This is one publication in the EDIS series Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work. This series is intended to provide UF/IFAS Extension faculty, staff, Florida 4-H volunteers, and youth with the knowledge they need to implement best practices in risk management strategies.
Our goal is to conduct educational events and activities that uphold the 4-H mission and mandates while protecting the participants, sponsors, property, finances, and goodwill and reputation of the 4-H name. The inherent risk of events and activities can be mitigated through planning and preparation. This risk management guide has been created to outline ways to prepare for and deal with the specific risks associated with your program.
Early planning is key to conducting successful events and activities. A helpful tool in this process is the planning guide and matrix from another part in this series, EDIS publication #4HFSV90.1, “Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix.” As you work through this matrix, you may have questions that are unique to your situation and might not be completely answered by the series. Extension faculty and staff will refer these questions to appropriate personnel. Questions that require time for research highlight the need for early planning.
This publication will address risks in the following six categories:
- Injuries to People
- Injuries to Animals
- Risk of Property Damage
- Biosecurity—Diseases Transmitted to Humans
- Biosecurity—Diseases Transmitted between Animals
- General Precautions
Introduction
Your job as the coordinator of a youth livestock event is to ensure that 1) all people and animals stay as safe, healthy, and stress-free as possible, 2) the event is as educational as possible, and 3) no damage is inflicted upon the property.
Most people involved in youth livestock exhibitions are familiar with the physical risks of handling and transporting livestock, but public spectators generally need more instruction and supervision to ensure their safety and health.
Livestock species can carry microorganisms that can cause diarrhea and flu-like symptoms in humans. These microorganisms can be shed in an animal's feces and saliva. Organisms of concern, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli, can also survive on an animal's hide or surroundings. These pathogens can cause significant illness, especially in very young, very old, or immunocompromised attendees. All attendees should avoid hand-to-mouth contact after touching animals until their hands can be thoroughly washed. It is prudent to post sanitation reminder signs and provide hand wash or sanitizer stations whenever possible.
Livestock exhibition is a fairly small component of American animal agriculture, but it is the most visible teaching tool for the public. This increased level of exposure has its risks. If a foreign animal disease such as foot-and-mouth disease enters the US, it would be catastrophic to domestic animal agriculture. Public livestock exhibitions would be one of the first casualties of animal disease. States have taken measures to prevent the entry of livestock diseases that have been eliminated from their herds, such as brucellosis, tuberculosis, and pseudorabies, by setting requirements for arriving animals. These requirements should be met to continue the traditions of livestock exhibitions.
Additional concerns not accounted for within the above categories are weather extremes, disgruntled exhibitors and/or family members, and protestors—all of which are addressed under the heading of General Precautions in the table.
Insurance
American Income Life (AIL, www.americanincomelife.com) accident insurance should be secured as it is for any other 4-H event. In addition, most facilities will require liability insurance to be purchased for the event. State facilities will likely be covered under the State of Florida umbrella policy. County and private facilities often require proof of a $1 million liability policy. For more information, refer to Florida 4-H Policies & Best Management Practices and another EDIS publication from this series, #4HFSV372, “Insurance.”
Additional liability insurance can be purchased from companies such as K&K Insurance (www.kandkinsurance.com), Advantage Equine Agency (www.advantageequine.com), and Francis L. Dean & Associates (www.fdean.com/special-events.aspx). Insurance companies listed here are not an endorsement by UF/IFAS Extension or Florida 4-H, nor are event planners limited to working with only these companies. The insurance providers are listed as examples of companies that specialize in sport, recreation, and/or animal event insurance.
Appendix Tables
The following tables list a variety of potential risks and suggestions regarding risk prevention or mitigation. Obviously, not all potential risks are listed because it is impossible to foresee all potential situations, especially when animals are involved. The average risk level for each group of risks is shown on the matrix from EDIS publication #4HFSV90.1, “Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix,” another part of this series. The majority of the risks listed could result in anything from very minor to severe injuries to death. The chart reflects the level of injury most likely to occur. Continue reading sections, Levels of Severity and Probability That Something Will Go Wrong, for the keys to the matrix headers.
Credit: UF/IFAS
Levels of Severity
I. Could result in death.
II. Could result in severe injury, major property damage, significant financial loss, and/or negative publicity for the organization and/or institution.
III. Could result in minor injury, illness, property damage, financial loss, and/or negative publicity for the organization and/or institution.
IV. Hazard presents a minimal threat to safety, health, and well-being of participants.
Probability That Something Will Go Wrong
A. Likely to occur immediately or in a short period of time; expected to occur frequently.
B. Probably will occur in time.
C. Could occur in time.
D. Unlikely to occur.
Please note that that the suggestions given on how to prevent and/or mitigate the risks listed are not official Florida 4-H Policies & Best Management Practices. These are best practices you might consider as you tailor your own risk management plans.
Summary
Creating a risk management plan for youth livestock events does not mean you will identify every possible risk. Studying the examples in the tables and completing your own risk plans encourages you to slow down and think about various situations that may arise and ways to mitigate the associated risks. After completing due diligence when planning educational events and activities, you will find that the benefits of youth programming almost always outweigh the risks.
Further Reading and Resources
Bacon, T. 2023. “Livestock Show Preparation: Biosecurity to Prevent/Reduce the Spread of Disease.” Oklahoma State University, February 22, 2023. https://news.okstate.edu/articles/veterinary-medicine/2023/livestock-show-prep-biosecurity.html
Carr, C. C., and J. D. Crosswhite. 2011. “Best Practice Checklist for Management of a Swine Show for Youth.” Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an274
Carr, C. C., J. D. Crosswhite, J. Shike, and H. Shultz. 2011. “Conducting a Successful Livestock Show for Youth.” Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an268
Florida State Fair Authority. 2023. “Exhibitor Ethics.” https://floridastatefairag.com/ethics/
Florida 4-H. n.d. “4-H Policies & Best Management Practices.” Accessed February 14, 2024. https://florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu/media/florida4hifasufledu/docs/Florida-4-H-Policies-Updated-11.01.23---Copy.pdf
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. 2024. Exhibitor Handbook 2024. https://www.rodeohouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2024_ExhibitorHandbook_Fall-Only.pdf
Huston, C. L., J. Brett, and D. Jousan. 2021. “Keeping Your Livestock Show Animals Healthy.” Publication 2806. Mississippi State University Extension. http://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/publications/P2806_web.pdf
National Pork Board. 2013. "Swine Health Recommendations: Organizers of Exhibitions and Sales." American Association of Swine Practitioners. https://www.aasv.org/pedv/RecExhibitOrganizer.pdf
Pracht, D., P. Davis, S. Prevatt, J. Psikogios, M. Norman, K. Fogarty, and J. Hink. 2023. "Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work: Pre-Event Planning Guide and Matrix." Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/4H299
Pracht, D., M. Norman, K. Fogarty, and J. Hink. 2018. “Risk Management for 4-H Youth Development Work: Insurance: 4H10.5/4H296, Rev. 2/20218.” EDIS 2018 (1). https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-4H296-2018
Tucker, J. 2014. "National Code of Show Ring Ethics." International Association of Fairs and Expositions. https://s3.amazonaws.com/iafe/website/documents/ShowRingCodeofEthics.pdf
UF Environmental Health and Safety. n.d. "12 & 15 Passenger Van Policy.” Accessed February 14, 2021. https://www.ehs.ufl.edu/about/policies/12-15-passenger-van-policy/
Table 1. Injuries to people. Utilizing Figure 1. chart listing the probability that something will go wrong, assess the Risk Level.
Table 2. Injuries to animals.
Table 3. Risk of property damage.
Table 4. Biosecurity—Diseases transmitted to humans from animals.
Table 5. Biosecurity—Diseases transmitted from animals to animals.
Table 6. General precautions.