The beef project teaches the fundamentals of the beef cattle industry. But it is not all work and no play! With things like the calf scramble for scholarships and money towards your next project, the memories gained through this project are going to last a lifetime.
You will explore all areas of the industry such as animal husbandry, livestock selection, health, and care. You can also compete with beef cattle at local, county, state, and national cattle shows.
There are so many people more than willing to help you out, both local families and your county extension office. In this project you will learn:
- Responsibility
- Proper nutrition
- Proper care for your animal
- Decision making
And you can also learn through various other opportunities:
- Public Speaking
- Leadership
- Community Service
Resources
- Youth Livestock & Agriculture Project Resource Page
- Explore Guide: Agriculture Product Identification (Ag ID)
- Explore Guide: Beef
- Explore Guide: Livestock Judging
- Texas 4-H Quiz Bowls
Contests
Major Livestock Shows in Texas
Ages open to all regular 4-H members
There are several opportunities in the summer and spring to show at the major livestock shows in Texas. It is a long-standing tradition and a great learning experience. You are able to compete against people from across the state. There are national breed shows for cattle, as well as market shows for steers in every county. There are also calf scrambles at most shows where the student can earn money towards their next project by catching a calf in the arena.
Livestock Judging
Livestock Judging is a great way to learn decision making and public speaking and is at most major stock shows. Judging guidelines are found on the Texas A&M Animal Science department for evaluating market steers and for more general information. Livestock judging starts on the district level and progresses to the state level at 4-H Roundup. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.
Quiz bowl
Quiz bowl is an opportunity to demonstrate all of the information that you have gained through the past year through this project. This is a contest that will help your student learn more about his or her project while getting the opportunity to compete on a state level. It is a team event where you compete against another team and whoever buzzes in first, gets to answer the question. Held at 4-H Roundup each year, competitors must qualify through their district in order to compete at this event. Visit the State Roundup and Quiz Bowl Resource webpages to learn more.
Roundup Public Speaking
Public speaking is something that is very important no matter what industry or career that you choose to go into. Through public speaking, you are able to present a topic in the beef project through a speech or demonstration. This is a contest that will help your student learn more about his or her project while getting the opportunity to compete on a state level. Held at 4-H Roundup each year, competitors must qualify through their district in order to compete at this event. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.
Skillathon
This is a great way to showcase all of the knowledge that you gain throughout the project. This contest covers an array of topics and encourages you to really stretch your hard-earned information. It is a competitive way to evaluate what you have learned along the way, and a fun way to gain more knowledge regarding your project. There are different stations with feed that you have to identify or anatomy diagrams to label. You have a set amount of time per station along with a written test that is made to challenge your knowledge of your species. Visit the State Roundup webpage to learn more.
