Large Animal Herdsmanship
Department G
The purpose of Herdsmanship is for 4-H exhibitors to properly care for their livestock, small animals, pens & equipment, ensure safety of animals and others, and always keep the animals and surrounding areas clean and attractive. Educational displays and public relations are also an important component of Herdsmanship.
Herdsmanship judging begins when animals are entered on entry day (Wednesday, August 5, 2025) and ends when the animal is loaded out on Sunday. Herdsmanship will be judged twice daily at unannounced times. Dairy animals will be judged with their respective species. The exhibitors score will be waved during show hours of that species (if being shown a time of judging).
Guidelines for selecting a herdsmanship winner includes:
- Animal clean always with grooming apparent.
- Animals adequately cared for with proper feeding, clean and proper amount of bedding for stalls and cages and adequate equipment.
- Tack and feed area clean and neatly arranged. Fork handles and similar equipment hung, or kept in a secure and safe manner.
- Proper courtesy and conduct shown by exhibitors at all times and at all places. All exhibitors are expected to participate in herdsmanship.
- Exhibitors share of the alleyway area kept clean. Wheelbarrows and equipment are kept clear of the aisle.
- EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS
- Exhibitors are invited to create a poster highlighting an educational aspect of their animal project.
- Posters will be used to break a tie in herdsmanship points if one occurs. If both youths turned in a poster the higher ribbon placing will be the winner.
- Posters are due on the day of static check in weigh-in or check-in and will be judged. Posters must be turned in by 2:00 PM on weigh-in day to the superintendent.
- Posters will be judged, and a ribbon premium awarded.
- The poster could focus on a current livestock issue, animal industry career, animal care or health, economic impacts of the livestock industry, etc. All educational display entries must match the specie the 4-H member is exhibiting. For example, if a 4-H member is exhibiting beef, their entry must be about beef and not another species.
- A poster can be entered for each specie exhibited.
- Posters will be displayed in the barns to increase the educational experiences of both the 4-H member and the public by increasing agricultural literacy and promoting good will at the county fair. Due to space requirements posters should be no larger than 14” x 22”. Refer to the “Posters” section of the fair book for poster guidelines.
- Educational displays are NOT ELIGIBLE for the Nebraska State Fair. Entries will be a county only project.
A volunteer will serve as superintendent for Herdsmanship and will schedule other volunteers to judge the barns. A score sheet will be provided to each of the volunteer judges.
Winners will be announced at the 4-H Achievement Night Banquet. Awards will be given to the top individual in each livestock species and an overall award for the exhibitor with the most points.
The award for the top individual in each species (beef, goat, sheep, and swine) will receive $125 and the award for the overall winner will receive $500. (Ex. If the overall winner is in the Goat area, the 2nd place youth in the Goat area would move up to win the $125).
Any animal not receiving proper care (feed, water, etc) will be cared for by the species superintendent after a verbal warning has been given and consulting the superintendent committee. The exhibitor will be assessed $50 per day with payment being deducted from livestock auction proceeds.
If the animal does not sell at the livestock auction, the $50 assessment will be due and payable when the animal is checked out and before leaving the fairgrounds.
Pens, Stalls and Cages:
Exhibitors may not advertise or sell animals or other products at the Box Butte County Fair.
EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS (county only)
G 090001 Educational displays for Large Animal Entries