Beef

General Information:

  • YQCA Training - All exhibitors/showmen, including substitutes, in Bucket Calves, Stocker Feeders, Market Beef, Breeding Beef and Dairy Cattle, must have received Quality Assurance training. Families need to send a copy of the certificate to the Extension Office. Training must be completed by June 15th.
  • Animals that have active ringworm, or visible warts, will not be allowed entry for exhibition at the County Fair and must be removed immediately from the fairgrounds.  This also applies to animals exhibited at State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben.
  • No hay or straw will be used for bedding beef.  Wood chips will be furnished.
  • All livestock must remain within the 4-H Complex of the Sheridan County Fairgrounds until released by the superintendent, unless you have a signed release from the 4-H office.
  • Back numbers and 4-H dress code must be worn during all classes.
  • Substitute showmen will only be allowed if the owner is showing another animal in the same class or the owner is sick/injured.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  superintendent must be given the name of the substitute one hour before the show.  This applies to all animal species. The substitute must be currently enrolled in 4-H or FFA in Sheridan County and have completed YQCA Training.
  • Unsound animals shall not be allowed to show.
  • A separate class by breed may be provided for breeds with five or more head of straight bred animals exhibited. To be “straight bred” an animal must be 75% or more of the one breed or have registration papers from a breed association.
  • Number of animals a 4-H'er may exhibit:  2 market, 3 breeding, 3 feeder calves, 1 bucket calf.
  • Pen assignments will be determined by superintendent for breeding livestock brought in early due to travel time.
  • No Supreme Show.
  • Feeder calves, bucket calves and breeding beef will be released after they show.
  • No one is to remove another person's animal(s) without permission of the owners.
  • Use the State Fair Book for rules on entering, taking & showing livestock at State Fair.  Animals sold at the livestock auction are not eligible for Nebraska State Fair unless sell for a premium.
  • Preparation and grooming of an animal should be the primary responsibility of the exhibitor, however, assistance may be provided by other 4-H or FFA exhibitors, immediate family members or another person acting in a mentoring and teaching capacity. Exhibitors shall not add materials, natural or synthetic, which extend body shapes beyond normal limits.

Beef Showmanship:

  • Youth with an unruly animal may not show someone else's animal during Showmanship.
  • Unruly animals, during Showmanship will be removed and appropriate ribbon will be given outside the ring.
  • Clover Buds – Production Records, ID forms, QA and Conference Judging are NOT required.  The class consists of the Clover Bud leading their bucket calf into ring where the judge will ask a few basic questions during the Clover Bud Pet Parade. The calf must weigh under 350 pounds. A participation ribbon is presented.  Parental guidance in ring is acceptable.

Team Fitting: 

Teams of three will be allowed 30 minutes to fit their animal in the show ring.  Teams can contain no more than one senior member. Animals must enter the ring in a clean and dry, but unfitted condition.  Prior to entering no coat dressings, adhesives, etc., can be used. Teams can bring these items with them in the ring. Winning team cannot group up next year, but still can participate on a different team.   

Market Beef:

  • Spring Market Beef Weigh-in.  Animals should be weighed, tagged and ID as 4-H animals. If you are interested in showing at State Fair, DNA samples should be taken at this time and EID tags inserted. If you are not able to attend, you can attend another county’s 4-H Weigh-in; the animals will not be eligible for Rate of Gain Contest.
  • All other beef must be ID by June 15th.
  • All Market Beef must check-in at the scheduled time during Fair.  Weight will determine class flights and sale eligibility.  Members cannot substitute another animal for one that fails to meet the weight requirements.
  • Market Beef animals may not have more than two permanent incisor teeth (18 months).  Questionable aged animals will be mouthed.
  • Market Steers, min. (1000lbs.), max. (no lid).  Market Heifers, min. (900lbs.), max. (no lid).  Livestock failing to meet the weight requirement may show and earn premium money, but will be ineligible for championship awards and the livestock sale.
  • Market Heifers cannot be pregnant. If pregnant, they can show as breeding beef instead.
  • All market animals are automatically consigned to the Livestock Sale.  Youth must come to the office and remove those animals they do not wish to sell within one hour after the show.  If youth have more than one animal of the same species and do not remove one, neither animal will be allowed to sell.
  • Remember to have your photograph taken with your animal after weigh-in for your thank you card.

Carcass Ultrasound Contest:

  • Ultrasound is conducted during fair weigh-in.  Result will be announced after the Market Beef Show. Everyone is automatically entered into this contest. Thanks to Kearns Cattle Co for making this contest available to all exhibitors through their generous donation.

Rate Of Gain Contest:

  • Entry is automatic if animals completed Spring and Fair weigh-ins. Winners announced at the conclusion of the show or the Livestock Sale.  ROG is calculated:  pounds gained divided by number of days on feed.
  • Animals may not arrive more than 24 hours prior to animal check in time, unless the family has received approval from the superintendents.

Livestock Sale: 

  • A 4-H member may sell only 2 items total. Listed are the options.
  • 2 animals of different species (Rabbit Meat Pen and Poultry Pen of Broilers count as one item)
  • 1 animal and 1 cake
  • 1 animal and 1 cookie jar
  • 1 cake and 1 cookie jar

Breeding Beef:

  • Breeding Heifers Only – Breed Registration Certificates and tattoo numbers must be on ID forms. Ear tags are not required. For State Fair need Breeding Nomination completed by August 10th.
  • Bulls need to have some sort of identification in their ears.
  • A cow/calf pair does not have to be previously shown as a breeding heifer.
  • They will be allowed to come to the fairgrounds prior to the Breeding Beef Show

Feeder Calves:

  • Entries may be heifer and/or steer calves, born during the current year before June 1. To qualify in this division, each calf entered must have the birthdate listed on the ownership affidavit form on or before June 15th.

Bucket Calves: 

General Information:

  • Project emphasizes what youth learned through their experiences in caring for a young animal and related health issues, success in the project is NOT based on the quality of the calf.
  • Calf must be born after January 1st of current year and ID on a Bucket Calf Ownership Affidavit by June 15th.  Bucket calves must have an ear tag but it does not have to be a 4-H tag.
  • Calf has never been fed by mother or nurse cow.
  • 4-H member may exhibit only one bucket calf. Bucket calves do NOT sell at the Livestock Sale.
  • Calf will be broke to lead and shown at halter. Calf will be clean, washed and brushed.  Additional fitting is optional.
  • No weight limit for calves, except Clover Buds (see below).
  • Production records (age appropriate) are required and may be handwritten but must be the work of the 4-H’er.
    • Production record format is available from the Extension Office (and online).
    • Production record will be maintained in a notebook.
    • Production record is used by 4-H’er during interview (see below) and reviewed by judge.
  • Classes are judged by conference method (interview). Judge uses age appropriate questions, for all classes, focusing on the same knowledge areas to gauge 4-H member’s knowledge gained during project.  4-H member must participate in 1st interview in order to exhibit calf in ring.
    • 1st Interview occurs prior to the Breeding Beef Show. Calf is not present during interview.  1st interview is worth 70% of the points.
    • 2nd Interview occurs in the ring during Beef Show. Production record is not used in ring. 2nd interview is worth 30% of the points.
    • 4-H member MUST participate in 1st interview to exhibit calf in ring.
  • Conference judging based on:
    • What 4-H member learned about all aspects of caring for and raising a calf.
    • General health of calf and knowledge of 4-H member in health-related areas. (Condition)
    • Production record completed, to best of exhibitor’s ability, considering member’s age.
    • Beef or dairy quality of calf will not be considered; project is NOT based on calf confirmation. 

Division 005 – Beef 

G005001    Sr. Beef Showmanship – 14 years or older on January 1.  Past champions are eligible.

G005002    Int. Beef Showmanship – 11, 12, and 13 years old on January 1.

G005003    Jr. Beef Showmanship – 9, and 10 years of age, January 1. 

G005004    Novice Beef Showmanship – 8 years old on January 1. 

G005005    Team Fitting

G005006    Market Beef Steer – will be separated into flights after weigh-in

G005007    Market Beef Heifer – will be separated into flights after weigh-in

G005008    Pen of 3 Market Beef – may belong entirely to one member or to at least two members of a club 

G005009    Breeding Beef Heifer – Born in previous year 

G005010    Breeding Beef Heifer – Born in current year

G005011    Cow/Calf – Calf may be shown in other classes

G005012    Breeding Beef Bull – Born in previous year

G005013    Breeding Beef Bulls – Born in current year

G005014    Pen of 3 Breeding Beef – may belong entirely to one member or to at least two members of a club

G005015    Feeder Steer Dropped – after January 1 of current year.

G005016    Feeder Heifer Dropped – after January 1 of current year.

G005017    Pen of 3 Feeders – may belong entirely to one member or to at least two members of a club.

G005018    Bucket Calf

Sheridan County 4-H Fair Book