Un 'Beef'lievably Excellent Animals

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Members show market beef and heifer breeding animals

JAMESTOWN, NY (July 28, 2016) - - The Warren K. Brown Show arena was busy again today as Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Beef Project participants gave it their all at the 4-H Market Steer and Beef Breeding Show,

judged by Mike Sinon. The 4-H Beef Program offers a market steer tract and a beef breeding tract. 4-H members can be part of one or both of these programs. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H youth in the Beef Project have been gaining knowledge and raising animals since October in preparation for this year’s County Fair. Animals can be unpredictable, and steers in particular are over 10 times the weight of their handlers. The 4-H Beef barn is filled with beautifully finished livestock that all did very well in today’s competition. Brandon Decker received the high honors of Grand Champion Steer Showman. Corinne Covert did just as well following right behind with Reserve Champion Steer Showman. Hannah Schauman also won Supreme Champion Female, and Kelsie Jackson Reserve Champion Female with their heifers.. Other winners were found among the prize winning livestock. Grand Champion Heifer Showman went to Brandon Decker followed by Makayla Keefe as Reserve Champion Heifer Showman. Among the market classes, awards were given not just to Grand Champion Michael Kibbe and Reserve Champion Branden Decker, but also to Michael Kibbe for the Highly Commended Market Steer. That was followed by Corinne Covert with a Commended Market Steer. Congratulations to today’s 4-H Beef show participants.

Like the 4-H market hog participants, 4-H market steer winners earned more than ribbons and trophies today. Today’s titles help 4-H members earn a sale position in the Meat Animal Sale scheduled for Friday, July 29, 2016, at 12 noon. Grand and Reserve Market Animals earn the first and second slots in the Beef portion of the Meat Animal Sale. Other 4-H members that have multiple animals in the Market Steer project are required to sell only their top placing animal. 4-H Beef Project members work many hours preparing their livestock for show and sale. The average cost of raising a steer to sell is about $2,500 which includes the cost of the amount of the feed and expenses.

Experience gained through these types of projects lasts a life time and benefit the youth in many areas of character development.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University,

Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated July 30, 2016