An Assessment of The Texas 4-H and FFA Youth Livestock Program: Scope, Perceptions, and Return-On-Investment

Abstract

Texas enjoys the largest youth livestock program in the nation with the most projects, exhibitors, and support—both from both monetary and programmatic standpoints. The purpose of this study was to measure and explain the scope, relevance, and overall impact of the Texas 4-H and FFA youth livestock program. I employed three quantitative surveys in this study to gauge perceptions of County Extension Agents, Agricultural Science Teachers, and livestock exhibitor families regarding constructs of the youth livestock program. I sought to quantify total average costs per species, gain a greater understanding of educational and life skill development outcomes, and better understand perceived return-on-investment financially and intrinsically. Texas County Extension Agents, Agricultural Science Teachers, and livestock exhibitor families indicated the livestock project either somewhat or definitely fosters an environment for increasing educational outcomes and life skill development traits in the areas of: responsibility, sportsmanship, work ethic, respect, ethical decision making, animal science knowledge, knowledge about the food supply, safe animal handling and welfare knowledge, and knowledge about producing a safe food animal product. All three respondent groups agreed life skills and educational outcomes learned through the livestock project are relevant in real-world application. In total, 97.90% of all respondents agreed participation in the livestock project is worth the investment when all intrinsic and extrinsic returns were considered.