RULES: Read pages 21-24 regarding General Animal/Exhibition Rules, Grooming Policy and Indiana 4-H Quality Assurance policy.  To be eligible for ISF, all beef animals must submit HAIR SAMPLES for possible DNA testing! The 4honline animal enrollment is due May 15 annually and FairEntry July 6, 2026.

 

1. All steers and crossbred heifers must be in the possession of exhibitors by February 28th of the current year. All purebred heifers must be in the possession of exhibitor by May 15th of current year.
2. Enrolled animals must be owned by the 4-H exhibitor by the enrollment deadline and must be under the same continuous care, responsibility and ownership through the Putnam County Fair or the Indiana State Fair, if participating in state fair. 4-H members shall have ownership of their exhibit.
3. All cattle per Indiana BOAH 18 months and older must be ear tagged with an RFID (e.g. 840 or EID) to be eligible to exhibit. Tags will be available at the Extension office or may be obtained and/or inserted at the 7-9 am February 28th tagging and weigh-in.
4. All steers and crossbred heifers must be individually identified with a five-digit 4-H ear tag inserted by beef 4-H volunteers and an RFID tag and weighed by the county possession deadline – February 28th. All other ear tags except RFID tags will be removed during weigh-in. The cost will be $2.00 per tag or $4.00 a head, and needs to be paid when ear tagging takes place. All animals must be enrolled by May 15th.
5. A screening committee will be present at the February weigh-in. All cattle will be checked and blood tests may be ordered, at the owner's expense, on questionable animals. The committee will designate in which class the steer is to show. The screening committee will consist of three (3) people: Beef Superintendent and two (2) others selected by superintendent. A second screening may take place when the animals are being brought onto the fairgrounds for the fair. They may be screened prior to being stalled or until their papers are checked. No protests will be allowed following this final checking of the papers and stalling of the animal.
6. All 4-H heifers, except crossbred heifers, MUST be registered and have appropriate registration papers. All breed steers must be registered and have appropriate registration papers. All papers, tattoo and tags will be checked. Registration examples are located in the general animal/livestock rule section aforementioned.
7. For ISF, in addition to tagging ID for registered & commercial beef heifers, and all market steers, DNA hair samples will be required.  The hair samples for market steers, registered beef heifers and commercial heifers will be due in the county office by May 15th.  Envelopes will be provided at the County Extension Office. All animals entered in the Indiana State Fair 4-H cattle show must have been enrolled using 4honline AND state fair web portal.  Please review the Indiana State Fair entry terms and conditions for specific requirements and maximum eligibility. Weight specifications are stated in the Indiana State Fair handbook.
8. All beef animals need to be checked in from 6:00 am to 10:00 am Saturday, July 18th and remain until early release Friday morning, July 24th starting at 12:01 am until 8:00 am. and then Saturday morning beginning at 12:01 a.m.- 8am.  All livestock and tack must be gone by 8 am Saturday.
9. 4-H Exhibits must remain on exhibit at the Putnam County Fair until the established release time, unless approved by the Superintendent and 4-H Youth Educator.  For any exhibit removed from display prior to the official release time, placings and prizes (ribbons, medals, trophies, etc.) will be forfeited.  The current year Achievement Program recognitions for that project will be forfeited.
10. An animal may be co-enrolled by siblings.  The animal(s) only need to be listed on one sibling's 4-H animal electronic enrollment form.
11. All cattle must meet health requirements as designated by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Indiana livestock exhibitors no longer have to present a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) at Indiana shows under state law. All livestock exhibitors were required by the state to obtain premise identification by September 1, 2006. If you have not completed this premise identification, please contact the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. For additional questions about Indiana's premise ID program contact BOAH at animalID@boah.in.gov or 317-544-2381.
12. Steers shall be shown by weight and by breed requirements. Weight classes within the breeds will be set by the beef superintendent and the assistants, who shall keep the ranges of weights as close as possible. Heifers will show by breed. Both steers and heifers will show through the complete breed before advancing to the next breed.
13. All steers and crossbred heifers will be weighed on Saturday as they arrive to determine the weight class in which the animal will be shown. The decision of the weighing committee will be final. There will be no re-weighing or changing of classes after the class is determined.
14. There will be no beef tie-outs before 9:00 p.m.

     All beef animals must tie-out unless a detailed written explanation note is provided to and accepted by the superintendent.

15. False switches and the use of artificial hair are prohibited. Only natural hair growing in its original location will be permitted. No pumping of any cattle is allowed. No false hair, or graphite, tampering, misrepresentation, drugs, forced fillings, etcetera are allowed. See general livestock info prior to the beef section in this handbook for further details.
16. No horned cattle will be permitted in the beef  show.
17. When 4-H members are showing beef livestock in 4-H classes, the 4-H’ers clothing must not bear the name of a farm or their name, or advertising of any sort.
18. Parade of all Champions followed by the Grand Champion drive will be held at 7:00 p.m. on show day.
19. Heifer and Steer requirements will be the same as the Indiana State Fair’s, except for weight requirements and unless additional changes are otherwise stated in this Putnam County 4-H Project Handbook.
20. All sale animals must meet livestock sale entry deadlines. The beef sale sign up will be for one hour immediately following the Grand Champion Drive.
21. Electric fans of any type shall only be allowed at the side or head of calves and must be elevated directing airflow toward the north end of the barn. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE WILL FANS BE ALLOWED IN THE AISLE OR BEHIND CALVES. Fans must have proper safety-approved shrouds.
22. Petroleum fueled generators and fuel are PROHIBITED in the barn (including the lean-to sections) and tie outs.
23. Under no circumstance will any liquid be blown by, on, near, or through any style of electric fan.
24. 4-H animals purchased, sold or offered for sale after the animal enrollment deadline and prior to the Indiana State Fair (including animals that have gone through a “Premium Only Auction”), shall not be eligible to show in the 4-H show at the Indiana State Fair.
25. Pen assignment forms are due by July 1st for beef. See forms at the back of this handbook.
26. All used bedding in the tie-out area must be pulled 12 inches away from the fence boards.

 

SEE PAGE __21__ FOR THE PUTNAM COUNTY 4-H GROOMING GENERAL RULES

 

SEE PAGE__23__FOR THE PUTNAM COUNTY 4-H SHOWMANSHIP GENERAL RULES

Prospect Calves

27. All prospect calves must be identified with an RFID and enrolled by May 15, 2026 in Indiana 4-H online.
28. Calf must meet all Putnam County 4-H and Indiana BOAH Health Requirements.
29. Animals must be owned by the 4-H member no later than May 15th of the current year.
30. Prospect calves include steers
31. All calves must be dehorned by the 4-H Fair.  No ruptured calves may be exhibited.
32. Calf Age:  January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026.  Prospect calves must NOT exceed 700 lbs. at the day of fair weigh in.  If the RFID tag does not match the Indiana 4-H Online family profile entry, that calf will be disqualified.
33. A Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion will be selected from the class winners.  Calves will be shown by weight.
34. Show classes will be determined by enrollment each year and at the discretion of the Beef Barn Superintendent..
35. Calves must be weaned by fair time.

Beef Classes will be the same as in the following table:

Table shows the Beef classes available to exhibit in

Sec	Class
BF 21	Steers	By Weight
BF 22	Heifers-Crossbred	By Weight
BF 23	Junior Heifer	Jan 1 to March 31, 2026
BF 24	Senior/Winter Heifer	Sept 1 to Dec 31, 2025
BR25	Late summer Yrlg	July 1 to Aug 31, 2025
BF 26	Early summer Yrlg	May 1 to June 30, 2025
BF 27	Spring Yrlg Heifer	March 1 to April 30, 2025
BF 28	Junior Yrlg Heifer	Jan 1 to Feb 28,  2025
BF 29	Senior Yrlg Heifer	Sept 1 to Dec 31, 2024
Champion and Res. Champion Steers & Heifers			Banner & Ribbon
Grand Champion and Res. Grand Champion Steers & Heifers			Banner & Ribbon