ll youth planning to show Beef at the Dane County Fair must meet these species specific educational requirements:

• Attend at least one approved education event (listed below)
• Education Requirement Card – Complete this card after attending a species-specific education meeting/event to confirm attendance. You should upload the completed card by June 15.
  • To upload the education card, please save the document as a JPG, TIFF, or PDF. Youth can take a picture of the education card to upload.
• Complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certificate between 9/1/2024-6/15/2025.
• Complete all training, and submit education card and YQCA certificate by June 15 via the ONLINE PORTAL (OPENS IN APRIL). Failure to submit this card by June 15 at 11:59pm will make you ineligible to show your animal at the Dane County Fair.
• If showing in more than one species, youth must complete and submit the requirements for each species separately.

• 8/28-29/2024 – Stockmanship & Stewardship Workshop - Lancaster, WI - REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Stockmanship and Stewardship workshop held in the heart of the driftless region, known for its’ rolling hills, fertile soils and abundant pastures. This will be an action-packed two days featuring a variety of topics from cattle health and well-being to pasture management and land stewardship, complemented by low-stress cattle handling demonstrations.

• 10/21/2024 – Beef Cattle - Feed Clinic - 6:30pm-8:00pm - Middleton Farmers Cooperative Co (1755 Pleasant View Rd, Middleton) - REGISTRATION REQUIRED - CLICK HERE. If you are interested in learning more about the Beef project and how to best feed your animal through different stages, this educational event is for you. Youth will learn how to identify ingredients in cattle feed, their roles in nutrition and how the feeding program will change as the steer progresses. There will be trivia and prizes for participants! This fun, interactive program is open to all youth in grades 3-13. Youth should be accompanied by an adult. Reach out to Natalie Sander, MFC Feed Store, with questions 608-307-0270.

• Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) for Producers – www.bqa.org

• Online Education - Approved options for Beef education.
  • Beef University - Free sessions (Grades, Cuts and Preparation; Beef Nutrition; and Raising Beef) for beef certification. Must include certificate of completion for one of the sessions with your Education Card. Sessions listed at: https://www.beefu.org/

• Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) - https://mba.beeflearningcenter.org/course/ - course consists of five lessons in beef advocacy, including:
  • The Beef Community - Context of raising beef from pasture to plate focusing on the community of people involved throughout the beef lifecycle.
  • Raising Cattle on Grass - An introduction to the first step in the beef lifecycle and the many benefits of raising cattle on our country’s vast grass pasture resources.
  • Life in the Feedyard - A discussion on the role of feedyards, including animal care, nutrition and environmental stewardship, at this important step in the beef lifecycle.
  • From Cattle to Beef - An in-depth look at the slaughter process and the humane handling and safety measures in place at today’s beef processing facilities.
  • Beef. It's What's For Dinner. - A primer on choosing and cooking the right cuts of beef and the important role of beef in a healthful diet.
  The online lessons address environmental sustainability, beef nutrition, animal welfare and beef safety while taking advocates through the beef lifecycle, from pasture to plate. The course also offers historical context on the evolution of the U.S. beef industry from the time the first cattle were brought to North America to today.
  Upon completion of five interactive online lessons, advocates will be equipped with the communication skills and information to be confident in sharing beef stories on social media and in our communities to help others better understand how cattle are raised and how beef belongs as part of healthy, sustainable diets.

• Independent Study “Educate the public about Beef Cattle” – must be pre-approved

• FFA Curriculum

Dane County Fair Meat Animal Sale (MAS) Information

The Dane County Meat Animal Sale is managed by the Dane County Meat Animal Sale Association. This association is an organization of interested persons whose purpose is the organization and operation of the Dane County Meat (Large) Animal Sale. This is an independent association and is not connected to the Dane County Fair Board, Dane County 4-H Leaders Association, UW-Extension Office, or any other group. For questions, contact DaneCountyMeatAnimalSale@gmail.com.

Beef Weigh-in & Tag Pick Up is January 4 (January 11 is weather backup date) at Alliant Energy Center - Pavilion 2. Contact John Hornung at 608-698-1823 or Trina Pauli 608-345-1877 or email DaneCountyMeatAnimalSale@gmail.com if you have questions.

2024 MAS Scholarship Application (Due by June 15)