Lincoln, Neb. —Nebraska 4-H, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Animal Science, offered the fifth year of the Nebraska 4-H Fed Steer Challenge in 2022.
The Fed Steer Challenge cultivates the next generation of leaders in the Nebraska cattle industry by providing youth real-world opportunities in the beef sector. This challenge enhances the educational value of traditional 4-H beef projects and provides affordable options to reward production merit and market animal carcass value; accurate and complete record keeping practices; industry and research knowledge; and producer engagement with the 4-H member.
The youth selected, purchased, exhibited, harvested, and analyzed carcass data on a steer while networking with industry professionals. Additionally, working as a learning cohort, they participated in monthly educational opportunities led by industry professionals and Animal Science faculty.
Alongside these youth, large crowds at the Nebraska State Fair receive expert instruction from a commercial cattle buyer about sorting and evaluating steers. This exemplifies real-world industry standards of carcass merit, grade-ability, and finish. Unanimously, the youth participants agree the Fed Steer Challenge helped them gain valuable knowledge regarding the beef industry - namely, how to feed a market animal more efficiently. Because of their program involvement, these youth plan to stay in the cattle industry to become future beef industry advocates.
The 2022 Nebraska participants included: Claire Ahrens, Sherman County, Pleasanton FFA ; Leah Christen, Pawnee County, Lewiston FFA; Abigail Gorecki, Buffalo County; Nathan Gorecki, Buffalo County; Eldon Haack, Franklin County, Franklin FFA; Jaleigh Hallsted, Cuming County, Wisner-Pilger FFA; Madison Hirschman, Howard County, St. Paul FFA; Cassidy Maricle, Boone County, Boone Central FFA; Klaira Rasmussen, Howard County; Nickolas Rohr, Frontier County, Cambridge FFA; Conner Snyder, Frontier County, McCook FFA; Treygan Srajhans, Fillmore County, Fillmore Central FFA; Noah Summers, Buffalo County, Shelton FFA; Skyler Summers, Buffalo County, Shelton FFA. Winners in each category were:
Growth Performance:
- First Place: Connor Snyder
- Second Place: Madison Hirschman
- Third Place: Claire Ahrens
Carcass Merit
- First Place: Connor Snyder
- Second Place: Eldon Haack
- Third Place: Noah Summers
Record Book:
- First Place: Jaleigh Hallsted
- Second Place: Conner Snyder
- Third Place: Claire Ahrens
Industry Interview
- First Place: Madison Hirschman
- Second Place: Jaleigh Hallsted & Skyler Summers
- Third Place: Conner Snyder
Overall Winners:
- First Place: Conner Snyder
- Second Place: Jaleigh Hallsted
- Third Place: Claire Ahrens
- Fourth Place: Madison Hirschman
- Fifth Place: Skyler Summers
The winners of each award category receive cash prizes and the overall winners each will win a cash award as well as a $500 scholarship to Nebraska’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
To learn more about the fed steer challenge, visit: https://4h.unl.edu/fed-steer-challenge