Facebook post circulating did not come from Oregon 4H Program or Baker Co. 4H
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – Rumors have been circulating around Facebook recently regarding 4-H State Rule Change for Grande and Reserve Grand Champion Showmanship. Now 4H officials have taken a stance saying these rumors are false.
Statement from Baker County 4H OSU Extension
“There is a Facebook post that is spreading rapidly about the supposed “4-H State Rule Change” regarding Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Showmanship– Please note that this comment DID NOT come from the Oregon 4-H Program & Baker Co. 4-H HAS NO intention of eliminating Grand Champion Showmanship rounds.
Oregon 4-H, including the animal science project areas make decisions based on the science of positive youth development and follow research-based information to help youth thrive. It’s also important to know, county programs have the autonomy to make decisions regarding their programs and for the most part these are not mandated by state guidelines.
While there may very well be county programs who have chosen to move their programming into separate JR INT SR competitions for showmanship, Baker County at this time, has no plans to change or eliminate Gr. Champ Showmanship rounds. If you are interested in discussing this, pro or con, please contact me directly – phone call, email, or we can meet in person.”
Statement from Candi Bothum, 4H Faculty Animal Sciences, Statewide
“A note from 4-H Statewide Animal Sciences…
Seems like there are a variety of questions circulating social media channels. Thank you for your interest in the 4-H Animal Science programs.
First, it’s important to understand, Oregon 4-H, including the animal science project areas, makes decisions based on the science of positive youth development. We are not, and don’t intend to be, a pig program or a horse program, etc. Our work is with youth and we utilize animal science and other club based programming to provide opportunities for youth to build life skills, find comradery, create adult/youth partnerships, immerse in community, all to become happy, successful, and productive members of our communities and beyond. We follow research based information to help youth thrive. This is done through school enrichment and club based programs delivered by 4-H faculty, gracious volunteers, and 4-H members and their peers. It’s truly amazing what I’ve seen transpire in youth over the past 30 years. What we do, it works.
The research tells us, it’s developmentally best if members compete against their peers rather than crossing age divisions. Of course, this doesn’t mean there aren’t youth who are ready… of course, some 11 year old junior members would have no trouble competing against 12 year old intermediates or older members. Still the research, and thus our procedures reflect the majority. This is why in most cases, we have many classes that don’t include Grand and Reserve Grand competitions; this is where the entire age span competes against each other. With this said, some counties still do this, and where they do, they have their own reasons for doing so. At the state level, we’ve asked they not combine these ages when adding new classes. Several years ago, maybe 15 or more, we asked all counties not to add new Grand Champion competitions, and allowed counties to keep those they had already created. Statewide, this has not changed. However, a number of counties have removed Grand Champion rounds in nearly all classes – the one exception is most counties continue to have Grand Champion showmanship rounds. This is based in tradition and the need/want to feed those winners into master showmanship competitions; it’s also arguable that those junior showmanship winners are better prepared than most to compete at a higher level.
While there may very well be county programs who have chosen to move their programming into separate JR INT SR competitions for showmanship, as is their right, most remain competing across age divisions in this area. With that said, I repeat: developmentally, the research confirms that best practice is having members not compete so far outside of their peer level.
At state fair, intermediates compete against intermediates and seniors against seniors in showmanship. It has been this way for MANY years. We choose a master-showmanship intermediate champion and a master-showmanship senior champion. These are highly recognized, prestigious awards – they come with significant and important notoriety and recognition. There has been no harm to members or declining of competition with this format and members continue to strive to do their best, which is what we hope to be teaching.
Feel free to direct additional questions to me. Candi Bothum, 4-H Faculty Animal Sciences, Statewide
541-516-0213
Candi Bothum, Program Coordinator Oregon State University |OSU Extension Service 4-H Youth Development, Statewide Animal Sciences
Direct Line: 541-516-0213 |
C: 541-419-6350
3800 SW Airport Way; Bldng #4 | Redmond, OR 97756 https://extension.oregonstate.edu/4h/plant-animal-science | #Oregon4h Animal science projects extension.oregonstate.ed”
