Beef Project
Project Description
Beef Project is an excellent way to learn about an important industry in Montana and the rest of the nation. Through this project, you can learn about all aspects of the beef industry, either by directly caring for a calf or by learning about beef through the 4-H achievement program in each level. You may raise a market calf or manage a breeding animal at any level. Youth wishing to enroll in Market Beef or Breeding Beef must also be enrolled in Level 1, 2, or 3. If you enroll in independent study, you are expected to have already completed the three levels of the beef project and have set some learning goals for your independent work.
Project Requirements
Project Books Required? Yes
- Level 1 - Bite into Beef (BU8143)
- Level 2 - Here's the Beef (BU8144)
- Level 3 - Leading the Charge (BU8145)
Project books can be purchased here.
*** Each member must attend 2 workshops per the market project area to take your market animal to fair. Workshops are defined as an educational exercise lead by a project sup.
Project age limit? 8 and up 
What needs to be accomplished to move on to level 2?
- Learn about beef cattle- recognizing a healthy animal
- Breed identification - locating parts of the steer
- Judging - showmanship
- Halter breaking & fitting a steer
- 3 year in project
What needs to be accomplished to move on to level 3?
- Nutrients/Feed - feed ingredients
- Animal Behavior
- Judging reasons - showmanship
- Beef carcass composition & retail meat cuts
- 6 year in project
What needs to be accomplished to move on to the next levels?
- Knowledge & experience about beef cattle
- Leadership skills to help other project members
- Animal selection, judging, health and reproduction
- Financial records and marketing
- 6+ years in project
Project age limit? 8 and up
What should new members know?
- Important dates
- Possession date: December 13th, 2024
- Tagging forms due date: December 20th, 2024
- Tagging date: January 5th, 2025
- What is expected from members to have a successful project
- Basic equipment - Rope halter, water bucket, neck rope, feed pan, hose, wheelbarrow, shovel, pitchfork, brushes, scrubbers, show sheen, combs, show halter and shampoo
- Each member must attend 2 workshops per market project to participate in Fair.
- Starting January 2025 there will be a workshop monthly on various topics related to beef.
- Each member must attend mandatory beef walk prior to fair to participate in Fair.
- June 19th, 2025 6:30-8:00 p.m. behind the BHB
- June 21st, 2025 10:00-11:30 a.m. behind the BHB
- There will be monthly weigh-ins at the BHB Scale House starting the first Sunday of the Month 10:00-11:00 a.m.
- April 6th, May 4th, June 1st and July 13th
- The Multi-Purpose Building will be available for 4-H beef project members to use from 9:00-11:00 a.m.
- April 6th, May 4th and June 1st
Dates for the 2024-2025 4-H Year
The following dates will be held at the East Helena Fireman's Recreation Hall 2 E. Pacific St. (Behind Smith's Place) from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- November 17th - Quality Assurance & New Family Livestock Meeting at 12:00 p.m. in the BHB
- January 15 - Beef Check Off
- February 12th - Meat Processor
- March 12 - Brand Inspections
- April 6th Weigh-in back of BHB 10:00 -11:00 a.m.
- April 6th Barn Practice in the Multi-Purpose Building 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- April 12th - Ethics
- May 4th Weigh-In back of BHB 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- May 4th Barn Practice in the Multi-Purpose Building 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- May 14th - Judging
- June 1st Weigh-In back of BHB 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- June 1st Barn Practice in the Multi-Purpose Building 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
- June 18th - Fair Expectations/Showmanship
- July 1st - Fitting at the BHB near scale house
- July 13th Weigh-In back of the BHB 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Project Superintendent Information
Beef Superintendent: Larry St. Clair & Chris Petre
Contact: 406-465-4524 larrystclair1@gmail.com & 406-439-8371 cjpetre@msn.com
How will you be contacted? Email or text
Junior Superintendents: Carter Petre, Branson Wareham and Sara Dearing
2023 4-H MARKET BEEF TAGGING
Possession date: Friday, December 13th, 2024
Tagging form(s) due: Friday, December 20th, 2023 by 5:00 p.m.
Tagging date: Sunday, January 5th, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Bill Hamilton Building Scale House
*All animals MUST be weighed and tagged January 5th - NO EXCEPTIONS
Beef Tagging Form
Rate of Gain Requirements(PDF, 31KB)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and the Montana State University Extension Service prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Director of Extension, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717