A 4-H and FFA member may show not more than two market beef, two feeder calves and two breeding heifers; and one Market Pen of Three. The same animals may not compete in more than one class. Per Nebraska 4-H Policy, Clover Kids and/or Pee Wee are not allowed to show any Beef animal over 350 lbs. Cattle showing a degree of warts may not be permitted to show.
Premium: Purple $20.00; Blue $16.00; Red $12.00; White $8.00
Breeding Heifers
All breeding heifers must be certified on a 4-H or FFA breeding livestock affidavit form (4HF 88) on or before May 15 to be eligible to show in the breeding heifer division. To be eligible to show in a registered class, the breeding heifer must have an official breed registration from their breed association. Registered heifers must have a legible tattoo matching their registration. Commercial breeding heifers are also identified by an ear tattoo, a county fair beef tag, or EID tag. Maine-Anjou heifers must be 3/4 blood and above, heifers registered CHI-Maine are not acceptable and will be shown as Commercial. In the Shorthorn breed, heifers must be 15/16 registered purebreds. In the Simmental breed, heifers must be 3/4 blood and above. Breeding Heifers will be shown with no glue or paint. The breeding heifer show will consist of two divisions: registered and commercial. Registered classes will be shown by breed then age. Commercial classes will be shown by age. Superintendents will make the decision which classes the animal will enter if in question. The champion and reserve champion Registered and Commercial breeding heifers will compete for the Overall Breeding Heifer selection.
State class number with the appropriate breeding heifer number in place of the dashes.
12. Angus 17. Hereford 21. Shorthorn
13. Charolais 18. Limousin 22. Simmental
14. Chianina 19. Maine Anjou 23. All Other Breeds (AOB)
15. Commercial/Crossbred 20. Mini-Hereford
Class No.
X -- 10 Late Senior Heifer Calves calved November & December 2025.
X -- 20 Early Senior Heifer Calves calved September & October 2025.
X -- 30 Late Summer Yearling Heifers July & August 2025.
X -- 40 Early Summer Yearling Heifers May & June 2025.
X -- 50 Late Junior Yearling Heifers March & April 2025.
X -- 60 Early Junior Yearling Heifers January & February 2025.
X -- 70 Late Senior Yearling Heifers November & December 2024.
X -- 80 Early Senior Yearling Heifers September & October 2024.
X -- 90 Two-year-or-older-calved prior to 8/31/24 (not calved).
Cow/Calf Pair
This division is open to all cow breeds, each shown with a calf at side. The calf is eligible to compete as a feeder calf.
X 24 100 Cow and Calf (Calf born after 1/1/26)
Progress Beef
It is suggested that animals weighing under 1,100 pounds for steers and 1000 pounds for heifers, are shown in Progress Beef classes.
Class No.
X 11 13 Heifers
X 11 14 Steers
Market Beef
Market steers and market heifers are to be born on or after September 1 of the previous year. A minimum weight of 1000 lbs. for Market Heifers and 1100 lbs. for Market Steers to receive a purple. All market beef receiving money from the Livestock Sale will go to harvest and will be tested for any drug residue. If a beef is found to have any drug residue, the family will be suspended from exhibiting beef the following year at the Platte County Fair. REMINDER: Immediately following the selection of the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion market beef, hair from the grand and reserve champion animals will be pulled. The sample collected after the naming of the champions will be sent to a lab to be tested against the sample collected from that animal by the May 15th Animal Nomination Deadline. In addition, 4-H Staff will also pull up to three random samples that will be sent to the lab for testing. If any DNA does not match after testing, youth exhibitor forfeits all livestock sale money and youth is banned from exhibiting at the following year’s Platte County Fair.
The market beef show will be divided into the following divisions: crossbred steers division, registered breed steers, crossbred market heifers, and registered market heifers. For judging, divisions and classes will be divided by weight. All registered cattle must be owned by the exhibitor, be registered by the official breed association, and exhibit breed characteristics typical of a purebred animal of the breed in which they are entered. First and second place purples from each class will compete for Champion and Reserve Champion of their respective division. If there is more than one class in the registered divisions, classes will be determined by weight. Choosing to fit or blow and show is at the exhibitor’s discretion. The classes will only be broken up by weight according to the classes below.
Class No.
X 11 25 Registered Market Steers
X 11 30 Registered Market Heifers
X 11 40 Crossbred Market Heifers
X 11 45 Crossbred Market Steers
X 11 95 Market Bucket/Feeder Returning class (This class is specifically for returning market bucket or feeder calves that exhibited at county fair in 2025 to show at the fair in 2026. Bucket calves will now need to be verified on an ID sheet with a 4-H ear tag. Weigh-in is not required for the first-year bucket calf. This will be the last class of the beef show and will be sale eligible.)
Market Beef Rate-of-Gain
Rate-of-Gain will be calculated from the beginning weight (weight on the January weigh-in date) to the final weight (weight at County Fair weigh-in date).
Premium: 1st - Banner & $10.00; 2nd $9.00; 3rd $8.00; 4th $7.00; 5th $6.00
Class No.
X 26 31 All individual market or progress steers and heifers who participated in weigh-in will compete in this class.
Feeder Calf
The purpose of this division is to allow club members to select calves that will be shown as market animals the following year. All breeds will be shown together. To be eligible to show in the feeder calf class, the calf must be born during the calendar year, and identified by May 15. Heifers, steers, or bulls are eligible. Calves shown in Class X---110 are eligible.
Premium: Purple $10.00; Blue $8.00; Red $6.00; White $4.00
Class No.
X 7 21 Heifers
X 7 22 Steers/Bulls
Beef Showmanship
Beef will be no fit (No Glue or Paint) for showmanship. See Showmanship department for Rules, Regulations, and Premium.
Class No.
X 1 10 Beef Senior - Exhibitors 15 years old and older as of January 1st of the current year
X 1 20 Beef Intermediate - Exhibitors 12-14 years old as of January 1st of the current year
X 1 30 Beef Junior - Exhibitors 11 years and under as of January 1st of the current year
Bucket Calf Project
The Bucket Calf Project has three judging criteria: Record Book (100 points), Interview (100 points), and Show Evaluation (100 points). Record Books (required) are due at the Bucket Calf check-in. Interviews will take place on Thursday at the County fair with timeslots beginning at 3 pm. Interviews will take place during a scheduled interview time. We will send out a link for Sign-Up Genus to sign up! Show Evaluation - The judge will score each exhibitor on their animal handling skills in the arena. Animals must be washed and groomed, but clipping is optional. The health and wellness of the animal will be judged. The show evaluation portion of the bucket calf project will be held as the last class of the beef show. Bucket Calf results will be announced at this time.
Premium: Purple $10.00; Blue $8.00; Red $6.00; White $4.00
Class No.
X 7 25 Bucket Calf Junior - 11 and under years of age as of January 1st of the current year
X 7 30 Bucket Calf Intermediate - 12 - 14 years of age as of January 1st of the current year
X 7 35 Bucket Calf Senior - 15 years of age and over as of January 1st of the current year
Market Pen of Three
Each member is allowed one pen. All animals will be slaughtered. Animals will not be shown individually. Animals should weigh at least 1100 pounds for steers and 1000 pounds for heifers. All animals must have attached ear tags prior to arrival for final weigh-in. If not, they will drop a ribbon placing and cannot participate in the Rate-Of-Gain Contest. Exhibitors may be interviewed and information sheet must be completed at time of show.
Premium: Purple ribbon pens $30.00; Blue $25.00; Red $20.00; White $15.00
Class No.
X 25 24 Pen of Heifers
X 25 25 Pen of Steers
X 25 26 Pen of Mixed (Steers & Heifers)
Carcass information will be given on quality grade, yield grade, loin eye area, back fat, hot carcass weight and cutability. Animals must be eligible for Rate-of-Gain to be eligible for carcass premiums.
Premium: Purple ribbon pens $30.00; Blue $25.00; Red $20.00; White $15.00
Class No.
X 25 27 Carcass Heifers
X 25 28 Carcass Steers
X 25 29 Carcass Mixed (Steers & Heifers)
Rate-of-Gain will be calculated from the beginning weight (weight on the January weigh-in date) to the final weight (weight at Pen of 3 weigh-in date).
Premium: 1st - Banner & $10.00; 2nd $9.00; 3rd $8.00; 4th $7.00; 5th $6.00
Class No.
X 26 30 Pen of Three Rate-of-Gain