Best of the Buckeye program offers marketing opportunity

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Seedstock breeders are encouraged to take advantage of an enhanced marketing opportunity through the Best of the Buckeye program beginning in the 2014 show season, hosted by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association in conjunction with the Ohio Beef Expo and the Ohio State Fair.

Nominations are due Jan. 15. The program will recognize top-placing Ohio bred, born and registered calves, along with the breeder and exhibitor, in each breed division at the two shows.

Thanks to sponsors, $45,000 will be presented in premiums at the two shows, scholarships and awards.

This year’s sponsors are Green Oak Farms, heifer division; Steve R. Rauch, steer division; and Franklin Equipment, scholarship division.

Market opportunity

The program was formed to provide Ohio seedstock breeders an additional marketing opportunity, create a source for moderately priced show steers and heifers by providing a program with awards and prestige, and to attract new participants interested in showing at the Ohio Beef Expo and/or the Ohio State Fair.

Eligible nominations for Best of the Buckeye are registered cattle that were calved in Ohio. ET calves and calves out of purchased bred heifers or cows are eligible if they were purchased from an in-state breeder and calved in Ohio.

Breeders and exhibitors must be OCA members and in good standing with OCA to be eligible. Exhibitors must be an Ohio resident and meet the age requirements for the Ohio Beef Expo and Ohio State Fair junior shows.

Nomination process

To be nominated, cattle must be registered and the breeder of the registered animal must pay a one-time per animal nomination fee. Cattle that are nominated prior to the Ohio Beef Expo by Jan. 15 and prior to the Ohio State Fair by June 20, will incur a $25 per head nomination fee.

Breeders can nominate cattle through check-in at the Ohio Beef Expo and at the Ohio State Fair at an increased nomination fee of $50 per head.

Breeders must complete a nomination form and sign an affidavit verifying Best of the Buckeye eligibility. Completed early entry nomination forms may be returned to the OCA office.

Nomination forms can be found on the OCA website at www.ohiocattle.org/best-of-the-buckeye or by contacting OCA. Animals nominated for Best of the Buckeye will also need to be entered in the Ohio Beef Expo and Ohio State Fair junior shows.

For more information, contact the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association at 614-873-6736, or email beef@ohiobeef.org.