4-H Market Animal projects provide youth an opportunity to gain life skills such as record keeping, communication and self-responsibility through raising and selling a livestock animal. Market animal projects may include: beef, feeder calves, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep, swine or other animals raised with the intention of selling. Many county 4-H programs partner with their local fair to provide youth involved in the market animal experience a venue to exhibit and sell their animals through locally organized auctions.

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Market animals put an entrepreneurial focus on a 4-H animal project, and can be incorporated into the learning experience in any animal species. Entrepreneurial concepts learned through the market animal project and demonstrated through completion of the Michigan 4-H Animal Market Project Record Book are highlighted below:

• Goal setting

• Identifying target markets and marketing strategies

• Distinguishing product features

• Communication strategy and sales pitch

• Record keeping

• Breakeven price and profitability