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4-H Youth Development

Beef

The beef project is an excellent way to learn about raising, caring for and managing beef. Begin with a calf or build your own herd as you learn about the beef industry.

Find your Spark! 

beef

Ready to get started? Check out the Ruminant Challenge in the Kansas Clover Classroom!

 cloverclassroom

 

Things to Learn/Do in the Project

Age 7-9

  • Identify breeds of beef cattle
  • Learn the parts of a calf
  • Compare animal differences 
  • Halter break a calf

Age 10-13

  • Learn about cattle feeds and how they are digested
  • Judge beef cattle and present oral reasons
  • Show a calf and learn showing techniques

Age 14 and Older

  • Use performance data to make breeding decisions
  • Evaluate beef carcasses and identify meat products
  • Explore impact of technology and career opportunities in the beef industry

Project Materials

Reasonably priced materials are available for every project in Kansas 4-H. You can order the materials for your project online or contact your local Extension Office.

Beef Bucket Calf (BF100) (7-12 year olds)

  • Calf must be born between January 1 and April 30 of current year
  • Calf may be purchased or orphaned but idea is for calf to be bottle fed
  • Bite into Beef (ages 7-10)

Market Beef (BF200)

Breeding Beef (BF201)

General Beef Resources

Project Leader Resources

Record Keeping Resources

Additional Resources - Veterinary Science

Events and Activities

State 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes
(Includes Livestock Judging Contest, Quiz Bowl, Skillathon and Meats Judging Contest)
Where: Manhattan, KS
Livestock Judging Contest
Award: Trip to Louisville, KY - All-Star Team
Award: Trip to National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO - 1st placed team's selection determines location
Award: Trip to American Royal, Kansas City, MO
Meats Judging Contest
Award: Trip to National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO - 1st placed team's selection determines location
Award: Trip to American Royal, Kansas City, MO/K-State University

State Beef Show (Grand Drive), Kansas State Fair
Where: Hutchinson, KS
Award: Cash Premium and Trophy Buckle to Grand Champion

Junior Beef Producer Day
Where:  Manhattan, KS
When:  March, even numbered years
Junior producer days are held to provide educational material and hands-on experiences for youth, parents, leaders, and extension agents. Various speakers share information on topics such as selection, nutrition, showmanship, fitting, reproduction, feeding, and disease control. Talks, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and door prizes are present at all events. Beef and Sheep days are held in the even years and Swine and Meat Goat days are held in the odd years.

Awards and Recognition

County Level - Bucket Calf
Award: Medal presented at your 4-H Achievement Banquet

County Level - Beef
Award: Medal presented at your 4-H Achievement Banquet

State Level - Beef
Award: Medallion

National Level - Beef
Award: $400 National 4-H Congress Scholarship

Career Connections