Beef

4-H & FFA Beef Project members can use this webpage for informational items related to the Beef project.  For questions regarding the Beef project, contact the Green County UW-Extension office at 608-328-9440.

2024 Green County Fair Updates

  • Green County Fair Beef Steer and Heifer weigh in- Press Release 23
  • Market Heifers can continue to be shown at the Green County Fair. They must be open and will be checked during check-in/weigh-in at the fair.
  • 2024 Beef Fair Rules Handout
  • 2024 Green County Fair- Beef Fairbook
  • Again this year, all youth must enter showmanship on their fair entry form to participate in the Beef Showmanship classes at the Green County Fair.
  • All Beef will be required to check in at the fair on Tuesday, July 16th, from 12:00-3:00pm.  Beef cattle cannot be unloaded prior to 12pm.
  • Exhibitors who have sold, or plan to sell, in any other fair auction prior to, or after, the Green County Fair are NOT eligible to sell at the Green County Fair Auction.  The only exception to this rule would be animals sold through the Governor’s Auction at the Wisconsin State Fair.
  • Vehicles are not allowed to park around the dairy and livestock buildings between 8AM and 8PM from Wednesday to Saturday and from 8AM to 6PM on Sunday of the fair. All animals and exhibits must remain in place until 6PM on Sunday.
  • BEEF FITTING RULE: Green County Fair Exhibitors are required to fit their own animals once they are on the fairgrounds. They may be assisted only by immediate family members. To maintain a high degree of confidence and integrity in the livestock shows, Green County Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any animal fitted in an unethical manner.  Unethical fitting shall include any injection of gas, solid or liquid to alter the normal conformation or degree of firmness.  It shall also include attempts to change the appearance of the animal by adding artificial tail heads, switches, polls, hair and heels.
  • Beef exhibitors are strongly encouraged to use neck straps in addition to halters for securing their animals in their stalls.
  • Beef Market Steers & Dairy Steers must weigh a minimum of 1,100 at the final weigh-in to sell in the auction. 
  • Beef Market Heifers must weigh a minimum of 1,000 at the final weigh-in to sell in the auction.
  • A beef exhibitor can retain show rights for WI State Fair by declaring their intent to the auction committee prior to the auction.  Exhibitors must also provide a private written contract, signed by the exhibitor’s parents and the buyer, to the auction clerks before the conclusion of the auction.  The contract must state the exhibitor and parents agree to the following:  to accept responsibility for any liability claims caused by the steer, to provide proper care of the animal, to guarantee a minimum re-sale price to the buyer, to only exhibit the steer at the WI State Fair, and to have their auction checks held until they confirm delivery of the animals to the buyer.  A copy of this contract must be provided to the Buyer and the Auction Clerk prior to the conclusion of the auction.
  • A $10.00 fee will be collected for each Beef Entry (excluding carcass steers) to cover the cost of wood chips.
  • An identification fee of $10/head will be deducted from the check of each exhibitor selling lambs, steers, and barrows in the auction.
  • Only exhibitors who are members of a Green County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter are eligible to sell animals in the Green County Fair Meat Animal Auctions.  Each year, they must also complete and turn in an Auction Financial Record book by October 1st.
  • Don’t forget to also review the Livestock Auction Rules and Entry Information (To be coming)  and review the BEEF Fairbook information on the Green County Fair website.
  • Two NEW classes will be offered this year in the Registered Steers: Lot 105 Maine-Anjou and Lot 106 Chianina.
  • NEW this year, Registered Steer Classes will be shown in their breed specific class even if there is only one entry.
  • For Purebred classes, original registrations papers are required. The Exhibitor’s name must appear on the registration paper and must have been transferred by May 15th of the exhibit year.

BEEF Project — Important Dates to Remember

  • December 30th, 2023 -Weigh In, Equity, 8:00am-10:00am
  • May 20, 2024 — Complete YQCA Certification BEFORE entering fair entries.
  • May 20, 2024 — Fair Entries Due Online
  • May 20, 2024 — Auction Entry Forms due to Green County UW-Extension
  • June 21, 2024 — Buyers Auction Cards due to Green County UW-Extension
  • July 16, 2024 — Beef Animals checked in at Green County Fair between 12-3:00pm.
  • July 16, 2024 — Beef Market Animals –Performance Class at Green County Fair — 6:00pm
  • October 1, 2024 — Livestock Auction Financial Records due to Green County UW-Extension

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Certification

Youth showing in the Beef Project will need to complete the YQCA program, a youth education certification program on the issues of animal welfare, food safety and character education. Visit the YQCA webpage for more information.

This certification is required of:

  • Green County Fair Animal Exhibitors (Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Poultry & Rabbits) – submit the certification number as part of the Green County Fair entry process.
  • WI State Fair Junior Animal Exhibitors (Dairy, Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Poultry & Rabbits) – please see the Wisconsin State Fair website for rules on this.

For more information on YQCA, please visit our YQCA page.

Green County Fair Market Animal Performance Show Rules – Sponsored by the Green County Beef Producers

Green County 4-H & FFA youth interested in showing at the 2024 Green County Junior Fair Market Animal Performance Show or WI State Fair MUST follow the rules below:

  • All steers/heifers (here after referred to as “market animals”) must be born after January 1 of the year proceeding the exhibit year.
  • Only market animals identified at the Green County weigh-in and having an average daily gain of 2.0 pounds or more between weigh-ins are eligible for carcass competition.
  • All performance animals must be weighed and scanned for carcass information on Tuesday, 12:00-3:00pm. There will be no repeat weights.
  • Beef & Dairy Steers must weigh at least 1,100 pounds and Beef Heifers must weigh a minimum of 1,000 pounds to participate in the Performance contest.
  • Performance Animals will be clipped (if needed) for proper scanning.
  • Only 1 animal per exhibitor may be entered in the Beef Performance Contest
  • Performance animals must be entered in Lot 120
  • Performance steers may also be entered in lot 100 or 110; Performance heifers may also be entered in Lot 115. Performance animals will be allowed to exhibit in the market animal show with the exception of the Grand and Reserve Overall Performance Champions.
  • The performance animals will be judged live Tuesday at 6:00pm. Fair premiums will NOT be awarded for the performance show.
  • The Grand and Reserve Overall Performance Animals will be required to sell in the Youth Livestock Auction if they meet eligibility requirements.
  • The Performance Champion animals will be evaluated for overall placing according to the following percentages:
    Average Daily Gain  = 30%;  Live Placing  = 30%;   Carcass Placing  = 40%
  • All market animals in the Performance Lot must be broke to lead. Animals deemed to be unsafe may be asked to leave the ring and be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Green County Beef Producers Board of Directors.
  • All premiums for the Performance Class paid for by the Green County Beef Producers.

Green County Beef Weigh In Information – 2024

Green County 4-H & FFA youth interested in showing at the 2024 Green County Junior Fair Steer Show or WI State Fair MUST have their cattle weighed and identified on Saturday, December 30, 2023 from 8:00am-10:00am at Equity Livestock, Hwy 69 S, Monroe, WI.  Each exhibitor can identify a maximum of 5 steers/heifers for the county fair.  Exhibitors are reminded that beef & dairy steers must weigh a minimum of 1,100 pounds and market heifers must weigh a minimum of 1,000 pounds, at the final fair weigh-in to be eligible to be sold in the livestock auction.  There are no maximum weights for the auction for beef steers/heifers.  All market steers/heifers must also have a rate of gain of two pounds or more per day to be eligible to enter the market animal performance contest or to be sold in the Green County Livestock Auction.  The Green County Beef Producers are assisting with the weigh-in.  If you have additional questions, call Jackie McCarville, Green County Ag Educator at 608-328-9440.

Livestock Identification:

Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) is registering premises as the authorized agent for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).  The Wisconsin Livestock Premises Registration Act requires anyone who keeps, houses, or co-mingles livestock to register their premises.  To apply for a premise identification number for the first time, use the Electronic First Time Application.  To renew your premise identification, use the Electronic Renewal Document.  For more information on premise identification, visit the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium website.

Scholarships:

Green County Beef Producers Scholarship
This scholarship is available to any Green County 4-H, FFA or resident who is attending or planning to attend a college, vocational school, technical school, Agriculture Short Course, or any institution of higher learning.  Selection will be based on your involvement with the beef industry and service to the Green County Beef Producers organization.  Applications are due July 1st to Green County Beef Producers, P O Box 154, Monroe, WI 53566  Applications may be obtained online or at the Green County UW-Extension office.  Green County Beef Producers Scholarship

WI Cattlemen’s Association Scholarship
This scholarship is available to any Green County 4-H, FFA, or resident who is a graduating high school senior enrolled or planning to enroll in any university, technical college, community college in the United States, and the University of Wisconsin Madison Agricultural Short Course Program.  Applicants must have a background in beef, veal, or dairy industry and must be a resident of Wisconsin.  Preference will be given to those majoring in an agriculture-related field.  Ten $500 Scholarships will be awarded to top applicants.  Applications are due February 18th.  Applications may be obtained online https://www.wisconsincattlemen.com/resources/scholarships.  For an application and more information, visit the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association website.

Green County Beef Producers

This organization supports and sponsors youth in various beef areas through trophy and award sponsorships as well as scholarships.  Each year, they hold a “Great Steak Out Event” to celebrate being in the beef industry.  Contact Todd Forrester 608.897.8460 for more information.

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