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Competition treated with care

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: November 7, 2002

Adults are often to blame if competition pushes aside the co-operative

spirit in 4-H clubs.

A focus on the grand champion animal at 4-H livestock events, and

placing ribbon winners at the front of the sales list can send the

wrong message, said two specialists at the Saskatchewan 4-H Council

meeting.

“Winning is not why 4-Hers say they participate,” said Joanne Missler.

“Yet we adults tend to plan competitive events.”

Missler told the Oct. 26 seminar that 4-H members say they are in the

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club to learn new skills, have fun or be with friends. She said

teenagers can handle competition better than younger children.

The advantages of co-operation are that it encourages social

interaction and improves communication skills.

However, competition should not be dismissed entirely. It is useful in

improving skills, helping groups bond and measuring performance.

Missler said a healthy balance can be achieved by ensuring that in

individual projects, members are judged against a standard rather than

each other. The process should be more important than the product.

“Everyone can win and can strive to do the best they can.”

This can be done by giving awards for attendance and activity

participation, rather than excelling at something.

Several tactics can be used to lessen competitiveness at achievement

days and livestock shows.

  • The judge could be given the authority to award ties such as two

firsts and three seconds.

  • The club leader could assist the judge in determining placings and

giving awards based on personal improvement and factors over which the

member has control such as showmanship and grooming rather than an

animal’s conformation.

  • The judge could give reasons for each member’s placing that include

positive steps for improvement.

  • Teams could include senior, intermediate and junior members who would

work on an animal or project, so the group shares the credit.

A leader at the meeting added that reducing competition in 4-H “goes

against the grain of the industry, but are we here for the industry or

for fun?”

About the author

Diane Rogers

Saskatoon newsroom

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