Dairy

No Manuals

EXHIBIT OPTIONS

ay be in place of or in addition to the live animal exhibit.   For information on Animal Posters please see the guidelines under the Animal Education project section of this handbook.  Poster projects are entered during pre-fair judging weeks.  Please refer to the pre-fair schedule for specific dates and times for Animal Education check-in.  Members wishing to give a Project Interact are to setup a suitable time with the project superintendent(s). 4-H projects, see static schedule for specific dates and times for livestock poster deadlines. Members wishing to give a Project Interact are to set up a suitable time with the project superintendent(s).

GENERAL RULES

1. 4-H members must enroll in the dairy project before January 15 on their 4-HOnline profile.

2. All animals must be entered on the Indiana 4-H Dairy Enrollment online system by April 1^st for steers and May 15^th for heifers and cows. A 4-H member may show in each age class and production class.

3. A grade animal must be sired by a registered sire. The dam of the calf shall be at least a high grade of the same breed as the sire.

4. Cows shown in cow class must have been owned in partnership or by member prior to first freshening.

5. Animals exhibited in purebred classes must be registered in the club members name or in partnership. Papers will be checked at the exhibit.

6. All milking cows may show up the day of dairy show and may leave immediately following the dairy show.

7. All dry cows and heifers must arrive during check-in and stay for duration of 4-H fair.

8. Dairy superintendent has the right to combine calf classes.

9. Each member may show only those animals listed on his/her form, except under adverse conditions, as determined by the superintendent.

10. Members leasing animals must sign a dairy lease form which must be turned in to the extension office by May 15th.

11. All dairy breed classes in Junior and Senior Calf, Junior and Senior Yearling and Cow classes will be offered.

12. All dairy cattle must be IDed using an 840-RFID tag.

13. No dairy cross animals may be exhibited.

14. A pen fee will be charged at check in, as set forth by the Exhibit Association. The amount will be announced prior to check in. Pen fees are waived for individuals who work at least one shift in the milkshake booth and help with fair clean up. 

SHOWMANSHIP

See age classification under general rules

• Beginner Dairy Showmanship

• Junior Dairy Showmanship

• Intermediate Dairy Showmanship

• Senior Dairy Showmanship

• Grand Champion Dairy Showmanship

AGE GROUPS

• Spring heifer calf, born March 1, 2026—May 15, 2026

• Winter heifer calf, born December 1, 2025—February 28, 2026

• Fall heifer calf—born September 1, 2025—November 30, 2025

• Summer yearling heifer—born June 1, 2025—August 31, 2025

• Spring yearling heifer—born March 1, 2025—May 31, 2025

• Winter yearling heifer—born December 1, 2024—February 28, 2025

• Fall yearling heifer—born September 1, 2024—November 30, 2024

• Yearling heifer in milk—born September 1, 2024 or later

• 2-year-old cow—born September 1, 2024—August 31, 2024

• 3-year-old cow—born September 1, 2022—August 31, 2023

• 4-year-old cow—born September 1, 2021—August 31, 2022

• 5-year-old cow—born September 1, 2020—August 31, 2021

• Aged cow six years and older—born prior to September 1, 2019

• Dry cow, any age

Dairy Steer Rules

Dairy Starter Calf

1. Sire and dams of steers must be from dairy breeds of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Jersey, or Guernsey.

2. A 4-H member may enroll no more than six steers and exhibit only two.

3. Starter calves must be a minimum weight of 250# and a maximum weight of 700# to be eligible for champion.

4. Animals must be in possession of the 4-H member by May 1 and enrolled on the online Indiana Dairy Enrollment website by May 15.

5. Steers will show during the dairy show according to weight and number exhibited.

6. Steers must be dehorned.

7. Showmanship will be combined with female classes.

8. Show sticks are optional.

9. All dairy cattle must be ID’d using an 840-RFID tag.

Dairy Finished Steers

Show during dairy show

1. Sire and dams of steers must be from dairy breeds of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Jersey, or Guernsey.

2. A 4-H member may enroll no more than six steers and exhibit only two.

3. All finished steers must be born after January 1 of the prior year.

4. The animals must be in the possession of the 4-H member by January 1 and enrolled on Indiana Beef Cattle and Dairy Steer Enrollment Form by May 15.

5. Steers will be shown during the dairy show according to weight and number exhibited.

6. Steers must be dehorned.

7. Showmanship will be during the dairy show. Show sticks are optional.

8. All steers must be ear-tagged on Beef Weigh-In Day.

9. Finished Dairy steers must weigh a minimum of 900 # to compete for Champion Dairy Steer.

10. All dairy cattle must be ID’d using an 840-RFID tag.