4-H & FFA Market Beef Weigh-In set for December 17

4-H & FFA beef project members are reminded of the Market Beef Weigh-In to be held Saturday, December 17, 8–10:30 a.m. at the Kalona Sale Barn.

Ten calves may be weighed in for the county fair and out-of-county events. Washington County Fair Market Beef classes include purebred steers, crossbred steers, produce steers (produce of heifer or cow project in a previous year project), returning bucket bottle market heifer and steer, market heifer, dairy steer, small breeds steer, and single source steer (down payment required by deadline).

The county fair breed classes offered will be those recognized by the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association. There must be three in a breed to have its own class. Breeds with less than three entries will compete in the All Other Breeds Class.

Any bucket-bottle calf project shown the previous fair (2022) and weighed in for the upcoming fair (2023) is eligible to be entered in the Returning Bucket Bottle Market Classes, Market Beef classes or the Dairy Steer class for the 2023 County Fair.

Breeding Heifers do not need to be weighed at the December weigh-in.

Required information due January 31 for purebred calves being nominated for Iowa State Fair:

Ø Breed Identified

Ø Sire Name

Ø Sire Registration #

Ø Tattoo

Required information for purebred market calves for county fair ONLY:

Ø Breed Identified

Ø Signed Affidavit from the producer, verifying this calf could be registered

Ø OR registration papers

For purebred calves showing at the County Fair ONLY exhibitors are not required to register steers with the breed association to show in a purebred class. If not registered with the association, an affidavit provided by the Extension Office must be signed by the producer verifying that animal could be registered. Any breed recognize under the Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association will be recognized. These affidavits were included in the November 4-H Beef Newsletter.

If the above information is not provided by January 31, calves will be considered crossbred.

Costs: $3 per ear tag for all beef. Retinal scanning will be done for those nominating for the State Fair with an $8 per head fee. Bring money to pay all fees on December 17.

Revalar G implant will be available upon request for $2 each. This is a 120-day implant.

To prepare ahead of time, 4-H families can look over the November Beef 4-H Newsletter. Families will want to have the pre-scale form printed and prepared for weigh-in.

Please contact the Washington County Extension Office as soon as possible if families will be attending from a neighboring county 4-H program or if families must attend another weigh-in location due to schedule conflicts. Pre-approval is necessary.

For more information about 4-H or the Market Beef project or weigh-in, please contact the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811. Volunteers are always welcome, contact the Extension Office for details.