During the regular state legislative session of 2019, a bill was passed to expand the definition of a commercial farmer to include certain student farmers who meet specific requirements in relation to sales and tax exemptions. Through the Act of 199 individuals under the age of 23 and meeting the defined criteria of a “student farmer” can now be sales tax exempt when purchasing:

1. Feed and feed additives for the purpose of sustaining livestock;
2. Seeds or plants to be used to produce food ordinarily used for consumption by humans or livestock;
3. Fertilizer to be used to produce food used for consumption by humans or livestock.

This a great opportunity for our 4-H/FFA members who are raising and/or showing livestock and agriculture products to be able to save on some expenses. Form 1098- Student Farmer Certification is the form that the youth will need to complete and have signed by the 4-H or ANR Agent certifying that the youth is a member of the parish 4-H program.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of the youth livestock/horse program is to develop responsibility, dedication, decision-making, leadership, trustworthiness, sportsmanship and citizenship through the possession and personal care of a live animal project. The youth (4-H or FFA member) will have many educational opportunities and activities to learn about animal agriculture and develop life skills. We are striving for maximum contact with the animal and participation in educational activities.

HARDSHIP POLICY:

The ability of the youth to provide personal care for the animal is a major goal in livestock and horse projects. The guiding concern in granting permission for hardship requests should be the education and development of the youth. Concern for ensuring that the animal is shown has minimal importance in granting hardships.

GUIDELINES FOR GRANTING HARDSHIPS:

Category I - Possession of Animals

A.Animal should be housed within a reasonable distance to allow youth to interact with the animal project on a positive basis.

B.Youth (4-H or FFA member) should do the majority of work and care for the animal project.

C.All housing requests must be made prior to possession date.

1.Residential restrictions will be considered.

2.Opportunities for housing will be considered.

D.Animals housed across the parish line must be recommended by both Agents and/or FFA Advisors.

Category II - Replacement of Injured or Deceased Animals

A.Injured animals must be checked and verified by the 4-H Agent and/or FFA Advisor or veterinarian.

B.The replacement animals should be of comparable quality. Replacement of animals will be considered only to those exhibitors with one animal project per species.

C.Replacement animals must be obtained by the following dates:

1.January 3 - Market Hogs; Breeding Swine

2.December 15 - Beef Breeding; Market Lambs; Breeding Sheep; Market Goats; Breeding Goats; Dairy

3.November 1 - Market Steers

4.June 1 - Horses

Category III - Conflicts with Show and Extenuating Circumstances

Exhibitors must show their own animals. Exceptions will be made only in the following cases and with the proper approval. In all cases, when the exhibitor can not show his/her own animal, the exhibitor must have a bona fide 4-H or FFA member to show in his/her place. If the animal qualifies for the championship classes and the exhibitor is unable to show the animal, the same individual exhibiting in class must show the animal in the championship class.

1. Exceptions at the District Show:

a.Exhibitors animals will be allowed to qualify only for the State Show (not eligible for champion at District Show - Ribbon Group Only) if the exhibitor is not present due to school conflicts (i.e. academic, athletic and other school related activities).

b.Exhibitors animals will be allowed to show in class and in the championship drive only if the exhibitor can not show due to illness, physical handicap, personal injury or death in the family. In the case of illness, physical handicap, personal injury or death in the family, the exhibitor, or representative shall make the request to the Agent/FFA Advisor and District Livestock Show Manager. The District Livestock Show Manager has the authority to approve or disapprove last minute requests.

c.To obtain an exception for school conflicts and physical handicap, the exhibitor must file a Livestock Project Possession/Hardship Form and have the proper approval prior to the District Show.

2.Exceptions at the State Show:

a.Exhibitors animals will be allowed to show in class and in the championship drive only if the exhibitor can not show due to illness, physical handicap, personal injury or death in the family. The State Livestock Show Manager and/or Show Superintendents shall approve or disapprove these requests.

b.Academic conflicts (School Test, Academic Contest, ACT, etc.) will be considered for the State Show.

c.To obtain an exception for school conflicts and physical handicap, the exhibitor must file a Livestock Project Possession/Hardship Form and have the proper approval prior to the District Show.

HARDSHIP PROCEDURE

Youth and/or parent must fill out hardship form and include all pertinent information. The form must be signed by the youth, parent and/or guardian, Agent/FFA Advisor, Parish Chair/School Principal, and approved by the District Show Manager/State Livestock Show Leader. Hardships requiring Management Council approval should be routed through the State Livestock Show manager.

DECISION MAKING RESPONSIBILITY:

District Livestock Show Manager / State Livestock Show Leader shall have the responsibility and authority to approve are deny hardship request.

Hardships falling outside the hardship guidelines may be recommended by the District Livestock Show Manager / State Livestock Show Leader to the Management Council for consideration.

MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

The Management Council shall have the final authority on all hardships; they will also have authority to approve or deny request that are not defined in the guidelines.

I am excited to announce an update to the Livestock Ethics requirement for all exhibitors at LSU AgCenter livestock shows. The Youth for the Quality Care of Animals program is an annual, web-based training required for all livestock exhibitors at LSU AgCenter livestock shows. There is a $12 annual charge for each exhibitor. The certification number, found on each exhibitor’s certificate which can be downloaded upon completion, will be a required field in Fair Entry and cross checked with reports from YQCA. The course can be found at www.yqcaprogram.org

YQCA How to for Parents and Exhibitors

YQCA Curriculum Map

FAQ’s:

How often does an exhibitor have to complete a course?

Since the curriculum is different each year, each exhibitor has to complete their appropriate age course annually.

Is the program specie specific?

No, the program is not specie specific. General knowledge that covers all species is included in each annual course.

How will agents know if their students have completed their course?

I will periodically receive a list from YQCA in order to cross check with Fair Entry. Upon request, I can share your most updated parish list of completions.

What will the exhibitors be learning each year in their web-based course?

I have attached a Curriculum Map for your reference.

Is the course smart phone compatible?

Yes, the course is easily accessible on a smart phone. Upon completion of the course on a smart phone, each participant will have the option to save the downloaded PDF to their photo, files, or other applications on their phone.

Approximately how long will it take the exhibitor to complete?

Ideally, each course is designed to be completed within one hour. Exhibitors can login and out as needed to complete the course in multiple settings.

Why is there an annual $12 fee for the web-based program?

The fee structure was established by the YQCA Board of Directors with the goal of covering the cost of the program as a not-for-profit establishment. $0.36 = credit card fees (typically); $5.00 = technical/user support, email and phone support, based in U.S.; $5.00 = online system hosting, maintenance, ongoing development, security and privacy assurance; $1.64 = stays with YQCA to invest in ongoing curriculum development and revision, program management, and promotion

Market Hogs

Market Hogs at District shows, and the LSU Jr. Livestock Show will continue to show by breeds. The Breed classes are Duroc, Berkshire, York, Hamp, Cross Gilt and Barrow Division. Exhibitors will be allowed to show barrows in the Barrow Division against other barrows or they may show them in the Market Hog Breed Divisions if they classify Hampshire, Duroc, Yorkshire or AOB. If you show your barrow in the Market Hog Breed Divisions at District and they are classified out of the Breed Division at State, your barrow will show in the Barrow Division. If you show your barrow in the Barrow Division at District, then you will also show in the Barrow Division at State.

This year's Parish Market Hog Show will be different than in the past, so please ensure you read through the following information. The Acadia Parish Swine show will be shown by breed divisions this year. The breed divisions are as follows; AOB (Berkshires, Chester Whites, Poland China, Spots, Herefords), Duroc, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Gross Gilt, and Barrow divisions. All Market Swine showing in a breed division will need to be classified at weigh in to qualify to show in that division. Exhibitors will be allowed to show cross gilts/ barrows in those respective divisions, or they may show them in a breed division if they classify at the show. (times for classification will be in the parish show schedule) If a breed division does not have at least 5 entries the breed division will default to AOB.

Market Steers

2025 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show – Market Steer Division

Exhibitors will be allowed to exhibit up to 3 Market Steers. Exhibitors may Enter/Exhibit three (3) steers in the Market Steer Show, Three (3) steers in the Pilot BRAHMAN INFLUENCE Show, or a combination of steers in both shows not to exceed Three (3) Steers per exhibitor.

2025 LSU AgCenter Market Steer Show:

As recommended and approved through our last advisory process the 2025 Market Steer show will show by weight only. Steers will have no slick requirement and fitting of Hair will be allowed as outlined in our Show catalog.

We will be piloting a NEW show at our 2025 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show that will feature BRAHMAN INFLUENCED steers.

2025 PILOT Brahman Influence Steer Show (SLICK):

This PILOT Show is designed for Steers with a minimum of 25% Brahman influence in their genetic makeup. Our goal is to use DNA for validation as well as classification. (We are still considering providers to get the validation/classification processed finalized but it is our intent to use DNA classification once the process is vetted properly and a provider is selected.) The status of the classification will be known early in the process and can be confirmed shortly after DNA is submitted. Therefore, once steers are classified as Brahman Influence it will be final and no reclassification would be required at Districts or State Show.

As this is a PILOT show at the 2025 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show it is conceivable that the method of DNA collection may be different than the traditional hair samples; as we finalize the details, we will make all 4-H agents and FFA advisors of the process to be used. This information will be provided no later than June 1, 2024.

The 2024 Brahman Influence steer show will be a Slick Steer Show; all steers will be required to be slick Sheered as per guidelines listed in catalog. (Final hair length will be determined through the 2024 Advisory process beef committee meeting.)

Market Lambs

Market Lambs will continue to be shown by breed at all the District Shows and the LSU Jr. Livestock Show. The Breed Shows are as follows: Hampshire, Suffolk, Natural Color, Black Face AOB/Crosses and White Face AOB/Crosses. The Parish market lamb show will continue to show by weight.

Call the Acadia Parish Rice Arena for camper spot reservations. All reservations must be made in advance and are distributed on a first book first serve basis. Reservations can be made by calling 337-384-4500.

LIVESTOCK SALE

If weather permits, the sale will be held in the livestock barn. The agents along with the livestock advisory board reserve the right to move the sale to the 4-H office if they so choose.

• All youth participating in the livestock sale must wear proper attire (show attire) for the livestock sale. You are representing our whole parish when you sale, please be sure to dress in showmanship worthy outfit.
• Exhibitors will be allowed to sell only one steer or one lamb or one goat or one hog or one meat pen or one broiler pen. If an exhibitor has more than 1 champion, the exhibitor may choose to sale up to 2 champion animals (Overall Grand and Reserve Champions only).
• Livestock Show Committee reserves the right to make exceptions they deem necessary to the sale rules on a case-by-case basis.
• All market animals will be placed in numerical order according to class placing. Exhibitors having more than one animal will not be allowed to switch animals in sale after sale order is published.
• SALE OF ANIMAL. The animal purchased in the sale must be the same animal delivered to the buyer or slaughterhouse. No replacement animals are allowed.
• Any exhibitor with an overall grand or reserve animal is required to present his/her animal in the sale.
• All exhibitors who wish to sell their animal in the parish livestock sale, must exhibit their own animal in the sale. If circumstances occur and exhibitor cannot be in the sale, a parish sale hardship form must be filled out by 5pm on the Friday before the sale and hardship must be approved. If an exhibitor is not present to sell their animal without an approved hardship, their lot will be moved to the back of the sale in order to give them time to arrive. If the exhibitor does not make it in time to sell their own animal, the lot will be scratched from the sale.
• Purchases of animals will be billed to buyers following the show and sale. A 3% charge on all animals sold in the sale will be deducted from each check to assist in defraying expenses for the Parish Show and Sale.
• There will be no resale of animals. If you wish to resale an animal, you must make arrangements with the selected slaughter house.
• Animals sold in the Acadia Parish Junior Livestock Sale remain the property and responsibility of the exhibitors until delivered to the buyer or slaughter house. Exhibitors are required to feed and care for all market animals sold at the parish sale for a minimum of 7 days after the last show it was exhibited. Animals can be delivered to the slaughter house any time after the 7-day withholding period upon the buyer’s request.
• All red and white ribbon market animals will not be offered for sale. Animals not meeting minimum weight requirements are not eligible for sale.

MARKET SALE SLIPS

Market Sale Slips to sell market animals in the parish sale must be turned in a market sale slip by 3:00p.m. on the day of that species show.

PARADE OF CHAMPIONS

There will be a parade of champions for all champion animal exhibitors (breeding and market) held before the livestock sale. All champions will receive their awards during the show, but are asked to be present Saturday morning for the Parade of Champions.

THANK YOU, LETTERS,

Every exhibitor who sold their project in the Livestock Sale will be required to write a letter of appreciation to the purchaser of the project. Proof of the appreciation letter along with a stamped addressed envelope must be submitted to the 4-H Office prior to release of the auction payment to the exhibitor. The County Agent should receive the appreciation letter no later than March 3rd. Any exhibitor, who has not submitted proof of their Thank-You Letter to the supervising County Agent by this date, may forfeit his/her proceeds. The proceeds will be sent back to the buyer or donated to the livestock fund

DISBURSEMENT OF MONEY

Every effort will be made to pay the Auction payments as soon as possible; however, payment cannot be guaranteed until the buyers remit payment to the 4-H Office. Sale checks will be issued beginning in April. Checks will not be mailed; they must be picked up at the 4-H Office by June 15 or money will be donated to the livestock show fund.

General

· LSU Livestock Show rules will be enforced at the parish show.

· The Acadia Parish Livestock Show reserves to the Livestock Advisory Board the final absolute rights to interpret, amend and add to the rules and regulations.

· The superintendents, Dani Percle and Kayla Segura have final authority and responsibility for interpretation and enforcement of rules during judging of the show.

· Open to bonafide 4-H and FFA members.

· FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS. Non-United States Citizens and Foreign Exchange Students are eligible to compete in the Livestock Shows provided they meet all eligibility requirements.

· In no case shall the livestock show or any of its personnel be held responsible for any loss, damage or death, by disease or otherwise, to any person, property or exhibit while in route to, from or on exhibit grounds.

· The Livestock Show also reserves the right to drug test any market animal participating in the parish show.

· District and State Show Rules with respect to entries, will apply to the parish show. LSU rules regarding possession dates will be adhered to and no animals may be purchased or replaced after possession date unless approved by the Livestock Show Committee through the hardship process.

· Exhibitors must show their own animal(s) in both the show ring and sale.

Standards of Conduct

· The Officials of the Acadia Parish Livestock Show are dedicated to the promotion of high standards of competition, sportsmanship, ethics and fair play. Each exhibitor is expected to strictly follow these rules and to conduct himself or herself in a manner that will reflect respect upon the exhibitor, his or her school, organization, and parents. Any exhibitor or member of his/her family who violates and misrepresents Acadia Parish by misconduct or rule infraction at the Parish, District or State Livestock shows may have parish sale and other awards canceled.

· Exhibitors may be disqualified for any of the following:

o Possession or use of illegal drugs and/or alcoholic beverages

o Misuse or abuse of personal property (or facilities)

o Disrespect for the authority of agents, Ag. Teachers or leaders

o Disruptive or abusive behavior of exhibitors or family members to other participants or spectators.

o Failure to comply with all COVID-19 guidelines outlined by the LSU AgCenter

· No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the barn or on show premises.

· No heat lamps allowed. No open flame cookers, No BBQ pits allowed in the barn area. No butane bottles in the pen or tie areas. The barn is a smoke free area. Locks on pens and stalls and use of automatic waterers are not allowed. Side fans only in beef.

· No roping dummies, scooters, hoover boards, bikes, or other riding toys allowed in the barns. No dogs allowed on show grounds except service dogs.

· Exhibitors and guardians are required to keep their animals and exhibit area clean at all times. Manure and other refuse are to be placed in the dumpster located on the East side of the barn during the parish show and never in the trash receptacles in the barn.

· No one will be allowed in the judging ring other than the judge, contestants and superintendents except in an emergency. This also includes the rabbit and poultry shows.

· No animals will be allowed to leave the show premises until the designated release time.

Awards

· Judges shall place classes according to the Schedule of Awards listed:

PREMIUMS

No premiums will be paid on any animal.

BELT BUCKLES

Junior, Intermediate and Senior Showmanship Champions

Overall Champions

CHAIRS (tentative)

Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Reserve Champions

PLAQUES (tentative)

Champion and Reserve Champion Breeding Animals

ROSETTES/BANNERS/PLAQUES (tentative)

Division Champions

Best of Opposite Breed Rabbits

Louisiana Bred Champions

RIBBONS

Exhibitors will receive purple, blue, red or white placings.

Top five showmanship/class winners.

There are some exceptions to this due to sponsored awards.

· Only purple ribbon animals will be considered in Champion and Reserve Champion or Best of Breed and Best Opposite Sex of Breed Classes. This includes Louisiana Bred Champions. A market animal must be properly tagged and entered as LA Bred in order to qualify for the Louisiana Bred Champion awards. Division Champion and Reserve Division Champion animals will be selected in the market lamb and hog shows. Only these animals will compete for overall Champion, Reserve Champion, Louisiana Bred Champion and Louisiana Bred Reserve Champion Awards.

Animal Health/Biosecurity

· Storage of tack, feed and hay should be done in accordance with State Show rules.

· Health certificates are required on all animals to be exhibited. Each exhibitor is responsible for getting health papers on their animals before the show. Exhibition poultry must be tested prior to parish show by a veterinarian and health papers issued for those birds testing negative for pullorum/typhoid and Avian Influenza. Parents and exhibitors are responsible for obtaining health certificates for all other health requirements including brucellosis testing and vaccinations. No swine will be unloaded onto show premises unless proper health certificates are presented to the official in charge. *Health certificates issued must be valid through the State Livestock Show.

· Pen space for all animal species participating in parish show will be acquired by exhibitors on a first come basis. Assigned beef, hog, and sheep pen/tie spaces will be issued for district and state shows.

· Absolutely NO drenching of livestock will be allowed.

· Livestock Show Committee reserves the right to disqualify any animals that have been unethically fitted or is ineligible by reason of age for exhibition in class entered. See Livestock Show Catalogue Book.

· Any mistreatment of animals will be considered grounds for disqualification. Exhibitors must use commercially prepared muzzles.

Show Schedule

· All animals must remain in barn until after the conclusion of the sale (with the exception of rabbits and poultry). If any animals leave the barn prior to the conclusion of the sale there will be consequences for the exhibitor/family. First time offenders will not be eligible to compete as a champion at the parish show the following year, second time offenders will not be eligible to participate in the parish show the following year.

Breeding Animals

· Only registered breeding animals that have been properly transferred in the name of the junior exhibitor by that species’ possession date will be allowed to show in their respective classes. No member will be allowed to show more than one breeding animal in each age class.

· Breeding Animals: If a breed not recognized by LSU has 5 or more entries, they will show as a separate breed. Breeds with less than 5 head will go into their perspective All Other Breeds class.

Market and Commercial Animals

· All animals shown at the Parish Show are required to be validated by tag by the possession date for each species. If any animals are not tagged on these dates, they will be ineligible to show.

· Animals not exhibiting a Louisiana Bred ear tag in their ear upon entry deadline will not be eligible to compete as Louisiana Bred. Swine exhibitors must have Louisiana Bred certificate in possession to compete for Louisiana Bred.

· Scrapie Tags. Sheep and Goat Exhibitors. The state law and our show rules dictate that an official scrapie tag must be in the ear of all sheep and goats shown in Louisiana. You must obtain your scrapie tags from the person for whom you bought them from.

· Minimum and maximum market animal weight limitations are listed for each show.

SPECIES	PARISH MIN	PARISH MAX	DISTRICT MIN	DISTRICT MAX	STATE MIN	STATE MAX
Market Hog	185	285 with 5% tolerance	200	285 with 5% tolerance	215	285 with 5% tolerance
Market Lamb	80	None	80	None	80	None
Steer	850	None	850	None	850	None
Meat Goat	50	None	50	None	50	None
Commercial Heifers	500	None	500	None	500

· All market animals will be weighed prior to judging. All animals must be stripped of all covers. Animals will be weighed only once. If the weight of a market animal is questioned, reweighing must be done before leaving the official scale area. Once weights are turned in; they are not subject to be changed.

· Commercial gilts will be shown by weight. Official weigh in with no weigh back.

Rabbits

1. Rabbits will be entered by breed, sex, and age. They are classified as Junior, Intermediate or Senior animals by show officials. Breeds recognized by the ARBA and crossbred rabbits are eligible to be exhibited. Exhibitors may show three breeders per class.

2. Meat pen rabbits shall consist of 3 rabbits not over 70 days of age with each rabbit not less than 3 pounds and not over 5 pounds. Shall consist of the same breed and variety/color. All recognized meat type breeds will be accepted (excluding lops). Each exhibitor must show their own pen; one assistant will be allowed at the show table. No adults will be accepted as assistants.

Dairy

1. All registered dairy animals older than 6 months of age must be dehorned or be naturally polled. Horn scurs are allowed. All Commercial dairy animals weighing more than 350 lb must be dehorned or be naturally polled. Horn scurs are allowed.

2. Dry cow class for each breed of registered dairy animals: to qualify the cow must be dry (not lactating) and must have freshen (calved) at least once.