Please consult the Marias Fair 4-H website for a complete listing of rules, this is a summary of pertinent information to know at the beginning of the project.

Age and enrollment requirements

  • Youth must be 10 years of age by October 1 of the current year to enroll in the market beef and/or beef breeding projects

Market Steer Specific

  • Dehorning - All market steers must be dehorned by or during weigh-in time in December
  • Date of birth - Market steers must have been born after January 1 of the prior year
  • Castration - Market steers must be properly castrated
  • Breeds - Any beef breed is acceptable
  • Weigh – in - Market animals need to be weighed-in no later than the deadline set by the Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Committee (early December), and the animal needs to be in full possession of the 4-Her at this time
  • Tagging - A Marias Fair button with a green numbered tag in one ear is required, with a cloverleaf, current year, and cloverleaf tattooed in the opposite ear, this will be received at the county weigh-in in early December
  • Spare – One spare animal may be weighed in/exhibitor, including for a pen of three. In the case of the death of an exhibitor’s Marias Fair market animal(s), the exhibitor may purchase another exhibitor’s officially weighed-in Marias Fair market animal
  • Livestock Quality Assurance - Livestock Quality Assurance training is required every other year for all market animal members. Watch your county newsletter for training dates, times, and locations
  • Minimum weight - The minimum weight for sale at the Marias Fair Livestock Auction is 1100 pounds. If an animal is underweight, they may still participate in the showmanship portion of the livestock show and compete in a special feeder class. Underweight animals cannot be sold at the 4-H livestock auction. They may be sold private treaty, but no signs may be posted until after the livestock auction.
  • Maximum pay weight -If the animal is over 1500 lbs they will only be paid for 1500 lbs
  • Maximum weight for sale participation - Animals over 1680 lbs will not be eligble to be sold at the Marias Fair 4-H Livestock Sale.
  • Show and sale requirements - Showing in market and showmanship classes and the member being present at the sale are required to sell in the 4-H livestock auction.
  • Pre-Show - A pre-show will take place Wednesday evening of the fair to determine showing suitability. All animals will have to be shown as manageable to members of the livestock committee. If they are proven to be unmanageable, they will be disqualified and removed from the fairgrounds.

Questions - Please direct any specific questions to your county extension agricultural agent or Livestock Committee Advising Agents, Jesse Fulbright (jlf@montana.edu, 759-5625) or Kari Lewis (kari.lewis@montana.edu, 873-2239).


Beef Breeding Specific

  • Breed - Beef breeding projects can be any breed
  • Entries -Members are allowed only one entry per class.
  • Tattoo - Breeding animals must have either the 4-H Clover tattoo or an association registration tattoo submitted to their Extension Office by the hog weigh-in deadline (mid-April) each year. Registered animals will have their tattoo number recorded on their association paper from the breed association. If no identifiable tattoo is available, a picture may be submitted instead. The 4-Her needs to have full possession of their project animal at this time
    • Example – A registered heifer’s breed association tattoo can simply be submitted to the Extension office, while a commercial heifer should either have a picture submitted or be tattooed with the 4-H Clover, which could be done at steer weigh-in time or any time prior to the mid-April deadline.
  • Registration Papers - All breeding animals must have registration papers available at fair if competing for special breed association

 Questions - Please direct any specific questions to your county extension agricultural agent or Livestock Committee Advising Agents, Jesse Fulbright (jlf@montana.edu, 759-5625) or Kari Lewis (kari.lewis@montana.edu, 873-2239).