Market Beef ID Deadline: Feb. 17

Event information

Date

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Add to Calendar 2026-02-17 18:30:00 2026-02-17 23:59:00 Market Beef ID Deadline: Feb. 17 Market Beef and Dairy Steer ID deadline is February 17. All market steers, market heifers, and dairy steers MUST be owned and identified in 4honline.com by February 17, 2026. Consequences apply if the Feb. 17 deadline is missed. Typically, the deadline is Feb. 15, but due to the date falling on a weekend and Presidents Day, the deadline has been extended to the 17th.Breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs and prospect calves (steers and heifers) must be owned or leased, tagged and/or tattooed and be identified in 4honline by May 15, 2026. More information will be sent out in early April on the May 15th ID deadline.PLEASE READ Beef Identification Requirements CAREFULLY AS TAG REQUIREMENTS have changed in the last year. This chart will walk you through the requirements needed!Important Reminders; All cattle must have a Minnesota 4-H RFID Ear TagException: If an animal is already tagged with a RFID tag, do not remove that tag; that tag will be accepted in place of a 4-H tag. You must list all 15 digits of non-4-H tags in 4honline. Animals can only have ONE official tag!All registered animals must have an RFID tag, a registration paper, AND approved breed association designated ID (ear tattoo, brand, etc.) that is recorded and matches the ID on the registration paper.Exhibitors are responsible to ensure that registered animals have a legible tattoo prior to animal verification at the county and state fair!NOTE, there is a spreadsheet attached to the 2026 Beef Information Sheet that will clarify ‘4-H Beef Show Breed Division Requirements’ for the 2026 Minnesota State Fair show.You will find information regarding the Beef Project Identification process on the Minnesota 4-H website at; Click here to learn more about the animal ID processTo obtain an 4-H RFID tag1) Contact the Extension Office @ 507-377-5660 or email [email protected] to arrange a time to pick up your ear tags.2) Enter your market beef identification information into 4honline.com no later than midnight on February 17, 2026. This worksheet Market Beef Worksheet will help you gather the information you need to enter into 4honline.3) Use the animal ID’ing tip sheet to help you enter your animal information. Beginning weights do not need to be entered. Animals will be weighed at the county fair to sort into weight classes.4) Do not wait until the last day to enter your information. Office closes at 4:30 pm on Feb. 17th. America/Chicago public

Location

Online

Contact

Amy Wadding, Extension Educator
[email protected]

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Market Beef and Dairy Steer ID deadline is February 17.

All market steers, market heifers, and dairy steers MUST be owned and identified in 4honline.com by February 17, 2026. Consequences apply if the Feb. 17 deadline is missed. Typically, the deadline is Feb. 15, but due to the date falling on a weekend and Presidents Day, the deadline has been extended to the 17th.

Breeding heifers, cow/calf pairs and prospect calves (steers and heifers) must be owned or leased, tagged and/or tattooed and be identified in 4honline by May 15, 2026. More information will be sent out in early April on the May 15th ID deadline.

PLEASE READ Beef Identification Requirements CAREFULLY AS TAG REQUIREMENTS have changed in the last year. This chart will walk you through the requirements needed!
Important Reminders; All cattle must have a Minnesota 4-H RFID Ear Tag

Exception: If an animal is already tagged with a RFID tag, do not remove that tag; that tag will be accepted in place of a 4-H tag. You must list all 15 digits of non-4-H tags in 4honline. Animals can only have ONE official tag!
All registered animals must have an RFID tag, a registration paper, AND approved breed association designated ID (ear tattoo, brand, etc.) that is recorded and matches the ID on the registration paper.
Exhibitors are responsible to ensure that registered animals have a legible tattoo prior to animal verification at the county and state fair!
NOTE, there is a spreadsheet attached to the 2026 Beef Information Sheet that will clarify ‘4-H Beef Show Breed Division Requirements’ for the 2026 Minnesota State Fair show.
You will find information regarding the Beef Project Identification process on the Minnesota 4-H website at; Click here to learn more about the animal ID process

To obtain an 4-H RFID tag

1) Contact the Extension Office @ 507-377-5660 or email [email protected] to arrange a time to pick up your ear tags.
2) Enter your market beef identification information into 4honline.com no later than midnight on February 17, 2026. This worksheet Market Beef Worksheet will help you gather the information you need to enter into 4honline.
3) Use the animal ID’ing tip sheet to help you enter your animal information. Beginning weights do not need to be entered. Animals will be weighed at the county fair to sort into weight classes.
4) Do not wait until the last day to enter your information. Office closes at 4:30 pm on Feb. 17th.

Audience

Grades 3+ wanting to exhibit a market beef animal.

Cost

Ear tags are $2.00 per tag.

Registration

Animal(s) must be self entered through your family account in 4hOnline.

Accommodations

University of Minnesota Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. To request accommodations for persons with disabilities, reach out to the event contact two weeks before the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.