Beef

Beef

Department G

Superintendents: Jack Payne, Brad Bolek, & Cassidy Harwood

 

Division G025, Beef Rules:

  1. Exhibitors are limited to exhibiting two head market beef, this includes commercial steers and heifers, British bred steers and heifers and bred & fed steers, & three head feeder calves, & three head of breeding beef.

     

  2. Animals are determined to individual exhibitors at weigh-in/check-in, those animals will be the only ones allowed for exhibitors to show during showmanship. Exhibitors are not allowed to show animals not listed on their affidavit sheet or determined to be siblings, cousins, other family members, etc.

     

  3. Steers weighing under 1000 pounds and heifers weighing under 1000 pounds will be shown in a feeder class. Steers & heifers weighing more than 1750 pounds will show in an overweight class.  These animals will not be eligible for purple ribbons, champion consideration and are not eligible to sell in the livestock sale. Fair entry day check in will be the official weight of the animal for the show and sale. 

     

  4. All market beef must be tagged with a 4-H or EID tag. These tags will be the only approved form of identification. Exhibitors planning to show at the Box Butte County Fair will be required to bring their market animals to mandatory tagging at the fairgrounds. Weigh-in will be optional. Youth will be able to have animals tagged at other county weigh-ins, if they are unable to attend the date set at the Box Butte County Fairgrounds. Animals not checked in/tagged at a county weigh-in will be ineligible to be exhibited at the Box Butte County Fair 2025. 

     

  5. All market beef animals, including carcass animals, must present with a properly executed bill of sale or brand inspection papers at the fair beef weigh-in. The rate of gain contest does not include carcass beef. If the exhibitor has not presented a bill of sale or brand inspection papers  the exhibitor will not be eligible to show, sell, or participate in the carcass contest in the 2025 Box Butte County Fair. Youth will be responsible for the bill of sale or brand inspection papers and need to bring these papers to the final weigh-in on Wednesday during fair week between the times of 8 am – 10 pm.  

     

  6. The judge will name a Champion and Reserve Champion Market Steer, Champion, and Reserve Champion Market Heifer.  Champion and Reserve Champion Market Steers and Heifers will be chosen from the breed champions (British Breed, Bred & Fed, & Cross Bred).  The Champion and Reserve Champion Market Beef will then be chosen from the Champion and Reserve Champion Market Steers and Heifers from their respective classes. A Champion and Reserve Champions will be selected at the discretion of the Judge. Only purple ribbons will be considered for Champion and Reserve Champion Ribbons, Awards and Prizes. 

     

  7. All non-market animals (stocker feeders, breeding beef & bucket calves) must submit an Animal Ownership Affidavit by June 15.

     

  8. Breeding Heifers carrying a 4-H or FFA market ear tag, other than EID tag will not be allowed to show. 

     

  9. Exhibitors showing Breeding Beef, Feeder Calves and Bucket Calves will need to check in these animals by noon on weigh-in day. Animals do not need to physically be checked in, but exhibitors need to verify what they are planning to bring from their ID Sheets.

     

  10. Market beef calves will be weighed for class breaks and shown by breed.  Classes will also be divided by sex. New in 2025: Heifers are eligible to be shown in Bred & Fed. 

     

  11. British Breed Classes- Shorthorn, Angus and Hereford will require a registration certificate or a breeder’s certificate stating the animal being identified is purebred.  In the event a registration certificate or breeder’s certificate is not submitted by June 15, that animal will be shown in the crossbred class.

     

  12. NEW! Bred & Fed Classes – This division is designed to honor the fine quality of animals produced by our county 4-Hers on their own/families farm(s). Bred & Fed Beef will be shown in one class of their own. Beef are not allowed to be exhibited in multiple classes. Beef MUST be raised by a family member or legal guardian. This includes mom, dad, siblings, or grandparents. ALL beef exhibited in the Bred & Fed Class MUST be branded, they can be hot branded or freeze branded. Steers and heifers will be allowed to be shown and classes will be broken up by weight at the discretion of the superintendent. There must be 3 heifers to have their own division and 6 to be broken by weights. We will not divide classes based on breed. 4-H Brand Affidavit must be submitted to the office by July 1 by the end of day.

     

  13. Grooming- All preliminary clipping of animals must be done prior to arrival at the fairgrounds. Box Butte County allows a full fit show. Anyone can assist exhibitors in the clipping, blocking, fitting and/or grooming of an animal if the exhibitor is in attendance and actively involved in the process. 

     

  14. Dress Code- When showing animals, exhibitors must wear the official 4-H Council approved        t-shirt or FFA shirt. Blue jeans and closed-toed shoes are appropriate. 

     

  15. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)—Nebraska 4-H requires all youth enrolled in livestock projects to complete annual quality assurance training through the yqcaprogram.org website. (See Livestock Handbook for more information). 

     

  16. Livestock Handbook Agreement-ALL exhibitors and one parent must review, sign and return, to the Extension Office, the Large Animal Handbook Agreement, to be eligible to show and sell livestock at the Box Butte County Fair. This must be complete by July 1 of the current year. 

     

  17. See the Livestock Handbook for more information.

 

Beef Showmanship Rules

Exhibitors with bucket calves, stocker feeders, breeding beef and market beef are eligible for showmanship. Showmanship classes will be fit.  All members are encouraged to participate in showmanship.

G025001               Beef Junior Division (ages 8-10 before January 1 of current year)

G025002               Beef Intermediate Division (ages 11-13 before January 1 of current year)

G025003               Beef Senior Division (ages 14-18 before January 1 of current year)

 

Individual Classes

G025004               Bucket calf (interview judged), born after January 1 of the current year.

G025005               Stocker feeder steer, born after January 1 of the current year.

G025006               Stocker feeder heifer, born after January 1 of the current year.

G025007               Junior Breeding Animal (bull calf or heifer) born after January 1 of the current year. 

                              Bulls will be brought in, shown, and taken home the same day.

G025008               Senior Calf, born 9-1-25 to 12-31-25.

G025009               Intermediate/Summer Yearling Heifer, born 5-1-25 to 8-31-25.

G025010               Junior/Spring Yearling Heifer, born 1-1-25 to 4-30-25. 

G025011               Breeding herd, 3 head owned by exhibitor, 2 of which must be bred and raised by exhibitor.

G025012               Cow and calf pair, both owned by exhibitor.

G025015               Commercial Market beef heifer, born after January 1, 2025

G025016               Commercial Market beef steer, born after January 1, 2025

G025019               NWSS Catch-A-Calf Project

G025020               British Breed Steer, born after January 1, 2025

G025021               British Breed Heifer, born after January 1, 2025

G025022               Bred & Fed Steer, born after January 1, 2025

G025023               Bred & Fed Heifer, born after January 1, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Box Butte County Fair Book