Apply to participate by January 9.
Again in 2025, the entries in this contest will be harvested prior to the Fair.
This contest is open to any 4-H or FFA members who will enroll in a market beef animal project in 2025. Participation in the BPCQ contest does not affect eligibility for participation in the “live” market beef show.
New for 2025, a third, optional, early harvest date for participants in the BPCQ is being added for those youth with early born calves who would like to conclude their carcass-based project on August 19. The youth participating in the August harvest will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on February 1. The two later September beef harvest dates will also be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 8. The application process and rules for the 2025 BPCQ contest include:
- An application/essay process for participant acceptance into the 2025 BPCQ contest is presently open and available through January 9, 2025 at https://go.osu.edu/bpcq25.
- Applications must include an essay not to exceed 300 words entitled, “Why I want to participate in a livestock project that’s focused on efficiently producing high quality beef that meets consumer demand.” If applications exceed the capacity for entries in the contest the essays may be used to establish a priority ranking for acceptance into the 2025 BPCQ contest.
- An exhibitor may bring either one steer or one heifer for the conclusion of the contest in August or September. There is no minimum or maximum animal harvest weight requirement.
- The BPCQ entry calf will come from one of up to four calves exhibitors are eligible to tag/weigh in.
- The entries will be harvested at Bay Packing on the day following the BPCQ conclusion date of the exhibitor’s choice: August 19, September 23 or September 30, 2025.
- Exhibitors are responsible for marketing the freezer beef resulting from their entry.
- Carcasses will be evaluated by faculty, staff, or students from the Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences.
- The BPCQ contest will be evaluated and scored based on a combination of growth and carcass characteristics which add value to a market animal and the final rank will be determined by the value the animal gains from the beginning of the project until harvest. Since two or more harvest dates must be used, the total value of gain will be divided by the number of days on feed for each calf and will be the basis for ranking in the contest.
- In the event of a tie, tie breakers in order will be:
- First: best Quality Grade
- Second: best Yield Grade
- Third: highest ‘live’ Rate of Gain
- The calf and carcass characteristics will be valued using market grids representative of the industry (see those grid values linked here). This grid is subject to change in 2026 and beyond and will be evaluated annually as needed prior to the beginning of the project, as the market dictates.
- An opportunity for exhibitors to see their carcasses and ask questions regarding the carcass evaluation will be available at the conclusion of the contest.
- The BPCQ contest is a ‘project’ and the exhibitor must be able to walk, control, and handle the animal in order that photos may be taken at the Fairgrounds during the conclusion of the project. At the conclusion after contest animals have been assembled live at the Fairgrounds for sale photographs they will be transported to the packing house for harvest. The animal need not be fitted but should be clean and photograph ready.
- Like the live market beef show, all BPCQ entries are eligible for the Jr Fair Livestock Sale.
- Each animal’s gain in value from the beginning of the project until harvest will be determined by using the market values/grids linked here to establish both the beginning and ending values.
When completing the BPCQ application found here, exhibitors will be asked to submit their essay, and also choose their preferred project conclusion date of either August 19, September 23 or September 30, 2025.