Webster County Early Market Beef Weigh-in December 13

     4-H and FFA members have undoubtedly already found or will be looking for calves for the early Webster County Market Beef Weigh-in which is just around the corner. The weigh-in is for potential Market Steers, Market Heifers and 2nd Year Bucket Calves. Webster County will have two official weigh-ins again this year. The early date is set for Sunday, December 13 at the Sale Barn in Blue Hill (Blue Hill Livestock), with the 20th as a bad weather day. The time frame is from 1:00-5:00 pm. If an exhibitor requires special consideration, please feel free to call the Webster County Extension office at 402-746-3417, or call Dewey Lienemann directly at 402-469-0357.
     The UNL Extension office will have the 4-H tags and EID tags at the weigh-in and will be put in on site. Please note that there are new rules for beef tags this year. Please refer to the Webster County 4-H Newsletter for that information which was sent out to all 4-H member families. It can also be found at www.webster.unl.edu . 
     All 4-H and FFA market animals that may be going to the Nebraska State Fair will have a unique Nebraska 840 EID tag put in at the weigh-in. Market beef that will only be shown at the Webster County fair will need a 4-H or FFA tag plus a Webster County EID tag.  Beef Ownership Affidavits will be available at the weigh-in site; however, exhibitors and parents are reminded that it hastens the process if the 4-H/FFA livestock ID/affidavit sheets are filled out, with all signatures, prior to/or at weigh-in. They will not be allowed to be taken home for signatures. 
     Affidavits may be downloaded from the Web at www.webster.unl.edu or exhibitors may pick one up from their 4-H leader or at the Nebraska Extension office, and have it ready to go for weigh-in. Exhibitors who plan to show at either the 2016 Nebraska State Fair, Ak-Sar-Ben or American Royal must also have a DNA sample taken and they must be sent in with the ID/affidavit sheet for each animal that may be going. 
     Further information on the new State 4-H and FFA Beef identification rules and an explanation of what size of calf is best for weighing in was in the December 2015 Webster County 4-H Newsletter which can be found at www.webster.unl.edu , but if any beef exhibitor would like guidance on how to pick out the right size of calf for fair, please contact the Webster County UNL Extension office for suggestions at 402-746-3417 or email dlienemann2@unl.edu. 
     The second and last official weigh-in is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 24 also at the Sale Barn in Blue Hill. More info on that date will be forthcoming. Be sure to watch for emails and/or articles in the local newspapers for further information or date changes.