Share-A-Beef program

I just wanted to see if there are any county fairs out there that do a share-a-beef program, where a farmer will donate/loan a steer to a kid whose is responsible for raising and caring for the animal throughout the year and then there is a special class for those calves at the fair as well as be able to be shown in there respective classes/divisions and afterwards the farmer and exhibitor split the money 50/50 after the fair when the calf goes to market.  We had this at one county when I was not old enough to show but my brother was able to take advantage of it and I thought it was a great program and can help get kids back to showing market animals. The down side and reason they did away with it is cause a calf got loose one year and got into a swampy area south of the fairgrounds. I don't know if they eventually got him back but the farmer raised such a fuss about not getting his money asap that they did away with the entire program. Our local county fair has a very very low number of market and feeder calves but a lot of cow/calf and bucket calf projects.  I would really like to start this at our fair as I think it would give kids more incentive and responsiblity while being able to earn some money for their hard work withouth the upfront expense of purchasing a show animal. If anyone else has a program like this please let me know how it works.

What a great idea!  Something I may look into sponsoring locally.  Thanks for sharing the idea.

I did that this year for a 1st year 4-H girl. I sold her a Walks Alone steer that she did not have to pay me until she received the money she got from the county fair sale. She could not afford to buy a steer and I gave her that opertunity even with a quality Walks Alone steer that she took Reserve Champion of her division and 3rd overall ultra sound (carcass) out of the whole show. Me and the wife even loaned her our clippers and blower along with our clipping chute and fan cage.

personally, I don't know a single producer who wouldn't 'donate' a calf, lamb, or pig to somebody who actually 'cared' enough to come over every day and take the time to do the work with that animal.  I know from a personal experience, quite a few people out there are looking for that exact thing.

I know people that have given kids the entire animal's proceeds if they come over every day and do the required work-- plus, i know that almost all of them have told that kid that they can pick out a heifer or a ewe lamb and show it as well and keep the premium from the show. 

For the most part, these aren't just run of the mill average ole stock either, these are from programs that compete at state fairs and Louisville in the breeding/ market shows.

I participated in something like this when I was in 4-H. The difference it was  ( shhhhh, very quiet ) a dairy heifer. The two requirements were 1) you had to show it at our county fair & 2) you had to AI it & then sell it at the breeds state sale. Then you split the proceeds 50/50. Mine was a jersey hfr. It was a different experience . But it was pretty neat.

This is very similar to what im doing.  Except the farmer lets me keep the beef he barrows me on his own farm.  He lets me choose the calves and then im responsible for taining and grooming and feed and chores when im out there.  When im not he gives them feed witht he rest of the calves in the pen.  Then come fair time i get to keep anything i make with ribbons and trophys and when i sell the steer at auction he takes market price and i get whatever is above market price.  Its really more than i could have ever asked for and hes taught me so much.  I cant wait to own my own farm some day so i can do the same for other kids in ffa and 4-h

We have "share projects" up here. Most kids just get the use of a animal. Usually a breeding animal from a breeder and houses them at their place. Although I have done as others say here let a kid take a market animal they feed it and send me half the check after the auction at your fair. Cheap advertising!

i have five in this same type of situation, with a local FFA club, this year i beleive 12 of the 14 heifers & steers are borrowed, the kids take care of the the animals in their FFA pasture & barn & do all the work themselves.  they also have a dairy show team that is one hundred percent sponsored, this is a great way to help Ag kids

I feel that it is great but we live in Mississippi and it is kind of hard to find someone to let a child do that! My son is 10 and has Angus he would love to show a good steer but it is very hard to find a good steer around here. It would be a great program wish we had something like it here in Mississippi.

angus214 said:

I feel that it is great but we live in Mississippi and it is kind of hard to find someone to let a child do that! My son is 10 and has Angus he would love to show a good steer but it is very hard to find a good steer around here. It would be a great program wish we had something like it here in Mississippi.

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Take 10% of your cowherd, and make your own... If there isn't any good ones around, it shouldn't take much for you to win the shows.