Introduction: This project is not a part of the junior livestock division, therefore 4H and FFA members can sell in this program as well as the junior livestock auction (Example: you can sell a pen of heifers in addition to a swine, lamb, broiler, rabbit, steer, turkey or goat). However, exhibitors must abide by the general livestock division rules.
Rules:
1. Exhibitors or a parent must live in Burleson County, and/or, be enrolled in a Burleson County School for the 2024-2025 school year; and must have entered the third grade. All exhibitors must be a member of a Burleson County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter, attend 5 4-H Club or FFA Chapter meetings between September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024, and be in good standing with their respective club or chapter. Any incoming FFA member who has not been a member of FFA must have approval by the Agricultural Science teacher. It is the responsibility of the FFA advisors and AgriLife Extension agents to inform the Burleson County Fair Association whether an exhibitor has met this requirement or not. Missed meetings can be made up according to the guidelines set by your FFA Chapter or Burleson County AgriLife Extension office. Exhibitors must follow the above rules in order to show and sell in any of the sale auctions.
2. Exhibitors must be closely engaged in the feeding, maintenance, training, grooming, and overall welfare of his/her animals. Exhibitors and immediate family/guardians are responsible for providing the primary and continuous daily care of livestock projects throughout the validation period. The validation period begins immediately following the county validation date through the exhibition of the project at the Burleson County Fair. Livestock projects must be raised in Burleson County unless prior approval is given by the Burleson County Fair Board. Prior approval must be given in the event the animal will be outside the direct care of the exhibitor, immediate family/guardian, and/or the supervising County Extension Agent or Agricultural Science Teacher.
3. One pen of heifers may be shown per exhibitor.
4. Commercial heifer entries are highly encouraged to come from producers in Burleson or surrounding counties.
5. All Junior Commercial Heifer entries will be validated at the Caldwell Livestock Commission on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 8:00 -12:00 noon. There will be a consignment fee of $10.00 per head and an entry fee of $30 per pen due at validation. Early drop off on Friday April 5th must be approved in advance to help reduce pen congestion.
6. Commercial heifer entries must be less than two years of age at validation. Any heifer with eruption of adult incisors will not be allowed to enter. THIS WILL BE DETERMINED BY A CERTIFIED VETERINARIAN.
7. All heifers must be Brucellosis calfhood vaccinated prior to validation. Heifers must have a State approved ID (ex. metal calfhood vaccination tag, USDA button, EID tag) and/or a legible tattoo in their ear. Heifers without vaccination tags and/or vaccination tattoos in their ear will not be allowed to show. Vaccination of heifers will not occur at validation.
8. A minimum of three and a maximum of five heifers must be weighed in at validation. Each pen of heifers must average a minimum of 750 pounds per head. Heifers should be of the same breed and there may not be more than a 200 pound variance among the heifers. Should a heifer be removed by the Chairman for exceeding this limit, the remaining heifers must be re-weighed to certify their 750 pound, or greater, average.
9. All heifers must be dehorned or naturally polled prior to validation.
10. Classes will consist of the following:
- Brahman X Hereford (F-1)
- Black Brahman Derivative (3/8-1/2 blood Brahman cross, predominantly black hide)
- All Other Breeds
11. Heifers will be classified at validation by a classifier(s) designated by BCFA. If all heifers in a pen do not meet classifications for the class, heifers will be shown as AOB.
12. Heifers cannot be added or switched after validation on April 6, 2024.
13. In the event an exhibitor’s heifer(s) loses an official BCFA ear tag, it is the responsibility of the exhibitor to notify the commercial heifer Chairman so the heifer(s) can be re-tagged.
14. All heifers will be pregnancy tested on Saturday, September 14, 2024 by a veterinarian selected by BCFA. Heifers must be at least 90 days bred and not have a calf prior to check in on Thursday, September 26, 2024. A pen of three bred heifers must be exhibited for completion. Incomplete pens will be eligible to sell, but not eligible for competition or prize money.
15. Any heifer declared less than 90 days pregnant is eligible for protest. All protests must be in writing and accompanied by a $150 (cash or check) protest fee per exhibitor. Protest fees will be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. All protests must be submitted to the Chairman within 30 minutes after completion of the initial pregnancy check on Saturday, September 14, 2024. All protested heifers must remain at the Caldwell Livestock Commission unless approved by the Chairman. All protested heifers will be reevaluated via ultrasound by a second veterinarian selected by BCFA after conclusion of the initial palpation on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Caldwell Livestock Commission. The pregnancy determination of the second veterinarian will be final. If the veterinarian selected to conduct the initial pregnancy test has, and is capable of using an ultrasound, any heifer declared less than 90 days pregnant will be immediately checked via ultrasound to determine her stage of pregnancy and there will be no protest. The determination by ultrasound will be the final diagnosis.
16. Heifers will be checked in on Thursday, September 26, 2024 from 7-10:00 am at the Burleson County Fairgrounds.
17. Heifers will be judged on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm. No exhibitors will be allowed in the barn during judging.
18. Exhibitors are required to submit a digital record book by midnight September 22, 2024. Each record book will be judged, and the exhibitors will be interviewed to determine placing. Exhibitor interviews will be on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 beginning at 8:00 am. Interviews will be divided into three classes, Junior (3rd – 5th), Intermediate (6th – 8th), and Senior (9th – 12th). Interview times will be preassigned. Any scheduling requests must be made in writing. Interviews are required for all exhibitors.
19. Since this is a terminal show, all bred heifers must sell in the Commercial Heifer Sale on Friday September 27, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Heifers will sell as a group with the number of heifers times the bid price being the amount received. A 6% sale fee will be deducted from each sale.
20. Feeding, watering, and cleaning of heifer pens are the sole responsibility of the exhibitor upon check-in on Thursday, September 26, 2024 until release on Saturday, September 28, 2024.
21. The committee has the right to sift or reject any heifer for defects or injuries, upon check-in at the BCFA fair.
22. In order to comply with the national law on Beef Check-Off, two dollars will be deducted from the sale of each heifer.
23. All heifers must comply with Texas Animal Health Commission rules governing entry in the Burleson County Fair. Health papers will be provided at palpation by the BCFA.
24. All heifers will be released on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 8-11:00 am by the heifer committee. Payment is due at this time.
25. Barn cleanup day will be by October 6, 2024. All exhibitors must have stalls cleaned on or before this day. If stalls are not cleaned, a $500.00 fee will be deducted from exhibitor’s check.
26. All heifers entered in this program and sold become property of the buyer and will remain sold.
27. The Burleson County Fair Association and the commercial heifer committee act as agents only for the exhibitors. All guarantees are between buyers and sellers.
28. There will be no harassment of the judges, veterinarians, or classifiers prior to, during, or after the show. The judge will give reasons for the placings and that will be considered adequate explanation of the placings.
29. This program is designed to be educational and beneficial to the youth of Burleson County. Any parent or exhibitor who does not adhere to the rules pertaining to the Commercial Heifer Show may be banned for a period of one (1) year from exhibition in the program.
30. Premiums will be set according to monies available.
31. The commercial heifer committee reserves the right to amend these rules and settle disputes with approval of the Executive Committee of the Burleson County Fair.
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