop various life skills (Lockman, 2017). As for Mississippi, the Dixie National Junior Round-Up (DNJR) is the premier junior market animal show where youth exhibit market animals from which the Champion and Reserve Champion animals are selected to be auctioned through the Sale of Junior Champions (Jousan, 2018). Both 4-H and FFA contestants exhibit their livestock in the largest junior market livestock show in Mississippi. A total of 42 to 48 animals typically qualify for the Sale of Junior Champions
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