BEST Season Offers New Opportunities

2021-22 BEST SEASON OFFERS NEW OPPORTUNITY

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is announcing a new opportunity for the 2021-2022 BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) program BEST is a youth development program of OCA that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors for participation and placings through a series of sanctioned cattle shows that include showmanship competitions, educational contests, and leadership opportunities. BEST also includes a separate Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS) points division for registered steers and heifers that were bred, born and raised by an Ohio breeder. New for 2021-2022 out-of-state juniors who purchase Ohio BBS cattle will be eligible to exhibit them at all BEST sanctioned shows, compete for points and over-all year-end awards. This change will provide Ohio breeders of BBS cattle increased marketing and recognition opportunities for their Ohio born registered cattle. Also, the one-time nomination fee for the Ohio breeder will be re-instated for their BBS eligible cattle that will be shown in the BEST. All BBS points, including those from out-of-state juniors, will begin accumulating at the first BEST sanctioned show and continue through the Ohio Beef Expo. Eligibility requirements for out-ofstate BEST BBS participants include meeting BEST age qualifications. Their family must also be current OCA members and they must make a one-time $60 per head BEST nomination. To be eligible to exhibit at the 2022 Ohio Beef Expo, out-of-state juniors must have exhibited in at least one previous BEST sanctioned show for the 2021-2022 show season. Out-of-state BEST BBS participants may only show BBS eligible cattle at the Ohio Beef Expo. Out-of-state juniors will be eligible to compete in BEST showmanship competitions, prior to the Ohio Beef Expo, but are not eligible to accumulate BEST points for showmanship placings. Showmanship at the 2022 Ohio Beef Expo will be open to Ohio exhibitors only. For more information visit ohiocattle.org.

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OCA SEEKING INDUSTRY LEADERS TO SERVE ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REPLACEMENT FEMALE SALE CONSIGNMENTS DUE OCT. 1

Have you been searching for an opportunity to be more involved in Ohio’s cattle industry? The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is seeking industry leaders who have a passion for serving and representing the business interests important to Ohio’s cattle industry. Five positions on the OCA board of directors will be opening in 2021. Districts 2, 5, 8, 11 and one at-large position will be up for election this fall. Please refer to the map to see which counties are included in each district. Board members currently serving in those positions are as follows: district 2, Kelvin Egner; district 5, Frank Phelps; district 8, Linde Sutherly; district 11, Lindsey Hall; director at-large, Tom Karr. Directors from districts 2 and 5 have served the maximum number of terms and are ineligible to run again. Only those OCA members in the district up for election will receive a ballot to vote for their director. All OCA members will receive a ballot to vote either by email or mail for the one at-large director. Per the OCA bylaws, “Each OCA member shall have the right to nominate one candidate for director from the member’s district.” County associations may also nominate candidates for district director. Please make sure the individual nominated has agreed to have their name placed in nomination. A nominating committee appointed by the OCA president will determine the eligibility of all director nominations.

The ninth annual OCA Replacement Female Sale will take place the Friday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 2021. The sale will be held at the Muskingum Livestock Auction Co. in Zanesville, Ohio and will begin at 6:00 p.m The middle of the 2021 breeding season is an excellent time to evaluate your herd and consider marketing decisions for the fall. Young, high quality cattle backed by solid genetics are in demand with potential buyers. Yearling heifers bred artificially to proven calving ease sires are very marketable. A shorter breeding season that results in a tighter calving window has also proven to be popular with potential buyers. As we think about that tight breeding season, consider those January to early May calving females as potential consignments and breeding pieces that will fit calving windows for many Ohio producers. It is also a great time to evaluate the body condition of potential sale animals and make nutritional adjustments to the animal’s diet in anticipation of a late November sale date. Body Condition Scores in the 5-6 range on a 9-point scale at sale time is a good goal to strive to achieve. Additional considerations when evaluating females and making breed decisions include udder conformation and temperament/docility. Each year, the board gathers for six meetings, assists with association events and activities and works with members in their respective counties to represent their interests. Nominations for the board of directors are due by Oct. 1, 2021. For additional information concerning district director nominations or a copy of the director position description, visit www.ohiocattle.org.

Consignments may include cowcalf pairs, bred cows and bred heifers. Females must be under the age of five as of Jan. 1, 2022 and may be of registered or commercial background. Bred females must be bred to a bull with known EPD’s and calves at side of cows must be sired by a bull with known EPD’s. Pregnancy status must be verified by an accredited veterinarian through traditional palpation, ultrasound or by blood testing through a professional laboratory. Sale consignments are due to the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association by Oct. 1, 2021. More information about the sale is available at www.ohiocattle.org or by contacting Garth Ruff at ruff.72@osu. edu.