4-H Beef cattle projects provide youth with opportunities to expand their knowledge of the beef cattle industry, production and, more importantly, develop the life skills that are needed to be positive contributors to society.
Through beef cattle projects, 4-H youth will learn about selection and evaluation, nutrition and feeding, health and daily care, reproduction, marketing and much more.
Youth learn to accept responsibility, to value hard work, think critically, make decisions and communicate. In addition, there are several beef cattle shows that youth can participate in to put on exhibition their beef cattle project.
Beef cattle shows provide a great avenue to meet and develop friendships with other youth and leaders from across the state.
Young people are also able to demonstrate a commitment to learning, develop social competencies and gain exposure to career opportunities.
The 4-H Beef Cattle Project is one of the most exciting and rewarding animal science projects from which to choose.
Beef cattle are ruminants, which mean they have four compartments to their stomach. This is why they can digest pasture grasses and hay.
There are two main types of beef cattle projects that a 4-H member may choose.
A beef heifer breeding project is long-term project in which a 4-H member begins with a heifer calf (female) and cares for her through breeding age (around one year of age) and on to calving (giving birth) at around two years of age.
The other type of project is a market beef project in which the 4-H member begins with a weaned steer or heifer calf and cares for the calf through the growing phase (also known as the backgrounding and finishing phase) until the calf reaches market weight of around 1100-1300 pounds.
Two Union County 4-H members started showing cattle in 2020: Max and Van Richardson. The boys have had great success showing their Red Angus and Hereford Heifers.
They competed in the Region, State, and National shows. Starting in the spring with the Tennessee Beef Agribition in Lebanon, Van was awarded third place and Max was awarded first place with their heifers.
In Knoxville, Van was awarded fourth place and Max was awarded first at the Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Show.
At the North American Junior Red Angus Expo, Van was awarded third in class and placed fifth in the Junior Herdsman’s Quiz Event, and Max placed second in his class.
During the State 4-H Beef Expo in June, Van placed third in Senior Level 1 Showmanship which helped him place fifth in the State for the Premier Exhibitor combining his showmanship, class placing, and Beef Skillathon score.
Also, Max was awarded second place in his heifer class and placed in the Top Ten in Junior Showmanship.
Congratulations to Van and Max on an outstanding season!
As fall nears, be sure to check out the Tennessee Valley Fair Beef Shows. Max and Van will be competing at the North American International Livestock Expo in November.