The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation will accept entry forms for the 2008 Junior Beef Excellence Program until Dec. 15, 2007.

The Junior Beef Excellence Program, which recognizes the carcass merit of steers, is open to 4-H and FFA steer exhibitors who show their steers and abide by the rules and regulations of their county shows. Participants must be from one of the following eight southern Oklahoma counties: Carter, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray or Stephens County. Steers must be shown at the spring livestock show in their respective county to be eligible for the contest.

To enter the Junior Beef Excellence Program, participants must send in an entry form and a hair sample from each steer. Entry forms are available online at www.noble.org/Ag/JrBeef/. Hair samples should be taken from the switch of the tail and have hair follicles attached. A minimum of 20 hairs with follicles is needed. Hair samples should be put in a standard paper envelope, kept dry and be labeled with the date, participant's name and steer's ID. Participants should make certain their steers are eligible to show in their respective county show.

Cash awards are given to the exhibitors of the top ten steers. The champion steer owner receives $2,500, and payments are graduated down from there. The tenth place steer owner receives $750. Total prize monies amount to $12,500.

Spring delivery will be March 15, 2008. For more information on weight requirements and complete listing of rules, visit the the Noble Foundation's Web site at www.noble.org/Ag/JrBeef/ or call Shan Ingram, the Noble Foundation's Education and Special Projects Manager, at 580.223.5810.

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News Release Issued: November 26, 2007

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.