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60 Juniors Weigh-in Market Beef Projects, Including the New Finished Dairy Beef Project

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Thanks to Fairfield Cattle Company for providing their facility for weigh-in!

If participation in the Saturday, March 9 beef weigh-in is any indication, interest in the Junior beef project remains strong in Fairfield County. Fifty six (56) 4-H and FFA youth weighed in a total of 89 market beef steers and heifers in anticipation of the 2024 Jr. Market Beef and Beef Performance and Carcass Quality shows, happening before and during the Fairfield County Fair. Also, this year, 5 youth weighed in 7 dairy beef animals in preparation for finishing them for the new Finished Dairy Beef project.

In summary, sixty youth weighed in a total of 96 beef feeder calves as their 2024 projects. Of those, 69 head were beef steers, 20 were market beef heifers. and 7 were dairy beef. Of the 89 beef steers and heifers, 51 were Continue reading →

88.9FM WLRY Saturday Morning Farm features Dr. Nevil Speer and OSU Extension’s Garth Ruff sharing Beef Market insights

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Dr. Nevil Speer

If you missed the 88.9FM Saturday Morning Farm Page, you missed a really good interview with Dr. Nevil Speer and OSU Extension Beef Specialist, Garth Ruff about the Beef Cattle markets and more.  Please take a minute to listen in and thank you the Fairfield County Cattlemen for sponsoring local radio programming efforts.

 

FCCA Constitution changes to be considered at Annual Meeting and Banquet

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Dear Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association members,

Make plans to attend the Banquet & Annual Meeting.

As spring is quickly approaching, I hope you’re all looking forward to even better weather and a great calving season. With that said, I want to take a minute and share with you updates to the our Constitution you will be asked to vote on during the upcoming Banquet and Annual Meeting on March 9.

Following much discussion at previous meetings, during our February 6, 2024 Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association (FCCA) Director’s meeting the Directors discussed specific updates to the FCCA Constitution that was last amended during the March 10, 2004 Banquet and Annual meeting. On the four PDF pages linked below are changes to the Constitution being proposed to you, the membership, for adoption during our March 9, 2024 Banquet and Annual meeting.

As you review the proposed changes, language being proposed for removal from the Constitution has been lined out, and language proposed to be added is highlighted in Continue reading →

Fairfield County Cattlemen and Beef Exhibitors, Attend the 35th Annual Banquet!

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Attend March 9th and enjoy smoked beef brisket!

Make your reservation today and plan to celebrate beef during the 35th annual Fairfield County Cattleman’s Association banquet and annual meeting. The event will be held on Saturday, March 9 at the Lithopolis United Methodist Church (80 N. Market St., Lithopolis) with registration beginning at 6 p.m. Supper will feature locally prepared smoked beef brisket!

Tickets are $10 with local Junior Fair exhibitors and youth under age 9 admitted free!

The evening’s festivities will include Director elections, the award of the cattleman’s college scholarships (did you know since 1999 when the college scholarship program was begun, the FCCA has awarded a total of $34,300 in scholarships to local youth?), and a brief industry update. And as in the recent past, the annual scholarship benefit auction will also highlight the evening!

Make your reservations by February 25th (including Junior beef exhibitors – we need your reservations too) by clicking on this link. For more information about the banquet please contact FCCA President Jeremy Whitehead at (614) 578-4937.

Cattlemen’s Scholarship Applications Due January 15th

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Application deadline is January 15.

Once again in 2024 the Fairfield County Cattlemen will be awarding scholarships to high school seniors and undergrads who have experience raising and exhibiting beef cattle. Since the FCCA college scholarship program was begun in 1999 more than $35,000 in scholarships have been awarded to local youth. Scholarships are funded by the FCCA and, in part, through a donation from the Sally Grimm Community Fund in memory of past FCCA President Greg DeWitt.

Youth can find more scholarship details and apply on-line at: go.osu.edu/FCCAscholar.

Beef Promotion Grant Educates Fairfield County Residents in purchasing BEEF during Local Foods Week!

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The Ohio Beef Council (OBC) engages with Ohio’s producers and consumers to strengthen the demand for beef with the goal of maintaining the profitability and growth of Ohio’s beef industry.

Engaged participants at the 2023 Local Food “Beef Night” at the Fairfield County Fair learned more about purchasing beef from local producers and more!!

Consumers gathered on August 8 at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds  to learn about beef during the Fairfield County Local Foods Week. The event was hosted by the OSU Extension and Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association with support from the Ohio Beef Council’s (OBC) Beef Promotion Grant. OSU Beef Field Specialist Garth Ruff demonstrated how the best beef-eating experience starts with cut selection and proper cooking techniques.

Consumers learned how to select, grill and enjoy the perfect steak. Techniques were also shared on how to properly smoke the perfect brisket, the importance of using a meat thermometer and food safety practices. Questions were also answered regarding meat prices, production practices and how local cattlemen work to provide a positive, healthful eating experience for consumers.

The Beef Promotion Grant utilizes Beef Checkoff dollars to promote beef and educate urban Ohio consumers on how beef gets from pasture to plate. For more information about the grant visit ohiobeef.org.

 

CANCELLED: Local Cattlemen; Plan now to enjoy a summer picnic on August 12, and get BQA Certified too!

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Just bring a chair and your appetite.

Effective 8/6/23, 6:45 p.m. due to an abundance of scheduling conflicts that are preventing so many from attending, this event has been cancelled, at least for now.

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Fairfield County cattlemen, local youth beef exhibitors, and buyers who have supported our youth beef exhibitors are invited to this year’s summer hamburger fry being held on Saturday evening, August 12 at Stillwater Farm. Come and enjoy an evening of fellowship and relaxation. The best part is the only thing you need to bring is your family and lawn chairs . . . ALL the food will be provided!

In addition to some great food, those in attendance who wish to receive their adult Beef Quality Assurance certification, or REcertification will have that opportunity also. The conversation will include concerns for the Asian longhorn tick that recently killed some cows in Ohio, proper set-up and use of handling facilities, satisfying the consumer’s demands for quality, pasture management, and most anything else that a cattleman might talk about.

It all begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 12 at Stillwater Farm, 1975 Old Logan Road SE, near Lancaster, with some thoughts on tick and pasture management. The hamburger fry and supper will follow beginning around 6:30. After supper those wanting BQA certification will conclude with conversation in the barn about handling, breeding, and finishing cattle that result in a high-quality product and consumer satisfaction at the meat case.

Remember . . . the cattlemen are providing the food. All you need to do is bring a lawn chair and your appetite and tell us you plan to attend by completing the very brief reservation survey linked here or by calling 740-277-4633 to let us know you’re coming. Please RSVP that you’re coming by Sunday, August 6!

And, please share this invitation with any cattlemen who may not be on this list serve, young beef exhibitors, and your Jr. Fair beef sale supporters!

Cattlemen’s Hamburger Fry August 12, Hold the Date!

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Don’t bring a thing but your appetite and a lawn chair!

The Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association is hosting a cook-out and you’re invited! Hold Saturday, August 12th, on your calendar for an evening of great beef, fellowship, and relaxation. The best part is, the only thing you need to bring is your family and a lawn chair . . . ALL the food will be provided!

All Fairfield County Cattlemen’s members and their families are invited. Plus, an invitation is extended to all of Fairfield County beef cattle exhibitors and families. At the same time we hope exhibitors will also invite their buyers and others who have supported their effort in completing their beef cattle projects. Anyone who attends may acquire or renew their Beef Quality Assurance certification.

The cook-out will be hosted at Stillwater Farm, 1975 Old Logan Road SE, Lancaster. Hold the date . . . specific times and details will be announced soon.

Are you selling direct to the consumer? Get listed in our local guide!

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Are your ‘direct to the consumer’ products listed?

If you sell freezer beef, you know the demand for locally grown and harvested meats has exploded in recent years. Did you know the Fairfield County office of Ohio State University Extension is proud to provide local consumers a listing so they can easily find local food growers, producers and markets? This comes in the form of the Fairfield County Local Foods Guide?

The Local Foods Guide is a compilation and listing of all foods and beverages grown, harvested, processed and sold locally directly to consumers. Listings include: Meats and related products, eggs, dairy, produce, herbs, flowers, trees, honey, maple syrup, breweries, wineries and Continue reading →