Raising livestock requires strong management skills and knowledge of the market. Simply buying livestock doesn’t guarantee a profit. The 4-H and the CME Group teamed up to share this knowledge with county and state fair visitors this summer.

Commodity Carnival consists of activities that guide participants through the process of producing and selling livestock. Game participants raised a hog during the 2013 season. This year, participants grew a steer.

The partnership between 4-H and the CME Group to bring the carnival to several state fairs makes sense, according to Dave Lehman, director of ag...