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.
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)
- Bucket Calf Manual - Leader Resource
Market Beef (BF200)
- Select, raise and show a market steer or heifer
- Member must own animal
- Here's the Beef (ages 11-13)
Breeding Beef (BF201)
- Select, raise and show a breeding heifer
- Learn the value of performance data to make breeding decisions
- Leading the Charge (ages 14+)
General Beef Resources
- Exploring Beef Health and Husbandry - Facilitator's Guide
- 4-H Market Livestock Record
- Kansas 4-H Generic Record Form
- Livestock Judging Guide
- Calf Pattern
- Youth Livestock Safety
- Animal Science Youth Livestock
Project Leader Resources
- Kansas 4-H Beef Project Leader Notebook
- Level I (ages 7-8)
- Level II (ages 9-13)
- Level III (ages 12-14)
- Level IV (ages 15+) - Beef Helper's Guide
Additional Resources - Veterinary Science
- From Airdales to Zebras (ages 7-10)
- All Systems Go (ages 11-13)
- On the Cutting Edge (ages 14+)
- Veterinary Science Helper's Guide
- Nebraska 4-H 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
Donor: Kansas Livestock Association
Award: Trip to National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
Donor: Kansas Farm Bureau
Award: Trip to American Royal, Kansas City, MO
Donor: Joe Lewis Endowment
Meats Judging Contest
Award: Trip to National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
Award: Trip to American Royal, Kansas City, MO/KSU
State Beef Show, Kansas State Fair
Where: Hutchinson, KS
Award: Cash Premium and Trophy Buckle to Grand Champion
Donor: Grand Drive Committee, Kansas State Fair
Awards and Recognition
County Level - Bucket Calf
Award: Medal presented at your 4-H Achievement Banquet
Donor: Kansas 4-H Foundation Patron Sponsor Fund
County Level - Beef
Award: Medal presented at your 4-H Achievement Banquet
Donor: Kansas Beef Council
State Level - Beef
Award: Medallion
Donor: Kansas Beef Council
National Level - Beef
Award: $400 National 4-H Congress Scholarship
Donor: Kansas Beef Council
