Steer Price

At a guess what would u pay for an average county fair steer?

1000 to 1200 at the most

Depends on your County program... if you have a buyers sale and what the requirements are on that.  Also how competitive you want to be I guess.  Here in central TX the cattle market is better this year so depending on the weight of the steer it could bring close to $600-700 at the auction.  We have about 5 nice steers for sale around $1000 to $1250.  (good size) 
Don't have to always pay a lot to get a good one.  Buying directly from a breeder is usually much less.  Although some steer jocks offer many extras for the 'extra' price.

At some county fairs here in Texas the steers that win were bought for around $10,000 and sell at auction for about $6000 if they win grand.  (thumbsup)

If you paid 1000-1200 at our fair you would be at the bottom. It really depends on what fair you are at because some are tougher than others. This steer deal is great for raising kids and have to look at that way. If we counted everything we spent on this show deal down to the gas,feed, supplements, ect. ect.well you know what I mean. It is not teaching your kids to win at all costs and not to spend the most but don't sell youself short because the price of the steer is sometimes the cheapest with all the other expenses. My dads old saying, "it costs the same to feed a good one vrs a bad one".

It all depends on the calf. I paid 1200 for one and won breed several times and 5th overall one time. I paid 2500 and got dead last. It all depends on the calf, not the price. The ones that won reserve and grand at our county show did cost 2,000 together. I wouldnt pay over 2500 for one for a county show, just shop around, and dont get to excited.

If you don't know your stuff than could be ripped off! Mine freinds dad bought him a 2000 dollar steer and he stould 7 in a jackpot. buy from people you know.

Quality > Price

800-1800

although the two best steers I have ever had were 2500 and I won my class last year and its looking like another big win this year.

1000 to 1250 at the most

I could go to the sell barn and buy the cheapest steer there and win our county.

It takes a good eye, not just money.

I agree with diamond it takes a really good eye. you've got  to be able to set back and analyze the calfs strenghts and weaknesses. and dont buy the first good calf you come across look around until you find some thing that you really like i looked at over 1500 head between march 1 and april 3rd and bought 2 you just have to really look for the best possible calf for your money.

When my kids showed our goal was always to make the sale, have fun and not lose money.  We did pretty good with low price steers--even won grand once and class many times. Never paid more than $800 for a calf.  Grand in our county usually brought in the $2,000 to $3,000 range so we had to watch our money.

Diamond said:

It takes a good eye, not just money.

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I agree 100% my first show steer was the last in his herd because everyone else looked him over. I got him for $750 and that year at the county fair he placed first in his class over a half brother and was 3rd overall at the show. Everyone else looked him over because he was the smallest and had a funny looking eye ( he was blind). Not taking credit for having a keen eye, just saying everyone else passed him up

For a county fair, I wouldn't pay that much.  We've paid anywhere from $800-$1400, but won't go higher.  The year we paid $800 for one, my son beat out a $20,000 steer at our county fair.  WAY too much to spend on a county fair steer I feel, but to each his own I guess.  Just goes to show you that the more expensive isn't always better.

I think it all depends on what your goals are and what type of county fair you are at.  The local fair that I am involved with, you can spend 1000 - 1500 on a claf if you are willing to put the time in and win with.  The show just isn't that competative.  Most of the kids just are not trying that hard, or just don't know how.  I would not spend more than 2500 on a steer ever if I have anything to do with it.  Who knows how my kids will choose to spend their money in the future, that's there decision.

Don't you just love the feeling when you buy a $800-$1000 steer and you beat the 20,000 dollar steer when i do something like that my heart stops.Sorry for those of you that spend that much but i really don't think people should spend that much money on steers excepially its not all about winning its about going out there and having fun! You could just go out and buy the cheapest calf in the world then go buy the most expensive and it could go either way. My dad always tells me it's about making money not losing money and we only raise our steers we only buy heifers

forbes family farms said:

Don't you just love the feeling when you buy a $800-$1000 steer and you beat the 20,000 dollar steer when i do something like that my heart stops.Sorry for those of you that spend that much but i really don't think people should spend that much money on steers excepially its not all about winning its about going out there and having fun! You could just go out and buy the cheapest calf in the world then go buy the most expensive and it could go either way. My dad always tells me it's about making money not losing money and we only raise our steers we only buy heifers

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It's mostly about winning with steers. I don't know why else you could even fool with a steer unless you plan on doing some winning.  Never bought a steer, but had a lot of champs that I raised.  I can see spending some money on a heifer and not winning all the time if she's gonna be a good cow, but with a steer its all about the purple and green at the end of the day.

Ditto Mr. Olson  (clapping)

Well i like just to go out and have fun when showing cattle we raise good cattle but its more about going out and having fun then winning all the time, i mean it is nice to win but its more of going out and having fun that's how i was brought up. I have had champions through my years but we don't spend lots of money on steers we pay more for heifers. Again this is how i was brought up and anyway we raise some very good steers and heifers, i don't care what anybody says.