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SHOWING CHARACTER The Oklahoma 4-H Youth Development Program is teaching youth how to show character while participating in a livestock project. The Showing Character program relates to the character of the livestock production and exhibiting community, as well as to the character of the individual members of the community. Good character has three components, which include knowing what is right, feeling the need to do right and doing what is right. Good character takes courage and self-control. It may mean doing something you do not want to do or not doing something you want to do. The more exhibitors know, feel, and do the right things, the stronger their character becomes. Showing Character is a series of lesson plans teaching the seven pillars of character, which include trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship and decision making. The program teaches trustworthiness is being reliable and worthy of trust. The four components of trust are honesty, promise-keeping, loyalty and integrity. The pillar of respect is feeling or showing regard for someone or something. Livestock exhibitors should show respect to all stakeholder. The stakeholders include other exhibitors, the animal, breeders, families, organizations, the livestock show, club sponsors, spectators, judges, show officials, suppliers, buyers and the news media. The third pillar is responsibility. Responsible behaviors of a livestock exhibitor consist of selection of the animal; caring for, feeding and housing the animal; preparation for showing; showing the animal; selling the animal; and keeping good records. Fairness, in livestock production and exhibition, includes using the same rules for everyone, following the rules, treating everyone the same and being willing to admit and correct mistakes. An exhibitor shows fairness by following these aspects. Caring is showing concern for the welfare of others, and livestock exhibitors are responsible for the care of their animals. Some caring behaviors include staying alert to the needs of the animal, treating animals humanely at all times, considering the needs and requests of fellow exhibitors and assisting young exhibitors. The pillar of citizenship teaches youth that it is important to show good citizenship. To show citizenship exhibitors need to know and fulfill responsibilities; know and obey the rules, regulations and laws; stay informed of recommended production and exhibiting practices and issues and much more. Finally the Showing Character program teaches livestock exhibitors to make ethical decisions. Exhibitors are to use the decision-making model. The model includes identifying the situation, considering all the stakeholders; the principles of character override non-ethical ones; and when two core ethical values conflict, choose the one that will produce the most good for the largest number of people. |
