Dairy Youth Programming: Where We’ve Been, and Where We Go from Here

Total enrollment for the dairy project and 4-H was analyzed using the USDA Annual 4-H Youth Development Enrollment Report from 1985 to 1994. Enrollment of 4-H youth in the dairy project over this period has generally increased in a manner similar to that of total 4-H enrollment. Enrollment in the dairy project has increased from 77,937 in 1985 to 83,742 in 1994; enrollment in 4-H has increased from 4,728,549 to 5,600,087 during the same period. A review of historical data for dairy programming provided the basis for development of current activities and educational efforts for dairy youth. Many programs, such as dairy judging, continue to involve many youth. Enhancements to these traditional programs, such as more competitive sections in the national FFA dairy judging contest, have expanded the number of clientele reached by those programs. New programs and learning methods have allowed more youth from nonfarm backgrounds to participate and learn about dairy subjects. Managerial projects allow nonfarm youth to show dairy cattle. Video and CD-ROM formats allow youth to see material visually without using a dairy animal. Shifts in program delivery, such as incorporation of life skills in resource and educational materials, have met the needs of a changing clientele. There also has been increased emphasis on inclusion of biological and biotechnological components in programming efforts. Some high school youth now receive biology credit for agriculture classes. Staff and financial resources for dairy youth programming have tended to shrink over time, and many states have reacted to this decrease by increasing cooperative programming and by developing dairy funding programs through endowment funds or foundations.