My pet peeve in 4-H is they stray from reality.  Why not also allow the child to learn that not everything in farming results in a profit.

When we auction off 4-H animals for an unreasonable amount of money, it sends a lesson to kids that they just can't lose money farming. 

Let them keep records, buy their own feed, show the animals, get the ribbons, and take them to auction, then figure profit.  Wonder how many kids would stay in 4-H?

Some I know just cut an animal from their herd, kid takes it to the fair, sells it at a high profit due to businesses "supporting" 4-H, and the kid gets the money, hasn't learned a thing.

Yeah, I was in 4-H, had crop projects, sold corn at market and paid Dad for inputs at his prices.  I did learn something, even if I didn't have to pay Dad cash rent for my acre.