craigdailypress.com

On Sunday, two important events for Moffat County 4-H and FFA members will take place at the Moffat County Fairgrounds.

The first one is the annual Market Beef Weigh-in and Tagging. This is a mandatory event. All market beef animals must be weighed in and tagged Sunday to be shown or sold at the Moffat County Fair.

The second event is the Moffat County Midwinter Invitational Feeder Calf Show. Participation in the show is not mandatory. The show is open to Moffat County 4-H and FFA members with market beef or beef breeding projects.

In addition, the Feeder Show is open to exhibitors from Carbon County, Wyo., and Routt and Rio Blanco counties.

If Moffat County 4-H and FFA members wish to enter their market beef calves in the Feeder Show, they must have the calves weighed, tagged, and in place by 10:30 a.m. All breeding heifers also must be in place by this time. The show begins at 11 a.m.

Moffat County members not showing their market beef animals in the show may have the calves weighed from 8:30 a.m. to noon Sunday.

There are specific rules connected to the weigh-in and tagging of market beef animals.

First, no Junior Division 4-H or FFA member is allowed to weigh in or have his/her name on more than three market animals per species for County Fair. All market beef animals need to be haltered and led onto the scales at the initial weigh-in or they do not weigh.

The scrotums of the market beef animals must be dried up with obviously no viable testicular tissue present before arriving at the initial mandatory weigh-in, or the 4-H or FFA member will not be allowed to weigh in, show or sell their animals.

Members who have intentions of showing their market beef at State Fair will be nose printed at the Weigh-in. Up to two market beef animals for State Fair will be nose printed for free.

Members will be charged $5 per head for additional market beef animals being nominated for State Fair.

In addition, State Fair is requiring a premises ID number to show. The premises ID number is required on the nose print card. Members need to take this ID number with them to weigh in.

There are two objectives for holding the Midwinter Invitational Feeder Calf Show.

First, the show is to give 4-H and FFA members an opportunity to develop skills in showmanship. Second, the show provides an opportunity to demonstrate skills and to help the young calf get used to being shown.

No entry blanks are required. Weight and age classes will be determined on the day of the show. Ribbon awards in each class will be made from first through 10th places, when there are sufficient entries in the class. There will be no cash premiums or other awards.

No single exhibitor can receive more than two placings per class.

Appropriate classes will be set up on the day of the show for the following divisions:

• Breeding heifers

• Market classes by weight

• Champion and Reserve Champion of Show-market beef and heifers

• Junior Showman — 8, 9 or 10 years old on Jan. 1

• Intermediate Showman — 11, 12 or 13 years old on Jan. 1

• Senior Showman — 14 years or older on Jan. 1

• After placing and showmanship judging, there will be a class of chapter or club group of five market beef.

The trimming and clipping of calves is recommended, but not required. Judges will be instructed that cleanliness as evidenced by brushing and combing is to be considered.

Stains that can’t be removed without washing are not to be considered.