4-H Beef

The 4-H Beef Program provides opportunities for 4-H members to select, care for, train, and show their very own beef animal. 4-Her’s can participate in all levels of competition from multiple local county fairs, to larger regional and state events. There is a strict time line for selecting and tagging cattle for these events, so please contact James McMillion at the UT/TSU Extension Office at (865) 982-6430 for more information.

Ownership Deadline: March 15

Entries Due: April 1

Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition

Ownership Deadline: May 20

Entries Due: June 10

An exhibitor may show no more than two (2) animals per age classification The maximum number of leased breeding heifers an exhibitor may show is two (2).

Exhibitors must be the sole owner or lessee of the heifers they exhibit. All heifers must be owned (as indicated on registration papers) or leased in the exhibitor’s name. A duplicate copy of lease form(s) and registration paper(s) must accompany the entry form(s).

Heifers entered and/or shown in the Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Exposition will NOT automatically be entered in the Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition and must be entered in each show independently with entry fees paid for each.

To be eligible for “Bred by Exhibitor” awards and recognition, the exhibitor must be listed as both the sole breeder and owner of the heifer on the registration paper. If a registered heifer is eligible for the “Bred by Exhibitor” competition, this must be indicated on the entry form. If “Bred by Exhibitor” is not indicated on the entry form, the entry will show as if it did not qualify.

Ownership Deadline: March 15

Tattooed and Ear Tagged: March 30

Entries Due to UT: April 1

Exhibitors may enter and show four (4) commercial heifers in the Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Exposition. Exhibitors may only show two (2) leased commercial heifers.

Ownership Deadline: May 20

Tattooed and Ear Tagged: June 1

Entries Due to UT: June 10

Exhibitors may enter and show four (4) commercial heifers in the Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition. Exhibitors may only show two (2) leased commercial heifers.

A heifer is considered farm bred if and only if they meet the following criteria without exception. “Farm Bred is defined as the animal to be exhibited was produced by a dam owned by the exhibitor, his/her parents, guardian, or his/her grandparents, at the time the said animal was conceived.” If a commercial heifer is eligible for the “Farm Bred” competition, this must be indicated on the entry form. If it is not indicated, the animal will not be eligible to show in the “Farm Bred” class.

Ownership Deadline: March 1

Tattooed and Ear Tagged: March 15

Entries Due to UT: April 1

Exhibitors may enter and show three (3) steers in the Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Exposition.

Ownership Deadline: May 20

Tattooed and Ear Tagged: June 1

Entries Due to UT: June 10

Exhibitors may enter and show a total of three (3) steers in the Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition.

Prospect steers are those weighing under 900 pounds.

Market steers exhibited at Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Exposition ARE eligible for exhibition in the Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition, but must be entered in each show independently with entry fees paid for each show.

Entry Forms

KSJCE Registered Heifer
KSJCE Commercial Heifer
KSJCE Market Steer
Expo Registered Heifer
Expo Commerical Heifer
Expo Market Steer
Leasing Form

Find guidelines, dates, and results on the Eastern Region 4-H Information website

Tennessee 4-H Beef information

Pen of Three Feeder Calf show

Entry Forms

Quick Links