Bell Quiz What role does ethics play in an FFA chapter?

Ethical Issues in SAE and FFA Management AGSC 405 Facilitating Complete Secondary Agricultural Science Programs

Today YWBAT… 1. Define ethics and character 2. Evaluate situations that require ethical decisions 3. Determine unethical behavior at livestock shows

Can we have Blue Ribbon Youth and Blue Ribbon Animals? YES – With a lot of hard work and commitment to do the RIGHT thing!!!

“We must always keep our focus on the right end of the halter.”

Cheating Students who have: Cheated during a school test at least once Middle School - 54% High School - 70% At least once, refused to cheat even though others were cheating Middle School - 72% High School - 73%

Stealing Students who have: Stolen something from a store at least once Middle School - 31% High School - 47% Stolen something from a parent at least once Middle School - 24% High School - 31% Stolen something from a friend at least once Middle School - 23% High School - 25%

Lying Students who have: Lied to a parent at least once Middle School - 88% High School - 92% Lied to a teacher at least once Middle School - 70% High School - 82%

News Headlines 335 th Judicial District Court Action – June 1, 1999 The “win at any cost” attitude has resulted in probated sentences for two Agua Dulce residents involved in a scheme to show a pig in San Angelo that had been “sifted” from the Houston Livestock Show. Trial dates for three other defendants allegedly involved in the scheme are expected to be set later this summer.

News Headlines “4-H Club Adviser Indicted in Steer Tampering Case” – Circleville, Ohio (1995) Ohio Department of Agriculture Investigators said urine tests on the fair’s grand champion and reserve grand champion steers revealed they had been treated with chlorpromazine, an oral tranquilizer.

News Headlines “Livestock Shows Plagued by Cheating” -- The Wall Street Journal, Texas Journal (1996) Until the recent commotion, Matthew Stork’s father never thought that occasionally injecting Lasix into a pig was cheating. But Matthew confesses he sometimes felt a little guilty about taking the easy way out, knowing that the other kids had worked hard to slim down their pigs.

News Headlines “In Animal Husbandry Contests, Cheating Spreads” -- San Antonio Express News (1996) But that wholesome image is foundering upon a national scandal, the apparent climax to more than a decade of increasingly cutthroat competition. Since the 1980’s, the soaring amounts in winners’ purses - which can range from several thousand dollars to $500,000 - have given rise to many ways to cheat: from dye jobs to cosmetic surgery, from hiring professional groomers to injection of vegetable oil or saline solution for smoothing out flabby skin.

News Headlines “Probe Dropped -- Denver Steer Exhibitors Accept Full Responsibility” -- The Southwest Stockman (1995) The exhibitors of the 1995 National Western champion steers have accepted responsibility for traces of clenbuterol in animals, ending an investigation into who actually administered the illegal growth promotant.

News Headlines “Young People Should be Taught Values, Not to Win at all Costs” -- Ann Landers (1995) I would like to know what kind of FFA we are running at Woodville High School. I was one of many who stood by helplessly and watched an FFA student murder his pig at the Tyler County Fair in Texas.

“Learning by Example” By: Larry Mrozinski

Youth do not automatically develop good moral character; therefore, conscientious efforts must be made to help young people develop the values and abilities necessary for moral decision making and conduct.

Ethics Standards of Duty and Virtue That Indicate How We Should Behave

Two Aspects of Ethics Ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil and propriety from impropriety Commitment to do what is right, regardless of temptations and pressures to do otherwise

Is ethics in action -- Michael Josephson

A Person of Character… Knows the difference between right and wrong and always tries to do what is right Does the right thing for the right reason

Is what people think you are; character is what you are -- Michael Josephson

Is revealed by how you behave when you think no one is looking. -- Michael Josephson

Making the Right Choice Scenario

What is Considered Unethical Behavior at Livestock Shows? Use of illegal drugs Violation of ownership requirements Phenotypically alter the appearance of animal Misrepresenting the age of an animal Feeding and care of livestock projects Use of tranquilizers, sedatives or depressants Surgery, injection or insertion of foreign materials Use of inhumane fitting, showing and/or handling practices Interference with the judge and/or show officials Violation of any rule governing the livestock show

Resources Available to You Texas Livestock Show Code of Ethics Videos by Jeff Goodwin Where’s the Beef A Question of Ethics A Line in the Sand CHARACTER COUNTS!SM National Livestock Ethics Council ( Leading by Example