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 Co
unty 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 bred, born and raised (BBR) here in Fairfield County.
The average weight of the 89 beef calves was 766 pounds. The 69 beef steers averaged 793 pounds and 20 heifers weighed an average of 647 pounds.
Seven dairy beef steers weighed in at an average weight of 838 pounds.
Participation in market beef projects has grown steadily since 2014 when only 35 youth participated by weighing and tagging calves at the March weigh-in. Special thanks to Fairfield Cattle Company for allowing the use of their facilities for the annual weigh-in.