Beef

ROUND ROBIN SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST

The Round Robin Showmanship Contest provides an opportunity for the Champion Senior and Intermediate showman from the large animal species (Beef, Sheep, Swine and Goat) to compete head to head for the best all-around Intermediate & Senior showman honors at the fair.

In this contest, each contestant will be judged on their showmanship skills with each species of animal. The judge will use a numerical scoring system to evaluate each individual with each species, with the winner determined by the total score over all species.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The champion and reserve intermediate and senior showman from beef, sheep, goat and swine divisions are eligible. In the event that a person wins the intermediate or senior showmanship contest in more than one species in a given year, they will be entered into the Round Robin Contest in the first species that they qualified in. In that event, the next highest ranking individual from the second species will be eligible to enter the Round Robin Contest.

If the individual who has qualified has a conflict or otherwise wishes to not participate in the contest then the next highest ranking individual in that species will be eligible to compete.

ANIMALS TO BE USED

Animals will be secured by the Round Robin Committee. These animals will be used by all contestants as they rotate from species to species.

AWARDS

Awards will be presented to the Champion and Reserve Champion Round Robin Showman in both intermediate and Senior Divisions, but no premium will be paid.

NOTE: If you are eligible to participate in the Round Robin Showmanship Contest and fail to notify Extension staff you will not be participating, you will forfeit the premium money from the Showmanship Class you are representing.

RATE OF GAIN CONTEST

NO RATE OF GAIN CONTEST WILL BE HELD IN 2026

Market Beef that attend the Dakota-~Thurston County official weigh-in are eligible to compete in the Rate of Gain Contest during the Market Beef show. Data is computed using the weights recorded at the
weigh-in, the weights taken at fair check-in time and the number of days in-between.

DEPARTMENT G - BEEF CATTLE

YQCA is required. Please see general 4-H rules.

There will be a designated area for blocking chutes and grooming.

A 4-H member (4-H or FFA) is limited to two market animals (any combination of classes is allowed), two breeding heifers (any combination of classes is allowed) two feeder calves (1 entry per class), one cow-calf pair and one first calf - cow/calf pair (returning breeding heifer entry from last years fair). Exception: If one of your feeder calves is out of your returning breeding heifer, then you would be allowed to have two entries in that class

If member is a member of both organizations (joint FFA/4-H member), the exhibitor is allowed to exhibit a total of three market animals, three breeding heifers, three feeder calves, one cow-calf pair and one first calf cow/calf pair. However, NOT more than two animals can be shown for one organization.

Example: One FFA Steer, One 4-H Steer and One 4-H Heifer OR One FFA Heifer and Two 4-H Steers.

Classes may be divided according to weight into a reasonable number of animals to be determined by the Superintendent and beef committee member

Champion beef animals will be selected by the official judge and presented appropriate ribbons. In the showmanship contest, contestants must show their own livestock.

If the number of entries warrant, separate classes will be established in the Commercial, Purebred Breeding and Feeder Calf Classes. Animals entered in the Purebred Breeding classes must be owned by the exhibitor, have an official breed registration or proof presented on registration eligibility upon request, and be identified with a legible ear tattoo that corresponds with the registration papers.

Entries in the Commercial Breeding Class must be of a known birth date. Any heifer other than a registered entry in those classes listed under Breeding Heifer, is eligible for this class. Feeder calves must be from an identifiable cow, and be halter broken..

Commercial Cow and Calf Class consists of Cow/Calf. Calf can be shown in the feeder calf class.

For safety reasons, no skid loaders will be allowed in the Beef Barns during the run of the Fair, they will only be allowed for cleanup at the end of the fair.
Cow/Calf - No calves are to be in chutes once the show begins. All grooming needs to be completed prior to the start of the show. Only exhibitor and designated ringmen will be allowed in cow/calf barn during show. No spectators, friends, or parents will be allowed in the barn.

Beef Showmanship
Department G - Section 900
Showmanship - Premium Schedule B

901.     Junior Beef Showmanship (8-10)
902.     Intermediate Beef Showmanship (11 -13)
903.     Senior Beef Showmanship (14 and over)

MARKET BEEF

Department G - Section 901
Premium Schedule D
Club Pen of 3 - Premium Schedule B

Market Beef must be born between January 1st and December 31st of the previous year

Market Beef animals must be registered by the official breed association to be exhibited in breed classes. Market Beef divisions will be broken up based on number of entries and breeds.
901.         Continental Steers – Charolais, Chianina, Gelbvieh, Maine-Anjou, Limousin, Simmental
902.         British Breed Seers – Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Shorthorn
903..        Crossbred Steers
905.         Continental Heifers - Charolais, Chianina, Gelbvieh, Maine-Anjou, Limousin, Simmental
906.         British Breed Heifers - Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Shorthorn
907.         Crossbred Heifers
909.         Club Pen of 3

BREEDING BEEF HEIFER CLASSES

Department G - Section 902
Premium Schedule D

Breeding Beef Heifers must be born between August 1, 2024 and April 30, 2026. Breed divisions, including Commercial, will be broken up by age into the following classes:
Senior Yearling Heifers-Calved August through Dec. 2025 (should be bred but not calved prior to show)
Junior Yearling Heifers-Calved Jan. and Feb. 2025
Spring Yearling Heifers-Calved March and April 2025
Summer or Intermediate Summer or Intermediate Yearling Heifers-Calved May and June 2025
Summer or Intermediate Summer or Intermediate Yearling Heifers-Calved July and Aug. 2025
Fall Heifer Calves-Calved Sept. and Oct. 2025
Fall Heifer Calves-Calved Nov. and Dec. 2025

901.     Commercial Heifers
902      Limousin Heifers
903.     LimFlex Heifers
904.     Main-Anjou Heifers
905.     Maintainer Heifers
906.     Red Angus Heifers
907.     Shorthorn Heifers
908.     Shorthorn Plus Heifers
909.     Simmental Heifers
910.     Foundation Heifers
911.     AOB (All Other Breeds) Heifers
912.     Angus Heifers
913.     Charolais Heifers
914.     Composite Charolais Heifers
915.     Chianina Heifers
916.     Balancer Heifers
917.     Hereford and Polled Hereford Heifers
918.     Junior Heifer—Calved January through April 2024

4-H BUCKET CALF PROJECT

Department G - Section 903
Premium Schedule D

Entry limits: 1 First Year Bucket Calf and/or 1 Returning Bucket Calf per exhibitor
Guidelines:
A. 4-H members ages 8-14 are eligible to enroll in the 4-H Bucket Calf Project.

► The project is designed for 4-H members in the beginning levels of the beef area so they can progressively move into more advanced levels of the 4-H Beef Project Program–Market Beef, Cow/Calf, etc.

B. First Year Bucket Calves must be born between January 1st and June 1st of the current year.

C. Returning Bucket Calves are calves that were exhibited at the Dakota-Thurston County Fair during the previous year by the same exhibitor and qualify by virtue of the First Year Bucket Calf guidelines.

C. A judging sheet will be used to evaluate the project.

D. First Year Bucket Calves will not be eligible to compete in Beef Showmanship.

E. Returning Bucket Calves WILL be eligible to compete in Beef Showmanship.

CLASSES:
FIRST YEAR BUCKET CALF
901.     Junior Novice – First Year Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 8-10) NO prior experience exhibiting bucket calves All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.
902.     Junior Expert – First Year Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 8-10) Previously have exhibited a bucket calf (including Clover Kid) - All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.
903.     Intermediate Novice – First Year Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 11-13) - NO prior experience exhibiting bucket calves - All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.
904.     Intermediate Expert – First Year Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 11-13) - Previously have exhibited a bucket calf - All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.

RETURNING BUCKET CALF
905. Junior – Returning Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 8-10) All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.

906. Intermediate – Returning Bucket Calf – (4-Her age 11-14) All calves shown at halter - Clipping of calves is OPTIONAL, however, calves should be clean, brushed, and dry when entering the show ring. Showstick optional.

☞ Both First Year & Returning Bucket Calf 4-H’er will provide a Record Book (a story and/or log about their project animal) DUE at noon prior to the show. The Record Book should provide information about project animal from day calf acquired to fair entry.

The Summary Sheet should include the following (but not limited to):

breed(s) of calf if known
identification information (color of calf, ear tag number, sex of calf)
cost of calf, how calf was acquired
beginning weight/fair weight of calf
summary of daily feed intake + cost of feed and healthcare + cost

A scorecard will be used to evaluate the project. Ribbon placing will be determined by the following considerations and be given by the official contest judge:

1.     Evaluation of knowledge by an interview 35 points
2.     Health, quality, and condition of calf 20 points
3.     Evidence of training 20 points
4.     Summary Sheet 25 points

POSSIBLE POINTS 100 points
A champion bucket calf will be named in each class as determined by the official judge.
Bucket Calf record book is available on website for Dakota and Thurston County

COW-CALF PROJECT

Department G - Section 904
Premium Schedule D

901. Cow/Calf Pair
902. First Calf-Cow/Calf Pair (returning breeding heifer entry from last years fair.)

Guidelines:

A.         Cow must have been shown at the 2023 Dakota~Thurston County Fair as a breeding Heifer. (Tattoos will be checked).
B.         4-H’er is limited to exhibiting one entry per class 901 and 902. Except if one of your feeder calves is out of your Returning Cow, then you would be allowed to have 2 entries in either Section 905 Class 901, 902. or 903.
C.        4-H’er may be asked to show this entry haltered—cow and calf.
D.        Feeder calves must be born between January 1st and June 1st of the current year.
E          No embryo transfer calves, as class is based upon genetic transfer from mother to offspring.

FEEDER CALF

Department G - Section 905
Premium Schedule D

901.     Feeder Calf Steer (one entry per class, see exception Guideline B)
902.     Feeder Calf Heifer (one entry per class, see exception Guideline B)
903.     Feeder Calf Bull (one entry per class, see exception Guideline B)