G: Livestock - Beef

Check General Rules for Livestock for more information.

Exhibitors must also enter the showmanship contest. All animals exhibited must meet prior enrollment guidelines.

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show.

BEEF SHOWMANSHIP

   G 10 902        JUNIOR BEEF

   G 10 903        INTERMEDIATE BEEF

   G 10 904        SENIOR BEEF

   G 10 905        FFA BEEF

MARKET BEEF

A member may exhibit more than one market calf in each class. Purebred cattle are required to have the breed registration papers in the office by June 15. Animals enrolled in "Dixon County Bred" should also enter class 900.

MARKET BEEF, Division 11

   G 11 10  MARKET STEERS

   G 11 20  MARKET HEIFERS

   *G-11-900       BEST DIXON COUNTY BRED. Champion selection only. NO PREMIUM, animals may be shown in other market classes. To be in this area the Market Beef needs to be bred, born and raised in Dixon County.

  CLUB GROUPS- A club may show a group of three market animals.  An animal is eligible to be shown in only one group.

   *G 11 901       CLUB GROUPS

FEEDER CALVES

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show.

The purpose of this division is to provide 4-H club members enrolled in a 4-H beef breeding project producing feeder calves an opportunity to exhibit their project.

Entries may be heifer or steer calves born this year but before June 15. 

Calves entered in this class cannot be entered in breed classes.

Broke into groups by age, determined by the superintendent. (January, February, March, April, or May)

   *G 11 902    FEEDER CALVES-STEERS

   *G 11 903    FEEDER CALVES-HEIFERS

   *G 11 910    FEEDER CALVES-BULLS (These animals will not be in competition for the feeder calf trophy. All rules and premiums are the same. The animals have to be born in the current year).

Calves entered in this division will be released from the show and allowed to leave the grounds anytime following the conclusion of the feeder calf show.

BUCKET CALF

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show.

The bucket calf project is designed to fit the size and maturity level of youth ages 8-12. It teaches proper health care and nutritional requirements of young cattle. It also teaches basic beef management skills without a large investment, basic record-keeping skills and a better understanding of the feeder cattle industry. A bucket calf is an orphan or newborn calf, male or female, dairy, beef or crossbred, fed on bucket or bottle. The member needs to take possession of the calf within two weeks of birth. The project begins when a member selects or purchases a calf born between January 1 and June 15 of the current year.

MEMBERS COMPLETE A ONE-PAGE RECORD FORM AND TURN IT IN TO THE OFFICE BY JUNE 15, 2026.

Members will bring the calves to the fair where they will be stalled. Interview Judging will begin at Noon on Thursday, July 10th (no calves needed for the interview). No specific times will be assigned. ALL BUCKET CALF EXHIBITORS MUST BE PRESENT TO BE INTERVIEW JUDGED. Cloverkid Bucket Calf participants will be interviewed by 4-H Teen Beef Exhibitors or 4-H Alumni.  The Bucket Calf show will be at 3:00 PM on Thursday, July 10th. At the scheduled time, they will be brought at halter to the arena for showmanship and presentation of awards. Quality of the animal will not be considered in the evaluation.

  *G 11 904 JR. BUCKET CALF entry exhibited by 4-H'er ages 8, 9 and 10 as of January 1 of current year.

  *G 11 905 SR. BUCKET CALF entry exhibited by 4-H'er ages 11 and 12 as of January 1 of current year.

RETURN BUCKET CALF

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show.

Individuals will be interviewed and asked questions about what they have learned about feeding and feed costs, as well as proper care for their animal since last year’s fair.  Anyone who took a bucket calf to the preceding fair may bring this calf back the next year. It must be the same calf and have the same ear tag as last year. You cannot show this calf in any other class at this year’s fair. If it is a heifer you can bring it back next year as a cow/calf pair. If it is a bull it must be castrated. These calves must be clipped. Exhibitors showing Return Bucket Calves are encouraged to compete in the 4-H Beef Showmanship Class (Junior or Intermediate) on Friday. Showmanship is not required for Return Bucket Calf but strongly encouraged.  All participants must be under age 12 (4-H age) to participate in this class.

   *G 11 906 RETURN BUCKET CALF from 2025

BREEDING BEEF

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show. Purebred or crossbred heifers must have known birth date and ear tattoo identification (bangs tattoo are not acceptable). A copy of registration papers need to be turned in with id forms and be recorded on an ownership ID sheet in the county extension office by June 15 of current year. Animals carrying a market beef ear tag will not be allowed to show. Registered Breeding Beef Females: Exhibitor must be able to show proof of registration. Champion females will be selected from each of the major breeds. Commercial Breeding Beef Animals: Animals will be judged solely on their commercial merits - unregistered and crossbred animals shall compete against each other and a Champion Female will be selected from this class

BREEDING HEIFERS

Breeding Heifer classes changes will still go by age

INSERT SECTION NUMBER BELOW BETWEEN ( ) NOTATION:

   G ( ) 004 Yearling Heifers-Calved Aug-Dec 2024 (should be bred but not calved prior to show) 

   G ( ) 10 Yearling Heifers-Calved Jan. & Feb. 2025

   G ( ) 20 Yearling Heifers-Calved Mar. & Apr. 2025 

   G ( ) 30 Yearling Heifers-Calved May & June 2025 

   G ( ) 40 Yearling Heifers-Calved July & Aug. 2025

   G ( ) 50 Heifer Calves-Calved Sept. & Oct. 2025

   G ( ) 60 Heifer Calves-Calved Nov. & Dec. 2025

  *G ( ) 970 Heifer Calves-Calved Jan. & Feb. 2026

  *G ( ) 980 Heifer Calves-Calved Mar. & April 2026

  *G ( ) 990 Heifer Calves-Calved May 2026

  *G ( ) 991 Dry Cow

COW/CALF

MUST BE CHECKED IN WITH SUPERINTENDENT during the designated time on fair schedule, not just being present on the fairgrounds.  Those not checked in will not be able to show.

Cow with calf under 7 months, washed but shown in pen. 4-H'ers limited to 2 pairs. 

Exhibitors 14 years of age and older (4-H age) are encouraged to show a calf from their cow/calf pair at halter, either as a breeding heifer or feeder calf.  Calves need to born between January 1^st through June 15^th. 

  *G 25 900  2 & 3 YEAR OLD COWS WITH CALVES

  *G 25 901  4 YEAR OLD AND OVER COWS WITH CALVES (Born prior to 2023)