Study of the Influence That Participation in Shows and Fairs Has Had on the Establishment of Purebred Herds of Livestock and Dairy Cattle among Former Members of the F. F. A.

Abstract

Survey forms were sent to sixty-six teachers of covational agriculture in Oklahoma. The chapters were selected from different representative areas over the entire state. Several of the chapters selected were used for study involving more than one different class of livestock or dairy cattle. Teachers from sixty-one chapters returned the survey forms giving the information that was asked for in determining the number of former F.F.A. memebrs who are now adult breeders of purebred livestock and dairy-cattle. The percentage of return was 92.07. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible influence that the exhibiting of livestock and dairy cattle has had on the establishment of purebred herds and/or flocks of livestock and dairy cattle among former F.F.A. members. Participating in shows and fairs seems to be definitely shown by this study to have had an influence on the establishment of purebred herds of livestock and dairy cattle among former members of the F.F.A. in Oklahoma. A comparison of the number of former F.F.A. members who are now adult breeders from chapters classified as having had major participation in shows and fairs, as contrasted with the number from non-participating chapters, shows a total of 306 for participating chapters as against 120 for non-participating, or an indication of over two and one-half times more breeders develped from participating chapters. Breeders from participating chapters own approximately three times more purebred animals. The evidence found in this study indicates that exhibiting has been a major factor in the establishment of purebred herds. This evidence tends to discredit the belief that an F.F.A. member is a purebred breeder of livestock or dairy cattle only because his father is a breeder of purebred stock. The study further emphasises the fact that the type of supervised farm training program the teacher of a vocational agriculture encourages pupils to develop has great influence on the F.F.A. member, his interest and leadership in agriculture, and his stablishment in farming.