Department: 102-Beef | Open

Superintendent

chris & ashlyn Kneib (406) 396-7929

Prizes & Awards

Champion – $100 + Trophy Buckle
Reserve Champion – $75
First Place – $50
Second Place – $35
Third Place – $20

One champion and one reserve champion will be paid if they are different competitors. Open beef premiums will be paid at the posted rates providing there are more than two (2) entries in any class. The Superintendent has the authority to move or place entries into appropriate classes.

Division A – Breeding – Purebred

Division B – Breeding – Crossbred

Division C – Open Market

Division D – Showmanship

Division E - Bottle Babies

Print Beef Department

Print Exhibit Entry Form

Enter Online →

Important Facts & Dates

Entries Close august 3

Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2025 using the online entry system. If entering after August 3rd and by August 5th at 5p.m., a late entry fee of $12 is required. Please note, only one entry per class allowed. Entry Fee is $10.00 per entry and required to be paid in full at time of entry. You will not be considered registered for the show if payment is not received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 5. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.
If space were available after the deadline, permission from the Superintendent and double the entry fees will be required to participate. Entry and payment must be received prior to exhibit delivery.

August 6 – DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS

Exhibits accepted 8 a.m. Wednesday, August 6 at the Livestock Pavilion. Check-in time will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. If showing in the Purebred Division A, registration papers must be provided at check-in. If exhibits are not checked-in you will not be able to show your exhibit, which will result in disqualification.

August 6 – Judging

Open class beef cattle will be judged 2 p.m., Wednesday August 6th (after the 4-H/FFA Breeding Beef Show). All entries must be in place by the time stated or they will not be judged.

AUGUST 6 – EXHIBITS RELEASED

Open class beef cattle are dismissed immediately following the competition.

AUGUST 10 – PREMIUM PAYOUT

Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 10 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12). Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday of the following week. Any unpaid premiums after 5 p.m., August 13 will be forfeited.

General Exhibiting GUIDELINES

Exhibitors must be at least 9 years old by September 28, 2025 or accompanied by an adult at all times in order to show in open class.
4-H and FFA members are encouraged to enter in open class, if open class guidelines are met. 4-H and FFA members must register and pay the open class entry fees online by the entry deadline in order to show in open class.
You must complete all online steps to reserve your pens/stalls! You’ll find stall reservations under Step 3 of the online entry process. If showing the same animal in 4-H/FFA and Open Class – select the appropriate stall reservation type so as to avoid duplicating stalls between 4-H & FFA.
Exhibitor must be the bona fide owner in his/her own right. Beef cattle in Divisions 1 thru 8 must be registered purebreds and exhibitor must show papers at check-in time. More than one member of a family cannot exhibit unless registration papers show that exhibitor is a separate breeder in his/her own right.
Exhibition cattle have free movement in the State as long as they originate from a brucellosis-free herd. All bulls one (1) year and older must be shown with a nose ring. All Miniatures will be hip heighted upon arrival. Standard height for mature females is 45 inches and for bulls is 48 inches.
All bull calves will be inspected prior to entering the ring. Bull calves must be fully intact to show as a single exhibit. If a bull calf is altered, the calf is only permitted to be shown in progeny classes such as a cow/calf pair.

Division A – Breeding–Purebred

Classes

Class 1: Bulls, 1 year & under

Class 2: Bulls, over 1 year but under 2 years

Class 3: Bulls, 2 years & older

Class 4: Two Bulls, bred and owned by exhibitor

Class 5: Three Bulls, bred and owned by exhibitor

Class 6: Heifers, 1 year & under

Class 7: Heifers, over 1 year but under 2 years

Class 8: Heifers, 2 years and older

Class 9: Heifer, First Calf with calf at side. Calf must have been previously shown in a class.

Class 10: Cow, any age, with calf at side. Calf must have been previously shown in a class.

Class 11: Pair of Calves, one (1) Bull Calf, and one (1) Heifer Calf, owned by one exhibitor and both animals have been shown in individual classes to be eligible.

Class 12: Pair of Yearlings, one (1) Bull and one (1) Heifer, owned by one exhibitor and both animals have to have been shown in individual classes to be eligible.

Class 13: Best of Sire: Four (4) animals, both sexes represented, all sired by one bull, all owned by one exhibitor. All animals have to have been shown in individual classes to be eligible. Name of sire to be given on entry application.

Class 14: Produce of Dam: Two (2) animals, either sex, any age, from the same Dam.

Enter Online →

Division B – Breeding–Crossbred

Breed Categories to Select When Entering Online:

Crossbreed, Standard

Crossbreed, Miniature

CLASSES

Class 1: Bulls, 1 year & under

Class 2: Bulls, 1 year but under 2 years

Class 3: Bulls, 2 years and older

Class 4: Two Bulls, bred and owned by exhibitor

Class 5: Heifers, 1 year & under

Class 6: Heifers, 1 year but under 2 years

Class 7: Heifers, 2 years and older

Class 8: Heifer, First Calf with calf at side. Calf must have been previously shown in a class.

Class 9: Cow, any age, with calf at side. Calf must have been previously shown in a class.

Class 10: Pair of Calves, one (1) Bull Calf, and one (1) Heifer Calf, owned by one exhibitor and both animals have been shown in individual classes to be eligible

Class 11: Pair of Yearlings, one (1) Bull and one (1) Heifer, owned by one exhibitor and both animals have to have been shown in individual classes to be eligible.

Class 12: Best of Sire: Four (4) animals, both sexes represented, all sired by one bull, all owned by one exhibitor. All animals have to have been shown in individual classes to be eligible. Name of sire to be given on entry application.

Class 13: Produce of Dam: Two (2) animals, either sex, any age, from the same Dam.