4-H Beef Project

Get started with 4-H'ers in your area

• Find a club near you or contact your local 4-H office for more info.

Get started on your own

• Discover 4-H activity books (free download)
• Beef activity books from National 4-H (for sale)
  • Know all the beef breeds and be able to identify them.
  • Identify parts of a beef cow and cuts of meat.
  • Train your calf to lead.
  • Groom your animal.
  • Recognize a healthy beef cow.

• US beef and cattle statistics
• Estimating cattle age using dentition - Missouri State University
• Beef Quality Assurance Manual
• Buying beef for meat processing
• Cattle grazing management systems 
  • Download the Cattle Grazing Management Systems poster (English version)
  • Download the Cattle Grazing Management Systems poster (Spanish version)

Market beef and dairy steer ID deadline is February 15, 2023.  Find more information on the animal science ID page.

• Beef information sheet — posted Dec. 21, 2022
• AnSci updates for 2023 — posted Dec. 21, 2022
• 4-H animal ID requirements and processes 
• Animal science show requirements sheet for all species 
• Cloverbuds and animals
• MLBA 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction information for market animal exhibitors at the MN State Fair. 

See all 4-H policies

Join the Minnesota State Fair 4-H show committee

This is a leadership opportunity for 4-H members in grade 9 and up. Represent your fellow 4-H'ers on the livestock show committee, serving with adult volunteers. 

What you'll do

• Attend two face to face meetings during the year as youth representative
• Participate in 2-4 calls during the year
• Staff a 4-H livestock information booth the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair

How to apply

Apply online 

Selected applicants will be notified in September and will be invited to a state fair meeting in October. This is a one-year experience, and you can apply for a second year.

Contact

Joe Rand, Extension educator and advisor, joerand@umn.edu

Local livestock committees

You may be able to join your county 4-H livestock committee. Contact your local 4-H office for more information.

Beef project resources for volunteers

Find training, project development committees (PDCs) and more support for volunteers on our volunteer site.

To volunteer with 4-H in your area, contact your local 4-H office.

Record keeping & evaluation

• 4-H youth record keeping — reflect on your project and what you've learned.
• Animal science project interviews evaluation — junior level 
• Animal science project interviews evaluation — senior level 
• General livestock judging contest evaluation with reasons 

You can exhibit

Your livestock

Contact your local 4-H office for sign-up deadlines and more info about how to get started showing your:

Breeding heifer

• Registered or commercial spring calf
• Registered or commercial fall calf
• Registered or commercial summer yearling
• Registered or commercial junior yearling
• Registered or commercial senior yearling

Cow-Calf pair
 

Prospect Calf

• Heifer calf
• Steer calf

Market beef

• Heifer
• Steer

Dairy Steer

• Purebred 
• Crossbred

Beef Showmanship

Commonly shown breeds include: Black Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Red Angus, South Devon, Shorthorn, Gelbvieh, Limousin, Simmental, Maine Anjou, Maintainer and Crossbreeds. 

See requirements for breeds, birth dates and animal ID. These are required for all beef shows (state and local).

Your knowledge

• Livestock interviews
• Science of Animals exhibits
• General livestock judging contest
• General livestock project bowl

Find out about livestock shows near you on your local 4-H website.