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Wayne County

Wayne County 4-H Beef Department

Things to consider before taking a beef project

Think about how much space is required to house a Beef feeder calf and/or steer.  Do you have enough physical space and the proper shelter?  Are you aware of feed costs and and have you budgeted for them.  Are you prepared to invest the money and time involved in caring for, grooming, and walking a feeder calf or steer to train them to be ready for the fair? Are the youth and parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult helper(s) prepared to make the time and financial commitment?  Beef projects are very rewarding but are also among the most time-intensive and expensive 4-H projects.

2025 Beef Calendar of Events

  • By January 1st - Obtain and care for your market beef animal(s). For more information please read the Beef Project Info Letter
  • January 11th - Market Steer Weigh-In / Tagging - 9am - 12pm, Coliseum - Wayne County Fairgrounds
  • Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online by April 1st (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
  • June 1st - Obtain and care for your Breeding Beef / Feeder Calves on or before June 1st
  • June 1st - Complete Animal ID for all possible animals (including family back-ups) that you could possibly enter in the fair through 4-HOnline on or before June 1st.  Help sheets are available at wayne.osu.edu/help
  • PLEASE NOTE THE DATES BELOW ARE STILL 2024 DATES. CHANGES WILL COME ASAP. 
  • Complete Quality Assurance Training by July 24.  See the Quality Assurance page for more details.
  • July 9th Outstanding Beef Exhibitor Project Interviews - alternative to Skillathon, 5-9 pm at the Event Center.  Check out Outstanding Exhibitor page for more information.
  • Skillathon Interviews - Skillathon Interviews will be offered on the evenings of July 10th and August 7th at the Fairgrounds Event Center.  Check our Skillathon page for more information.
  • August 1 - Fair Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries by 11:59 pm at waynejrfair.fairentry.com
  • September 5th -  4pm - Beef Cattle may begin arriving at the fairgrounds and must be in place by 10:00 am Friday September 9th.
  • September 6th - Beef Cattle Check-In, 4:00 - 5:30 pm in the Coliseum
  • September 7th - Market Beef Steer, Beef Breeding, and Beef Feeder Calves Show, 10:30 am in the Coliseum
  • September 10th - Market Dairy Beef Steers and Dairy Beef Feeder Calves Show, 5:00 pm in the Coliseum
  • September 12th - Market Beef Auction, following the Swine Auction (approx. 4 pm) in the Event Center

Beef Project Books

  • The books listed below can be ordered through your 4-H club advisor, purchased directly from the Wayne County Extension Office, or ordered online at extensionpubs.osu.edu
  • Beef Resource Handbook (117R) - This one-time purchase contains essential subject matter information for members taking a market beef, beef breeding, beef feeder or dairy beef feeder project. An excellent resource for skillathons!
  • Beef Project and Record Book (117) - Complete this required project book every year a beef project is taken. This streamlined version of four previously separate publications allows for multiple projects and can be used by members at all levels. Use with 117R Beef Resource Handbook.

Beef Project Guidelines and Forms

  • 2025 Wayne County 4-H Beef Project Guidelines - published annually, this document provides an overview of the most important things youth and parents should know about taking a beef project including important dates, deadlines, animal id and junior fair information.  This document is usally updated each November or December with information for the new year.
  • 2025 Beef Bred, Born, and Raised Form - due at Weigh-In / Tagging January 11th 9am - 12p, $20.00 fee per carcass animal(s)
  • 2024 Feeder Calf Lease Guidelines
  • November Market Steer Letter
  • Beef Project Book Judging Form - Books should be turned in for grading at Skillathon.
  • Questions about Beef projects can be directed to your club advisor, Hannah Getz at the Extension Office, or by contacting Beef Committee Chair Josh Harley.

Beef County and State Fair Animal ID Requirements

  • Beef State Fair EID Tags and Hair Sample Envelopes are available November 15th - January 14th to be picked up from the Extension Office during normal business hours Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm.  Cattle must be tagged and hair samples submitted to State Fair by January 15th.
  • Beef Animal ID Help Sheet - overview of how to enter Beef Animal ID in 4-HOnline and lists which fields and forms are required and which are optional.

Beef Clinic

  • This year's Beef Clinic date is TBD

Beef Carcass Contest

Beef Outstanding Exhibitor Awards Program

Beef Outstanding Record Book Awards

  • The Outstanding Record Book Awards are designed to recognize youth that take time to thoroughly complete their records books adding in details and financial, feed, and health records from throughout the entire project including final market auction price and calculating their profit or loss for those taking market projects.  Youth wishing to have their record books judged should turn them in to the Extension Office by September 27th.  Awards are presented at the Fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
  • Beef Breeding Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric
  • Market Beef Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric

Beef Junior Fair Information

  • 2024 Pre-Fair Letter / Reminders (will be Updated in August)
  • Beef Barn Penning Chart (will be posted on Labor Day)
  • 2024 Market Steer Show Book (will be posted at fair-time)
  • 2024 Beef Breeding Show Book (will be posted at fair-time)
  • 2024 Market Steer Sale Order (will be posted at fair-time)

Beef Committee

  • The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Beef Action committee is responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out the Beef program in consultation with and under the authority of OSU Extension and the Wayne County Agricultural Society (Senior Fair Board)
  • Our 2024 Beef Committee is made up of the following individuals: Matt Csapo, Nick Gasser, Josh Harley (Chair), Kellie Mullet, Rhonda Oser (Secretary / Treasurer), Kurt Rickett, Peyton Sidel, Matt Stoll (Vice Chair), Adam Swinehart, Sarah Douglass, Scott Amrstrong (JFB Advisor), Diane Johnson (OSU Extension), Stephen Heppe (FFA), AlanMichael Ulrich (Senior Fair Board), Sean Donley (Senior Fair Board) and Junior Fair Board members: Madelyn Baney, Aubree Cain, Own Bailey, Kya Csapo, Carter Gasser, Brianna Jentes, Mia Snyder, Marley Snyder, Mallory Gilbert, Ashley Stands, Alivia Welch, and Morgan Wiles.

Wayne County 4-H Beef Facebook Group