Tad Tebockhorst captures retinal images for Eve Stoutner’s Iowa State Fair calf.

After the Washington County Beef Weigh-in on December 9th, 101 Washington County 4-H’ers and FFA members have enrolled and weighed in 173 market beef animals for the 2023-2024 year.  According to Amy Green, 4-H/Youth Coordinator, these numbers have increased from last year and others may continue to enroll through surrounding county weigh-ins held later this month and next.  4-H’ers and FFA members could also nominate market beef for the State Fair. Those animals were weighed, tagged, and retinal scanned for identification purposes. Thirty-nine calves have been nominated for the Iowa State Fair. 4-H families are required to enter the market beef weigh-in data to 4hOnline before January 31. Contact the Extension Office at 319-653-4811, with any questions on this process or for ways on how to support the market beef project area in Washington County.