Dr. Goodwin speaks to youths on food animal ethics

Nearly 400 Nevada 4-H and FFA members from around the state recently attended an educational clinic on livestock show ethics, showing and fitting in Reno. The Nevada Agricultural Foundation provided funding.

Dr. Jeff Goodwin, extension 4-H youth specialist, University of Idaho, was featured instructor at the clinic. His emphasis was on food animal quality insurance and ethics involved in livestock showing.

The clinic was organized by the Nevada Junior Livestock Show Board. The foundation provided the board $6,500 to assist in staging the activity.

Sue Hoffman, 4-H events and activities manager, UNR College of Agriculture, noted, "This was a valuable learning experience providing positives relative to living and building of character as well as the showing and fitting of livestock.

"Stressed was proper food animal production for highest quality products. This involved following regulations regarding medications including times of administering and the observing of medicinal labels, proper injection sites, proper nutrition or animal feeds, appropriate facilities and the right handling and care. "Livestock showings where large sums of money and prestige are involved, sometimes lead to surgically or mechanically altering the appearance of an animal and youth need to know this is to be avoided."

Louis Test, Reno attorney and Nevada Agricultural Foundation adviser, said, "Educational activities such as this are a highly advisable way for NAF to use its resources. Encouraging young people who may one day produce our food to aim for high quality and ethics is an important undertaking.

"Jeff Goodwin is topnotch," said Ron Torell, Northeast Nevada area extension livestock specialist for UNR, "who applies common sense and real world agriculture to his presentations."