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

Hay Making Season Is Here!

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Good Hay Weather!

Hay season is officially underway!  The trade off between quality and quantity can be a delicate compromise.

Dry conditions are expected for the next couple weeks in our area. Haymakers, take advantage of this extended window of opportunity for harvest! After first cutting, consider applying some fertilizer to give grass a good boost for second cutting. Nitrogen in the form of urea will require at least a half inch of rainfall within four days to become active in the soil and reduce the risk of nitrogen volatilization. So, wait for rain to be in the forecast before you apply urea. Also, watch for problematic weeds that tend to show up around this time and cause issues for second cutting.

Making hay in May and early June is worthy of celebration because the most influential factor on forage quality is plant maturity. As grasses and legumes emerge from the soil Continue reading Hay Making Season Is Here! →

Junior Market Beef Numbers Grow Again

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Participation continues to grow!

Participation in the Fairfield County Junior Fair Market Beef Show has grown again this year! Tying for the largest number of youth to tag in a market steer or market heifer project since 2006, sixty eight (68) youth brought their market beef show prospects to weigh-in at Fairfield Cattle Company on Saturday, March 11th. This represents nearly a 60% increase over the 43 youth that weighed-in market beef animals just five years ago.

In summary, sixty eight 4-H and FFA members weighed in a total of 101 beef feeder calves as their projects in preparation for the 2023 Fairfield County Fair’s finished market beef junior show. Of those 101 head tagged in on Saturday, 5 were market heifers and 56 were bred, born and raised (BBR) here in Fairfield County. The average weight of all calves was 725 pounds. These calves will be finished and returned to the Fair for exhibition on Continue reading Junior Market Beef Numbers Grow Again →

Join in the Celebration of Beef at the 34th annual Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Banquet

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Plan to join us the the 34th FCCA Banquet!

Make your reservation today and plan to celebrate beef at the 34th annual Fairfield County Cattleman’s Association banquet and annual meeting. The event will be held on Saturday, March 11 in the Fairfield County Ag Center (831 College Avenue, Lancaster) with registration beginning at 6 p.m. Supper will feature locally prepared 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 scholarship (trivia: did you know since 1999 when the college scholarship program was begun, the FCCA has awarded a total of $33,800 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 or by leaving a message with Stan Smith, anytime 24/7, at OSU Extension in Fairfield County at 740-277-4633. For more information about the banquet please contact FCCA President Jeremy Whitehead at (614) 578-4937.