Beef Department

Entry Deadline:      June 1^st (except for Market, that is Feb. 1^st)

        Pre Fair Set up is Thursday, Aug. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.

All animals are required to have Official MDA Electronic Identification tag number listed on the entry form.  If at time of registration it is still pending, you must call the Fair Office by July 21st with that number.  This must be an RFID tag which has been put in the left ear.  To obtain tags please call: 1-800-292-3939 orwww.michigan.gov/mda

Any exhibitor that has a market animal is encouraged to send Auction letters with passes to prospective buyers.

The week before fair there will be a barn setup and cleaning.  All beef exhibitors are asked to attend.  Stall assignments are given at this time.

Entry Day: Health Check/Weigh in starts at 6:00 am to Noon.  If beef is the only animal you have on your trailer, you may proceed from Gate 3 (Shawnee Rd.) to the beef barn for Health check.  If you have others you have to go through Health Check at Gate 3.

After animal is taken care of in barn, you must go to entry office before 2:00 pm to take care of paperwork.  Now you are done with entry.

Fair week:  There will be a list posted between each crosswalk by the water tanks informing all exhibitors which day is theirs for cleaning up certain areas besides their stall area.  We group about 5 families together and they are responsible to make sure that the wash rack is cleaned and hosed down, and that all walkways and manure wagons are raked clean of manure.  Wet down the dust/dirt.  Exhibitors are responsible for one day.

Exhibitors are expected to clean out their stalling area every morning of manure, and if their cattle are dirty to take them out and wash them. Usually cattle need to be hosed clean every morning.  We ask that all wheel barrows be emptied out when full and to keep the walk ways raked clean.  We like to have all barns and cattle cleaned by 10:00 am.  Exhibitors failing to keep their stalls clean will fall under the 3 Strike Rule (see page 14 of fairbook).

All cattle should be fed and watered before you leave at night.

Cattle chutes for grooming are only allowed in the barn on show day and Friday sale day.  They have to be removed from the barn after each event that day.

Market Beef will load out on Saturday evening as always.  Exhibit Release of all other Beef will be on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., you may start lining up at 6 a.m.  After loading your animal, all Exhibitors need to help clean out barn!!!!  Premium checks (not auction checks) may be picked up at the Entry Office on Saturday of fair from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. (and we can cash them if you like!) also from Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.