Delivery date set for 2010 Junior Beef Excellence Program

NEWS RELEASE
Issued - March 1, 2010

ARDMORE, Okla. — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation's Agricultural Division will hold its annual spring delivery this month for participants of the 2010 Junior Beef Excellence Program.

Spring delivery is set for 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 13, at the Noble Foundation's Pasture Demonstration Farm, located 5 miles northwest of Ardmore (call 580.224.6411 for complete directions).

"Junior Beef participants spend significant time, effort and money on their project steers," said Shan Ingram, education and outreach manager at the Noble Foundation. "On March 13, all that dedication and hard work culminates with spring delivery. It's an exciting time for all of us involved in the Junior Beef Excellence Program."

During the delivery, exhibitors will be photographed with their steer, which must be halter-broken, gentle and able to be set up for multiple photographs. Unruly steers not capable of set-up for photography will be disqualified. Official placing of each participant’s animal will be determined by a university meats specialist.

Steers must weigh at least 1,000 pounds at spring delivery. While there is no maximum spring weight, Ingram suggested steers weigh less than 1,375 pounds to avoid a potential heavy weight discount from the packer.

In addition to the main contest, there will be a Live Steer Evaluation Contest held in conjunction with the March 13 spring delivery. The contest is open to the public and will take place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the delivery site (the Noble Foundation's Pasture Demonstration Farm). The Live Steer Evaluation Contest consists of five divisions: 4-H, FFA, Adult Men, Adult Women and Expert. Participants must evaluate five steers and estimate their carcass characteristics. Each participant's estimates will then be compared to the actual data. Individuals with the best estimate in each division will be awarded a trophy belt buckle. The Noble Foundation will announce the winners of the 2010 Junior Beef Excellence Program and Live Steer Evaluation Contest during a special awards program at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 6, at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center (2610 Sam Noble Parkway) in Ardmore. Cash awards are given to the exhibitors of the top 10 steers. The champion steer owner receives $2,500, and payments are graduated down from there. The 10th place steer owner receives $750. Total prize monies amount to $12,500.

The Junior Beef Excellence Program recognizes the carcass merit of steers. The program 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.

For additional information about program rules or next year's contest, call Shan Ingram at 580.223.5810 or visit Junior Beef Excellence Program information on the Noble Foundation's Web site at www.noble.org/Ag/JrBeef.

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For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact:

J. Adam Calaway

jacalaway@noble.org

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.