Dairy Beef and Dairy Feeder
Species Chair: Greg Bancroft
Phone Number: 231-313-8063 * Email: [email protected]
Assistant Species Chair: Rick Tallieu
Phone Number: 231-631-7539 * Email: [email protected]
Administrative Species-Chair: Andrea Bedrick
Phone Number: 231-499-0570 * Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 231-313-8063 * Email: [email protected]
Assistant Species Chair: Rick Tallieu
Phone Number: 231-631-7539 * Email: [email protected]
Administrative Species-Chair: Andrea Bedrick
Phone Number: 231-499-0570 * Email: [email protected]
2026 Important Dates and Information for Dairy Beef
Registration |
November 3, 2025 |
- |
Possession Date |
November 1, 2025 |
Birth Date |
After December 1, 2025 |
- |
Minimum Weight @ Fair |
1,000 lbs. |
Tagging |
November 8 and 9, 2025 |
- |
Record Book Due |
09/14/2026 |
- |
- |
- |
Thank You Notes Due |
10/05/2026 |
2026 Important Dates and Information for Dairy Feeders
Registration |
March 2, 2026 |
- |
4-Her Possession Date |
March 1, 2026 |
Birth Date |
After December 1, 2025 |
- |
Cloverbud Possession Date: |
May 1, 2026 |
Tagging |
May 2026 |
- |
Minimum Weight @ Fair |
350 lbs. |
Thank You Note Due |
10/05/2026 |
- |
Record Book Due |
09/14/2026 |
2026 Dairy Beef Registration is Closed
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Dairy Farms
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Don Bugai
7101 E Hoxie Road Leelanau County (231) 947-0287 Terry Lautner 13718 S. Bugai Rd Traverse City MI (231) 946-4623 Bob Plummer 7385 N Long Lake Rd Traverse City MI (231) 941-5753 Ardis Dairy Farm 5200 W Davis Rd Lake City MI (231) 839-2385 Winkel Dairy Farms 1970 E Meyering Rd Mcbain MI (231) 825-2565 |
ernstadt Dairy
18330 205th Avenue, Big Rapids, MI (231) 796-8523 Aris Dairy Farm 15704 20 Mile Rd, Big Rapids,MI 49307 (231) 796-8086 Cnossen Dairy Farm 6100 S 9 Mile Rd Falmouth, MI (231) 826-3561 Veddler Dairy Farm 7295 Hibma Rd Marion MI (231) 825-2340 Eisenga Brothers Dairy Farm 20889 70th Ave Marion MI (231) 878- 4034 |
CATTLE SHOWMANSHIP
Showmanship is more than entering the show arena during the fair or livestock show! It includes all the hard work that exhibitors put into their project from the day they purchase their animal. Showmanship is defined as the ability to present your animal to the best of it’s genetic ability. Many factors enter into the equation for a successful showman, including proper nutrition, halter-breaking, and daily care and grooming. All the hard work done throughout the project will pay off on show day!
AT HOME TRAINING
Successful showman start early! Showmanship begins the day you purchase your calf. Halter-breaking and leading need to be taught early to ensure that your animal is ready for the show. If you are bringing in your calf from an outside source, give your animal time to adjust to the new surroundings. Spend time with the calf initially, to get the calf used to you. A good way to do this is during feeding, just sit or stand in the pen while your animal eats. Here are some helpful hints to assist the gentling and halter-breaking process:
Showmanship is more than entering the show arena during the fair or livestock show! It includes all the hard work that exhibitors put into their project from the day they purchase their animal. Showmanship is defined as the ability to present your animal to the best of it’s genetic ability. Many factors enter into the equation for a successful showman, including proper nutrition, halter-breaking, and daily care and grooming. All the hard work done throughout the project will pay off on show day!
AT HOME TRAINING
Successful showman start early! Showmanship begins the day you purchase your calf. Halter-breaking and leading need to be taught early to ensure that your animal is ready for the show. If you are bringing in your calf from an outside source, give your animal time to adjust to the new surroundings. Spend time with the calf initially, to get the calf used to you. A good way to do this is during feeding, just sit or stand in the pen while your animal eats. Here are some helpful hints to assist the gentling and halter-breaking process:
Fair Expectations and Tips.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday before Fair.
Requirements to unload your calf.
Mornings:
Throughout the day:
Auction Day Thursday
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday before Fair.
- Locate your stall
- Lay a board about 4x7 with holes drilled in it for drainage, and prepare with sawdust.
- Decorate your Stalls (much easier to do before the calf arrives)
Requirements to unload your calf.
- RFID tag must be in the ear and Livestock tag
- Completed Health record.
- Bring your clean calf to fair between 7a—11am. You will enter through Gate 4 (Pit Gate) off of the main parking lot unload in the front of the barn and exit through gate 1 ( old gate 3). (Only calves are to be unloaded at this time no decorations or tack, we need to keep traffic moving.
- Unload calf and put in stall make sure you have your nylon neck tie with you.
- Give your calf water.
- Sign up for barn duty in front of barn.
- Be at your stall approximately 2pm for weigh in. Jr Beef will follow steers then Dairy Feeders.
- Attend required barn meeting at 5:30p in the barn.
- Attend mandatory meeting in the Grandstands at 7:30
- Make sure your green and white cards are up before the barn closes at 10p.
Mornings:
- Tie your calf in wash rack area (Calves can be fed at this time).
- Clean your stall (stalls do not need to be scraped down every day just remove the wet and soiled areas and replace with fresh sawdust).
- Give your calf fresh water.
- Make sure your calf is clean and presentable for visitors walking through the barn.
- Make sure barn and in front of barn are swept.
- Pens cleaned and animals fed by 9am. (Stay with your calf while they are eating so you can remove the dish right away)
Throughout the day:
- Check on your calf every 2-3 hours. Change water make sure pen and animal are clean.
- Take your calf out to wash rack for walks to stretch their legs they are not used to being tied up all the time.
- Keep calf cool (may need to take your calf out and wet down throughout the day) make sure when washing and cooling down your calf that you start with their feet and work your way up.
- Spend time in the barn with your calf talking with the public and potential buyers.
- Night time feeding is between 5 & 6:30. (stay with your calf while it is eating so you can remove the dish right away).
- Make sure you check on your calf before the barn closes at 10p. Make sure your calf has water and pen is clean for the night (This will help keep your calf clean).
- Make sure your calf is clean and groomed for show.
- Be on time for your class (times on the green fair schedule) If you miss one of your classes you will not be able to sell your calf at auction.
- Make sure you are clean and dressed appropriately. Jeans with no holes, collared button shirt or polo with no writing and boots.
- Everyone needs to help keep barn clean during and after the shows.
- Class will be determined by weight of the calf.
- Know your calf’s weight, breed and what you feed them.
- Lineup will be in the steer wash rack.
- After weight classes everyone will go back in the ring for auction line up so DO NOT go back to the barn until after this.
- You will be judge on how well you show your calf and your project knowledge.
- Cloverbuds this will be your day to show!!!!!!
Auction Day Thursday
- Spend some time in your stall talking with potential buyers and sitting in the stands cheering on fellow 4hers.
- Keep an eye on the sale so you are ready to go on time.
- Wear your club shirt or show shirt whatever you prefer.
- Have all your ribbons and banners ready to go.
- Sell your calf!!!!
- Get your picture taken in the steer wash rack after you exit the auction ring before you put your calf away.
- Go thank your buyer right after you put your calf away
- Immediately after thanking your buyer, go back to the barn and write your buyers name on your green and white card.
- Help clean the barn.
- Make sure your calf has fresh water.
- Saturday after the awards Leaders can pick up trucking slips.
- Trucks start arriving at 5:35am you need to be in the barn at this time.
- Leave green and white cards up until your animal is loaded.
- Make sure to check with the Specie Chair before you load your animal.
- Clean out pens completely including washing off the bars on the stalls.
- Take boards home or place outside the barn on the pallets for storage.
- Take down all decorations.
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