1.
Dairy Steer Feeder Calves (no heifers) must be born
after December 1, 2025.
(To show a dairy feeder
steer calf in the 2026 Fair, the steer must be born after December 1, 2025).
Members can tag & show
two feeder steers, and the steers cannot be replaced after the tagging deadline of
May 1, 2026.
Finished Dairy Steers must be born
after December 1, 2024. (To show a finished steer at the 2026
Bedford Fair, the steer must be born after December 1, 2024).
Members can tag & show two Finished
Steers, and the steers cannot be replaced after the tagging deadline of
May 1, 2026.
If tagged from the
2025 fair, you will not need to purchase a new tag and will not need to pay tagging fee (project
enrollment forms are required to be entered).
2. An exhibitor may show two dairy feeder calves and two finished dairy steers each year. Project animals
must be tagged by the
4-H Leader or FFA Advisor. Steers must have official Bedford County Fair RFID
tags. Fair Tags and project enrollment forms will be available at the Extension Office.
Project enrollment
form must be returned to the Extension Office by the tagging deadline. (2026 Feeder Calves & Finished
Steers would be due by May 1, 2026.)
No late submissions will be accepted.
$10 will be collected per
tagged steer (to cover tag cost) and must be returned with the project enrollment form.
Checks made
payable to “Bedford County Dairy Committee.”
3. Project animal can be any breed of dairy, (Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, or Red & White) but MUST be pure bred dairy blood. No crossbreeding of dairy breeds or beef parentage.
4. All Steers should be dehorned in time to be healed by the show. Feeder Calves should be castrated by May 1. Calves must be either cut or banded – crimping will not be allowed. Dairy beef must be completely free of testicular development and healed at the show.
5. Feeder Calves weight range is 450 lbs. to 999 lbs. and will be enforced. Calves must be on a grain-fed diet by the Fair in order to show. Calves will be divided in three classes by weight following weigh-in: Light, Medium, and Heavy. Additional classes are at the discretion of the Dairy Beef Committee.
6. Finished Steer must weigh a minimum of 1000 lbs. and will be enforced. Steers will be divided into two classes by weight following weigh-in: Light and Heavy. Additional classes are at the discretion of the Dairy Beef Committee.
7. Dairy Feeder Calves and Finished Steers will be weighed immediately after the Market Steers on Sunday afternoon. Both will be shown on Tuesday at 1 pm or thirty minutes after the Junior Dairy Show has finished. Dairy Feeder Calves will start, followed by Finished Dairy Steers. Showmanship will occur following the Dairy Beef Steer show.
8. Members must declare at the scale whether to sell or take their project animal home. Feeder Calves: the
1st place feeder calf of each class will be sold,
regardless of the declaration, at the Livestock Sale on
Saturday (this includes Grand & Reserve Grand Champions).
Exhibitors that do not have a first-place
animal will have their highest placing feeder sold in the sale, unless elected not sell at the scale. If both
are evenly placed, notify Tiffany Cessna by Tuesday evening which steer will be sold.
Finished Steers: The
Grand & Reserve Finished Steers will be sold at the sale on Saturday.
All others will not be sold through
the livestock sale.
The Dairy Beef Committee will seek a predetermined bid for all feeders and finished
steers to be sold not through the Livestock Sale.
Rope halters must be left with your steers for loading
after the fair.
Exhibitors will be notified of the designated loading area to leave the steer on the day of
the sale.
9. Members are responsible for their 4-H Project Books or proof that the steer is entered in the FFA AET system. Members must bring documentation with them at the time of weigh-in or you will not be permitted to show.
10. All members are responsible for health requirements. To add value of animals for the buyer:
A. Calves are required to be vaccinated against IBR, PI3, BVD and BRSV using one dose of modified live vaccine or two doses of killed vaccine. Examples: Bovishield & Pyramid. Consult your vet about timing and administering of vaccine.
B. It is recommended that calves be given a rabies vaccination.
C. If your steer has symptoms of ringworm within 4 weeks of Fair, you should have your animal treated by a veterinarian and a statement of date/treatment.
D. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required within 30 days prior to show. Refer to the Bedford-fair.com website for specific animal health requirements. (Animal Health Rues Section 2: Cattle)
11. All Dairy Beef calves and Finished Steers will be housed together in the Open Show Dairy Barn (unless you are a Dairy Exhibitor). You are responsible for your own bedding, water and feed.
12. Fitting Suggestion: Slick Shearing and be sure to get all the hair removed from all locations of the body except for the switch.
13. Each steer must be shown by the exhibitor who tagged it as a calf, unless the exhibitor has more than one
steer in the ring at a time. A substitute showman who is the same age or younger may be used if the
exhibitor has more than one steer in the ring in the same class. Refer to the Bedford-fair.com website for
specific showmanship requirements.